Wilco Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 (edited) Let's keep the legend alive!! Excellent basses & surely the best bang for your buck available today no matter what brand. I have two Aria SB's - a 1985 RSB Deluxe & a 1983 SB Special 2. Just got the RSB and the Special 2 has been a regular gigging bass for me despite it's 30 year age! Edited April 18, 2013 by Wilco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 My clutch: L-R: 1981 TSB-400, 1983 RSB Special-I (sans pickup), 1984 RSB Deluxe-5, 1984 ZZB-Custom, 1980 SB-900, 1980 SB-1000 (heavily modded). Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I've got an Aria Primary Bass. I got it as part of a stupid cheap Gumtree deal ('Three guitars and a practice amp for £50'). On the downside, the pots were broken (those knobs were resting on there for the photo), and while it sounded OK, the pickup was quite low output. A previous owner had fitted a set of Schaller machines. I swapped out the pickup for a Wilkinson unit that I had about the house, put in new pots and chrome knobs, Dunlop Straploks. It's a very, very nice bass. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 my 1984 aria black n gold [attachment=131279:aria pro.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blablas Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Westone Thunder I. I'm the first and only owner, I bought it new somewhere in 1982, it was my first serious bass and I've modified the crap out of it over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatEric Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 What a great topic. I was having a conversation with a fellow bass player, who plays Classic Aria and Ibanez (not Mat) and nothing else. I have quite a few in my collection and we both agreed that £ for £ the stuff that came out of Matsumoko and Fujigen, in the day, are some of the nicest instruments you could own and play. I'll dig out some of my "Mats" Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I've got what I think is a Matsumoku neck on my 'bitsa' P/J/MM bass. It's from an '80s 'Yamato' P bass copy and is quite simply a joy to play. The profile is perfect for me. It's been on (I think) 4 of my bitsas, and it's going nowhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 What a great thread! I play almost exclusively Matsumoku basses, here's mine: SB-R60 [IMG]http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii616/chaylockyer/Aria4.jpg[/IMG] Thunder II [IMG]http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii616/chaylockyer/ThunderII9.jpg[/IMG] Slightly butchered TSB-400 [IMG]http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii616/chaylockyer/IMG_0739.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Driver Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Ahhh, I had an old Aria Pro-II. It was a Rev-Sound Bass - I'm sure it had a symbol like RSB-something, but I can't remember... Nice bass, although a bit uncomfortable for me. I recorded one full album with it and several songs on two others. Bought it for peanuts (it had been in a horribly neglected state), sold it rather cheap too... I've had some other Matsumoku basses in my hands - great stuff. As an 80s child (born in '79, started to develop some early taste in music around '83-'84) I'd love an SB-1000 but they cost an arm and a leg... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlapbassSteve Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 My trusty Westone Quantum. [attachment=132879:S1050287.JPG] [attachment=132880:482838_10200590591837268_1666544918_n.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky72 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 My SB700. [url="http://instagram.com/p/Y8KNkUh9IT/"]http://instagram.com/p/Y8KNkUh9IT/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Driver Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 [quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1367782476' post='2069449'] My SB700. [url="http://instagram.com/p/Y8KNkUh9IT/"]http://instagram.com/p/Y8KNkUh9IT/[/url] [/quote] I sooo would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougalbass Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) [attachment=134467:R0011295.JPG][font=georgia,serif][size=5][color=#0000ff]Hi to all SB fans.... Took me over 30 years to get one. Now I'm hooked! My SB 900 Dec' 1981[/color][/size][/font][attachment=134468:R0011273.JPG][attachment=134469:R0011275.JPG][attachment=134471:R0011289.JPG][attachment=134472:R0011277.JPG][attachment=134473:R0011283.JPG][attachment=134474:R0011288.JPG] Edited May 9, 2013 by Dougalbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky72 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 great basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Transaxle Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 (edited) The Thunder I I got as my 18th birthday present (and therefore 30 years old next week) Edited May 10, 2013 by Leon Transaxle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 I've got a battered Hondo 1981 is this a Matsumoku? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1368201001' post='2074436'] I've got a battered Hondo 1981 is this a Matsumoku? [/quote] Might be. Shares a few common features with Vantage. What does it say on the neckplate? A good shot of the back of the neck would help too. Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougalbass Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 [font=georgia,serif][size=4][color=#0000ff]Hey... Love that red Westone Thunder Leon. [/color][/size][/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougalbass Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 [quote name='Leon Transaxle' timestamp='1368200072' post='2074423'] The Thunder I I got as my 18th birthday present (and therefore 30 years old next week) [/quote]Hey... Love that red Westone Thunder Leon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 [quote name='Bloodaxe' timestamp='1368221149' post='2074730'] Might be. Shares a few common features with Vantage. What does it say on the neckplate? A good shot of the back of the neck would help too. Pete. [/quote] there you go, don't know how to get full size picy's on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1368261883' post='2074966'] there you go, don't know how to get full size picy's on here[/quote] AFAIK, the site software automatically resizes images to thumbnails. Only way round that is to host your piccies somewhere like Photobucket or Flickr & link them using [ IMG] [/ IMG] tags (without the spaces). Anyway… I was hoping to see 'Steel Adjustable Neck' on the neckplate as that's a dead giveaway for a Mat, but yours doesn't. However the neck construction & tuners are identical to my 1981 TSB-400, so I'd say it probably is a Matsumoku product. The serial number fits with it being an 81. I say 'probably' as I have heard that some early 80s Arias were built at other factories in Japan, (like Hoshino or Fujigen) but more than that I know not. Noelk27 is your man for this. Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 [quote name='Bloodaxe' timestamp='1368303417' post='2075573'] AFAIK, the site software automatically resizes images to thumbnails. Only way round that is to host your piccies somewhere like Photobucket or Flickr & link them using [ IMG] [/ IMG] tags (without the spaces). Anyway… I was hoping to see 'Steel Adjustable Neck' on the neckplate as that's a dead giveaway for a Mat, but yours doesn't. However the neck construction & tuners are identical to my 1981 TSB-400, so I'd say it probably is a Matsumoku product. The serial number fits with it being an 81. I say 'probably' as I have heard that some early 80s Arias were built at other factories in Japan, (like Hoshino or Fujigen) but more than that I know not. Noelk27 is your man for this. Pete. [/quote] cheers pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Transaxle Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 [quote name='Dougalbass' timestamp='1368222569' post='2074750'] Hey... Love that red Westone Thunder Leon [/quote] Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fionn Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 [quote name='Dougalbass' timestamp='1368127217' post='2073641'] [attachment=134467:R0011295.JPG][font=georgia, serif][size=5][color=#0000ff]Hi to all SB fans.... Took me over 30 years to get one. Now I'm hooked! My SB 900 Dec' 1981[/color][/size][/font][attachment=134468:R0011273.JPG][attachment=134469:R0011275.JPG][attachment=134471:R0011289.JPG][attachment=134472:R0011277.JPG][attachment=134473:R0011283.JPG][attachment=134474:R0011288.JPG] [/quote] I saw this bass on ebay a while ago! My SB900 is exactly the same as yours, but it's a factory fretless. Now, he amazing thing about this is that it's the fretless sister of your bass!!! The serial number is 1120517 ... the one before yours!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougalbass Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 [font=georgia,serif][size=4][color=#000080]Hey Fionn. Meant to ask. How do you find your SB through Gallien Kruger? I'm currently using an Ibanez promethean combo through an Ashdown cab. All very lightweight but can deliver up to 500w if needed. Not gigged bigger than a small pub with it though & reckon it would have to be put through a PA to cut a bigger venue. [/color][/size][/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.