Aria SB Basses 1979-1984

[cycrowave]

[quote name='bassmeg' post='880109' date='Jun 28 2010, 05:41 PM']I love my Aria, and any suggestions of other Matsumoku guitars to try would be much apprieciated.[/quote]

i havnt been able to get hold of an sb, being left handed makes it a real struggle. however my westone thunder II
was made by uncle mat at the same time, with exactly the same materials and boy does she growl. id highly recomend a westone thunder, especially the neck thru versions. and if you can get hold of the later thunder 3 with magnabass pickups, get ready for serious tone

heres a nice porn link for ya [url="http://www.westone.info/thunder3abass.html"]thunder 3 porn[/url]

[cycrowave]

[quote name='bassmeg' post='880109' date='Jun 28 2010, 05:41 PM']Also due to the hole in the middle of my bass, could anyone could suggest a type of pickup for me to drop in there as a cover up?[/quote]

alembic

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='bassmeg' post='880109' date='Jun 28 2010, 05:41 PM']Ive had one for about a month now. SB900 elite. Have not heard a better bark and growl come out of my cab. Bought it after seeing Duran Duran on BBC2.

I have only just been switched onto Matsumoku, in my view if his other guitars are as good as this one he is in the same mass production genius as Fender.
The comments i have had for the sound i now get is unreal, and when i play live and it breaks down to just bass, instead of everyone switching off and wanting the guitar back in you can see people really listening to the grinding sound. I have even sold my sansamp now as i dont need it with this thing.

I love my Aria, and any suggestions of other Matsumoku guitars to try would be much appreciated.[/quote]
Try the SB series with the near-parallel string spacing (you've got the SB-R/Elite tapered version), or for a "pocket rocket" a CS (Cardinal) or a TSB (Tri-Sound, later Thor Sound).

[quote name='bassmeg' post='880109' date='Jun 28 2010, 05:41 PM']Also due to the hole in the middle of my bass, could anyone could suggest a type of pickup for me to drop in there as a cover up?[/quote]
What?! Are the stock 4-wire overwound humbuckers somehow not enough?

IIRC the original ad said that the routing was for an Alembic p/up, so if you're desperate there's an option. If you could post the dimensions of the crater, that'd help a lot too.

Alternatively, how about a ramp? Any half-tidy luthier should be able to confect a tasty sandwich of Ash, Walnut & Maple that would cover the desecration rather neatly.

Pete.

[basslondon]

[quote name='cycrowave' post='880984' date='Jun 29 2010, 02:18 PM']alembic [/quote]

Yup That was what was in there before..... Glad you like it!

[LemonCello]

I bought a lovely SB600 in New Zealand in about '82-'83, a black one. Kept it for a couple of years and swapped it for a hard 'Cello case. What a knob!

LC

[impala]

From what I know Jolana basses are made in the Czech republic.......i should know because I own one, but mine kind of sucks big time, Ive repainted it and stuff, and now I can say its custom made but actually the strings that Ive put on it are worth more than the bass itself no sh*t, I use very expensive strings
I would like to see a picture of that bass...you happen to have one?

[BB3000S]

My first bass was a 1982 Aria SB-R80 that I got 2nd hand in 1984. Totally awesome bass that still holds its own and gets gigged regularly.
Good stuff!

[Norris]

I've had an early SB-1000 since the late 80's. I played it hard for many years, then dumped it in the loft when I bought my US Jazz. Last year it came out of the loft and was in such a poor state, it has gone away for complete renovation. Currently stripped back to bare wood, it is waiting for a good run of dry, warm weather for it's respray. Then, back in with the original (and still working) electronics, and a new set of gold plated tuners (to match the cleaned up brass bridge & nut).

Then we'll see if I like it more than when I threw it in the loft all those years ago!

[color="#696969"](and no, I'm not even going to consider any offers until I've had a play with it)[/color]

[daz]

Those old [b][url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass.html"]Aria Pro II [/url][/b]basses are gorgeous, a real thing of beauty. In fact i very nearly bought one on here and on ebay last month. In the end i went for something else, but i wil have to own one of these by August, im sure. I feel incomplete till i get one (and a decent Rickenfaker too)

Edited April 5, 2011 by daz

[dmccombe7]

I had an SB1000 circa 1980 when they first came out or when i first saw them. Jack Bruce was endorsing them back then and it was a fantastic bass to play and look at.
And the range of sounds were fantastic and have never heard another bass quite like it.

I've seriously considered buying a 2nd hand one too.

Also had an SB900 few yrs later mid 80's and although it was good it wasn't a patch sound wise on the SB1000.

Cheers
Dave

[skidder652003]

Hmmmmmm. gotta SB 700 with EMG active pup fitted (still got the origional too) that i wanna sell, if anyone wants to PM me!

[basslondon]

Just bought this lovely SB1000 from my local guitar shop here in London. It was in the window for 6 months at £350 as a sale for a customer. I felt for sure it would fly out. I was astonished when i walked past the other day and it had £250 on it. I couldnt get to the cash point quick enough....... i swapped bassmeg the Elite SB900 a couple of years ago and ever since there has been an ARIA SB shaped hole in my life. This baby fills it completely.

[neilp]

Fantastic instruments! I have a 79 SB1000 that I know I will never part with. Its always the first bass I pick up, even before the Wal! Superb neck, very playable and versatile. Who needs overpriced Fenders?

[stevew_68]

Back in 2013,I managed to get my hands on a 1979 sb1000 after wanting one since the 80s and being a big Duran Duran fan. I had to travel all the way to Stockport near Liverpool to get this but it was worth it.

I am the same being an armchair player. This guitar is one of my prized possessions. 

Edited August 19 by stevew_68
Adding more info

[W1_Pro]

I think for me, what stands out about these basses (apart from the top notch woodwork) is the fact that they are a genuinely different and successful take on the two horn Fender design as used by just about everybody.  They are beautiful instruments. Something you wouldnt normally say about for instance, a Musicman Bongo (unless you've just bought one of course and then no doubt you'd think it was lovely).

[NancyJohnson]

I know this is an oldish thread but given the title, I just figured the curios below may be of interest to the casual reader.

 

This just popped up on my Facebook timeline - SB conversions.  8 string (EADG), odd six string (uncertain whether this is B-B or E-E) and a 9-string! 

 

Blimey.

[prowla]

I bought an SB-700 new back in the day; I liked it but it was rather large.

I don't remember when I sold it.

I bought an SB-600 (a 700 with a set neck) last year and occasionally pick it up.