Aria Bass information

[MattoPlenty]

Hello, I have been left a bass and I'm trying to find some more information about it. It's an Aria ProII RSB Series - Smooth Joint. It's not in the greatest condition, few scratches and dinks but it does have the original Aria Pro bass hard case for it. Doing some internet based research leads me to a page "Matsumoku" but I can't seem to locate the exact model. I think it's a RSB Deluxe II but these seem to have the name "Deluxe II on the head stock. Mine just says "Aria ProII RSB Series" and then Smooth joint underneath. They are from the 1980's but they appear to be Red, Black or Blue, although I suppose mine could have been sanded back. There is no Serial number and the Scratch plate just has Made in Japan on it. It's exactly the same as this picture I can find on the internet.

 

Any ideas? Am assuming mine is from the 1980's but I can't confirm it.

Thanks for any help

Matt

 

 

[Skybone]

The Guitar Gallery

Check out the Guitar Gallery, loads of info on Matsumoku era Aria's, inc. catalogue scans.

[Bassassin]

RSB Standard:

http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/catalogs/1984late/pg9.html

Serial number will be dateable but I'd guess '82 - '84 because I don't think these were around later than that. Definitely MIJ and a Matsumoku build. Nice bass!

[MattoPlenty]

Hey, thanks for the reply's, very much appreciated. That's definitely it, thank you!! 😊

[Johnnyfavorite68]

Matt. This model was my first bass, sadly stolen from me. Do you happen to want to sell yours? 

[Johnnyfavorite68]

[email protected]

[fleabag]

I'm not pos, but isnt the deluxe 2 a dual pickup jobbie ?

[Bassassin]

32 minutes ago, fleabag said:

I'm not pos, but isnt the deluxe 2 a dual pickup jobbie ?

It is. I've got one, looks like this:

[fleabag]

whoa - what a beauty

[Bassassin]

Had that since new, got it in 1984. Still in decent nick despite being my main gigging bass for 20+ years - unfortunately the neck twisted really badly, to the point of near-unplayability. Currently has an RSB Straycat neck as a replacement - not exactly the same or a perfect fit , it's a later model, possibly from after production moved to Korea. Hope I can find a proper RSB Deluxe neck one day, but it probably won't have that lovely blue/black burst!

[uk_lefty]

There's an Aria Pro II SB bass Facebook group that has lots of knowledgeable folk on all things 80s Aria bass. 

[Bassassin]

3 hours ago, uk_lefty said:

There's an Aria Pro II SB bass Facebook group that has lots of knowledgeable folk on all things 80s Aria bass. 

Already a member - like pretty much anywhere online with a vintage MIJ flavour...

 

[fleabag]

I might have to join that, as i have a Pro SB 900 that i'm planning to sell at some point

[uk_lefty]

9 hours ago, fleabag said:

I might have to join that, as i have a Pro SB 900 that i'm planning to sell at some point

Now seems to be the time, prices are good. For right handers at least

[TrevorR]

16 hours ago, fleabag said:

I might have to join that, as i have a Pro SB 900 that i'm planning to sell at some point

Ooooooh, so wish there was any way I could justify taking it off your hands. Always had a little hankering for an SB900! Loved Neil Murray's back in the day when I was starting out on my SB700.

[Chrisfefe]

It's a 1983 or 1984 MIJ RSB Standard. I've got one in sunburst and man, it's a smooth punchy bass. Plays so well en cuts through the mix nicely. Check Andy Irvine's review on it: https://youtu.be/xiThV7K6D40

[Skybone]

On 10/11/2020 at 01:16, Bassassin said:

It is. I've got one, looks like this:

I had the SB Special II (twice), which was the same bass, but with 2 of the "P" pole humbucker (instead of the J pickup at the bridge).

[Bassassin]

1 hour ago, Skybone said:

I had the SB Special II (twice), which was the same bass, but with 2 of the "P" pole humbucker (instead of the J pickup at the bridge).

Always had a bit of GAS for one of those. Never had a P/P bass in fact, but always had a sneaking suspicion it might turn out to be the answer to a question I've never actually asked.

[Skybone]

Nice and punchy sound to them, always liked the concentric pots.

That Deluxe is a beauty, always fancied one of those as well.

Stupidly part-exed my first Special for an Encore Strat. Always regretted it. Found another on eBay about 2005, unfortunately it didn't live up to my memory of them. Both were 1984 models.