Budget Aria SB1000?

[thegummy]

Anyone know of a bass that can get a similar sound to an Aria SB1000 but in the price and quality range of Squier Classic Vibe or Sterling Sub?

 

Doesn't have to look similar. 

 

Cheers.

[Norris]

The SB-1000 has some pretty crazy tone circuitry. I don't know of any other non-Aria basses that are similar. You can buy a replacement preamp (or at least you could a few years ago) on Ebay, made by a chap that used to be on here but I've not heard from in ages (Prostheta). As for the 6-position tone switch, there are/were diagrams to be found on the Internet with the cap values. It's quite complicated if you're going to make one up yourself.

 

I have a 1980 "batwing" SB-1000 btw

 

Edit: this might be useful reading, on a site that is my last known hang-out of Prostheta, who is the real expert in these basses

https://www.projectguitar.com/forums/topic/49256-aria-pro-2-sb1000/?page=2

Edited October 30, 2024 by Norris

[Hellzero]

Better buy an original one or a reissue model as there's nothing close to this bass, except the Aria SB-800, which is not that common at all 

 

Also remember that the strings spacing at the bridge is very narrow on the original model: 15.5 mm, but most of the time, you'll read 16 mm, hélas, it's really 15.5 mm!?!

 

The reissue called SB-1000B and made a few years ago was at 19 mm, which is way more playable.

 

There are some originals in France at quite decent prices:

 

https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/instruments_de_musique/2866075440

 

https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/instruments_de_musique/2219274676

 

 

And here's where @Prostheta sells his preamps and parts:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265814794036

 

Good quest.

[thegummy]

Thanks a lot guys. 

 

Had no idea it was such a complicated bass. Just been listening to Marillion a lot lately, loved the bass tone so much and looked up what it was. 

 

Thought it might be the pickup type/placement that was giving it, hadn't counted on there being unique gadgetry.

 

Appreciate the help.

[Woodinblack]

10 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Also remember that the strings spacing at the bridge is very narrow on the original model: 15.5 mm, but most of the time, you'll read 16 mm, hélas, it's really 15.5 mm!?!

 

The reissue called SB-1000B and made a few years ago was at 19 mm, which is way more playable.

 

I would call that way less playable. 

 

Why would you call something a reissue if it was so fundamentally different?

[Hellzero]

1 minute ago, Woodinblack said:

 

I would call that way less playable. 

 

Why would you call something a reissue if it was so fundamentally different?

 

Urm, urm...

[Grahambythesea]

Some Aria SB1000s have a problem with the electrics which were encased in wax. Probably best to check one carefully before buying.

[AndyTravis]

I had a very early 1000 and an 81/82 700.

 

to me the 700 sounded like the best bits of the 1000.

 

the similar set neck models seem to crop up a bit cheaper…

 

what a sound though. Great basses - weighty.

 

Aria have just started touting reissues online

 

https://www.musicstreet.co.uk/products/aria-sb-700-bass-guitar-oak

 

£1100+ though - not cheap

[Doctor J]

8 hours ago, Grahambythesea said:

Some Aria SB1000s have a problem with the electrics which were encased in wax. Probably best to check one carefully before buying.

The epoxy sealed pickups are notorious for dead coils. They are like a Precision pickup under the case, a coil for E and A at the front and another coil for D and G at the back. When one coil dies, which is sadly quite common, the pickup is useless. I tried one of Aaron Armstrong's replicas but it sounded nothing like the original, not even close.

[Norris]

1 hour ago, Doctor J said:

The epoxy sealed pickups are notorious for dead coils. They are like a Precision pickup under the case, a coil for E and A at the front and another coil for D and G at the back. When one coil dies, which is sadly quite common, the pickup is useless. I tried one of Aaron Armstrong's replicas but it sounded nothing like the original, not even close.

I don't know if he's still making them, but the most authentic replacement pickups are made by Rautia Guitars - based in Finland. The Armstrong pickups only look the same

 

Ah - I just looked and the website says he's retired

http://www.rautiaguitars.net/

 

I wonder if Aria might start selling spares for the re-issues

[Woodinblack]

18 minutes ago, Norris said:

I wonder if Aria might start selling spares for the re-issues

 

Presumably if the string spacing has changed from 15 to 19, they wouldn't be any use for the old ones.

[Hellzero]

Christoph Dolf from BassCulture pickups in Germany made me one replacement pickup a few years ago for an SB-800 and it sounded exactly like an original one.

[Hellzero]

Sadly, I just checked and he's not taking orders anymore, he's close to retirement and I think he's finishing his order book before it...

 

https://www.bassculture.de/

 

[Misdee]

On 29/10/2024 at 15:24, thegummy said:

Anyone know of a bass that can get a similar sound to an Aria SB1000 but in the price and quality range of Squier Classic Vibe or Sterling Sub?

 

Doesn't have to look similar. 

 

Cheers.

.

The SB100O was an iconic bass in it's heyday (the early 1980's) that really captured the zeitgeist of the time. They had a unique sound, and I can't really think of anything else that replicates it, regardless of price.I've always loved that sound, but they're not necessarily the most practical choice nowadays if the pickups are prone to failure and there's no easy replacement.

 

Also, they are  indeed pretty heavy by today's standards. Back in the olden days no one really bothered about how much basses weighed. Alembics were heavy, so that meant their disciples could be too.

 

Regarding the string spacing and neck dimensions ect, I've got some vague recollection that Aria made two versions, one for the Asian market with more slender dimensions and another for ham-fisted westerners like us. I could be mistaken, it's a long time ago, but then again I don't think I am.

Edited October 31, 2024 by Misdee

[Hellzero]

You're not totally wrong @Misdee, but it's about the type of bridge, not really the market as all SB-1000 of that golden era had the same specifications whatever market they were meant to.

 

Ok, here's the explanation, the wide bridge series were at 18 mm and the bridge was chrome abd it was often for the budget models.

 

The high end series had normal bridges with that delirious 15.5 mm and always in brass, hence gold tuners to match it.

 

Hope it helps.

[Jack]

Can someone please point me to an explanation of what exactly the preamp and six way switch do? Just curious! 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

The SB-R60 was basically an SB700 with "standard" string spacing, as well as a couple of other minor differences. I never had them down as budget versions.

 

They have different pickups as well - the R60 has a P-style layout and the 700 (and 1000) has two bar magnets under the cover.

 

SB700 and SB-R60:

 

[mikeswals]

On 30/10/2024 at 12:11, Woodinblack said:

 

I would call that way less playable. 

 

Why would you call something a reissue if it was so fundamentally different?

 

Aria calls it "high-end revisit".

Aria has been making the SB1000 again since about 2009. this time they're using Gotoh bridges and tuners, and to me the new bridge makes way more sense...I never dug the tight spacing.

 

https://ariaguitarsglobal.com/product/sb-1000rib/

[Woodinblack]

5 minutes ago, mikeswals said:

Aria calls it "high-end revisit".

Aria has been making the SB1000 again since about 2009. this time they're using Gotoh bridges and tuners, and to me the new bridge makes way more sense...I never dug the tight spacing.

 

Yes, to me it makes it a chocolate teapot, but we all have different ideas on these things. Always wanted one as a kid, and loved one when I played on years ago  but I guess I don't play 4 string either so unlikely that I would ever get one, but handy to know the reissues aren't the same as the proper ones.

[Misdee]

7 hours ago, Hellzero said:

You're not totally wrong @Misdee, but it's about the type of bridge, not really the market as all SB-1000 of that golden era had the same specifications whatever market they were meant to.

 

Ok, here's the explanation, the wide bridge series were at 18 mm and the bridge was chrome abd it was often for the budget models.

 

The high end series had normal bridges with that delirious 15.5 mm and always in brass, hence gold tuners to match it.

 

Hope it helps.

  You might well be right, but my recollection is that the narrow spacing basses had dot markers, the wider spaced ones  fancy oval inlays and were the deluxe model, the opposite of what you describe.

 

I remember oggling SB1000's in my local music shop when they were brand new. They were beautiful.Jack Bruce had one, Neil Murray had one, all the reviews said they were great, I wanted one. Ended up getting an Ibanez Musician Bass instead, which, ironically enough,according to his autobiography, is the bass John Taylor was after until he encountered the Aria. 

[ajkula66]

On 31/10/2024 at 22:08, Misdee said:

  I remember oggling SB1000's in my local music shop when they were brand new. They were beautiful.Jack Bruce had one, Neil Murray had one, all the reviews said they were great, I wanted one. Ended up getting an Ibanez Musician Bass instead, which, ironically enough,according to his autobiography, is the bass John Taylor was after until he encountered the Aria. 

 

I bought an SB1000 when they first came out. Yes, a Jack Bruce fan here...

 

Replaced it with an Ibanez MC924 which I found to be more versatile at the time.

 

A couple of years ago I re-visited the SB series by purchasing a near mint SB-900. One lovely bass, but I don't really play long scale basses anymore so off it went.

 

[nick]

On 31/10/2024 at 06:31, Doctor J said:

When one coil dies, which is sadly quite common, the pickup is useless. I tried one of Aaron Armstrong's replicas but it sounded nothing like the original, not even close.

 

On 31/10/2024 at 07:52, Norris said:

.....The Armstrong pickups only look the same

 

Not wanting to debate this, but I recently had to replace a dead MB-1 pickup in one of my 'Batwing' SB-700's with an Armstrong reproduction as Rautia are no longer producing them.

I honestly couldn't hear any discernible difference in tone when A/B'ing it against an identical SB-700 with it's original MB-1. 

The Armstrong sounded great IMHO.

[walshy]

Ive an SB1000 thats had the pick up swapped with an EMG, sounds glorious

[Cosmo Valdemar]

40 minutes ago, nick said:

 

 

Not wanting to debate this, but I recently had to replace a dead MB-1 pickup in one of my 'Batwing' SB-700's with an Armstrong reproduction as Rautia are no longer producing them.

I honestly couldn't hear any discernible difference in tone when A/B'ing it against an identical SB-700 with it's original MB-1. 

The Armstrong sounded great IMHO.

Good to hear - I've been speaking with Aaron about a replacement for my 700, it seems to be getting weaker. He told me he can make an exact replacement but his more popular option is one with a bit more "oomph".

[AndyTravis]

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