thegummy Posted Tuesday at 15:24 Share Posted Tuesday at 15:24 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted Wednesday at 00:07 Share Posted Wednesday at 00:07 (edited) 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 Wednesday at 00:12 by Norris 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted Wednesday at 08:51 Share Posted Wednesday at 08:51 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegummy Posted Wednesday at 19:07 Author Share Posted Wednesday at 19:07 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted Wednesday at 19:11 Share Posted Wednesday at 19:11 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? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted Wednesday at 19:12 Share Posted Wednesday at 19:12 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted Wednesday at 21:43 Share Posted Wednesday at 21:43 Some Aria SB1000s have a problem with the electrics which were encased in wax. Probably best to check one carefully before buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted Wednesday at 22:14 Share Posted Wednesday at 22:14 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted 17 hours ago Share Posted 17 hours ago 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted 17 hours ago Share Posted 17 hours ago 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted 16 hours ago Share Posted 16 hours ago 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted 16 hours ago Share Posted 16 hours ago 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/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted 7 hours ago Share Posted 7 hours ago (edited) 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 7 hours ago by Misdee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted 7 hours ago Share Posted 7 hours ago 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago Can someone please point me to an explanation of what exactly the preamp and six way switch do? Just curious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago 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: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeswals Posted 2 hours ago Share Posted 2 hours ago 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/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted 2 hours ago Share Posted 2 hours ago 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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