New Aria Pro II SB700

[LemonCello]

Has anyone tried one and what do you reckon?

 

I know they are made in Indonesia and prices vary from £865 for the Oak version (no case) from BAX to £1200 with a case elsewhere.

 

TIA

[Hellzero]

As they even recreated the original bridge, it should sound like the original, just hoping it's not a 15.5 mm strings spacing anymore, but at least an 18 mm strings spacing like all original chrome bridge models.

[JJMotown]

6 hours ago, LemonCello said:

prices vary from £865 for the Oak version

Not many stringed instruments made from Oak! Bloody heavy.

[LemonCello]

47 minutes ago, JJMotown said:

Not many stringed instruments made from Oak! Bloody heavy.

Think they are referring to the colour dude

[LemonCello]

I went and played one today at A Strings in Pontypridd.  They do play very nicely, build quality seems a cut above, no rough edges of corners.  Neck quite skinny front to back.  Lovely rosewood fingerboard and frets very neatly installed.  The only negative I can see is that it is boat anchor heavy!  I can't recall if my 1982 SB600 was that heavy?

 

If you like a quality neck thru retro passive and don't mind the weight you could do worse.

[Hellzero]

My mate of the bass duet plays an original one: it's damn heavy, and they've always been whatever SB series model...

[Skybone]

The weight was always a downside to the SB range. They always were darn fine basses though, and the current repro's look great. Shame they're not doing a twin pickup version at the moment, as I'd be very tempted.

[dudewheresmybass]

where have you seen them for £865 pls?

[LemonCello]

13 hours ago, dudewheresmybass said:

where have you seen them for £865 pls?

They have an Oak one for £865 and a Walnut one for £955 in Bax Music.

[Bass Direct]

We can get these, but have only bothered with the SB-1000's so far, as thats where most interest seems to be.

[mikebass456]

On 26/01/2025 at 18:24, LemonCello said:

Think they are referring to the colour dude

The neck on my self-build was from oak window ledges that nextdoor were chucking in the skip.🤪👍

[mikebass456]

On 26/01/2025 at 18:24, LemonCello said:

Think they are referring to the colour dude

Actually, the Paduak Red model looks remarkably similar to my Westone Thunder 3 that I'm in the process of moving on.......😎

[dudewheresmybass]

4 hours ago, LemonCello said:

They have an Oak one for £865 and a Walnut one for £955 in Bax Music.

Thank you. 
I did msg bass direct a while back about these and was told that they had no plans to get the 700s in. 
looks like things might change 😉

[BassAgent]

4 hours ago, LemonCello said:

They have an Oak one for £865 and a Walnut one for £955 in Bax Music.

Bax is a Dutch company and I always discourage people to buy from Bax. The company has been in the news in recent years for bad working circumstances, low salaries, people being put under too much stress, overtime not being paid... I have to say those stories are from a few years back but there are still employees that report bad stuff happening just to earn more money for the company.

 

On 26/01/2025 at 18:36, JJMotown said:

Not many stringed instruments made from Oak! Bloody heavy.

But an SB is supposed to be heavy. Just like a T-40. If Peavey ever reissues that I hope it's over 14 lbs.

[TrevorR]

On 27/01/2025 at 20:04, dudewheresmybass said:

where have you seen them for £865 pls?

 

On 28/01/2025 at 10:04, LemonCello said:

They have an Oak one for £865 and a Walnut one for £955 in Bax Music.

25% discount on the Oak colour one. 
 

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/complete-assortment?keyword=Aria sb

 

Was looking at them in Rose Morris the other week when wandering past Denmark Street. They look very nicely put together and really very similar to my ‘82 SB700