| Author | Message | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 53 Registered: 3-2006 |
  | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 797 Registered: 10-2003 |
Nice! | ||
| trekster
Intermediate Member Username: trekster Post Number: 116 Registered: 7-2004 |
* d r o o l * | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 285 Registered: 5-2006 |
An extreme form of Badge it! Very nice bass/electronics, congrats! | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 54 Registered: 3-2006 |
Thanks.The bigger knob is the Filter by the way, I chose it on purpose as it gives finer control over the sweep. I saw some Stanley and Jaco's videos at yourtubes.com and on several occasion I saw these guys having a bit of a "hard" time adjusting their "knobs" ;) LOL, and I though that using a bigger one is more precise, a bit like on old hifi system where you get those huge volume knobs... well I like it, it feels like an old analog synth you know... | ||
| georgie_boy
Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 88 Registered: 8-2005 |
Even the wood grain is superb!! What is it??? Enjoy your your bass! G | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 55 Registered: 3-2006 |
Thanks, the body should be Alder or Ash, I am not knowledgeable enough to tell exactly which one it is... and the neck is made of Maple + Walnut which was standard on most if not all SBs. I enclose a couple of links for Aria SB admirers: Huge archive + photos/catalogs, make sure to visit the rest of the site... and plenty of info + photos... | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 770 Registered: 10-2002 |
Nice bass LG. I gad the use of an SB1000 fretless around 1980 and loved it. I bet it sounds even better with those fatboys. Graeme | ||
| lidon2001
Advanced Member Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 208 Registered: 4-2005 |
Great bass. I used to own a SB 1000 as my cheap pseudo-Alembic. But might I suggest www.thgknobs.com. I think the bass deserves it. T | ||
| trekster
Intermediate Member Username: trekster Post Number: 117 Registered: 7-2004 |
For the Aria SB series, the body parts are solid ash (in some instances I have seen this also referred to as "zen" wood, but have never found a good definition to link it to or distiguish it from Ash), and the neck is a 5 piece maple and walnut. As an aside, the only other Aria bass that I have seen that was modified with Alembic electronics was on ebay about 3 years ago..and claimed it was an SB bass once owned by Rudy Sarzo in his Quiet Riot days. --T | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 56 Registered: 3-2006 |
Graeme and T, this is some crazy coincidence, I am just working on my own SB 1000 right now, I have removed the frets as it only came with 10 frets! So, I am doing the final touch on the neck, I've already lined it, the wood looks good as well. I have already tested it fretless and taped it, you could hear it over here if you wanted... As for the knobs... well, you know,I didn't order the original Alembics because they were over my budget, so I got these from Maplin/UK and they do the trick for now. The one you are showing are top of the range stuff, I can't really afford these sort of things, especially now I am planning to upgrade the Alembic electronics further... I really like that sound you know;) --T, an other crazy coincidence, I saw a framed ad on ebay showing Rudy Sarzo with the very same Bass I've upgraded (SB Elite 2 in Padouk red as well). Some photos of my SB 1000 on the bench (although I started this a month ago, and I did string it to try it in between)    | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 984 Registered: 9-2002 |
One of the great Japanese basses of the 80s (along with the Ibanez Musicians, Yamaha BBs, and the Daion Double xs) updated with modern horsepower. This thing will SMOKE with Fatboys, and wood wise they were built like tanks with an original yet familiar look. Congratulations, LG, that's a fantastic update for a great axe. I loved these orange-y, vermillion-looking ones. But it needs cooler knobs! J o e y | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 57 Registered: 3-2006 |
Thanks Joey. These Aria basses are for the poor-man indeed  and I love them. In fact, I was able to get four (x4) SBs for nearly the price of the Persuader I had (some crazy story again...), I know it sounds funny, but its real... My "poor-man's" collection is made of one SB 700 (1980), one SB 900 (1982), one SB 1000 (1979) and SB Elite 2 (198?). BUT, if one day I can afford it, I'll fly to America, straight to Santa Rosa, bring some flowers for Mica & Susan, maybe a spliff for Ron and Valentino (I am joking but who knows )... And I would order an SC short scale with signature 5 electronics, something unheard of... then some custom pedals to control filter sweeps... directly from the bass... Well, it is good to dream sometimes you know... As for the knobs, I know... these only cost me about $5 in total!, right now I have priorities and am getting two more Fatboys to use on the SB 900, I managed to get some Alembic harness, by accident or fate, but I am glad it happened! Well, I am going to post a photo and a brief explanation... | ||
| trekster
Intermediate Member Username: trekster Post Number: 118 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hey, SB's are not the only Aria neck thru's-- for those who like medium scale, find a Thor Series (TSB) bass. Not all of them (it depends on the year), but the early Thor's were neck-thru, and came in one and two-pickup flavors. My last Aria is a TSB-650 from 1980.. I'm in the process of modifying it as well to fretless and replacing pickups.. she is a bit beat up finish wise, but still plays like a champ. | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 63 Registered: 3-2006 |
Yes, I have seen pictures of these, they look very similar to the SBs, I am sure they sound good too. In fact there are several photos + info available where I posted links further up on this thread. | ||
| trekster
Intermediate Member Username: trekster Post Number: 120 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hey lg -- I've had both an SB1000 and SB900 in my past bass holdings. In both cases, I took the bridge and it's saddles to the closest brass shop and had them polished and relacquered. Worth every penny of the $15 I spent. In the case of the SB900, I also switched out the chrome gotoh heads and replaced them with gold -- made for a much better match to the bridge. Very attractive. --T | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 64 Registered: 3-2006 |
--T what happen to them? Sacrilege  Well, you know what, I have just finished the neck of my SB 1000 few minutes ago, it is now "dead" straight, and it is going to be fretless for the meantime. I am using some nice Danish oil, I have applied the first coat already, will carry on gradually over few days... In fact, it's funny you've mentioned polishing the bridge, I was just talking about this with my other half, as well as upgrading the Tuners when I get richer! The sad thing is, I am in London and it is hard to find places to get the bridge polished + relacquered, I don't know were to go, and it would probably cost an arm and a leg other here! I have done the SB 700 bridge, which was in a bad state, it took me so loooong to do it by hand without the machine... Well, I am going to enquire and see if I can find a place + a good deal, and funny again, I have to do the bridge on the SB 1000 as well as the SB 900. Are you guys spying on me thru satellites, with hidden cameras or something ??? Since have been re-watching the whole Twilight Zone series, strange things happened to me!!! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 988 Registered: 9-2002 |
Aria (www.ariaguitars.com, the Japanese/World website) lists the SB1000RI (ReIssue) as well as their swell SWB electric uprights. The SB's carry over from the John Taylor (DuranDuran) reissues from a few years ago, and are identical to their 80s forebears. Damn shame that Aria's nitwit importer in this country won't bring them here, but good for our friends in other parts of the world. Their top-shelf PE electric guitars are fabulous as well, and ALSO unavailable in the US. They AREN'T cheap, as they're true Japanese production. Amazing how few 'Japanese' guitars are still made in Japan due to their labor rates. Unfortunate, as we don't see the Yamaha SGs, these Arias, and several other FarEast-only gems. J o e y | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2006 |
(sent twice..) (Message edited by LG71 on August 25, 2006) | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 68 Registered: 3-2006 |
Joey, I have seen those reissues here in London (Bass Cellar/Denmark Street), there was one on eBay as well two months ago, it didn't sell!!! Why? Well, they are not exactly like the originals, the bridge is different in shape and material, die cast as opposed to brass... the neck was running nearly parallel on the originals (similar to the Alembic), now it is more like the "standard", narrow at the nut... I didn't even want to try it. Oh, another thing that shocked me a bit, the two bigger pieces of maple on the neck, had a different color, and to me it looked really odd! So, I have seen two in the shop, and one on eBay, both had the same "newer" features, on the other hand, I the pickup should be the same as the original. And yes, it wasn't cheap, about $3000 in the shop, but the one on eBay which looked new, was going for half that price. I bet the original buyer on eBay was a bit disappointed, I don't know... | ||
| trekster
Intermediate Member Username: trekster Post Number: 121 Registered: 7-2004 |
No indeed! Not like the originals. And NOT cheap copies, either! One other thing -- when I got my SB900, it had non-Aria pickups in it. Not thinking about Alembic at the time (sorry), I contacted the distributor of Aria stuff in Japan and got a set of pickups shipped over. These pickups, although VERY nice sounding, were not yank-and-replace with original Aria pickups either -- I had to enlarge the pickup cavity by 1/8" on either side to accomidate them. And, although this is actually an improvment, the new pickups were 4-conductor wiring instead of the vintage Aria 3-conductor. I still wired it for series/parallel, but I could have just as easily put a 3-way switch in and wired it for s/p/single coil. Oh, and lq, the reason I don't have the Arias is the same reason I am currently Alembic-less.. life and money needs. I will one day own both again. --T | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 304 Registered: 5-2006 |
I love these basses. I'd like to get a black one with one pick up and oval inlays, just like the one Cliff Burton (RIP) used. What type would that be? Cheers! F.C. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 991 Registered: 9-2002 |
I'd been told they were good re-issues, I stand corrected. J o e y | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 69 Registered: 3-2006 |
--T, thanks for your valuable info regarding the newer Aria pickups being bigger than the originals. About the money problems, I can only sympathize with you, because I am in a similar situation myself... You know, I had to borrow money to get what I wanted, including those Arias, it has been the only way for me for the last few years, since I lost my day job because I got seriously injured by simply doing my job! Then what, I can't even play my Basses thru an amp! (I don't have one anyway) I use headphones most of the time, very occasionally and quietly thru the speakers via a Bass Pod. Why, because I can hear my neighbors thru the walls and floor, to a point were there is zero privacy! This is London my friend (when you are poor). I wish I could play at least one or two hours everyday at a reasonable level thru my speakers. One day maybe... I always say to myself an others, don't complain, there are/will always be people in a worse scenario, so I think about them, and it gives me strength to cary on the journey... F.C the models with the oval inlays were the Elites and SBRs (including SBR Black and Gold series). Although, I heard that some artists had custom models made for them. Why don't you check out the two links I have provided, it will answer all your questions... As a side not, why I like those Arias so much, IMHO, it's the best "wood" for the money. Indeed, the poor man's Bass. | ||
| blazer
Member Username: blazer Post Number: 91 Registered: 12-2003 |
In the late eighties, Aria even offered a version of their SB series that had Alembic pickups and electronics as a standard feature. I'm kinda surprised nobody seems to be aware of those. Anyway, here's my Aria SB 700 bass. Nice one but a bit on the hefty side...  | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 72 Registered: 3-2006 |
Nice , my 700 looks exactly the same in fact, apart that I have cut the excess on the E string , this is the good ones, you can tell by the headstock, and the pickup should be an MB1, as opposed to MB2s on the post 80's models, the tunings as well, they changed after 1980. While all SB 1000s had MB1s even after 1980... So, at that time, lucky were the people who bought the cheaper models early! Well I am from 1971 and when I was a teenager I knew nothing about basses, in fact I have only discovered Aria SBs few years ago and by accident, I gathered that they were nice instruments and suited me very well, especially compared to what was available new for the same price. For example, my SB 700 cost me $400, to me it still a lot of money, but I know that there is nothing out there that can touch it for this sort of money. Chris from the Bass center/London did tell me that there use to be some Arias with Alembic pickups + electronics, I didn't know, I am also surprised that Mica doesn't seem to be aware of it, otherwise I think she would have mentioned it to me. Does anyone know anything about it? like what Alembic part/specs was fitted exactly, and how much those models used to cost... | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 309 Registered: 5-2006 |
Thanx lg71, I will check the links. Very nice collection you have there, congrats! Here are some pictures of Cliff with an Aria:   He also played the "Dot" version:  Cheers! | ||
| alembic83
Junior Username: alembic83 Post Number: 16 Registered: 9-2004 |
Hello, sorry to join this thread so late. To: Lg71, nice basses! I also collect SBs. It's harder to "collect" Alembics due to their price, but I do have one spoiler (see link below). If I ever come across a gutted SB (there do seem to be a lot of them with bum pickups), I will definitley consider bringing it back to life with Alembic guts! To FC_spoiler: the Aria Cliff is with in the top pics you posted is an SB Black 'n' Gold I (passive pickup - at least mine is - die cast black/gold bridge, gold tuners). The bottom one, the dot inlay model, is the SB-1000 (brass bridge, chrome tuners, "BB active circuit" w/ 6 position tone selector). I believe he must have had his SB1000 custom finished in all black. I've never seen any other SB1000s like that. They all had the maple/walnut neck finished in a clear coat (think John Taylor). Also, I recently picked up a re-issue Aria SB-1000CB (Cliff Burton model) in Tokyo. It's basically the same as the John Taylor re-issue, but black. The previous posters are correct, this is not exactly the same as the original SB-1000. The bridge is not the original brass but it's a Gotoh die cast. Nothing too remarkable about it. The fretboard is shaped more like the other SB models, such as SB Elite series and R-60/80 models with wider string spacing. The neck on my original SB1000 feels a lot chunkier, so in that regard I like the playablilty of the re-issue a little better. Also, as others have said, the electronics/pickup are not exactly the same, but they seem pretty close. I think they got it about as close as they could. The volume/tone knobs are a little smaller. Also, I *think* the active bypass switch maybe located in a lower position on the re-issue. Have to check. I've only had mine a couple months but construction seems very good. It seems like a very high quality instrument to me, but it's not the same as the original models. I guess at first glance they do seem to be identical but if you are a stickler for details you will find a lot of little things that are different. The SB1000 never had oval inlays for example, never had black hardware, etc. Which reminds me: Aria put the black Gotohs on the bass with a slight downward angle. I guess it makes tuning easier, which is the only reason I can think of doing that, because to me it just looks bad, like they made a mistake (but all of the latest re-issue models are like this now). If anyone wants to see my SB collection (well not ALL of them are mine. I have since sold many of them) and my Spoiler please check out this link: http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c104/AriaProII/ Jason | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 85 Registered: 3-2006 |
Jason, nice collection you have too... Which SBs in order do you prefer playing (and sound) and why? | ||
| alembic83
Junior Username: alembic83 Post Number: 17 Registered: 9-2004 |
Thanks...As far as sound I tend to lean towards the red SB-R80 I have right now. I can get some pretty diverse tones with the two pickups it has. It's also a little more lightweight than some of the other SBs so more comfortable to play. The list will probably change, but right now I'd say, in order: SB-R80 (as stated above. Ironically, I guess this is the black sheep (or red sheep maybe) since it's the only non-black bass I have at the moment!) SB-1000CB Re-issue (slimmer neck than the old 1000, big variety of tones) SB-Black n Gold I (just good overall tone and playability, not as heavy as the black Elite I) SB-1000 black original (very heavy and thick neck, but it does have the classic tone) SB-Elite I, black (very heavy, nice thin neck, good tone but not quite as good as the BnG I which it is very similar to). Jason | ||
| lg71
Member Username: lg71 Post Number: 91 Registered: 3-2006 |
Great! The SBR80 is like the Elite 2 in fact, which is true, it is very light compared to the other SBs. I personally much prefer the "thick" neck, which is narrower as you move down (a bit like the Alembics, nearly "parallel"), and as I have got very small hands, I find easier to play higher notes down the neck. With the "thin" neck, it is wider and harder the play at the base for me. |
