Product: Aria Pro II RSB Special-1
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
05/22/2007
at
02:08am
by
Rock Mumbles
Features
:
8
1985 Japanese made by Matsumoku, 22 frets, 4 string, Aria MB-IV "soapbar" pickup, passive volume and tone controls, Alder body bolt-on maple neck w/ rosewood fingerboard, Black finish, Aria die-cast bridge tailpiece, Gotoh tuners 4 on a side, slim fast neck. I gave it an 8 for features because of having one pickup and a poorly positioned top strap button.
Sound
:
9
I love the neck, and the piano like acoustic sound. I haven't really played it "out yet" but set up with Ernie Ball Extra Slinky strings and plugged into a practice amp the sound is amazing. The sound is nice and full but not boomy, it has clear mids and highs. Since it only has one pickup and a tone knob the variety of sounds available using the controls are somewhat limited by today's "standards" but the sound is really nice and sensitive to playing position and technique. A "modern" sound in a 22 year old passive bass.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
I got this thing used from a pawn shop, it is 22 years old and has had a hard life, but other than bring abused this thing rocks!
The only thing I've done is put on new (lighter) strings, adjust the trusrod and file the nut down a bit.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
By looking at this bass, it should be able to withstand anything I'll ever put it through. The neck is small and a bit flexible but it plays good. It is just plain beat up (abused) and has a bunch of dings and nicks but the finish is good where it hasn't been damaged. The strap buttons are solid, but one of the screws on the bridge seems to be stripped out. Also after 22 years it needs a new input jack and probably new pots as well.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
N/A
Overall Rating
:
9
I'm a bass hacker (hobbyist), I started playing in 1966, bought a brand new Jazz Bass in the case for $285 in 1968, (wish I still had that one). But I've never really been serious about playing, I play for fun, I don't want to make playing bass a job. Currently I have a really nice playing 89 Korean Squire P-bass with a sweet neck and a custom rewound vintage Fender pickup. A friend who is an amazing bass player just got an Aria SB-1000 (I think) and told me about them, I've been looking at Matsumoku basses on e-bay etc. and found this in a pawn shop.
If I could find another Aria RSB I would buy it, I'm already spoiled by the Aria, if I lost it or it got broke I would try to find another one.
