Aria Pro II SB-600

This one was made in 1979, it's got a bolt-on maple neck but I swear you can't tell the difference to those top-end SB-1000's with the thru-neck. Basic passive electrics with control tone, volume and the parallel/serial coil switch for the single twin-coil soapbar pick-up. The fingerboard is rosewood and the body is ash (least that's the original Aria spec). Good narrow neck makes the strings almost parallel.

Good solid sound. I've used with a variety of amps and it does seem to prefer big old fashioned beasts with 15"/18" speakers rather than some of these new dinky ones. Can get a good range of tone but I prefer the full bass growl.

Fantastic smooth action, very low but no risk of buzz. Good finish and nice to handle and play. A heavy old boy though. I've bought a strap with a good shoulder pad otherwise it makes your shoylder ache after an gour or so.

Really only use if for live playing and it's great. Looks good and sounds good. Old Aria electrics were a bit notorious for developing noise so they need cleaning occasionally. Keeps good tuning, wouldn't dream of touching the setup now that it's settled. It's my main bass and although I'm looking for a fretless this will always be the one. Love it.

Although Aria are still out there making basses I don't think they would offer any support for this instrument after 28 years but then don't think I'll ever need it. They did a good enough job bakc in the 70's and 80's to make these basses to last a lifetime.

Nothings perfect (and I guess the slightly dodgy pots and jack could be seen as a let down) but I reackon these basses were as good as they ever got. I know there's a lot of greata basses out there but there's something about an old Aria Pro 2 SB thats hard to beat. A friend once described it as being like an old model BMW (by the way the bass is BLACK) - they just don't build them like that any more. If I lost it? - well it would be one of the things I'd grab first as I ran out of my house if it was on fire! Not easy to replace but I'd go looking for another one on Ebay for sure.

i think it was made bettween 78 or 82,,a little heavy and big ,24 frets. fretted, made in the usa it says custom body..4 strings laminated stripes of maple i think,, one volume control (enough for me) and tone and one swithch control .. one humbucker pasive. neck is rosewood ,body god knows what im not good on it it ,
has a natural finish that i love aria tuners not accesories included i think the guy that owned before had the case but didnt want to give it to me..

i use it mainly for rock it lack a little mids but i used a boss bass eq to solve the problem im not using amps only a sansamp di bass driver and use it only for a little ocverdrive ocasionally i had this bass for month is totally diferent from my kubicki or rickenbacker 4001
it had a medium light set so by mistake i put a heavier gauge tuned bead and it rocks

pretty cool it support the heaviest bead set strig with no problem, it has a brass nut
the bridge is alittle oxidized those days because i play close to the sea always in tune and octaved a very consistent bass

is rock har very solid hardare is heavy knob control looks a little fragile and im changing the tone knob..never need and adjutment even with the heavy string new set i use i dont bring a back up
i think it wouldnt let me down
seen like is gonna last forever

ill change the tone knobs and id love to have a hipshot d tuner on it
it has a cople scratches my fault the guy who sold it to me had it like brand new

i have ben using it as my main bass since a year ago
gallien krueger 400 rb
15 inch speaker sunn(dont laugh)
yes i would love to have another if smebody stole it
i love the look is exactly the same as john taylor on the reflex
video
i wish it had a d tuner hipshot

this is one of the marvelous matsumoku made arias of the 70's. these japanese instruments are getting to be extremely colectable as more and more people find out how sweet they are.

there are 24 frets. the body is solid mahogany as far as i can tell.

there is 1 volume, 1 tone, and a kill switch, which may have originally been a tap, but i do not tink so.

there is a single mb-1 pickup, passive electronics.
bolt on neck fits perfectly. the bridge is the common aria bridge of the time with the quick lock or something... very nice actually.

i bought this bass to record with ONLY. to this end, it has suited my needs exactly. the style is world / ethnic / spacerock.

i have only used it direct through an art mp preamp, into the korg oasys soundcard (whichs rules).

using the tone control (which has a very usful range of tones), i was able to dial in everything i needed, from a low peter gabirel bass to a hard edged brighter tone which went very well with a little overdrive.

great.

as i picked this bass up second hand (or more likely 5th or 6th hand...) from a pawn shop, i can not say how it came from the factory. i can say though that i was able to put a new set of strings on and hit the tracks without so much as a setup.

the brass nut and the quality bridge and tuners really make this bass feel solid and stable. no tuning issue at all.

this model was made in 1979. after 25 years of who knows what, i was able to pick this bass up out a pawn shop, change the strings, and start recording. i would say this is a sturdy bass that will last. i would certainly use it without a backup.

this version of this famous company is long, long gone. the factory started making swinger sewing machines!

i have been playing music for 21 years, professionally for 10. i have owned a music store and i manufacture musical instruments for a living. i know this stuff fairly well...
if you are looking for a VERY high quality bass (or guitar for that matter), but want to stay in a budget range, there is no other choice but one of the instruments made in the matsumoku factory. period.

the confusing part is knowing wich years which brands were made there. it spans from ari, aria pro II, aria diamond, westone, electra, univox, ibanex, greco... and not all o THOSE were made at uncle matt's. tricky, but once you figure out which ones are the ONES, you can get a VERY high quality instrument for well under $500.