Aria Pro II SB-700

Japanese Aria ProII SB700, made around 1978/9 AFAIK. 24-fret rosewood fingerboard on maple/walnut laminate through-body neck. Body is 2-piece ash, in walnut finish. The finish on this bass is indestructible. Single passive double coil pickup (original) with coil tap switch, volume and tone pots. Body shape is typical double horn, a bit like a Jazz but with less asymmetry and less rounded horns. Machine heads, bridge and nut are all brass, which looks nice but I'm not sure I really believe the hype about it improving the sound. The saddles are nice, easy to adjust and intonation has never been a problem. Truss rod access is via the head end. The neck is long and narrow, wit hgood access tothe upper registers at the body end.
I bought it used, and it came with a nuclear fallout shelter for a case. Not sure if it's original, but I think I think it was built by the same people that make blackbox flight recorders.

Very bright sound to this bass with lots of mid. Good definition well suited to complex scale runs rather than a thumping backbeat - think Jack Bruce rather than Pete Way. I suspect it's be pretty good for slap, but that's not really me. A bit '80s-sounding (didn't John Taylor play one of these?), but the coiltap does give some versatility. It's great in the studio, with no noise at all and good clean output for D.I. It does have more sustain than any other bass I've ever played and has no dead spots. The sound is consistent right the way up the neck. One thing I don't like so much is the lacquer on the neck, which seems to generate a lot of friction so your hand sometimes sticks.

Bought used in 1986 for 180 GBP (a steal!), but it was obviously well-loved and uncustomised. No problems at all, and could have been brand new and freshly set up. I think they designed it to last.

Never had a problem with it in almost 20 years. Pots are still clean, neck is straight, finish is tough . A bit of brasso once a year to keep the tarnish off the brass hardware and some lemon oil on the fretboard keeps it going. I used to gig with a backup, but never used it except when snapping a string. A great bass - buy one.

Never had any dealings with Aria at all. I doubt if they'd still offer any kind of support on bass sthis old anyway. It's never needed repair.

Been playing for almost 30 years, and this was my main bass in the 80s through a Trace Elliot 8x10 stack. I've seen these basses on ebay quite cheap, and still think they're a steal as long as you're not looking for a Thunderbird. Great for complex playingthat requires a lot of note definition - bit like a Rickenbacker but with more mid and without the growl. I like this period in Japanese guitar building history - they produced so many great instruments in the late '70s/early '80s, before the real rack,pack,stack mentality set in. Early Aria (and Ibanez) guitars have a nice vibe and are real products of the age. Lots of new technology breaking away from the slavery of copying Leo Fender's babies - double octave neck, active electronics (although the SB700 is passive), [slightly] exotic woods, through-body neck, coil taps, brass hardware - I think these will become serious vintage some day soon.

I just love used instruments! Maybe I'm totally cheap, but i honestly can't see myself buying anything new when you can get such great deals if you look out! Such a deal happened when I found my Aria bass a few months ago!
Judging from the previous reviews, I now know what Aria bass I have (there are no model markings anywhere!), and the music store I got it from had no clue!
Like everyone else has also mentioned, this instrument is a neck through body, 24 fret neck design. Body is ash (and heavy!), neck is rosewood (or similar).
my instrument came with some seriously screwed wiring done after the fact! The original pickups, while producing some great tonal colours, didn't have even string to string balance (E string was louder than the others). The active stuff had been removed (no idea what it was, although I've seen pics of a simliar instrument in the 80's with an LED indicator and a funky looking toggle on the front!).

Like I mentioned above, the string balance (soundwise) was kinda sucky! I replaced the original pickups with a pair of EMG 40-P (the only one s that would fit the pickup cavities), and an EMG EXB expander.
The tone I get now is incredibly even. the bass sparkles, with a funky cut in the midrange (even with EXB set to flat), and it sustains for days (result of neck through body construction). I love using this bass for my "Flea Sounds" at gigs. It is killer for slapping and tapping. I didn't even have to change the action (just intonation) when I installed new strings! This bass stays, of course it is a VERY close second to my Yamaha BBN 4 (see my review on this site as well!). Not a perfect score, because I had to redo the electronics, but the basis of this instrument just enhances the newer electronics!

The neck is as stable as they come. Even when I was cleaning the instrument up (where it sat on the workbench for the better part of a month!), the neck didn't need readjusting or anything of the sort. The brass nut was loose and had to be reglued in. The tuning pegs are the next on the list to be replaced, as they are rather loose felling. they stay in tune, but I can see them wearing out very shortly. Everything else just needed the spit and polish!!!

I have only used the instrument in the clubs twice and at a few rehearsals. Both my guitarists in one band love the tone with EMGs, while the other band only got to hear the original electronics (didn't think they would notice the string voluem balance problem! Oops!). As mentioned above, the bass will be used for the more "intricate" playing, like slapping and tapping.

I sent Aria the serial number off the back of the headstock and I was told that because the instrument was made before they changed owners, they couldn't even tell me the correct model number, much less sell me any parts (pickups were the concern before EMG stepped in!).

I am not exactly sure of the model number of my bass but I am pretty sure this was it. It was the single pickup model. I bought this bass in 1985 and sold it in 1994. I wish I hadn't. I have been trying to find one in the same condition as the one I sold for a similar price. This instrument has the through body neck design, with laminates strips of maple and rosewood and a rosewood fingerboard. The body is ash. With it's natural finish it is probably one of the most beautiful instruments you could ever own. The neck is a bit thicker than what you will find on many new basses, but it is not oppressive by any means.

I was playing in a cover band that played everything from the 50's through the 80's and this bass always fit the bill. The sound range of this bass is awesome. Between the volume and tone and the single/dual coil pickup selector switch you can get this bass to do it all.

I never once touched the action or pickups. This bass was so stable, I could go a few days, take it out of it's case, and it would always be in tune. The finish on this instrument was second to none.

I used this bass on too many gig's to count. Everything about it is first rate. I never put a nick in the finish in all the years I used it but then again I'm a little excessive-compulsive about my equipment. I never brought a backup for this bass and never needed one.

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I sold this bass along with my string bass and a few amps for food money when I was starting a non-music related business and I have regreted it ever since. At the time it seemed like the only option. Now that this business has grown I have been searching for another one of these excellent instruments. Either the owners want way too much, or they have not been as e/c as I am and the ax is chipped all over. I just keep looking.

I got this bass used for $185. It was dirt cheap because the pickup was shot. I put a Dimarzio modal G in and was able to use the bass as a main insrument from 1985 to about 1995. It still is used consistently onstage as my main 4 string. I also use a 5 string about 75% of the time. I think it is an '80. 24 frets, 5 piece maple/walnut neck thru, Japanese ash wings. The neck is super long on this model and has held up through 15 years of gigging and climate changes. Chunky neck, though easy to get around on. Solid brass bridge and nut. Standard tuners w/ small gears. Everything on this bass has a purpose; it is super practical and well thought-out.

This thing sounds great for that tight, progressive approach. The low end rides along smoothly underneath as the top end grinds away like a buzz saw, sorta like a solid state Rick. Works equally well with both fingers or a pick. The sound is not as thick as a Precision, but is all there and cuts through (Think John Taylor from Duran Duran in the Rio days. Believe it or not, I played country for 2 years with this bass.
I think it records well, also. It has got a natural compression which suits a hard attack. Also good for slapping.
Some people would think that this bass is thin sounding, but with a good preamp and a twist of the bass knob on your amp, this thing rips and fills up the bottom end of a band.

I got this SB700 used and it has never needed tweaking. Its built like a rock. The finish chips easily. There is a slight dead spot on the G string around C.

This bass held up through all kinds of gigs in all kinds of weather for over 10 years. Its very heavy, but the balance is extremely good and quite comfortable to play. I would depend on this bass for any type of gig. As a matter of fact, I could pull it out of its case right now and it would probably be in tune and ready to go. I always bring a back-up, but I don't think I would need it

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If you see one of these used for under 300, buy it. It will come in handy for a number of gigs. I have never seen basses in this price range built so well. Get out yer pick and lean in on it. You'll find the sound is different that your standard Fender sound, and you'll be cutting through the mix with ease. It is very easy to play and the riffs will come easily.