Hey there everyone!
I recently purchased an Aria pro II rsb Special for $100 on craigslist. I have read some reviews on this bass and since it was my birthday, I figured "why not".
Well the "why not" is a pretty extensive list. I found out that its pretty much a project bass. Here is a pic in original condition.
So there are cracks in the finish and holes where someone mounted a thumb rest. the nut was cracked. the headstock is cracked where the tuner screws meet the wood. The pickup was rusty and as I found out later someone had very poorly installed a preamp in the bass. Basicaly, cranking the volume knob caused horrible distortion (not the good kind).
When I pulled the electronics plate off I noticed the preamp. It looked like someone had dripped solder onto the pots into a little pile wherever wires were connected. The wires basically pulled right out of the connections with minimal effort. Supposedly this was a professional installation.......right.
So for starters I pulled all the electronics and replaced them.
New wire, new pots, new cap. SOOOOOO much better. The tone is actually pretty damn good. Next I re-glued the headstock and moved the tuner mounting screws OUT of the crack.
Next came a new Nut - brass. I had to buy a guitar nut and file it myself to get it to fit. Took about an hour with crappy tools.
So now its FINALLY playable.
Then I decided that I didnt like the finish anymore. I have never had a green bass and this one is a good candidate. I bought some finishing products from the Guitar Reranch and went to work.
I had some problems with the wood. Found out that its actually about 5 2x4's glued together and then a laminate top and back. the 2x4's are soft, so sanding and dying the wood was a pain in the rear.
My cat couldnt help but get into my finishing box........
The color turned out really well. I finished it off with a clear coat of Nitro.
I then decided to get threaded inserts for the neck to see if the "sustain and clarity" argument was true. As it turns out it definitely helps.
Overall, I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Its a wonderful instrument, definitely worth holding onto.
