Aria & Aria Pro II Club (Part Three)

[Anthony Barrett]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

How would guys compare the quality of the late 70s-mid 80's Arias to the Ibanez Musicians of the time?

Hi - never A:B'd them personally. I remember liking the MC924 Musicians, they had a great piano-like quality. Adam Clayton plays one on the U2 Live at Red Rocks gig on some songs. Loads of you-tube content on there. You can really hear the tone on "40" (which Edge plays bass on) in that gig.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by Anthony Barrett

Hi - never A:B'd them personally. I remember liking the MC924 Musicians, they had a great piano-like quality. Adam Clayton plays one on the U2 Live at Red Rocks gig on some songs. Loads of you-tube content on there. You can really hear the tone on "40" (which Edge plays bass on) in that gig.

That is on my list of dream 80's basses. Just curious how it stacks up against the AP SB-1000

[Pauly 4001]

Originally Posted by Pauly 4001

That's the model I just got, though mine was in the natural finish with red body wings. Same stacked knobs and pickup selector. It should be back from the tech this week with new frets and fixed wiring, unless there turn out to be pickup troubles. Half of each pickup was out but it looked like it had been rewired. I've also got an Elite II in the green finish with a Kahler whammy bar and soapbar bartolini's. I've now come across at least two other Aria's with the Kahler while searching this site, was this some sort of factory option?

Well, I'm now truly a member of the Aria Pro II club: I got my beautiful Elite II back from the shop with a new fret job and a great set up. All it needs now is a pair of replacement pickups. Half of each pickup is bad so I'll be contacting Kent Armstrong soon. Serial number of the Padauk model is #4013274 and the green Elite II with Kahler whammy bridge is #3124980. Has anyone ordered from K.A lately? Are there other options such as a replacement from Aria? Anyone try Alembic or Bartolini's? I knew there were electronic issues when I bought it but once I started reading about the epoxied pickups and their failure rate on this site I knew I was in trouble. Happy new year.

[Alembic83]

Hello, remember, no pics means no basses.

I've seen/had Barts and Alembics in SBs as replacements. They are different sounds of course, so it just depends on if you want the original sound or something different. I got lucky and found Alembics at a good price, usually they will be super expensive and you'll also need the Alembic activators to use them. Also, you will need to route the cavity a little bit for Barts and Alembic, at least in my experience.

For SB replacements, I know someone on here (Odin?) went the Armstrong route and was happy.

There is also Reed James:
http://reedjamescustom.com/id22.html

But I don't of anyone that has tried these. Also, he epoxies his too so maybe they'd fail at some point, too, especially if you live in an area that has hot and cold extremes, which apparently causes the epoxy to shrink and damage the pickup.

Finally, there is an outside chance of the current Aria US distributor (Jim Chen at Audio Images) or the former distributor (Dana B Goods) having replacement pickups. I bought one from Dana B Goods a couple of years ago and it sounded like the original to me.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Pauly 4001

Well, I'm now truly a member of the Aria Pro II club: I got my beautiful Elite II back from the shop with a new fret job and a great set up. All it needs now is a pair of replacement pickups. Half of each pickup is bad so I'll be contacting Kent Armstrong soon. Serial number of the Padauk model is #4013274 and the green Elite II with Kahler whammy bridge is #3124980. Has anyone ordered from K.A lately? Are there other options such as a replacement from Aria? Anyone try Alembic or Bartolini's? I knew there were electonic issues when I bought it but once I started reading about the epoxied pickups and their failure rate on this site I knew I was in trouble. Happy new year.

[zuma]

I finally put up another YouTube video:
http://youtu.be/mXyAmWycksE

This one just screamed for me to use my SB-1000. Enjoy the rich Aria tone everyone!

P.S. That bass is using Prostheta's replacement preamp.

[Anthony Barrett]

Hey Zuma,
First off, hope you have received / will receive some positive news about Boo. Good luck there.

Now the playing. Wow. That tone is to die for. Also a great bass line very, very well played. Thanks for sharing.

EDIT: Oh and what bass settings? Pre-amp on or off? Where is the filter switch set? Thanks!!

Ant.

[zuma]

Originally Posted by Prostheta

Sweet bass. Would benefit from being neck through, but Matsumoku quality can't be sniffed at.

It's my birthday in July. Time to get presents in early! I wouldn't kick this out of bed if it farted.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=121045086893
Cheers.

Oh my that is a pretty bass.

[zuma]

Originally Posted by Anthony Barrett

Hey Zuma,
First off, hope you have received / will receive some positive news about Boo. Good luck there.

Now the playing. Wow. That tone is to die for. Also a great bass line very, very well played. Thanks for sharing.

EDIT: Oh and what bass settings? Pre-amp on or off? Where is the filter switch set? Thanks!!

Ant.

Thank You!!! Settings:
Active
Rotary position "all the way up" to brightest setting
Tone "all the way up"
Going in to a Trace Elliot SMX Dual Compressor pedal, then ProTools. Lastly, I gave it a little SansAmp PS 1 plugin action for some dirt since the original Wormworth line was pretty dirty too. To be honest, I think distortion can be quite essential in a pop track. Not enough to hear it, just enough to liven up all the harmonics.

[Galwaybass]

Hi Guys
I have recently found an Aria bass in pretty bad condition
( pots, input, back plate missing, scratches etc..)
However it still seems to play nicely.
I know nothing about the guitar so I was hoping someone out there could help me out
1. with some info and
2. how to source parts to restore it

Thanks

[Immigrant]

Nice video Zuma! I need to practice more.

Whenever I watch one of your videos, I'm amazed at the likeness of your (still gone) avatar. The only way I resemble my avatar is that I'm usually sitting.

[Prostheta]

All standard parts, Galwaybass. It is strange how there are only two locations for controls in a 2-pickup bass. Is there a side jack location also?

[Galwaybass]

Yeah, someone for whatever reason took out a pot and put an input there instead...
Any idea how much its worth

[Prostheta]

Not that much I am afraid. It is a hundred or perhaps a couple of hundred pounds? That's going by eBay prices. Repairs would be maybe £10-20 for the electrics. Next to impossible to buy a replacement cover. You'd need to make one from a rubbing and some plastic, then some shielding foil. Worthwhile though.

[zackthompson]

I just scored a 1977-80 TSB-550 today for $200. It is in great condition to be a 30+ year old bass. I have to get the pickup rewound. I'll be calling kent Armstrong in the n ext few days. I'll post some pics when she's all back together.

[Pauly 4001]

Originally Posted by zuma

Oh my that is a pretty bass.

Here's a real beauty from Orange county. It just happens to be an exact duplicate of my new moneypit Elite.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/msg/3478255529.html

I'll bet the pickups have troubles. I'll upgrade my membership so I can start adding pictures.

[Prostheta]

Best Elite I have seen so far. If it were converted to active it would be a stone's throw from an SB-R150....my dream APII.

[bigthor]

Hi All,

I do dig Ps
Found this in my area of residence. Looks aged and messed up, but in a cool old P-way. 200 USD.

Any feedback would be cool.

Thanks,

[Prostheta]

Originally Posted by zuma

I finally put up another YouTube video:
http://youtu.be/mXyAmWycksE

This one just screamed for me to use my SB-1000. Enjoy the rich Aria tone everyone!

P.S. That bass is using Prostheta's replacement preamp.

Good to hear that you are getting the fullest out of the pre! The bass has always sounded good on your recordings anyway though.

I just listed a new batch of pre-amps on eBay so they are back in stock. A lot of people were asking about them.

[zuma]

We are keeping the beasts alive!!!

[Prostheta]

I'd like to think so! Funny to think how old these basses are and how loved and inspiring they continue to be.

Any chance you might cover Ian Dury and The Blockheads' "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick"?