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Aria & Aria Pro II Club

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#324
Caragel, it's an Elite II, but not from the Matsumoku era from the '80s. I also saw these marketed as "SB-RSZ" in Japan, for Rudy Sarzo. But it's wasn't old stock when you bought it, it would have been an early 90s model. The tip offs are no serial number on the back of the headstock, slightly pointier headstock, smaller plastic knobs (which aren't stacked vol/tone like the Matsumoku era basses), and the non-recessed output jack. It was made in Japan, though. I've had a couple of those. Definitely good basses!
 
#325
BTW, achtung, I've had some SBs with the model names engraved on the truss rod covers. The plastic covers of the SB-R80 and R60 are engraved. I prefer the more classy wood truss rod cover of the SB1000,900,700 series or the gold ones of the BnG and Elite series, though. To me, the model engraving just seems like something you'd see on a $175 entry level bass. Sorry if that sounds snobbish... ;)
 
#327
Alembic83 said:
BTW, achtung, I've had some SBs with the model names engraved on the truss rod covers. The plastic covers of the SB-R80 and R60 are engraved. I prefer the more classy wood truss rod cover of the SB1000,900,700 series or the gold ones of the BnG and Elite series, though. To me, the model engraving just seems like something you'd see on a $175 entry level bass. Sorry if that sounds snobbish... ;)
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I don't think it sounds snobbish, actually I prefer mine without the model number engraved. I think the brass cover looks nice blank. :)

On the subject of where the bass is made, I believe mine was made in Japan just after the tail end of the Matsumoku era. The Elite II finished in '88 and the ELT-2 came in.

Although I believe that the early Korean SB's were marketed as the Super Balanced series as opposed to Super Bass. My bass came with the original tags and case and the carries the Aria Pro II logo with "Super Bass Series" written above. Also I noticed on the case hardware that the case was made in Japan.

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:)
 
#329
Oops, kind of answering my own question. I just found out on the Aria Japan site that the RSZ was only made for one year in '89. I still don't know the specs or have seen any confirmed pictures of it to compare it my bass.

I'd love to see the '89 catalog! :)
 
#333
Also, a little bit more about the Sarzo models, I was told he almost always had Alembic pickups in his SB basses. One of the Alembic people told me this (Mica).
Aria made a short lived series with stock Alembic/electronics in the early 90s, too. The SB-LTD. I'm pretty sure the RSZ model might have just had standard Aria pickups, though. Or maybe the SB-LTD was also the SB-RSZ?! It's hard to say with Aria since they sometimes had multiple model names for the same instrument, depending on the market it was going to! :confused:

You know, I bet you could ask Rudy Sarzo himself! I know he has a Myspace page. I emailed him once about a bass and he was very cordial and happy to talk about it.

If I ever get an '89 catalog I will let you know. I have '86, '91- '93 now, and I'm always hunting for more...

To Mike, I will be auctioning an early '90s Integra pretty soon!
 
#335
Hey was that the red RSB 5 on eBay recently? My buddy was really thinking about bidding on it. Let us know what you think of it. Maybe a couple pics, too. Mind if I ask how much you got it for?

The RSB 5s seem to be pretty rare. I don't really know of any other 5 strings from the Matsumoku era...
 
#336
We need numbers in this club :p

And in addition to my aria pro II posted on page 2. I now have its fretless brother :)

a1b4_1.jpg


(ok, i dont have it, but it should arrive tomorrow, hopefully :D )
 
#338
80's Casualty said:
Anybody got any experience with the RSB Deluxe 5. Just picked one up for what I think is cheap, and pretty excited about it. It is an '85 or '86.
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They're rare birds. I've got an '84 in black & wouldn't part with it in a hurry, sounds great, feels comfy & can accept a high C with no problems. It set me back GB£150 about a year ago so I'd say you got a good deal on yours depending how battle-scarred it is.

I've also got an undatable Magna 5-string (no visible S/N anywhere) which sounds pretty good, isn't very comfortable (very slabby body), & fitting a high C made the neck go an interesting shape. It's not on my "keeper" list.

Pete.
 
#339
i_got_a_mohawk said:
We need numbers in this club :p

And in addition to my aria pro II posted on page 2. I now have its fretless brother :)

a1b4_1.jpg


(ok, i dont have it, but it should arrive tomorrow, hopefully :D )
Click to expand...

That is totally sweet, I didn't know they existed, I thought about ripping the frets from my APII but now it has J45s in it and it is stunning.

check it out, new release (there is a bass solo)

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Has a huge Irish background, check out my site, Link Removed click on audio
 
#340
hi guys

anyone from the UK here know what kind of price I'd be looking at if I wanted to get hold of myself a mid 90's magna series 5 string? (MAB-60/5 is what I'm after I think)

I'm just gassing at the moment, but really like the look of these basses

also what's the string spacing like to play? I know it's narrow (which I like) but how narrow is it? are they comfortable to play?

thanks

Matt
 
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