1987. matsumoku was a contractor of aria and many others . the matsumoku factory was not destroyed , it closed down because it was part owned by singer and could not by its way out when singer was in a bad money situation.: I think that the Matsumoko factory was destroyed in about 1985?
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Hey Hummelspatz, that link is to my photo site - I wish I could take credit for all the pics, I just have collected them on the net for a few years. I'm glad they are being used for reference by other Aria fans! I'll post some of the pics you are talking about...The first one (with the Barts) is the only neckthru Integra I've come across. The fretless one in see-thru black looks like the one posted here a couple pages back.
And here is my Integra that is similar to the ones above, you can't see the headstock but it also has the "I" for "Integra" (or it could also mean "II" from Pro II...) and the 26 frets. I'm not sure about the fretboard material, I always assumed it was a synthetic material, like phenolic or ebonal, and not real ebony. This one was signed by Jason Newsted...sorry about the dust.
And here is my Integra that is similar to the ones above, you can't see the headstock but it also has the "I" for "Integra" (or it could also mean "II" from Pro II...) and the 26 frets. I'm not sure about the fretboard material, I always assumed it was a synthetic material, like phenolic or ebonal, and not real ebony. This one was signed by Jason Newsted...sorry about the dust.
Hi Alembic,
It's a small world after all...I'm glad you're glad I posted the link to your album!
The neck-through has got te be one of the best looking basses I came across, it would sit really nice next to my Ibanez MC2924...
The white Integra you refer to with the sandwich-neck (looks like wenge-maple) will be here next week! The guy who sold it to me knew that he had something special, but because nobody knew exactly what it was people were hesitant to pay serious money.
It was suggested to me that the Integra's with the II logo on the headstock were handmade at the Aria-shop in Japan in low numbers, aimed at the US market. Couldn't get it confirmed though up until now.
It's a small world after all...I'm glad you're glad I posted the link to your album!
The neck-through has got te be one of the best looking basses I came across, it would sit really nice next to my Ibanez MC2924...
The white Integra you refer to with the sandwich-neck (looks like wenge-maple) will be here next week! The guy who sold it to me knew that he had something special, but because nobody knew exactly what it was people were hesitant to pay serious money.
It was suggested to me that the Integra's with the II logo on the headstock were handmade at the Aria-shop in Japan in low numbers, aimed at the US market. Couldn't get it confirmed though up until now.
Got it this past week...great bass.Had a dead pickup selector switch and a bad input jack.Replaced them with Switchcraft parts. Very slim(Geddy Lee jazz) neck and the neck pickup has that nice P Bass low/mid growl.The bridge pickup has a nice creamy tone as opposed to aggressive one.I'll post a few new pics tonight.Now I've just got to find an SB !
Just waiting for my RSB Deluxe to arrive
Should sound great thru my new Marshall MB150 combo!
Hi Mikeus, I will probably sell an Integra or two before long. I sold a couple locally.
Hey Hemitom, I like the white RSB. I just got a cousin of it the other day. It doesn't say which model exactly, just "RSB Series". It's Made In Japan, 1986 judging by the serial number.
It has P/J pickups which look and sound very similar to the ones in the more expensive SB-Intgera series, without the active circuitry of course. The bass is great for the price. It's a medium scale, has the nice SB style bridge, but plenty of dings, scratches, and gashes. I like the large dot markers, too. After putting on a new G tuning peg, a thorough cleaning and a quick setup it's playing wonderfully.
Hey Hemitom, I like the white RSB. I just got a cousin of it the other day. It doesn't say which model exactly, just "RSB Series". It's Made In Japan, 1986 judging by the serial number.
It has P/J pickups which look and sound very similar to the ones in the more expensive SB-Intgera series, without the active circuitry of course. The bass is great for the price. It's a medium scale, has the nice SB style bridge, but plenty of dings, scratches, and gashes. I like the large dot markers, too. After putting on a new G tuning peg, a thorough cleaning and a quick setup it's playing wonderfully.
Morning all,
My kind of thread!
Finally got around to getting the camera out on Saturday & taking advantage of our gorgeous spring weather...
First up, the most recent acquisition, a 1983 RSB Special-1.
(The Bit On The Side)
This has had an unkind life up to now, being resident in a school music room & then some chap's attic until about 3 weeks ago when I picked it up off the Bay for £50. I'm ordering a new MB-IV from Aaron Armstrong to fill the hole, but this is growing on me as a players' instrument.
BayBuy No. 2 - 1984 RSB Deluxe-5...
Completely stock apart from fitting a TremNut, now tuned high-C.
Fast & comfortable now that I've discovered Warwick Yellow Label strings.
I may change the string retainers for some neater roller ones, but only if I go ahead with fitting a Kahler.
Speaking of Whammy Bars - meet the Wife...
TSB-400 No. 1050066
The Business end...
As you can see, she's had a few mods over our 25-year affair, some of which haven't worked out (mainly experimentations with home-grown actives, hence the extra holes). The Kahler is a mod that always raises consternated eybrows (esp. from guit*rists) until people try it out. I wouldn't be without it. The other mod is to the bridge pickup where I've added an extra set of pole pieces for a tad more bite. The original bobbin was already moulded for these, so fitting was a fairly simple affair.
Off-camera is an SB-1000 that's being subjected to a fretless conversion, it's not quite fit for public appearances yet but will appear when I'm ready to refinish it.
Pete.
Smooothhhh....
It's still damn sexy - It's just got a few speed holes
Shot Eric!
I played a TSB-400 for the first time the other day - that neck is so addictive!
I haven't encountered a bass neck with anything near the same dimensions. Wow!
Would someone be ever so kind as to hook me up with the neck measurements - nut width, string spacing at nut, neck width at 12th fret, string spacing at bridge.
Whoever does will be most awesomest person on Earth for a brief but real moment in time!
And 2 extra pictures:
fairly standard PJ setup and notice the 26(!) frets...fretboard is ebony by the way
nice neckjoint and woodgrain shining through
The Integra has been here for week now and I must say that it is stunnin beauty...light&tight and an easy player. However, I'm going to part with it. I'm used to heavy basses like Ibanez MC924, Warwick and that earthy tone. Something I can't get from this one. Maybe it's the ebonol fretboard or the laminated neck (very pretty by the way) or the brute active tonefilters...I don't know. Maybe if I swapped the pup's for a Bartolini PJ set I would be able to get a sound more like my other basses, but it's a shame to diy on this one.
So if anyone is interested please let me know.
here a short clip noodling around:
thank god I found someplace to discuss these wonderful basses!!!!!!!!!!! I curently have 4 Aria's and IG50-DX, R60 (currently getting a new pickup and nut) but it's an ugly sparkly green, and my pride and joys 2 Aria pro II (i think) SB integras one white and one black. the black one has EMG's and the white one just p/u's marked "aria" I did ruin the black one though but putting a Khaler Whammy bar on it (I was young) but I
m currently getting some new bridges milled like the ones on the old SB-1000's.
Any one else have a problem with the mico tuning bridges breaking? I'll post picks as soon as I can. oh yeah if anyone has or knows of an integra for sale let me know!!!!
m currently getting some new bridges milled like the ones on the old SB-1000's.
Any one else have a problem with the mico tuning bridges breaking? I'll post picks as soon as I can. oh yeah if anyone has or knows of an integra for sale let me know!!!!
This ad is in the local paper "Aria Pro II CSB380 in great condition. 1981 vintage with case. Strung with thomastik, have extra rotosounds. Great Duran Duran sound. $150.00" What do you guy's
think? Is it worth checking out? Thanks
think? Is it worth checking out? Thanks
holy crap! this just turned up for sale nearby in my city area....
Invalid Link Removed
says he got it from london and that its active]
now if only that neck is laminated...
wants $450 for it
Invalid Link Removed
says he got it from london and that its active
]now if only that neck is laminated...
wants $450 for it
Mikeus, the red Integra looks nice. I sold one exactly like it locally, not too long ago. But mine needed a shim under the neck to get nice, low playable action. I would make sure that neck is straight and then see if he'd take less for it. I've seen the original SB-Integras go in that price range, but I'm not so sure about the IGB-600 (aka IGB-DLX). Yes, it is active with bass, treble and pickup balance to go along with volume control. And they do play great as long as the neck is OK. That's the one Bill Gould used on Angel Dust, too. Bottom line, I'd try and negociate the price down a ways...
Yup, that SB-1000 is from the second series in the early to mid 90's. Different woods, pickups and electronics, narrower waist and the body radius looks different too.
That Integra is something else, those ones are REALLY sought after!
haha -lol- make me an offer I can't refuse!
yep i know and being the billy gould fan that i am, im sooo tempted!!! unfortunately, its not black
how much of a task would it be to get the colour changed or re-coated?
I'd love to but I'm up to my max at the moment and outta monies.
I've got 5 instruments now, barely enough space to walk in my room. 
Hi guys!
Great thread, this one! I had spent hours last night reading all your contributions! Too bad that many of the pics have gone in the meantime...
Anyway, maybe you're able to help me with this: My very first bass was a "Diamond" Jazz Bass copy:
Invalid Link Removed
I had found out a while ago, that there used to be an "Aria Diamond" brand. On my bass, it only said "Diamond" on the headstock. The neckplate had "Made in Japan" engraved in it (and maybe also the serial number, but I can't remember for sure). The machine heads were black plastic (!) ones, and the pickguard was only 2-ply. The pick-ups had no covers and 4 pole pieces each.
I've always wondered about this bass' origin, and the closest thing I could find on the net were pics of Aria Diamond basses. But is mine really an Aria?
Cheers guys!
Great thread, this one! I had spent hours last night reading all your contributions! Too bad that many of the pics have gone in the meantime...
Anyway, maybe you're able to help me with this: My very first bass was a "Diamond" Jazz Bass copy:
Invalid Link Removed
I had found out a while ago, that there used to be an "Aria Diamond" brand. On my bass, it only said "Diamond" on the headstock. The neckplate had "Made in Japan" engraved in it (and maybe also the serial number, but I can't remember for sure). The machine heads were black plastic (!) ones, and the pickguard was only 2-ply. The pick-ups had no covers and 4 pole pieces each.
I've always wondered about this bass' origin, and the closest thing I could find on the net were pics of Aria Diamond basses. But is mine really an Aria?
Cheers guys!
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