aria pro II rickenbacker

[Wolfhound32]

i found online a aria pro II rickenbacker (made in japan, 1975)and i don't know if i should buy it or not
a old guy sell it, he had a lot of expensive guitars for sell(rickenbackers, american fenders, japanese basses), but i'm not sure if that bass is a genuine aria pro ii rickenbacker and i don t know how to check it and test it to see the
authenticity, some advice please? here are some photo with guitar, the price is 800$(something like that)
(ps sorry for my english i m not a native speaker and i learn it from friends and internet)

If you have the means, and it is in good shape-- absolutely by that monster!

Younger folks who weren't around in the 1970s & 80s often lack the context of that era. Many American companies (not just instrument makers) had become complacent and the quality of their products were questionable. For example, when I was looking for my first guitar back in the mid 70s, Fender and Gibson were widely regarded as crap compared to the quality stuff coming from Japan. It wasn't until the late 70s that US companies began focusing more on quality. Think AMF Harley-Davidson and the trade tariffs of the late 1970s, early 1980s.

Yes, a lot of people regard basses from the 70s & 80s as "vintage," and price them accordingly. If you want a serious player-- I'd look to the Japanese models from that era-- AND you should do so before the prices get out of hand...

Some instruments from the 70's "lawsuit" era are desirable but I'm not aware of anyone making fake counterfeit basses.
View attachment 4591843

Not aware of anyone making counterfeit basses? Just search "Ricken Basses" and you'll find a bunch. Dig a little deeper and you'll even find the truss-rod covers

~Just one example~

There are a few videos out there reviewing them... depending on where you live, you may run into copyright laws should you desire to acquire an example of your own

**Update: I see that 4SG was talking about nobody making a fake of a counterfeit bass... D'oh!

 

[StereoPlayer]

Welcome to TalkBass!

 

[mikewalker]

Another BUY IT vote from me. These were very much the cream of the crop of 70s Japanese RIC copies. (I played lots of them off the rack back in the day and IIRC, they cost more than $200 in mid-70s money - that's about $1150 in today's dollar...)

 

[Liam Wald]

If that was made by Matsumoku (my guess is that it was) it is probably a better quality instrument than a real Ric.

 

[TyBo]

My brother had an Aria Gibson SG copy back in that era. I wound up playing more than he did. It was a very nice guitar, very much less expensive than the name brand SG, but not a lot different. So I might be inclined to buy that fake Ric, too, if I was looking for something like that.

 

[themickster]

Not a real Rickenbacker. One of the Japanese copies from the 1970s.

The OP does say it's an Aria and therefore already knows it's not a real Ric.

 

[mikewalker]

Another BUY IT vote from me. These were very much the cream of the crop of 70s Japanese RIC copies. (I played lots of them off the rack back in the day and IIRC, they cost more than $200 in mid-70s money - that's about $1150 in today's dollar...)

PS: Back in the day the "Rickenbacker" brand 4001 went for about three times as much - but was far from 3X the bass

 

[OnTheDownLow]

I've relatively recently been introduced to the the Japanese Ric copies of the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s in some cases. I must say they are quite impressive, I've owned a fair share of real Rics from all eras and the feel and construction is very comparable if not actually better in some cases. Plus, the body shape and horn sizing on the Greco ones are pretty true to the vintage Rics. New Ric horns and bodies are way too thin and small when paired with the neck.

 

[yodedude2]

i do not know, but looking at the tuners, it looks like a genuine aria to me. i had good luck with mastumoku-made arias in the past, both guitars and basses. the price sounds high to me, but most prices sound high to me these days. if you want it, i think you should buy it. let us know if you do!

 

[sonic 7]

Buy it.

 

[two fingers]

i found online a aria pro II rickenbacker (made in japan, 1975)and i don't know if i should buy it or not
a old guy sell it, he had a lot of expensive guitars for sell(rickenbackers, american fenders, japanese basses), but i'm not sure if that bass is a genuine aria pro ii rickenbacker and i don t know how to check it and test it to see the
authenticity, some advice please? here are some photo with guitar, the price is 800$(something like that)
(ps sorry for my english i m not a native speaker and i learn it from friends and internet)

What bass(es) do you have now? I'm asking because the ergonomics of a Ric are VERY different from most other basses. You might not like it at all.

I think they look fantastic. But I simply can't play them. The tiny necks, and weird (to me) ergonomics don't work for me at all.

I know it's a long trip. Just understand that when you get there, you might not like it.

 

[denis dum]

What bass(es) do you have now? I'm asking because the ergonomics of a Ric are VERY different from most other basses. You might not like it at all.

I think they look fantastic. But I simply can't play them. The tiny necks, and weird (to me) ergonomics don't work for me at all.

I know it's a long trip. Just understand that when you get there, you might not like it.

i played for a few months on o japonease rockoon, i played on a 5 string music man and a spector performer 4 (i like tiny necks before bass i play at guitar and a wide neck, like 5 string music man, it s a little bit hard to play for me

 

[Gunga Din]

the tuners turn me off as ultra cheap, BWDIK? this would be a try before buy moment.

If that's a MIJ copy, those wavy Grover tuners were better built than the originals, in that they didn't explode!

 

[Gunga Din]

Looks like a FugiGen bass to me.

I'd buy it.

 

[Bass V]

If that's a MIJ copy, those wavy Grover tuners were better built than the originals, in that they didn't explode!

TBH I failed to notice the intriguing wave, still they aren't the big gold Wavey Grovers I'm aware of and own 2 gold sets, even those aren't 'all that'. this bass is likely a fun one, but $800 worth of fun?

 

[prowla]

That's a nice Japanese thru-neck faker.
Most of the Matsumoku ones (typified by the Vol & Tone position dots on the pickguard) were bolt-on neck ones, with the thru-neck ones being near the top of the tree.
The fake wavy Grovers are nice (not all of the vintage fakers have them) and it's great to see one with its original TRC too (a lot of people ruin them by putting "R" ones on); it'll probably have one truss-rod (though some had two).
The stereo output jack will be labelled "Stereo-Sound" and the plate won't have a serial number.
The instruments are susceptible to tail-life and neck-lift, so checking that is crucial to the value.
The hardware is all accurate replica of the real thing, bar: push-on knobs, different strap buttons, the mute height thumbscrews, and the screws in the tuners. Also, the treble pickup under the cover may be a thin unit with blade pole-pieces, but still on a like-for-like base plate.
All-in-all, that looks like one of the nicest vintage fakers you'll see; it's your choice whether you want to pay 3/4 of the price of a used real Ric. though..

 

[prowla]

TBH I failed to notice the intriguing wave, still they aren't the big gold Wavey Grovers I'm aware of and own 2 gold sets, even those aren't 'all that'. this bass is likely a fun one, but $800 worth of fun?

FYI, this is a real Ric with real wavy Grovers.

This shows the fake wavy Grovers on a vintage one I had.

 

[Bass V]

FYI, this is a real Ric with real wavy Grovers.
View attachment 4592601

This shows the fake wavy Grovers on a vintage one I had.
View attachment 4592602

I'll guess there's a connection between these example but the beef on mine leaves me curious
NBD - I didn't need TB either way to get TURBO GAS but I'll take both

 

[denis dum]

That's a nice Japanese thru-neck faker.
Most of the Matsumoku ones (typified by the Vol & Tone position dots on the pickguard) were bolt-on neck ones, with the thru-neck ones being near the top of the tree.
The fake wavy Grovers are nice (not all of the vintage fakers have them) and it's great to see one with its original TRC too (a lot of people ruin them by putting "R" ones on); it'll probably have one truss-rod (though some had two).
The stereo output jack will be labelled "Stereo-Sound" and the plate won't have a serial number.
The instruments are susceptible to tail-life and neck-lift, so checking that is crucial to the value.
The hardware is all accurate replica of the real thing, bar: push-on knobs, different strap buttons, the mute height thumbscrews, and the screws in the tuners. Also, the treble pickup under the cover may be a thin unit with blade pole-pieces, but still on a like-for-like base plate.
All-in-all, that looks like one of the nicest vintage fakers you'll see; it's your choice whether you want to pay 3/4 of the price of a used real Ric. though..

i can't afford a real ric but i really want one, the price for it in europe is double or triple than that japonease copy (you can found one at 1500-1600$ not in a best condition and not in your country and that include a extra cost for shipping and it s to much for me)

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Im curious to hear if this has a single truss rod, or if they copied the double. A lot of older genuine Rics had damage at the adjustment nuts due to inept attempts to tighten them. The single rods are just like any other. I'd ask the seller to provide a photo under the TRC just to verify everthing is intact.