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Bass guitar found in warehouse
- Thread starter Jamotron
- Start date
I would take a high end Aria over a fender P/J any day. Even if that bass needs some work it could sound amazing and might be very worth the effort.
Better yet then.
But likely of no practical consequence since that would only be a concern for the vintage enthusiast. As long as all four tuners work, it doesn't much matter. If whatever tuner you have can accurately tune a string, and it holds the tuning, it's a perfectly acceptable tuner in my book. More important is whether or not the truss rod still works.
The SB pickups have a tendency to crack inside and break. That may be why the pickups have been replaced. Thankfully these days you can buy replacement pickups from a couple of companies e.g Rautia, Armstrong, etc.
I've seen at least one that was butchered in this way rescued. So, it is possible to repair it and get it back to standard spec. I would suggest against modifying it further. If it doesn't fit your needs then please sell it on to someone who can give it a good home and get it back in good shape.
I've seen at least one that was butchered in this way rescued. So, it is possible to repair it and get it back to standard spec. I would suggest against modifying it further. If it doesn't fit your needs then please sell it on to someone who can give it a good home and get it back in good shape.
I agree.
This bass is also extensively modded. Which usually means one of two things. Either the person who did it was totally clueless and simply ruined their instrument. Or alternatively, the person who modded it did know what they were doing - and had a definite sound in mind when they were changing things up. The end result in that case is often an instrument as unique as the person who modded it. (The late Mark Sandman of Morphine's two-string "modded for slide" Premier bass comes to mind as one example.)
If that bass is in the second category there's a very good chance the OP has found a diamond in the rough.
Every so often you'll run into somebody playing an extensively modded old instrument which looks like a dying war refugee, but paradoxically sounds and plays like a dream. Those are those rare ugly duckling basses with mojo to burn. If you're lucky enough to come into possession of one those, it's well worth the effort to get it into playable condition again.
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Interesting insight! Only problem is - I have no idea what good sounds like!
I've been a guitar player all my life however I recently needed a bass guitar to do some home recording. My dad was clearing out an old warehouse through his work and came across it. So I have got no idea about bass pickups or if it sounds good! All I know is, it sounds like a bass guitar and that's what I need to record! Hopefully my ignorance isn't painful to read, but I'm glad the forums have been able to give advice so far!
If it sounds good to you, then it sounds good. Period.
You're a musician. You've got ears. You've listened to music. So you don't need to be a bass player to know what works for bass. Don't sell yourself short. There's no magic involved with bass. Just individual preferences and tastes.
P.S. Really cool find. Hope it works out for you. I like it when fairy tale events, or a little magic, finds its way into the so-called real world. But I'm an incurable romantic so that's to be expected.
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This is a 1982 SB1000. It was made in the Matsumoku factory in Japan. I restore Arias and would love to get my hands on this.
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Do they all have that headstock though? I have only looked at aria basses a bit but I never saw a headstock with a similiar label as:
"Specially designed & approved by aria research Development lab Original custom body Pat 5557"
Sounds like it could be a prototype or something.
Also are wooden trus rod covers common on their basses? That could just be a mod but is pretty cool.
"Specially designed & approved by aria research Development lab Original custom body Pat 5557"
Sounds like it could be a prototype or something.
Also are wooden trus rod covers common on their basses? That could just be a mod but is pretty cool.
The SB series all have the long tapered headstock. There are slight variations (based on year & model) on the top from open book to batwing and in between.
Yes, the patent text appears on these too. It's not a prototype but a production '82 SB-1000. Still nothing to be sniffed at as it was a flagship in their line.
Some covers are plastic, some wooden, and some brass. It depends on the spec. Lower level instruments would have plastic.
Been considering an SB resto over the years. Black has been over done due to Cliff Burton and John Taylor having black SBs but what about another Aria colour. Maybe Pearl White? Another possibility is major reconstructive surgery and restore to original appearance.
Not an original 1000 colour, but I love the candy red SB's like this.
Nice. A little level sanding and a buff and it would look factory. Candy Apple Red was an Aria colour at this time for their XXBs.Not an original 1000 colour, but I love the candy red SB's like this.
