Dating Aria Pro II TSB-650. All original?

I'm new to TB so thanks for any help and insight!

I just grabbed this bass at GC out of curiosity. I want to see how it compares to the SB series that a friend turned me onto. I've really been nerding out on the MIJ Arias for the past few weeks.

So far it's pretty cool, I'm stoked on how it feels and sounds. From what I understand, a six digit serial beginning in '0' dates it to 1980? However it just looks too clean to be that old. Considering the nut, bridge, and pickup poles are spotless and not tarnished whatsoever.

Any Aria experts know if the nut and bridge are brass? Or just made to look like it?

Did Aria ever reissue these? Or offer replacement parts? I can't find anything online stating that.

Seems too good to be true that it's this old and and this clean. I have an SB-700 from this era that is immaculate, but even the bridge and nut are tarnished. Perhaps someone cleaned them but it doesn't look like it.

Also welcome to any recommendations for strings on these medium scale basses. I've never owned one.

I'm going to try some flats on this too, just to see what that's like. I usually play a fretless with flats.

Thanks!

 

Neck through. Sounds great! Punchy and present. Although not as robust as the SB-700, if that makes any sense. Still can't decide which pickup configuration I like best, I think there's a time and a place for each.

I play mostly guitar, but have more fun playing bass lately. So I'm finally paying attention to how different they all sound. And that's dangerous because I thought "I only need one fretted bass" and now I see how they could start piling up. For instance, I didn't intend to keep this one but I'm planning on it now

 

I'm certainly enjoying it! Incredible how it can be of that vintage and be so clean. It must have sat in a case for decades in a perfect climate. Thanks for the string suggestions!

 

Awesome I thought I liked the 2+2 headstock, and darker finish better. I was surprised to see how much cooler and pretty this one looked in person. The pics of these basses don't do them justice.

 

Absolutely, I didn't realize the Stingrays were that old until recently.

 

You're right! I just looked closer and I can see under the saddles it looks like bare metal. Cool, thanks

 

Thanks! Yes it is superb. Well said. That's what impressed me initially. And medium scale is no joke, I could see it becoming a preference.

 

I think I saw that earlier today, shipping from Japan? I've never seen that blue before. The more I dig into the Aria history and models, the more fascinating they become and strange rarities seem to pop up.