Need Help IDing an Aria Pro SB

[explorations]

What's up, I can't figure out if this is an SB-700 or an SB R-60 or SB R-80. Its serial number is seven digits: 112xxxx, so I believe that this bass was made in 1981.

Here are some low res. pics. Any help is very much appreciate, just got this bass today.

Its a neck through, passive bass, volume and tone knob, and a tone selector switch (not sure the technical name here). One soap box pickup.

Does not say "Made in Japan" anywhere on the bass (that I can tell).

On the headstock, says "Specifically Designed & Approved by Aria Research Development LAB Original Custom Body. Pat. No. 555719"

Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[explorations]

Two more pics

 

[explorations]

two more

 

[Deathblade Eric]

I'd say it's an SBR-60 with a replacement truss rod cover.

 

[Doki]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[explorations]

Cool thanks very much, is it true that the only difference in the SB-700 and the SBR-60 is that the fact that the SBR-60 has a wider neck and the strings are farther apart? Is there any other differences?

 

[Alembic83]

I agree with Deathblade Eric - it's an SB R-60. Besides the differences you stated, the SB-700 had dot inlays and a wooden truss rod cover versus oval inlays and a plastic cover on the R-60. Also, the SB-700 had the brass bridge with the more narrow string spacing. The R-60's had "die cast" bridge with wider spacing.

The 'dual sound switch' (as Aria called it) is a series/parallel switch, at least on the later models. And yes, your bass is from 1981 and definitely made in Japan. Sometimes you'll find SBs with little "Made in Japan" stickers but usually they've been peeled off after 25-30 years!

So how do you like the bass? Maybe you could post some better pics in the Aria Pro club.

 

[explorations]

Nice, thanks for the info. So far it plays and sounds great! With the "dual sound switch" tou can get a real trebly sound if the switch is up, and when the switch is down you get a much more full tone, like a piano almost, really sounds great with this setting. I'm used to slightly more narrow necks so it will take a little bit to get used to, but that's not a big deal. Will definitely post some better pics in the Aria Pro club.