• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Pickups for Aria Pro Magna bass

Hello everyone. Can anybody give me advice on where to start looking for replacement PUPs for my Aria Pro II Magna five string.
It's model no. MAB-20/5.

Basically the situation is this:
I really like the tone coming out of the bass, but it hums
like a b******. Turning down the tone pot solves this problem, but obviously dulls the sound to an unacceptable level. I had it repaired in a Guitar shop in the west country that shall remain anonymous, but it did not solve the problem. I took it back to get it fixed up again, but this time it was worse than when it first went in. I didn't just check it on my computer/sound interface, I also checked it on a couple of amps round a mate's.
Both Fender, one a Bassman.

The thing is pretty much unusable for serious recording, and even though I like the sound of the stock/passive pups, I'd
be quite happy to go active just so I can use it as intended - recording...

Of course it would be ideal if I could get someone to fix the problem with the buzzing, but when I mentioned it to the guy in the guitar shop (another one) he made the comment to the effect of 'sometimes these things just can't be fixed'.
I also asked the guy to have a look for some pups for me, telling him I'd be quite happy to pay him for his time and soldering skills, but it's been a little while and he has not got back to me and I just want to crack on with things..

I am absolutely useless at soldering though I have an iron that I use sometimes to knock up the odd lead. I'm using a proper sealed cable though at the moment, and with my new Fender amp (Mustang) it sounds horrible (obviously). My other
Ari Pro guitar which is passive sounds great through it though, but I digress.

so I suppose my questions are these:

1/ Is it possible to get this buzzing fixed at all?

2/ If not, how would I go about replacing the pups, i.e. obviously they would have to be the right size and be fitted
by a proper guitar tech - so what would be a good manufacturer for this type/model of Bass?

I had EMGs in a Walnut Strat I had and even though they were a bit 'bright' they were perfect for playing out live through my Peterson amp. They were expensive but worth it.
But I won't be going out live with my bass, so I don't mind if the pickups - like the EMGs - are a little 'bright' or whatever, as long as they have a great signal/noise ratio, I can compensate pretty much with EQ - well that is the theory ;-).


Phew, sorry for the ramble (it's late and it's my birthday ;-)).

Any pointers or help would be greatly appreciated.
It might not be the best bass guitar in the world, but it plays well and I am rather fond of it and do not want to part with it. I don't even mind spending more on the pups than I did for the bass - about 80 quid, I think it was.

Anyway, thanks for reading.
All the best.
 
First, happy birthday! :bassist:

Second, have you looked into getting the bass shielded properly? I have an early '90s Aria Integra (from around the same time as the MAB series was produced) and I was told by the tech it would need a proper shielding job to eliminate the unwanted noise. I passed because it wasn't bad enough to bother me and I don't do any recording anyway.

Or you might just want to go with some EMG pickups and preamp. I had some on the Fernandes Gravity Deluxe series (2 Jazz style pickups) and it was dead quiet. I'm sure Bartolini and other companies would make good pickups/electronics, too.
Good luck.
 
Phew, sorry for the ramble (it's late and it's my birthday ;-)).

Any pointers or help would be greatly appreciated.
It might not be the best bass guitar in the world, but it plays well and I am rather fond of it and do not want to part with it. I don't even mind spending more on the pups than I did for the bass - about 80 quid, I think it was.

Anyway, thanks for reading.
All the best.

I hate to be a wet blanket on your birthday...but...I used to own that model Aria Magna 5 string. I loved that bass. For some reason it had amazing sustain. Why, I don't know.

But it had hum that drove me nuts. Mostly single coil hum when pups were singled. So... I went and bought some stacked coil pups for it. Hum gone! Also tone gone too! Feh! Played it for a while that way and gave up. THEN... I decided to bite the bullet. I got EMG actives plus their BTS (or whatever they call it) tone control, had the luthier install battery boxes for an 18 volt system. No hum. Good sound. Loved the active EQ BUT...emgs were MUCH too bright and harsh for my taste. Eventually I gave up and traded that bass in on a G&L Tribute L-2500.

To bad really because I REALLY loved that Aria Pro II! I think if I still had that bass today, I think I would still do the same thing (make it active with the EMG system and 18 volt batteries in quick change boxes) BUT I'd look seriously at other brands of pickups to eliminate hum. Probably Norstrands or Barts in the side by side coil humbucker style. Had those been available back then I might still have that bass!

Good luck!