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New score: Aria Pro II XRB-2A (Pics added) $75

Saetia

Saetia

Supporting Member
Mar 27, 2003
3,229
3,684
Wisconsin
#1
I just picked up an another Aria Pro II off of a friend. Got it for $75 because he hasn't touched it since he got it as a present in 6th grade. I have no information on what year this bass may be, all I know is that he got it for his birthday nearly 10 years ago.

Here's some info that I do have:

Aria Pro II. It says "XRB- Series Electronics" on the head stock unlike my other Aria Pro II.

On the neck plate unlike my other APII it says "Accurate Bolt ON System."

There are no numbers on the back of the head stock but the numbers on the neck plate read "7031688." My other Aria has numbers on the head stock and no numbers on the neck plate.

Two knobs one volume and one tone with a toggle switch.

It's a P-J set up.

I'll post some pics later after I clean a bit of the dust off.

If anyone could help me place and age on this thing I'd be greatful. I know it's at least 10 years old, but it wasn't new when he bought it.

Thanks a ton

Peace
-Benny
 
#2
I did some scrounging on the Aria site, didn't notice the history page before, but I'm still a bit confused.

From Aria site:

Aria Guitars

Arai and Company, founded in 1953 in Japan by Shiro Arai, began marketing Aria brand acoustic guitars in 1960, and began manufacturing its own acoustic guitars in 1964, followed by electrics in 1966, using Arai, Aria, Aria Diamond, and Diamond brand names. The Aria brand name was changed to Aria Pro II in late 1975, though this has been used primarily (but not exclusively) for electric guitars. All guitars were made in Japan until 1988, when production of less expensive models was switched to Korea. In the mid-1990s a few models were made in the United States. What follows is a listing of the Aria guitars we've been able to trace through this history. Obviously, this is not inclusive, and you should always take the dates as advisory, at best. Also, this whole listing is primarily related to the American market, but could also reflect dates and models from other markets as well.

Dating Aria Guitars

Dating Aria guitars is a mix of fair precision and historical triangulation. The early guitars did not contain serial numbers, so you have to go by the rough historical outlines here. There are no pot codes. In the mid-'70s serial numbers began to be used. At least for Aria guitars made by Matsumoku, the serial number contains the year of manufacture in the first one or two digits (Y##### or YY####). Thus, a guitar from 1979 might begin with 79####. One from 1981 might begin with 1#####. The scheme becomes less sure after 1987. Some Korean- made guitars use a serial number with year and week indicated in the first four digits (YYWW####). Thus 9628#### would be from the 28th week of 1996. However, this is not the case on all guitars, and some have serial numbers which are not date-coded.

Archive information and research created by Michael Wright
The Different Strummer
Click to expand...

--XRB Series
1987-89 XRB-CT2A
1987-89 XRB-2
1987-89 XRB-2A
Click to expand...

So after reading that the serial number could go three ways, that it's a 1970, but they didn't make the XRB in 1970 so through deduction it would place it at an 1987? Which would mean it's Japanese made.

The third route would be that the serial number has no relavence at all.

I don't have much knowledge of the Aria Pro II basses that I have, so I was wondering if on the head stock it saying "XRB Series Electronics" means it is an XRB bass or that it may have a throw back to the older electronics.

I'm still working on the pics at the moment.

Any info or help from some of you guys/gals who were playing in that period would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Peace
-Benny
 
#3
Thanks Glenn,

I checked the link anyway hehe.

I'm still working on the pics, took them, but since I'm at home for the holidays and me mummsys still rocking the 56k it will take a good couple of hours to load 4 two plus megabyte pics.

I have noticed that the construction is very good, it's quite heavy, I'd say in the 10lb range, neck pocket is uber tight and everything.

Ahhh I wish I knew more lol.

So bump-a it is.

Thanks

Peace
-Benny
 
#4
Does it have a pointed headstock, sort of like a Jackson but more curved?

If so, it's the same as my first bass, the XRB-2A, bought new in 1989.

It wasn't the best bass in the world but had really great tone.
 
#5
Doctor J said:
Does it have a pointed headstock, sort of like a Jackson but more curved?

If so, it's the same as my first bass, the XRB-2A, bought new in 1989.

It wasn't the best bass in the world but had really great tone.
Click to expand...

Definitely has the pointed headstock. Did your serial number start with a 9? I'm still trying to hash out all this serial number stuff. And trying to find out if it's Japanese or Korean. As my understanding that all were made in Japan until '88.

So I take it yours was Korean made? and if the serial number pans out the way the site says it might, then it would be an '87 and Japanese made. But then I read on the site that Glenn posted that if it doesn't say made in Japan on the neck plate then it was Korean made. Quite contradictory here.

Either way I'm super happy with the bass, it plays just as well as my '97 Warwick standard and weighs just about the same.

I agree that the tone is defintely great, I've always found that sweet tone pours from heavy bass'.

Quite confusing. I like to know as much as I can about my instraments, but sometimes it's almost impossable with lack of records.

Peace
-Benny
 
#6
They were Japanese. Definitely, I can't remember if it said it on the neckplate, but when I bought mine there was a Made In Japan sticker on the back of the headstock. Mine was Candy Apple Red, including the back of the neck, and the front of the headstock was black. They had them in black and white too. I sold it on many years ago, so I can't help you with the serial number, I'd only be guessing at it.
 
#9
I took these pics last night.

front.jpg


bodyclose.jpg


back.jpg


headstock.jpg


I'm pretty happy with this bass, has great tone, pretty aggressive. I think it's a good deal, especially that I only paid $75 for it.

What do you guys think.

Peace
-Benny
 
#10
GlennW said:
I think you got a great deal. How do you like the neck?
Click to expand...

The neck is quite fast, the radius definitely isn't flat, but it's not as radiused as a fender. IMO the rear contour is like a stream lined Warwick, just enough bulk to fit, but slim enough to be fast. I'm usually not a big fan of painted necks, but this one doesn't bother me at all because it's rather slick. It actually reminds me of the neck on a friend of mines old Kramer.

I can't wait to gig with it.

Time for sleep

Peace
-Benny
 

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