Questions about my bass

[Jamie Pacheco]

Hello I wanted to ask a question about my bass I received from my father when he passed around 11 yrs ago. This bass is older then me and I'm going on 40 yrs old. It plays so smooth and is in excellent condition. How can I find out more information on it. I do not play the bass but I have friends who I allow to play it to keep it fresh and in tune for the yrs.
Thanks

 

[GretschWretch]

Wowsers! Lucky you. This bass is from the Japanese "golden era" (circa 1978-85) when they got away from lawsuit copies and went to their own designs. Aria, Ibanez, Washburn, Daion all got pieces of the pie. American brands like Guild, Carvin, and Martin upped their games; Fender and Gibson did not.

 

[Jamie Pacheco]

Thank you! I've been trying to get information on this bass for so long I really appreciate it

 

[ajkula66]

Can you post a picture of the back of the bass?

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Yep, that is nice!

 

[Jamie Pacheco]

I'm not at home at thetthe moment but this the top part of the bass and back I can post later but it's one solid piece of wood sculptured into the bass

 

[abarson]

That's an Aria SB-1000. The "Super Balance" line was introduced in 1978, and has had a long popular run. Aria recently released it as the SB-1000RIB (Reissue Bass) but I don't know when they stopped making it. It shows up in catalogs at least until 1996. I've not been able to find a good site that explains decoding the serial number for identifying production date. It could be 1982 based on the first digit but don't take that as accurate.
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It looks like the "speed knob" for the volume is aftermarket, but otherwise looks quite pristine. Good on you for keeping it in the family and letting it stay in rotation with friends.

Side note: the D and G strings are wound backwards on their posts. Non-service affecting but grates against my mild OCD.

 

[Jamie Pacheco]

Abarson thank you so much for the information. Everything is original on it my father was a back up bass player for a couple bands this is one out of 13 he had.

 

[Abner]

Nice bass. You might also look up the Aria Pro II club thread on this board, and should you feel like heading down the rabbit hole, there's the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] of "The Guitar Gallery Forums" website. Site is more or less dedicated to Matsumoku factory products.

 

[murmur70]

Side note: the D and G strings are wound backwards on their posts. Non-service affecting but grates against my mild OCD.

I would think the break angle coming out of the nut could put undue pressure on the nut and it could break depending on the material.

 

[Killing Floor]

That's a wonderful bass. There's a 1980 on Reverb for sale now. They are sought after by collectors but I'm glad you're keeping it.
1980 Aria SB-1000 Bass Made in Japan Maple | Pilirecords | Reverb

 

[Engle]

Nice! Those are great basses! I have an SB600 that I got in a trade for a Vantage V around 1980. I still use it for heavy rock or stuff that calls for chords - the string spacing is quite narrow at the bridge.
Here’s a pic of my kid with it:

 

[Engle]

I would think the break angle coming out of the nut could put undue pressure on the nut and it could break depending on the material.

It’s probably brass, so no worries!

 

[Engle]

That's an Aria SB-1000. The "Super Balance" line was introduced in 1978, and has had a long popular run. Aria recently released it as the SB-1000RIB (Reissue Bass) but I don't know when they stopped making it. It shows up in catalogs at least until 1996. I've not been able to find a good site that explains decoding the serial number for identifying production date. It could be 1982 based on the first digit but don't take that as accurate.
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It looks like the "speed knob" for the volume is aftermarket, but otherwise looks quite pristine. Good on you for keeping it in the family and letting it stay in rotation with friends.

Side note: the D and G strings are wound backwards on their posts. Non-service affecting but grates against my mild OCD.

I’ve had my SB600 for 40 years (yikes) and I didn’t know SB was Super Balance!

 

[JW56789]

Not a 'vintage bass' you could sell for Mercedes money, but as GretschWretch pointed out, the Aria SB's (including yours) were fabulous instruments, sought by collectors of those days' Japanese production, and still produced by ARIA in variants all these years later. Not the lightest thing, but built like a tank. I've owned lots of basses, but not one of those, and still would love to have one right now. They're mostly over-built and very stout. No wonder all these years later, the set-up is still great. No wonder at all, but hard to find instruments that are that solid.

They were favorites of Metallica's original bassist, the late Cliff Burton, and are all over the 80's hits of DuranDuran, played by the wonderful John Taylor. If you really want a full taste, listen to John's crazy lines under 'Rio', or 'Hungry Like the Wolf'.

ARIA has always had 'iffy' distribution in the US, unfortunately, but here is the current production version of your dad's bass (he had impeccable taste !) from ARIA's worldwide website:

SB-1000B – Aria Guitars

 

[devnulljp]

Early 80s Aria SB1000 (after they did away with the batwing headstock), active. Great bass. My main bass for a long time was an SB700, passive version of that one.

 

[murmur70]

It’s probably brass, so no worries!

I did consider that but couldn't tell from the pictures.

 

[Danny E]

Wowsers! Lucky you. This bass is from the Japanese "golden era" (circa 1978-85) when they got away from lawsuit copies and went to their own designs. Aria, Ibanez, Washburn, Daion all got pieces of the pie. American brands like Guild, Carvin, and Martin upped their games; Fender and Gibson did not.

Haha, nice name

Daniel

 

[Engle]

I did consider that but couldn't tell from the pictures.

Brass bridge and nut. They are lovely beasts!

 

[Guild B301]

Aria SB1000. I bought one new in ‘79.