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vintage aria bass (beginner)

T

thedevilisbad

Dec 14, 2010
67
0
Jackson, MI
#1
Hey everyone!

I recently (this fall) picked up this cool 1970-1974 Vintage Aria 1560 Telecaster style bass for $60! :P It's a short scale bass with a pretty skinny neck.

I decided I had the bass fever, I stink at normal guitar, but I really feel the bass is more for me.

Anyways, here are a few pics and then a few questions:

bass1.jpg


bass2.jpg


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I took it into a guitar center today to try in on big bass amps that I won't be able to afford for a long time, and it got a lot of looks from people that thought it was cool, which of course made me feel awesome.

My question: When I got the bass it had some issues with wiring which I attempted to fix. While playing it on amps today next to other basses it had a considerably lower output, will rewiring the properly help that?

It also sounded a lot more mellow than similarly styles basses (Squier Classic Vibe 50's P bass), and maybe even muddy. Is this just the "vintage" tone or should I try another pickup in it?

Thanks everyone!
 
#2
well answer em this what kind of pick ups are you using?

Type of string exactly? also what do you have your settings at? :P i mean the style of bass doesn't exactly matte but what matters is how you play it and what kind of settings you may have when using it :3
 
#4
That reminds me of another question. The bass came with new strings on it, but I don't think they're made for short scale bass. Will this eventually present a problem?

As for everything being quieter, good point! Any suggestions for a ok pickup replacement that won't kill my very small bank account?
 
#7
No, they aren't flat wounds. They're just standard cheap bass strings, probably like GHS or something like that.

The problem with me putting a Duncan pickup in here that fits, which is the telecaster bass style pickup, is that because this is a smaller bass the string spacing would be way off.

What is the standard output for stock fender p-bass pickups?
 
#8
Rewiring will only help if it's wired incorrectly now ;) . Which we don't know. Could be the pickup is too far from the strings, or it's just a low output pickup. Is it a problem?

Mayhaps it's muddy because you're using the tone control wrong, or the strings are really old. Which it looks like they are. Or because the pickup is too far from the strings.

Hey, have you tried raising the pickup?

Cool looking bass, BTW.
 
#10
M0ses said:
Rewiring will only help if it's wired incorrectly now ;) . Which we don't know. Could be the pickup is too far from the strings, or it's just a low output pickup. Is it a problem?

Mayhaps it's muddy because you're using the tone control wrong, or the strings are really old. Which it looks like they are. Or because the pickup is too far from the strings.

Hey, have you tried raising the pickup?

Cool looking bass, BTW.
Click to expand...

Well, it's wired correctly in that it works, but I didn't use proper gauged wire and it's not shielded at all.

The strings aren't as old as they look in that picture, but that's what I get for using my cell phone instead of my brothers canon.

I pretty much raised the pickup to the max: held down on the last fret until the pickup was just barely under it.

I actually took the pickup cover off once to look and the pickup and it is pretty gross looking. I'm guessing it's fairly low output.
 
#11
Delta_Petra said:

All I know is that is looks pretty sweet and a good deal on the price, but then again I enjoy oddball/well used basses.
Click to expand...

Thanks man! Yeah, the folk at guitar center thought it was pretty cool too. It always feel good to have someone say nice things about your [musical] instrument.

It has some nicks on the side, and they tried to cover it with a different ugly yellow color that clashed, so I just sanded those spots to make my bass look like one of those super expensive Fender Relics.
 
#12
Cool Bass -

1) Working does not mean it is wired properly. Maybe someone can check it for you

2) Wire gauge does not matter - the signal is so small. Shielding only affects hum pickup.

3) Strings designed for short scale will work better - they will be at the proper tension.

4) Low output does not have to be an issue - this is why amps have Input level controls. The only problem is if it cannot get loud enough and is noisy.
 
#13
Gio S said:
Cool Bass -

1) Working does not mean it is wired properly. Maybe someone can check it for you

2) Wire gauge does not matter - the signal is so small. Shielding only affects hum pickup.

3) Strings designed for short scale will work better - they will be at the proper tension.

4) Low output does not have to be an issue - this is why amps have Input level controls. The only problem is if it cannot get loud enough and is noisy.
Click to expand...
+1, although you never know what string(s) will suit a funky old beast. IMO, that bass has a lot going for it. Since you have so little invested in it I would try to hold-on to it.
 
#14
Cool bass! allot of those older tele type basses and really older vintage bass were low output compared to todays basses. I had a Jazz Aria from that time period and I was dead on for a Fender and its output was low. It was a great tone but low output.

You can play it as is or sell it and put that money toward a newer bass and get the sound you are looking for. I dont think that bass is will ever get any louder or a more aggressive tone with a single pickup in tha posistion anyhow.
 
#15
Gio S said:
Cool Bass -

1) Working does not mean it is wired properly. Maybe someone can check it for you

2) Wire gauge does not matter - the signal is so small. Shielding only affects hum pickup.

3) Strings designed for short scale will work better - they will be at the proper tension.

4) Low output does not have to be an issue - this is why amps have Input level controls. The only problem is if it cannot get loud enough and is noisy.
Click to expand...

I paid a visit to Elderly's today and had my bass re-wired. I asked the tech how it sounded and he said "Not great but not bad. Definitely worth $60."

It sounds better to me, although the tone is still a bit muddy. It's great for learning!
 

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