Off the Bucket List: Aria SB 1000!

[Carmine]

Over many years I've been fortunate to find most all the basses that I had always dreamed about. But for the past several years my short "bucket list" consisted of 2 Of Japan's finest dream basses that I hoped to own someday: an Ibanez Musician, and an Aria SB 1000. Thanks to Jeroen I was able to purchase a Musician from Yahoo Japan a couple years ago (I don't think I ever got around to posting about that one- another day perhaps!)

Finally, last week I was able to negotiate the purchase of an SB 1000. I can't begin to express how excited I am about this bass- visually, physically and sonically, it is really an incredible instrument in every regard. Great story, the owner bought it new back in 1981, but eventually moved on from playing bass and had stuck it under the bed for several years for safe keeping in near mint condition. Even among other excellent Aria SB models the SB 1000 is revered as a classic, and from the minute I picked it up and plugged it in, I understood why. It has a very unique- yet extremely comfortable- neck profile and playing feel. And although the passive and active electronics can produce a broad variety of tones, I found myself immediately channelling my inner John Taylor. Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf, Planet Earth- YES, you can literally dial in EXACTLY that iconic sound just from the bass alone, like nothing else I've played. I've only had a few days with it but I can tell you that this one is an absolute keeper I will be experimenting with for sometime to come.

I know a couple folks here have other SB models, but does anyone else have an SB 1000?

[KingOfAmps]

That's very sharp!

I dig the JT tone too but I have to keep that on the "down low" most of the time.

[Agent00Soul]

I remember when that ad went up a few weeks ago and I was seriously tempted, but I just could just not justify it for any reason other than I am a Duran Duran fanatic (KingOfAmps, what's up with that "down low" biz? DD are the beez kneez). I'd probably never use it. CONGRATS!! Glad it found a good home

[Basshappi]

Holy Moley!
That is a beauty! I have always loved the look of the Aria basses but have never had the opprotunity to handle one.
Congrats Carmine, post some tracks of it if you get the chance.

Cheers!
B

[Agent00Soul]

BTW Aria is making these again, but I have no idea how good they feel/sound compared to the originals. And no lefties yet.

http://www.ariaguitars.com/english/category/bass

[Carmine]

Thanks guys! btw, I agree completely with Agent00soul on DD, I don't think any bassist has to be in the closet about digging John Taylor's bass grooves .

That said, although nothing else can bring the DD tone like an SB 1000, I have to also emphasize that this bass is no mere one trick pony. Case in point is the relatively broad sonic palette covered by notable players who endorsed and swore by the SB 1000 throughout the 80's, including John Taylor (pop/ dance/funk), Jack Bruce (rock/ blues/ jazz), Neil Murray (rock/ blues/ metal/ fusion), and Cliff Burton (metal- Cliff's SB 1000 is enshrined in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame).

Neil Murray tells a story about how he first became aware of the SB 1000, involving fellow bassist Jack Bruce and the late drum legend Cozy Powell. Neil says he was replaced by Jack for Cozy's solo album "Over The Top" because Neil's experimental Fender bass wasn't getting a good sound in the studio. Meanwhile Jack Bruce comes in with his SB-1000, one of the first in the UK according to Neil, and lays down the track with a much better bass tone...

[fivebass52]

It is indeed a beautiful bass, and, from all of the descriptions so far a sonic beauty as well! Congrats on the score!

[Agent00Soul]

Here are some of JT's early isolated bass tracks that I'm pretty sure must have been done on that Aria model. I don't think he played anything else at the time

Girls On Film http://how-to-play-bass.com/bass-guitar ... ls-on-film

Rio http://youtu.be/Hr3HCNIgv40

Hungry Like The Wolf http://how-to-play-bass.com/bass-guitar ... e-the-wolf

He must have been around 20 when he made these

[Carmine]

Agent, thanks for those "free bass lessons", those will keep me busy all week!

The more I read up on the SB 1000, the variety of notable players and/or endorsers continues to grow: Geezer Butler, Jonas Hellborg, Mike Oldfield...

Here's a clip of Mike Anthony rocking one on Van Halen's 5150 video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzq17F-b9AU

[Agent00Soul]

Carmine - Any reports on the Aria in action? I actually played Planet Earth at a "New Romantics Tribute Night" (Duran, Adam Ant, Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, Klaus Nomi etc) and was thinking of this bass.

[fivebass52]

After looking at the pictures of this bass again, I've got to say tat is one of the coolest grain patterns I've seen! "Tire Tracks" comes to mind, as well as "Marching Chevrons".... even Tiger Stripe" lends itself to my possible grain descriptions... The finish really sets it off as well - a very beautiful, and unusual looking bass! I'm sure it gets attention whenever someone sees it....

[Carmine]

Carmine - Any reports on the Aria in action? I actually played Planet Earth at a "New Romantics Tribute Night" (Duran, Adam Ant, Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, Klaus Nomi etc) and was thinking of this bass.

Haven't gotten it out in the field yet, but I've been spending some time with it at home, just getting a feel for it. It's in the middle in this pic, and you can see how there's no taper in the neck width; it's the same from end to end, which makes it much narrower at the heel and bridge spacing compared to the SB-R60 on the the right (which is about the same as a typical p bass width neck). It is a bit different but once you get comfortable it's a really effortless player, easy to go fast on.

BTW, love the idea of a "New Romantics Tribute Night"? That had to be a bass player's dream!