***BOTH SOLD*** My two 80's Aria Pro 2's £600

[Wilco]

GAS is a bloody awful thing sometimes..... I've thought hard about putting these up for sale as I am very happy with them, like their 80's vibe & have always been a fan of Matsumoku products. However, I've seen a couple of other basses for sale that have really caught my attention & cost a lot more money. I therefore need to sell both these to help pay for one (yes, one....!) of those. If only I was more wealthy..... My first bass for sale is a 1983 black Aria Pro 2 SB Special 2. It's got some dings on but is still in great condition for its age - £[s]250[/s] £225 including postage for this one. The second is a 1985 RSB Deluxe which is in really excellent condition. More of a vintage white colour now - £350 for this one. Both instruments come with cases which also date back to the 80's so have some scuffs on.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Wilco

[Wilco]

More images available on request Edited May 5, 2013 by Wilco

[FlatEric]

Have a free bump on me.

I have both of these and I think the bit in you sig, is about right.

Special "Rock" - Deluxe "Funk"

Either will do both but they do lean slightly one way or the other.

People forget the these were/are high end basses.

Mine came in it's original case, with it's Gigsville label and the original price tag.

The SB Special Deluxe II, all those years ago, was £328.87!!!

That's over £900, in todays money!!



Good luck with the sale. . . . . if you really do want to move them on!

Cheers.

Ooops - meant to add this.

Edited April 14, 2013 by FlatEric

[Wilco]

Thanks for the bump Eric. Both have great & flexible tones, are built like tanks, are quite light & have very, very silky, playable necks!

Can't see that anyone would be disappointed for the money of they brought these. Stupidly forgot to mention that both have very little fret wear and for a lot of their lives have been boxed away. The Special under a friends bed for 14 years & the RSB in its case for nearly 20!

Some more pics of the RSB:-

[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20RSB%20Deluxe/SAM_0781.jpg[/IMG]
[IM[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20RSB%20Deluxe/SAM_0775.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20RSB%20Deluxe/SAM_0774.jpg[/IMG]

(the pics have made the bass look bright white - it's actually more of a vintage creamy colour in reality)

Edited April 18, 2013 by Wilco

[Wilco]

I've just read this passage online - Ray Burton, the legendary Cliff's (RIP) dad:-

"The first year Cliff was with Metallica he played a Rickenbacker guitar that he purchased in 1982. He loved his guitar, but he did not feel it was a strong enough instrument to withstand the rugged treatment of the daily rigors of heavy metal touring. Early in 1984, Cliff was treated to an Aria Pro II bass guitar. He really liked it and therefore did not seek any other bass to play. He told me it was strong and ideal to play. I never heard a discouraging word about his Aria bass guitars. To give testament to his preference, he had several of them."

Ok, my two are a little down the model range from Cliff's famous 'Black 'n' Gold' model, but not far off.

As Eric said above "People forget that these were/are high end basses".

If there was an "F" on the headstock, the asking price would be £1000 more.......!?!?

Edited April 22, 2013 by Wilco

[Wilco]

Price drop on SB Special 2 + many new pictures

[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0965.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0971.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0961.jpg[/IMG]

Branded tuners.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0974.jpg[/IMG]

Genuine bone nut.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0923.jpg[/IMG]

Pickup screw ferrules - how many of these just screw into the body? Excellent attention to detail.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0938.jpg[/IMG]

Little fret wear.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0928.jpg[/IMG]

Branded jacket socket.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0984.jpg[/IMG]

Original concentric controls & switches intact and fully working.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0985.jpg[/IMG]

Neckplate serial number confirms 1983 build.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0982.jpg[/IMG]

The worst ding on the instrument - top edge rear. Small in reality.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0919.jpg[/IMG]

Lovely neck grain - almost marbled.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0975.jpg[/IMG]

Case included - a bit battered but functional.
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0957.jpg[/IMG]

Here's a magazine advert from November 1983 - confirmation of an ash body (but only 22 frets!). £277 in 1983 is around £825 now!!
[IMG]http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/paulwilcock/Aria%20Pro%202%20SB%20Special%202/SAM_0956.jpg[/IMG]

Schaller strap locks included.

Edited May 5, 2013 by Wilco

[Grreth]

Gutted to see these both on eBay with a massive price increase...That's happened to me before and broke my heart.