NBD: Aria Pro II SLB-2A bass

[Chris Hopkins]

Hi All!

 

Just thought I'd say hello and share my latest eBay score!  I got this for £50 over the weekend and it arrived first thing today (literally 07:55 - Parcelforce actually pulling their collective fingers out for a change).

 

Firstly, I didn't know it was purple from the original listing (the photos weren't very good).  I had originally bought it for the neck as I thought it would fit my 1986 "The Cat" (another eBay purchase) which has a crack on the headstock running underneath one of the tuners but on this model they use an Ibanez style ferrule system.  When I checked the serial number it turns out to be from August 1992 which is pretty late in the run as I don't think they were made after 92.  I've also got an SLB-2 from 1989 which has the pointy style headstock.

 

I know they're ply bodies but the weight on this one is pretty good.  Obviously it's a bit battered and missing some screws on the rear plates.  The battery I removed from it had a "best before 2002" label on it and I'm amazed that it hasn't leaked everywhere.  The pots need a good clean and the preamp is pretty junky.  It gives the pickups one hell of a volume boost when turned clockwise but it's pretty savage.  I've got an EMG Geezer Butler PJ set that's currently in my Squier SS Jag and I think I'm going to put those in here.  I might fit the preamp from my Ibanez SR500 as well once I've swapped it out for the Aguilar OBP-3 I bought recently.  

 

The neck needs to be shimmed (the bridge saddles have been adjusted to the deck) but there aren't real signs of fret buzz (it plays all the way up without choking) and it's super fast.  

 

I think I've lucked out!

[theyellowcar]

Decent! Bit of work to do but sounds like you’ve got a decent foundation to build from here!

[Geek99]

Screws are peanuts on eBay