And then there were three...

Dord

Thanks to a tip-off from Doc J, I picked up my third Aria Pro II SB today.

Like the one he got recently, this one is in need of some work. Hopefully I can get it back to its former glory soon.

Here ya go, the bass itself...

It's a 1984 Aria Pro II SB Black n' Gold. 25 years old this year!
Another little fact, it's the same as one of the basses Cliff Burton used.








Also, here's a picture of the bridge I took. Its thicker than a Badass II, and heavier. It's made out of brass! It's so thick that Aria recessed them into the bodies. :cool:




In terms of work, I'll be working more to make it as original as possible. So it won't be havin' an Aguilar preamp like Doc's.

As for whats wrong;

Half the pickup isn't working - this will be replaced with an Armstrong pickup.

The G string saddle is missing - I'm trying my best to track a spare down, if this fails I'll try my hand at making one.

Missing a control knob - trying to source an original also.

The paint is a bit rough but I should be able to sort this.

Frets seem ok, but it could do with a level. Nothing too extreme.

Nut is loose and needs to be glued back on.

Most importantly, it needs a good scrub down

Thats about it. I'll post up some pictures (and clips if I can) when it's all done.

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

Thanks to a tip-off from Doc J, I picked up my third Aria Pro II SB today.

Like the one he got recently, this one is in need of some work. Hopefully I can get it back to its former glory soon.



As for whats wrong;

Half the pickup isn't working - this will be replaced with an Armstrong pickup.

The G string saddle is missing - I'm trying my best to track a spare down, if this fails I'll try my hand at making one.

Missing a control knob - trying to source an original also.

The paint is a bit rough but I should be able to sort this.

Frets seem ok, but it could do with a level. Nothing too extreme.

Nut is loose and needs to be glued back on.

Most importantly, it needs a good scrub down

Thats about it. I'll post up some pictures (and clips if I can) when it's all done.

Looks like you wont be doing much playing for quite a while. :P

Darkstrike

Looks like a cool project!

Dord

Rigsby wrote: »

Looks like you wont be doing much playing for quite a while. :P

Haha, that's why I have two others.

Doctor J

Just don't expect the Armstrong pickup to sound like the MBII. Aaron makes the pickups with blades which run the length of the pickup, the Aria pickups have poles which only cover the A and E on one side and the D and G on the other. You might be better off trying to track down a MBIII pickup if you want the old school sound.

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

Haha, that's why I have two others.

Yes, but I meant time wise

Good luck with the project anyway. I look foreward to seeing pics of the finished product.

Dord

Doctor J wrote: »

Just don't expect the Armstrong pickup to sound like the MBII. Aaron makes the pickups with blades which run the length of the pickup, the Aria pickups have poles which only cover the A and E on one side and the D and G on the other. You might be better off trying to track down a MBIII pickup if you want the old school sound.

I'm not too worried that it won't sound exactly the same. Even still, I've heard from a few others (over on TB) that the difference isn't too much.

Dord

Rigsby wrote: »

Yes, but I meant time wise

Good luck with the project anyway. I look foreward to seeing pics of the finished product.

Haha yeah I got that. Thanks! I'll post up pics once it's done.

Doctor J

Dord wrote: »

I'm not too worried that it won't sound exactly the same. Even still, I've heard from a few others (over on TB) that the difference isn't too much.

They're lying, trust me

The Armstrong is a lot darker sounding. It's missing a lot of the mids which make the MBII a great pickup.

punchdrunk

Dord wrote: »

I'm not too worried that it won't sound exactly the same. Even still, I've heard from a few others (over on TB) that the difference isn't too much.

just get my mate tim to rewind it he's deadly

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/vintagerewinds.html

Doctor J

There's about 8mm of very hard epoxy between Tim and the coils. There's no way of getting to them that doesn't involve damage :pac:

punchdrunk

****e!

well then i'd just whip it out and put in a TV jones thundertron!



but i'm a bit odd like that! :pac:

Doctor J

Bass thundertron? I did not know about this.

punchdrunk

indeed looks fabulous! and you just know it will sounds HUGE

Darkstrike

Heh, if you want agression,:pac:

Dord

Doctor J wrote: »

They're lying, trust me

The Armstrong is a lot darker sounding. It's missing a lot of the mids which make the MBII a great pickup.

Probably similar to the reissue MBII then, that's a little darker.
I might ask Aaron if he can make it brighter.

If all else fails it'll be another variation in my stable. :pac:

punchdrunk wrote: »

just get my mate tim to rewind it he's deadly

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/vintagerewinds.html

Nah, don't think that will happen. As Doc says, they're almost impossible to repair as they're filled out with thick epoxy. Removing this will damage the pickup even further.

Only a couple of people know how to make them and only Armstrong pickups has an original sized mold for the cover.


And NO, i'm not putting a TV jones or Dimarzio pickup in it! That would be blasphemy and would ruin one part I love about it. The pickup shape. It works as a ramp and also a thumbrest. Perfect design.

Doctor J

Armstrong actually moulds the whole pickup as one big blob, he doesn't use a cover like the Aria ones.

Are G&L mfd pickups the same size? That'd be interesting

Dord

Doctor J wrote: »

Armstrong actually moulds the whole pickup as one big blob, he doesn't use a cover like the Aria ones.

Are G&L mfd pickups the same size? That'd be interesting

Oh right, well probably easier for him to do that.

Not sure about the g&l's...

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

Not sure about the g&l's...

Measured the MFD's on my L 2000 for ya . 9cm x 4cm.

Dord

Rigsby wrote: »

Measured the MFD's on my L 2000 for ya . 9cm x 4cm.

It's a bit wider... 4" x 1.5" (10.16cm x 3.8cm)

fish-head

Boys and their Aria Pros..

Dord

Not done yet... but I'm quite happy that I've managed to track down all the replacement parts needed. It sure does help to know others who own the same instruments as you, especially if the instruments are old and have parts out of production. I sourced a bridge and knob from a fellow SB nut in Korea. :pac:

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

especially if they're old and have parts out of production.

Who ? The instruments or the owners ?

Dord

Rigsby wrote: »

Who ? The instruments or the owners ?

LOL

I meant if the basses are old...;)

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

LOL

I meant if the basses are old...;)

Oh ! You meant the basses !! :pac: