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Aria STB Jazz Bass

 

Review of the Aria STB Jazz Bass by The Man in the Jar

This is a serious chunk of bass for not much money.

Features of the Aria STB Jazz Bass

Tuners - Large open-backed tuners with oversized knobs work well. Watch out for accumulated dust in the gears over time.

Headstock - The Aria take on the Fender four-on-one-side has a kind of hook-nosed, bird-of-prey look about it. One large circular tree guides the 1st and 2nd string. All the strings have a perfect straight line path over the nut. The truss-rod access is uncovered but well finished.   

Nut - The white plastic nut is a set-in-slot type and is tidily finished.

Neck - The maple bolt-on neck has a chunky, substantial feel to it. That's not to say it's uncomfortable or difficult to play (unless you have small hands), but is has a vintage profile rather than a slim modern profile. This feeling increases as you climb to the higher frets where the width of the fretboard increases as well.  

Fretboard - The medium-brown rosewood fretboard has a subtle grain and carries traditional pearloid dot markers.

Frets - Large rounded-profile frets provide a positive playing experience.

Action - The action was good straight from the box with the possibility of coming down a tad if you so choose.

Body - The alder body is a direct clone of the Fender Jazz bass shape, itself a jazzy distortion of the more conservative Precision Bass. The comfort contouring is welcome as the bass is quite heavy.

Bridge - The Aria bridge is a frighteningly chunky but ultimately simple plate bridge with integral stoptail. Each string rests on a grooved barrel saddle which is individually adjustable for string height and intonation. 

Pickups - Two single coil Jazz Bass pickups in classic Fender configuration.

Controls - Each pickup has a dedicated volume control and the third, smaller knob is the master tone control.

Scratchplate - Three-ply white/black/white with a chrome plate section that houses the controls. 

Strap-buttons - Medium-sized strap buttons are located at the base of the body and on the upper horn. 

Output Jack - On the front set in the chromed control section.

Finish - Very good throughout, the three-tone sunburst is particularly iconic for this style of bass.

 

Sound of the Aria STB Jazz Bass

The ingredients are all here for the Fender-esque tones that you expect from an instrument of this style; alder body, maple neck and single coil pickups. And the Aria certainly delivers from the soft voiced mid pickup and the harder edged bridge position. Blending the two with the volume controls means that tones can be had from all points in between.

 

Overall Impressions of the Aria STB Jazz Bass

This is a real man's bass. It's big and heavy and the neck feels nice and substantial - small people need not apply. But as long as you have the physical attributes to tame the beast you will be rewarded with a serious chunk of high quality bass guitar. I am shocked that you could walk away with change from £150. For that you get an instrument that will serve you well for a lifetime with the option of upgrading if you so choose from the large range of Jazz-style retro-fitted replacement pickups that are easily available these days.

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