Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: gtrguy on January 26, 2022, 11:38:23 AM
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"Licensed to Aria by Alembic" according to the ad.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284625436969?hash=item4244ff8129:g:kBYAAOSwntNh6XTa
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The Aria Pro II RS (Rev Sound) series were certainly inspired by Alembic. The higher end ones even attempted to copy Alembic with active pick-ups with a dummy in the middle and filters. However, they did not use Alembic PUs or electronics. And I don't believe they were ever "licensed" by Alembic. IIRC, Alembic did work with Aria on a Rudy Sarzo bass, supplying the PUs and electronics for that model. The eBay guitar is cool. I have the RS-850 model. Nice guitar, but definitely not in Alembic's class. Also, the one on eBay has been modified to add the Floyd Rose.
Bill, tgo
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Bill, if only it were (or better yet, if they'd have skipped installing the dive-bomb wiggle stick): It's a Kahler, top-mount. No rout-through on the back for the block and springs. It's amazing the Matsumoku-vintage market is growing as folks realize what gems came from those days from 'over there'.
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Your are correct, Joey. I didn’t really look close, sort of like looking at a car wreck! Once I saw the locking nut and the rout for the original reverse bird tailpiece peeking out from under the bridge, I had to turn away. And don’t get me wrong when I say it’s definitely not an Alembic. It’s still a well built very nice guitar. The RS-850, the most Alembic-like, came in two versions: one with a 3+3 headstock, and another with a 6 in-line. They also had a bass version.
Bill, tgo
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No license to Aria for building anything - but we were good friends with Mr Arai, and sold them pickups and electronics for other models.
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I own am Aria Bass with "neck through" design, that has such Alembic pickups and electronics in it as well :)