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Back Catalog Memories: Vintage 1980’s Aria Pro II ZZ Bass Deluxe

By Mike Robinson

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May 1, 2013

Aria was formed in Japan in 1953 by Shiro Arai as Arai and Company. They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company didn’t actually start manufacturing their own until 1964. Aria arranged for Matsumoku, the musical instrument maker, to build the guitars for them under contract. Arai and Matsumoku started building acoustic guitars in 1964, and then electric guitars in 1966, using Arai, Aria, Aria Diamond, Diamond, and much less frequently, Arita brand names.

Back Catalog Memories: 1960’s Espana Bass Guitar

By Mike Robinson

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April 2, 2013

| 4 Comments

| 1960's Vintage Bass Guitars, Guitar History, Vintage Bass Guitars

Here is a rare bass from Italy. There is little information about the Espana brand, but it was most certainly created under the Crucianelli brand in the 1960’s Italy, likely the late 60’s. This bass was obviously targeted at the Fender crowd – check out the headstock – and the body too is quite reminiscent of the classic Fender style.

Back Catalog Memories: 1970’s UNIVOX Coily Bass Guitar

By Mike Robinson

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March 4, 2013

| 5 Comments

| 1970's Vintage Bass Guitars, Guitar History, Guitar Talk, Vintage Bass Guitars

UNIVOX guitars were imported to North America from Japan in the late 1960’s to the late 1970’s. They had many different models – most popular of which is the Hi-Flyer – but also included an array of Les Paul copies, Hagstrom, Fender and others. UNIVOX guitars were built by the Matsumoko guitar factory in Japan, who also built guitars for Aria, Westbury, Westone, and several other brands at the time. This model, the Coily Bass is based on the Epiphone Casino.

1960’s Supro Airline Pocket Bass Guitar

By Rob Roberge

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October 1, 2007

| 29 Comments

| 1960's Vintage Bass Guitars, Bass Reviews, Guitar History

What’s the best bass for guitar players? What’s arguably the coolest bass ever made? What’s got bottom that’s so huge, warm, and round that Mr. “I like Big Butts” Sir Mix a Lot would pen a moving ode to it? If you guessed the Valco-made Supro and/or Airline Pocket bass, you guessed right.

Rob’s Crazy eBay Finds: 1960’s Kent Short Scale Bass Guitar

By Rob Roberge

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November 1, 2006

| 15 Comments

| 1960's Vintage Bass Guitars, Basses & Bassists, Vintage Bass Guitars

Enter exhibit A: A late 60’s KENT short scale variation on the very popular (then and now) “Beatle” violin shaped bass. As you can see from the photos, this isn’t your average violin bass. While many, from the classic Hofner that Paul McCartney turned a few kids on to, to the Teisco and Black Jack Japanese models, didn’t stray far from the violin shape, this Kent takes a few attractive and stylish liberties with the standard template.