The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hi all

A couple of years ago I purchased a very beautiful Aria Pro II SB-900 (lined) fretless bass (as you can see below) and now the time has come to sell it for another purchase.

The thing is that the original owner was dead when I bought it and his son who sold it to me had no idea about music equipment, so when I asked him if the fretless is original from the factory or it was modified later he didnt know.

My questions to you knowledge people is:

-- Are you aware of any fretless SB-900 basses? I havent found any other fretless SB bass. Although, I have to admit that if it is a modified neck the work is so perfect that I cannot find any irregularity in the fretless neck.
-- How much you would estimate ($$) a bass like that? I had checked the serial number and I remember that most probably it is from 1979. The condition is exceptional for its age, with no issues at all and only 1 minor ding on the side. Electronics and PUs work superbly.

Thank you for your time! Any comment is welcome.

Cheers

A quick look around the Guitar Gallery is inconclusive, with the SB900 not being shown in the spec sheets nor in the dealer scans we have as being available as a fretless. That doesn't mean it wasn't; just that the documentation is either incomplete or unavailable!

I will say, though, that the Matsumoku fretless basses I've seen - and that's not very many at all!! - seem to favour pristine fingerboards with no lines or dots, except on the edge...

http://www.westoneguitars.net/basses/spectrum/

http://www.westoneguitars.net/basses/thunder/

http://www.westoneguitars.net/basses/super-headless/

... scroll down on theses pages to see what I mean!

As for value, no idea, and wouldn't even hazard a guess; check eBay listings both current and closed to see if you can find anything. Stuff is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.... and this is a non-mainstream instrument!

Just for info, there is a Westone Thunder III fretless bass for sale in Germany and it appears to be 100% original and includes a case. For me, a bit too expensive, but it should help to get an idea.

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anz ... 38-74-5412

Pete

_________________
Comparing spammers to a pile of organic waste, is an insult to the organic waste.

Uncle Mats ES-500, RS Wildcat, RSB Deluxe, FS-750, Magna MA 30 (non-Mat), TA-61 non-Mat), a Westone limited run/proto Thunder and an OAKLAND (Westone) XI100.

Pete