Cliff Burton’s Legacy Lives On With Aria Pro II SB-CLB Signature Bass
Aria Guitars is honoring a legend this year with the Aria Pro II SB-CLB Cliff Burton Signature Bass, which they revealed at the 2026 Winter NAMM Show. The limited edition instrument coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Metallica bassist’s tragic and untimely passing in 1986.
Aria first launched a reproduction of Burton’s signature Black ‘n Gold I bass in 2013, and the new model retains many characteristics with a few new features. The bass is built with an ash body, a 7-piece maple/walnut neck, and a 24-fret rosewood fingerboard. Aria fits it with an MB-1E pickup and their B.B. Circuit, which features an Attack Mode Selector offering six predefined EQ curves.
“The ‘B.B. Circuit’ was one of the signature features that brought SB basses to stardom,” Aria states. “It provides incredible sonic flexibility, literally at the turn of a single knob. Each of the six presets adjusts the frequency of a low-pass filter, dramatically shaping the character of the bass tone.”
Other features include a solid brass bridge, chrome hardware, and a sleek black finish. Burton’s signature is reproduced on the back of the headstock.
Burton endorsed Aria around 1985 and played the Aria Pro SB1000 before getting his Black ‘n Gold bass. “The SB Black n’ Gold soon became Burton’s preferred bass and saw extensive studio and live use from 1985-86, particularly on the recording of Master Of Puppets,” Mixdown Mag reports.
The Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature SB-CLB bass will be shipping in April, the company told us at NAMM. It will carry a street price of $2,000.
Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature SB-CLB Bass Photos:
Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature SB-CLB Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Ash |
| Neck: | 7-piece Maple/Walnut Ply |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 12″ |
| Frets: | 24 |
| Inlays: | Dot |
| Pickups: | MB-1E |
| Electronics: | Attack Mode Selector (B.B. Circuit) with Bypass Switch |
| Bridge: | Solid Brass |
| Tuners: | Chrome |
| Finish: | Black |
| Other: | Limited Edition, Cliff Burton Signature on Back of Headstock |
| Orientation: | Right-Handed Only |
| Origin: | Made in Indonesia |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
I’d say his legacy has lived on through his music and inspiring multiple generations of players, but a sig model is nice too.
This not Cliff’s signature bass . He is not here to create one . The disrespect of putting his name on it to try and boost sales is desperate .
‘ This not Cliff ‘ s signature bass ‘ ?
You should mean to say , ‘ This is NOT , Cliff ‘ s signature bass ‘ !
You need to work up on your English there , Cornelius !
WTF do you think you are saying?
2K dollars for an Indonesia-made bass.