Aria honors Cliff Burton’s legacy with a reissue of his signature bass, 40 years after his passing

Aria Guitars has revealed a special commemorative signature bass honoring the late Cliff Burton, marking 40 years since his passing. The reissued Aria Pro II model, originally released in 2013 with the blessing of his family and Metallica, is designed to “honor Cliff Burton’s groundbreaking tone and legacy” while still being built for a new generation of players.

Burton, a defining creative force behind Metallica’s early era, left his mark on timeless tracks like “(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth.” His life was tragically cut short in 1986, when Metallica’s tour bus crashed in Sweden, killing him at just 24 years old — yet his influence on heavy music remains untouchable.