Rayman

Very interesting. Does the Humbucker split to produce a jazz bridge pickup tone? I guess then you’ve pretty much go all the basses in one?

Great basses Rumblekats. 
 

In addition to the above info, a lot depends on what kind of sound you’re looking for?  Bright, thumpy, woolly…. ?

Have they done the bass giveaway?

Wow…. what a great thread. It absolutely didn’t take the direction I thought it would.

Much like Scott’s album 

Yep, I'd be into that too

What a cracker….. it’s beyond me why folks still spend twice as much money on a new instrument, when there’s absolute bangers out there, like this, for peanuts. 
 

If I didn’t have an MOT looming, I’d be all over this.

Love Arias.

Fascinating really….. we all have one thing in common, the love of bass guitars…… and yet we’re all so massively different in our interpretations of the instrument. 

7 minutes ago, Bevan7 said:

Of course not everyone will like it, slagging off fusion is like shooting fishing in a barrel. 

 

It’s for sure not for everyone, it’s very challenging for the ear, but some strange people (like me) actually like it.

I didn’t slag off fusion, if you read what I actually did say.

There you, horses for courses….

 I’m obviously at the wrong race track.

I do love some Ibanez’ finishes….. nice bass.

Don’t get me wrong, my OP was not a pop at Mr D, he’s an amazing player and very good at what he does, he also seems like a really nice chap. I stop by his website pretty often.

However this self indulgent musical offering is not my bag, that’s really my only point. I’m sure lots of people disagree and really enjoy it, which of course, is great.

6 hours ago, Paolo85 said:

Well, it's fusion. I have listened to two songs only, just coming back from seeing a band live, I really do not have an opinion on it yet. But I must say why I adore some fusion albums, it's not very many and rarely that's the case when the guitar player clearly likes their metal (nothing against "normal metal though").

That being said, in my opinion, any consideration on this album should be made in the context of its genre. If someone doesn't like fusion they won't like this full stop. Same way there's no chance I'd like a Britpop album.

There's part of BC that seem to find it hilarious that some musicians study music, build chops and god forbid try to push the boundaries of what can be done on the instrument - or at least move to the vicinity of those boundaries, as I think it's more the case here.

Not a comment on the OP, to be clear.

 

 

I hear you.  Listen, I'm a jazz fan, along with metal, dub, funk, Britpop (😉) etc etc... a vast array of different genres.... I'm a music fan, like most of us are. I love fusion.... Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Jamiroquai, (early) Level 42 etc... some amazing stuff there.

I also love art and poetry. However,  there are, for example some works of art and poetry that make me work too hard to understand.  I want to understand,  but no matter how hard I work, I don't get it. There's nothing for me, intellectually, to grab on to. It makes me feel like I'm too stupid to get it, and gets my back up.

That's how I feel about this music.

In my opinion, art should make you feel good and make you want to go back for more. For me, this art makes me feel like a Cy Twombly painting. Confused and irritated. 

7 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

Not enough plodding along with root notes for my liking 😂

 

I can't get my head around this type of jazz, fantastic player though.

Totally amazing player

But so far the album sounds like the soundtrack to a 70s cop show….. you know…. when the police are chasing the bad guys down a back alley in San Francisco….. in a gold sedan with a magnetic red flashing light on the roof….. crashing through piles of empty cardboard boxes with a box of donuts on the dashboard.

We’re bass players, we’re into all kinds of music, rhythms etc….. but I can’t listen to that at all, totally discombobulating. 

Meanwhile I’m hoping I can get a handle on Janeks’ new stuff before his gig and masterclass coming up next month.

Technically clever, but it sends my head West listening to it.

Mrs Rayman had to leave the room, her anxiety was peaking 

I’m sorry, if I’m being really thick, but from the tracks I’ve heard so far….
 

I….. Don’t….. Understand.

Anyone into it? Or…… 

Can you elaborate on the routing? Was it to lower the action? Did you do it yourself?

Nice. I had a long conversation with Dave Swift about one of those….. I never pulled the trigger though. Let us know how you get on.

I think dull insinuates a negative thing, whereas dark is more descriptive? Dark is good, I definitely lean in a darker direction now, tonally, compared to the bright tone I used to prefer years ago.

To me, dull means meh

Dark, to me, is a lack of top end clarity and sparkle. Not necessarily muddy, but more mid and bottom than top.

I had a 60s fender jazz that wasn’t as bright as my 70s jazz,  mostly because the bridge pickup placement is different.  I used to describe that bass as sounding darker than the other.

Beautiful bass…. I wish I could have it, whoever does will not be disappointed. Alans’ work is top end. The Scottish Fodera.

Yeah I’ve seen this before.

Not the most accurate or correct information from this guy, but yes that’s a very similar bass to mine.

And compounded by the obscene soaring prices of new gear…. times are getting harder, people have less disposable income, but the prices keep rising…..

I agree, there are some really beautiful basses on here (there always is), but I for one am getting less and less able to afford anything. I do love to browse and dream though, and there are tons of bargains to be had.

55 minutes ago, lemmywinks said:

Aria were always good, the shift to Korea and then China did diminish the brand but they were still churning out some nice entry to mid level basses. Well built, great necks, decent pickups and always nice to look at.

 

Alongside the usual clones they still do some really eyecatching instruments like the FEB acoustics and the SB reissues. There's a really nice PEB65 LP style bass that I keep seeing on Facebook

I sold my blue PEB65 a couple of months ago, very nice thing, I just couldn’t quite get on with it for some reason.

This Integra is absolutely wonderful. The pickups sound amazing, lovey harmonics, it’s so light and easy to play, but with a monster tone and output. What an absolute bargain. Ace thing.

If anyone cares about such things, the history of Aria is really interesting, and every bit as embedded in Japanese instrument manufacturing history as any of the other revered builders. The Aria story is really fascinating. They really cared about making high quality guitars, but these days it’s more about affordable offerings mostly, which is a shame.