I started playing bass back in about 1982. In '84 went on holiday to the Isle of Wight and found a small music shop in Ryde. Therin I played on an Aria pro 2 SB 1000 or 900 or something Duranish - the memory has faded with time. The sound was so jaw droppingly gut shakingly beautiful it was very much akin to the love at first sight often put forward as a useful plot device by romantic novelists. I had not the money to buy the instrument, but on returning home, at he first opportunity I headed to Bristol and climbed St Michael's Hill, then home to two fine musical instrument emporia. I found and purchased a red Aria of a similar shape and style and whilst I loved it then and love it still it didn't have that sound.
I have, needless to say, been searching for the instrument that could give me what I want ever since. The Stingray came close and others have flattered to deceive but just lately I purchased a weather beaten old Westone Thunder 1A and by crikey my first thought was 'this could be [i]the one [/i] ' . It has that twang for which I have searched and it is from the right area in terms of both geography and era.
Of course if it was ever possible to have 'the one' there'd be an end to GAS and we know that ain't gonna happen.