Bloodaxe

In The Court Of The Crimson King. Apart from 21st Century Schizoid Man & Epitaph it's utter nonsense IMO. All their other albums (up to Thrak) I can (& do) segue up & cheerfully OD on, but not 'Court'. Blue Oyster Cult. The three studio albums before Agents of Fortune are, in the main, quirky, angular slices of serious goodness, but AoF is just FM Rock dross.

Gunk: If it's serious, lighter fluid (e.g. Ronsonol) & either a toothbrush or an old credit card trimmed to get rid of the rounded corners. If it's not, then an old t-shirt & Ronsonol.

Bass —> ADA MP-1 —> 6-channel mixer —> Headphones MP3 player plugged into mixer. On the rare occasions when I need to practice without headphones it's the 'big' rig — Ashdown Superfly + Epifani UL110 + Flite 15 — with the volume turned down to avoid frightening the neighbours. P.

If it was good enough for Jack Bruce...

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1436021517' post='2814405']And I don't like blue basses...[/quote] Depends on the blue. This is just bluegh IMO.

Whereabouts are you? Failing that, Maplin do a basic MM for a tenner: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-domestic-multimeter-including-battery-bulb-and-fuse-tester-n20ax P.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1435161052' post='2806101']I'd be inclined to think it's from the early years of Korean production rather than MIJ but the MIKs were decent enough. Jon.[/quote] I'd agree totally if it wasn't for the fact that the Talkbass example had 'Made In Japan' stamped into the neckplate.

Other than that it's a JPJ-3, not much tbh, £70 sounds fair. There's a pic of one in the 1986 catalogue here (it's split across two pages):— [url="http://s227.photobucket.com/user/vintagejapanbass/media/Aria%20Pro%20Catalogs/1986%20Catalog/page20.jpg.html"]http://s227.photobuc...page20.jpg.html[/url] [url="http://s227.photobucket.com/user/vintagejapanbass/media/Aria%20Pro%20Catalogs/1986%20Catalog/page21.jpg.html"]http://s227.photobuc...page21.jpg.html[/url] No sign of it in the 1991 catalogue, so length of production is unknown but I suspect that it's 1986-1990. I reconstructed the wiring diagram from photos of one that turned up on Talkbass a couple of years ago:— Pete.

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1435064484' post='2805035']*edit* Blood and custard, my favorite combination [/quote] Are you also partial to Tizer/Vimto & Jam Sandwiches?

So... 2 & 3 both have issues/features that mean you're not really comfortable with them, so I'd rule them out. That leaves 1 & 4. The Lakky sounds a sensible bet since it'd be down to the engineer to get it to sit nicely in the mix, not you. [b]But[/b]... You've obviously bonded with the ACG on many levels. Notwithstanding the risk of it going AWOL, it sounds like there isn't a more appropriate candidate. You'll be playing music that you connect with straight from the heart & what better way than to use your "Gran's bass"? Take it, melt their ears with its sound & melt their hearts with its story. Good luck with it if it comes off & don't forget to write. P.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1434290792' post='2798322']Stunning (typical..?) modesty from such a virtuoso. Good questions, great answers. Well done, and thanks. Next up is..? [/quote] Seconded. If you're going to make a habit of this can I suggest Colin Hodgkinson?

After that we need a short drum solo... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBlVg18eCYc[/media]

Just queued up versions by Freddie King (3), Sam Cooke, Bobby Bland & Jimmy Witherspoon (2) & they all just cycle through the verse structure. Similar tunes that **do** have a bridge are 'Need Your Love So Bad' and 'Jumping at Shadows'

Cardie in need of a bit of TLC: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bass-guitar/131519712772?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3Dfe6160acb78e4a18849046242740d6cf%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D291477794851&rt=nc

Gary Oldman Daniel Radcliffe (possibly)

[quote name='mattyb' timestamp='1431938722' post='2776280']Anyone any idea what this is? I'm hankering for another fretless and this looks like it could tick all the boxes if it isn't made from cardboard! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111673920625?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url][/quote] No idea what it is, but the body shape & the maple/walnut laminated neck scream Matsumoku around 1980-82 to me. If it is, it won't be made from cardboard, but might come in handy if you have an ocean liner that you want to keep from wandering about in a light hurricane. This thread by our very own Bassassin may enlighten further: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/93901-through-neck-mijmik-precision-thing-1980-ish/"]http://basschat.co.u...thing-1980-ish/[/url] [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1431938909' post='2776285'] How about this one? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-Pro-II-MAB-40-Magna-Series-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-with-Carry-Bag-/361291063934?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item541ea0227e"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item541ea0227e[/url] [/quote] [quote name='mattyb' timestamp='1431940757' post='2776315']That looks good too! Are those Aria's decent? I've never personally played one[/quote] I used to own a 5-string Magna series & sold it on. Sound-wise it was a lovely thing - very growly - but I found it an ergonomic mess, mainly because the body has almost square edges that dug in all over the place. The neck has a scarf joint around the third fret where the headstock is grafted on & that didn't fill me with confidence either. If it had a 'proper' neck, a rounded over body & a thumb rest I may well have kept it. Of the two, I'd go for the 'Satellite' & a wide strap. The tuners aren't original, but that's an easy fix.

Gomg through a bit of Blues-that-doesn't-just-stick-to-a-i-IV-V phase at the moment... pleasantly surprised to be able to busk my way through Sam Cooke's 'Another Saturday Night' and Peter Green's 'Jumping at Shadows' after only a couple of fumbling run-throughs. Next targets are 'Ain't Nobody's Business' & 'Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out'.

[quote name='Strogg' timestamp='1431726283' post='2774496']Only downsides I can only relate to cosmetic (technical part seems all right) flaws - couple small chips (? i don`t know if it is a correct word), and one bigass (oh dear, you can even see wood) on the bottom "leg", but I wouldnt say that it is catastrophical - overall the guitar is in a good shape.[/quote] Yeh, they do that. All my Arias are finished in two-pack (epoxy) car paint which does **not** wear away like nitro - it dents & chips. On solid colours it's possible to do a CA (Superglue) filling job, but with metallics like yours it's almost impossible to match the finish. Just think of it as a Battle Scar Pete.

[quote name='Wilco' timestamp='1431671385' post='2773750']If that front pickup is original, then defo an Aria of some type. That's exactly like the pickup up on the 80's Aria Pro 2 I used to own.[/quote] Same with the back pickup too, although that looks like it came from an SB. However the bridge looks as though it could be a replacement too - it's a bit 'generic'. A photo of the backs of the tuners would help - they should be branded 'Aria Pro II' Personally, I'm of the opinion that it's some kind of proto-Wedge/WL model that didn't get into the catalogues.

[quote name='Coldflows' timestamp='1431641760' post='2773644'] Next to none. I have now sawed a flat head into the largest one and left to soak overnight in wd40 but its not budging. If I drill it out will I wreck the saddle? [/quote] That depends on how good you are at drilling - don't try it if all you have is a Dremel or a wobbly Black & Decker. However, if you have a pillar drill & vice it might be worth a go (but the saddle must be absolutely perpendicular) - if at all possible drill a very small hole right down the middle & then go up to the next size. Repeat but stop short of drilling the screw right out & leaving the hole smooth and bereft of threads (as then you'd have to tap it for a new & bigger thread). It **might** then be possible to collapse the remains inwards (hammer & small screwdriver) & get it all out. If you're really lucky the heat of the drilling will free the screw and it'll wind out on its own. Alternatively drill all 8 saddle screws out to the same dimension & re-tap the lot to take new screws. One thing I'd (personally) try before that is to **really** get some heat in there. Wait until the Mrs goes out and bake it for 30 mins in the oven at 250C & then plunge it into cold water. That might cause enough thermal shock to get it moving. If it doesn't, hit it with a gas blowtorch & quench. The downside to this is that there's a very good chance that you'll knacker the chrome plating.

[quote name='Prostheta' timestamp='1431624412' post='2773376']For all intents and purposes, the MB-1E is factory configured as an MB-I in how it connects to the loom. The only difference is that the connections are made externally in the MB-1E rather than internally. That's the crack isn't it, Pete?[/quote] I'm afraid I can't confirm or deny Carl. My 1000 dates to April 1979 (according to the latest thinking) which migt help in tracking down whether it's an MB-1 or a 1E. Looking at the mortal remains of the original pickup, it was definitely internally wired up & potted leaving only Red, White & Screen to be used. Two bobbins, 16 poles & two ceramic bar magnets. I've largely de-potted it using a spectacularly vile solvent (dichloromethane) & this is what's left: Whilst that's left it in a condition where it could be re-wound faithfully to the original spec, it unfortunately did the casing no favours. Do you know if Rautia would supply an empty case? P.

Eye markers would suggest an Elite-I with the slightly narrower nut & rather wider bridge (much the same as an SB-R). Dots would be the near-parallel SB-1000 neck with the narrower bridge. There were B'n'G variants of both.

How much thread have you got showing on the other side (i.e. bearing on the baseplate)?

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1431549405' post='2772580']I wonder how much an ordinary original aria model with be?[/quote] SB-1000 B'n'G? About £1000 tops - but it'd have to be mint & with a branded case. A regular Series II SB-1000 in good nick can fetch £600-800 depending on condition, grain, colour & originality. One of the guys on TalkBass took another route & created a 'CB Tribute' out of a complete dog of an SB - http://ariabasses.blogspot.co.uk/2014_04_01_archive.html P.

I **think** Rotos were fitted when new - if not then some other stainless roundwounds with red silks. I gave up on those many years ago & went over to EB Hybrid Slinkys (45-105 Nickel) and then Hartke 45-105 Nickels. Can't seem to get the Hartkes in the UK any more, so I've gone back to Rotosound, but opted for the RS-55 Ground/Compression wound sets (green silks) on my SB-1000 Fretless & SB-900 fretted. Love them. Smoother than rounds, but with enough 'tooth' to avoid friction burns that flats give me; kinder to the fingerboard than rounds (& to frets); really long-lived (3 years & counting on the fretless), & they sound great to my ears - probably not what you want if trebly slap is your thing, but they seem to work well with the mid-hump of the MB pickups & poke nicely through the mix. Only downside is the price - around £27-28/set Ant... if you want a go on the groundwounds, I'll take the SB-900 to this month's Pelton Jam (BH Sunday). Pete.