Bloodaxe

Be nice if they were both playing the same song. Agree with you on the CHiPs thing though, there were more than a few dead funky US theme tunes from that era - was he a serial perp?

[quote name='BassManKev' post='27926' date='Jul 6 2007, 02:48 PM']my current one is soldered onto the circuit board by the 3 metal connectors that you cen see in the pic above[/quote] Ahhhh.... That [i]may[/i] be the source of the problem. If the jack socket locking ring is/was slightly loose that would put stress on the solder connections on the circuit board. Best case scenario is that the solder joint on one pin has/is failing causing intermittent contact - resoldering the pins in situ should sort it out. Worst case... one of the etched copper tracks on the board has a hairline fracture & is making/breaking as the lot flexes - not irrepairable but trickier than the Best Case. Try resoldering the connections. I had a Zoom FX unit that had a rather intermittent display, resoldering all the pins seems to have sorted it. Pete.

Greetings, With your price range you should be spoilt for choice, especially if you go down the used route. Heard good things about the current crop of Aria stuff - the IGB series, & there are those that sing the praises of Ibanez - the GSR-200 looks good. I'm trying to source a lefty for a mate of mine & have seen one of these for under £200 ($400 ish) - looks good at the price & the reviews are favourable. Alternatively try & find a local small friendly guitar shop (can be a hard thing to find all of those together) & go in & ask! Alternative to the alternative - book a couple of lessons with a local Bass tutor & see how you go, then start picking their brains if it all kicks off. There'll be a few more suggestions along a bit later - it's 2:30 am over here! Best of luck, Pete.

There's some interest in these, and as I have a 'bay search set up I'll post any of interest that surface. I'll stick to the Matsumoku-era (1979-1986ish) unless it's something dead kinky. First up a rather nice [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-TS-650-bass-guitar-1980-Rare-vintage-relic_W0QQitemZ220127535427QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"][b]TS-650[/b][/url]. Don't think its quite 100% original, but looks to be a very nice thing indeed. Next... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-RS-The-Cat-Bass-Matsumoku_W0QQitemZ330142478982QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"][b]The CAT[/b][/url] This has been knocking about for a couple of weeks now &, oddly, attracting no interest - no PayPal the reason? Anyway £80 seems a steal. There are a couple of overseas listings I'll bung in for good measure... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-CSB-380-Cardinal-Series-Bass-Gd-Cond-NO-RSV_W0QQitemZ200124947202QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"][b]Cardinal Series CSB-350[/b][/url] in Arizona. Gorgeous colour. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-Fretless-Bass-25-Jahre-superschoen-erhalten_W0QQitemZ160134627035QQihZ006QQcategoryZ87492QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"][b]SB-900 Fretless conversion[/b][/url] from Germany (NOT our friend in Mittel!) Also from Germany [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/70ger-JAHRE-VINTAGE-JAPAN-ARIA-SHORTSCALE-JAZZ-BASS_W0QQitemZ230148368912QQihZ013QQcategoryZ23300QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"][b]A fine piece of Vintage JapCrap[/b][/url] Pete.

[quote name='Sibob' post='26333' date='Jul 3 2007, 02:46 AM']Ah ok Can i get Imperial keys from most DIY stores? Cheers a lot Si[/quote] Maplins stock 'em... [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=3783&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=HEX%20KEY&doy=3m7"]metric/Imperial set[/url] [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43315&&source=14&doy=3m7"][size=1]very small[/size] metric set[/url]

[quote name='phsycoandy' post='24658' date='Jun 28 2007, 10:58 PM']So how is it tuned?[/quote] Those little knob thingies on the headstock /coat

[quote name='wizbat' post='24208' date='Jun 27 2007, 11:25 PM']If you are going to buy off the bay try this, it ends soon and will probably be a bargain looking at how much it is now! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-Magna-Series-5-String-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ200121802564QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-Magna-Se...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] Hmm... I've got a Magna 5 & I'd regard it as a fairly good starter instrument, but I'm selling it & would never buy another. The difference between Korean construction & the output of the Matsumoku factory is quite stark when you put them next to each other. My money would point towards the CAT - even with the missing bridge saddle (looks to be a Fender clone, so replacement shouldn't be a prob). If the neck is anything like my RSB Special, it'll be staggeringly quick & quite a lightweight beast. Pete

Greetings, I picked up a 1980 Batwing SB-900 off EBay a couple of weeks ago & am looking for a bit of help if possible. Does anyone on the forum have one & could post up a photo or three of the inside of the control compartment? Mine has obviously been rewired & I'm not convinced that the sausage-fingered tech who perpetrated it has done it correctly - that or they have faithfully recreated some crazy Japanese idea of what makes a good sound. To my eye the controls *should* be Series/parallel switch & volume for each pickup, 3-way selector switch (Neck, Both, Bridge), & a master tone control - but that ain't what I've got! I've messaged a couple of owners on Talkbass, & there's a similar appeal on matsumoku.org, so apologies if anyone gets this multiple times. Pronographic Photos will follow when I've had it properly set up & it stops raining. Pete.

For bulk purchasing, I've tended to use [url="http://stores.ebay.co.uk/plectrums-at-trade-price_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZQ2d999QQftidZ2QQtZkm"]this bloke[/url] 72 JD nylons for £10.99 plus £1.50 P&P, does others as well. Pete.

[quote name='obbm' post='23234' date='Jun 25 2007, 09:47 PM']Dropping like flies. Is anyone coming?[/quote] Of the37 of us that have expressed an interest (so far), we have 13 definites & three probables by my reckoning (I'm keeping a list). 16 who originally expressed an interest have yet to pipe up. Pete

[quote name='Mikey D' post='22923' date='Jun 25 2007, 12:06 PM']However, you can get a set of Warwick Yellow Label 5-string Set M,* High C (.025" .045" .065" .085" .105") which are Nickel. I don't know who stocks them though, but Thomann do the 6 string set for about £13.50! [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/warwick_yellow_label_41401.htm"]Bargain[/url][/quote] Stringbusters also do the Yellow Label 5's & have a very quick delivery service. Pete.

[quote name='G-77' post='21658' date='Jun 21 2007, 11:42 PM']I might just being the G-77 if anyone is interested, and as the Ashboury was a hit at the last bash i might bring that.[/quote] Yay for weird synths & rubber bands! I'll most likely lug this lot... 1982 TSB-400 with Whammy Bar 1980 SB-900 (hopefully for an A/B with Simon73's SB-404 if he can make it) Ashdown Superfly Flite 1 x15 Epi UL-110 and a trolley Pete.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='21634' date='Jun 21 2007, 10:35 PM']I'm confused. What times are we talking about here? If its 10 to 2 I can probably put in an appearance.[/quote] 10 'til 6 so hopefully that'll work. For anyone doing public transport from London, direct train times from Waterloo are at 00, 15, 30 & 45 mins past the hour & returns at 02, 17, 32, & 47 mins, Cheap Day Return is £11. About 35-40mins journey - assuming that no-one changes the timetable or decides to dig huge holes in the railway. If anyone else is planning on being daft enough to try this, feel free to drop me a PM if you fancy meeting up aforehand. Pete.

Odd.... I used to get 4 - 6 weeks out of a set of EBs before they went ping & that was down to the abuse they took from my whammy bar. Might be worth fondling your bridge saddles to see if there's a rough spot - that can shorten string life. Personally I've never got on with Rotos - too much clank & they feel rough to me, but others swear by them. I've gone over to Hartke 45-105 which can be got in triple packs for about £18 from [url="http://stores.ebay.co.uk/MusicWonderland-UK"]this lot[/url] (they're in Miami though so delivery can take a while). There's also the Roberts Orange Dot route that some swear by, & if you've got at least 34" of scale length Alice Strings in the green packets are cheap & cheerful. I fitted a set of the latter to my now resurrected Aria RSB Special & they're impressive for the money - too soon to tell how long they'll last for yet though. Pete.

Both dates work for me. Pete.

I was one of the happy recipients of the Shure earphones - great value. Pete.

A huge thanks to Nick for letting us overrun his magnificent pile (oo-er). What can I say. Great bunch of people, fantastic location, enough gear to cause a major GASfest, friendly dog, Damson Chutney (mmmmm).. the list can go on and on and on. Here's to the next one (hopefully) Pete.

Of course. It's [i]always[/i] the string cable - pop a new one in & it'll be fine.

Levy's M4 - 3.5" x v. long. Comfy & spreads the load, which is handy as my TSB-400 seems to be made of granitewood. Pete.

Can't vouch for George L plugs, never met 'em, but Van Damme is good stuff. I ran up a few patch leads using Van Damme cable & Neutrik right-angled plugs & they're fine although the Neutriks have their quirks in assembly. If you're starting from scratch then the OBBM route is a good choice - never heard a bad word said about his cables. Pete.

Greetings, Confirmed my chauffeur earlier so we'll be fetching up with the following... Dan Armstrong plexi thing (driver's brother's) Mine... 1982 Aria TSB-400 with whammy bar 1983 Aria RSB Deluxe-5 (tuned high C) 1980 Aria SB-900 Ashdown Superfly Epifani UL110 Jar of coffee. Pete.

[quote name='Alpha-Dave' post='16842' date='Jun 13 2007, 01:19 PM']My exact point: it's cheap and readily available (so can be used in such applications), but isn't used in basses because of the other costs (tooling etc.). As you say, stability may be an issue. I asked the question 'can I have Ebony as a 1 piece neck' on talkbass' Luthier's Corner (which I dare say is a way better resource than here for such questions) and the answer was the stability is a huge issue for Ebony so can't be used as a 1 piece neck reliably. However a 50% Ebony neck is possible, so even if Oak and Hickory were as unstable as Ebony, then they could at least be used as laminates.[/quote] Oak can have a georgeous figure, depending on how it's cut - [url="http://www.britishhardwoods.co.uk/flooring/install/quarter_sawn_oak.htm"][b]Quarter Sawn oak[/b][/url] is prized for this. The downsides are that it needs to be [i]very[/i] well seasoned otherwise it will move as it sees fit & it tends to be rather weighty. I've not found it too difficult to work (unless it's 100-110 years old, in which case it's like concrete), razor sharp blades are your friend here. Pete.

[quote name='paul, the' post='12770' date='Jun 5 2007, 11:45 PM']They're brilliant instruments that will probably always be priced below their worth. Although that pleases me because beginner and intermediate bassists will be able to afford something of quality - which is far more humbling than something like investment potential. It's just a shame they don't get the recognition they deserve. That's the [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/catalogs/78_pb1500_slick/78_pb1500_slick.jpg.html"]PB-1500[/url]. I saw one on Ebay that sold for £158.[/quote] Well... They're all over, The PB 1500 went for a tad over £160, which seems very reasonable The SB-R80 fetched up at £250 - probably not too sad considering that the EMGs should have a fair resale value (which I admit to overlooking previously) And the star prize.... No Bids for the £400 non-functioning SB-60. Now there's a surprise. In other news, your correspondent kept schtum about a relisted SB-900, and as a consequence I now owe a nice man in Brum some money - pics when it arrives. Pete.

[quote name='Brother Jones' post='12646' date='Jun 5 2007, 07:43 PM']I have this weird suspicion that the market in second hand or 'vintage' Matsumoko Arias is about to go bonkers... Jones[/quote] It's been creeping up if prices on the 'bay are anything to go by, but bargains are still there to be had... for the moment. Speaking of being had, I think these two are pushing the boundaries Exhibit A: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-SB-R80-BASS-GUITAR-PADUK-RED_W0QQitemZ140125138165QQihZ004QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]SBR-80[/url] Probably the most desirable colour, but I take issue with the phrase "EVEN FURTHER IMPROVED WITH THE CUSTOM ADDITION OF 2 EMG ACTIVE PICKUPS , GIVING THIS GUITAR AN AMAZING PUNCH" (apologies for the shoutyness - cut 'n' paste). From my experience, one thing these do not lack is punch. Aaron Armstrong will do replica Pro II soapbars at £75 a pop, which makes the total a very borderline £350 + p&p for a Matt with a huge hole in its originality. No mention of case or bag either. Exhibit B: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-Vintage-Aria-Pro-SB-60_W0QQitemZ220118499170QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]SB-60[/url]. One slight problem... "The only fault with this guitar is that the pickup isn't functioning properly which is I understand is quite common there is also a control knob missing" - so 400 notes is probably being a lot optimistic. Pickup failure on the early SBs is not unheard of (my SB-1000 has suffered from this) and the early active circuitry is quite novel, issues anyone contemplating getting one of these beasties ought to be aware of. No bids on either yet - I'm not overly surprised. On the possible bargain front is [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-II-2-BASS-SUPERB-QUALITY-VINTAGE-AND-RARE_W0QQitemZ220118549443QQihZ012QQcategoryZ112668QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this oddity[/url] - looks like a hybrid Aria/Vantage. Certainly in need of a bit of TLC, be interesting to see what it ends up at. Pete.

[url="http://www.basscentre.com/cat/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=91&products_id=1036"]http://www.basscentre.com/cat/product_info...roducts_id=1036[/url]