Grahambythesea

Hideous! 😩

I think that’s a bit unfair. So the thunderbird may not be in 5 string version, but over the last 5/6 years they’ve brought out 2 different basses in 5 string format but most bass players seem to reject innovation and want replicas of the 50s and 60s basses. They have of course made a 5 in the Epiphone Thunderbird but it probably didn’t sell well so they have to make decisions. Make what sells! It’s what most of us have been complaining about with the last management of Gibson - mucking about with the classics sticking Robot tuners on and all sorts of other rubbish.

Should we worry that the president of Korg has a name that sounds like he’s from a Mafia family - hopefully not.

Al Krow had exactly the same reaction as me. My wife tells me these dresses are meant to make you look slimmer. Does the body styling on the bass make you think it’s lighter than it is?

I like the blue on the SB R60 as well.

I’m with Bassassasin on this one, can’t stand single cuts or see the point of them. Oh of course they haven’t got one have they, point that is. Don’t see any reason for more than 5 strings either. Why would you want to go higher on a bass, you’re supposed keep the bottom end going and leave the nurdling around to the guitarist.

Thank you for returning this thread to the subject and getting away from the motor bike manufacturer. I wish I’d bought the SB too, though I remember them as rather heavy beasts. I took a friend to Wapping Bass Centre to buy his first bass and we picked up an SB for £250. He only had £200 and I had to lend him the other £50. Bargain or what!

I have it’s predecessor 2013 , same pus & bridge. Absolute joy to play AND A PLUSH HARD CASE! I have it’s predecessor 2013 same pus bridge and nice light weight. Absolute joy to play and it came with a PLUSH HARD CASE! It is a Gibson after all.🙄

It isn’t my taste either but I thought it was a slightly better shape than this one! 😱 I guess by the reactions so far it won’t be much of a comeback. Hope GBL have them on sale or return.

After years of producing budget instruments and abandoning their iconic 80’s basses are Aria trying to compete for the quality market again? I see they are offering Japanese made basses for a little under a grand but have they left it too long? This is from the GBL website.

No. I did too, instruments deserve respect, they serve us well.

Why did you get rid of the Spector Legend? It would not spots off all the ones you’ve mentioned, IMHO.

It looks the same as an unbranded bass I bought back in the 80’s in the Charing Cross Road. Played and sounded like .......... but it only cost about £30! If that.

A Washburn AB35 (I think that was the model number). Electro acoustic fretless 5 string on which I think the neck was made out of spares for a double bass! Bearing in mind it was a 5 string, it had loads of spare fingerboard either side of the strings and absolutely killed my hand to play it and I have pretty big hands! I was disappointed with the vintage Gibson EB2D I treated myself to as I had always wanted one from way back. (Loved Chas Chandler’s playing). The neck was clumpy and the difference between the mud bucker and the bridge pickup ludicrously unbalanced. However deep inside there lurks a desire to have another semi in that vein, but I try to ignore it as it will probably be a disappointment.

Thanks for this helpful review. Firstly I didn’t know Sigma and Martin had split. Some of their 6 string Martin clones are really good for the money. Having previously owned an e.a.b. that was not great (Washburn) it’s kind of put me off them but your review rekindles interest. Your comments about the all mahogany body makes sense regarding the tone. It is generally regarded as being warmer sounding and in a bass that presumably means bassier. It will be interesting to see how it holds up in a jam with acoustic guitars when most e.a.bs rather fail to cut through and need to be plugged in to compete.