Grahambythesea

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.

This was my experience of the bass boost. Far too much! I didn’t much like the neck either, but I still feel nostalgic for one, but not at the ridulicous prices they now sell for.

Thanks that information is really helpful. So it’s around £870 for an absolute cracker. Do you think HMRC charged to VAT on the delivery or is that VAT plus import duty?

Beautiful looking bass that looks as though the trouble of importing was worthwhile. Can you tell us about the on costs, VAT, import duty, carriers handling charge, postage. I’m looking at one that wants £138 postage which seems outrageous even from Japan.

With regard to my comment of import duty, it is being removed from 1st February 2019 following anEU agreement. Probably need to get in quick before we leave the EU on 29th March2019, assuming that we still do.

From 1st February 2019 the free trade agreement reported below kicks in. It may help to get basses from Japan, but there will still be VAT to pay at 20%. I read/heard that the VAT is assessed on the cost of the product plus the cost of shipping. Anyone know if this is true? The European Parliament gave its consent to the EU’s trade agreement with Japan, the largest bilateral trade deal ever negotiated by the EU. The Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan, approved with 474 votes to 152 with 40 abstentions on Wednesday, will remove almost all custom duties adding up to €1 billion annually for EU companies. It represents a clear stance in support of rules-based, free and fair trade “at a time of serious protectionist challenges” .

There are quite a few on Reverb, but they are all at shops in Japan and therefore you face a hefty import duty and high shipping costs.

Whoops you’re right of course, dah! 😖🤔