Grahambythesea

As Kermit's little cousin Robin would say, it's not easy being green! Looks like Aria were trying to appeal to fans of Steve Vai Ibanezs with that pointy headstock. Mind the eyes of your band members....

Having recently seen one of these for sale on the Cash Converters Website for under £400, I thought I'd check out the spec, but they are no longer on the Fender website, so I guess they are no longer made. Given that all the reviews i read about were very positive, I wonder why Fender would pull the plug on them after such a short time of manufacture (l'm guessing only 2 years and even shorter for the Squier version?). So were they really not a success? What do members think of them? Are they potentially a future classic or one to avoid?

It's your bass your choice, everything is subjective I wish your experiences with a pot scourer well and hope it's worth the effort.

[quote name='jassbass' timestamp='1467798226' post='3086279'] I've just got a Spector coda 5 with Aguilar ob3 preamp,good bass,but still not 100% lol [/quote] Well now we need to know, what does the Coda 5 look like did you buy it new or second hand what don't you like about it?

Why? It looks totally amazing as it is. Have you considered that a refin may affect the value of a premium bass?

Bought a '66 EB2D a few years ago from Vintage and Rare. Had always wanted one but found the neck too thick, didn't like short scale and the output really unbalanced. Hope the Korean one is better made than the US ones. It was the sound of the 60's r'n'b groups - Animals, Yardbirds in particular but it needs a big speaker to achieve it.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1466885277' post='3079590'] Now wouldn't you think Fender would've thought of that? No wonder they're often moaned about. What a superb looking instrument. [/quote] Totally agree looks brilliant and really retro. I don't think Fender want to think originally anymore, too busy churning out the same old same old.

Love it, I'm envious! The black back to the neck is so unusual looks terrific.

Always worth looking in the for sale section of this forum. Have a look at Martthebass's black Jack Cassidy which would probably give you the sounds that would suit your music and look really cool too. Well within budget and he says nearly new.

Sorry but that looks pink to me, fiesta red is more coral.

Looks beautiful and no doubt sounds it too, bet it weighs a ton!

Your choice is vast so why not set yourself some parameters. Do you want a 5 string version of what you have now? You say your playing a Guild, apart from the Pilot most of them are short scale and Ibanez now make a short scale 5 string which people on here say is good. Do you want a variation on the classic P & Js, as well as Fender lots of others make them such as Lakland, Spector Coda, Schecter, ESP, to name but a few then there are some slight variations on the theme like the Gibson EB5 new for under£900, the Musicmans and G & Ls etc Then perhaps you should ask yourself active of passive? There are a lot of great active basses out there not least Ibanez, Spector Euros, Yamaha, Warwick, MTD , ACG and loads of smaller manufacturers. Perhaps an afternoon in a specialist bass shop like Bass Direct of the Bass Lounge might be helpful in deciding what you like and more importantly what you don't like. Good luck and happy hunting!

Answered my own question. Ozark make a metal bodied version and Dean and Gold Tone make wooden bodied types. Ozark a day Dean both available for under £500, Gold Tone is a lot more expensive.

I remember Crafter making a reasonable full scale resonator bass. Saw Ashley Hitchings with theAlbion Band playing one at a gig. Sounded ok. I'm not convinced that Uke bass strings give enough resonance (presumably Aqilla "gut" type). I wonder if any maker is still producing a resonator bass?

Neither thank you. Had 'em both but they are the sound of the fifties and sixties and even Leo redesigned them after he sold Fender, hence Stingrays and G & L. Many great designers and luthiers have created far better instruments since so why not move with the times, this is the 21st century. There's a place for nostalgia but even that's not what used to be! I used to think it was just guitarists who couldn't think beyond Strats & Les Pauls, but now it seems that bassists have slipped into a similar mould.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=272277229301&globalID=EBAY-GB Can't tell you the model number but if you happen to live within reach of Yorkshire, the County Council are selling this BB on e-bay current bids £52, collection only. Less than 24 hours to go, must be worth a punt!

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1466324809' post='3074868'] An Epiphone Zenith. Check it out. Cheap, good for the sounds you'll want, and aesthetically perfect for such an outing ... [url="http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Bass/Zenith.aspx"]http://www.epiphone....ass/Zenith.aspx[/url] [/quote] I love the look of these but I thought they'd stopped making them. Tried to get one but to no avail.

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1466324809' post='3074868'] An Epiphone Zenith. Check it out. Cheap, good for the sounds you'll want, and aesthetically perfect for such an outing ... [url="http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Bass/Zenith.aspx"]http://www.epiphone....ass/Zenith.aspx[/url] [/quote] I love the look of these but I thought they'd stopped making them. Tried to get one but to no avail.

If we're going to quote precedence, then Dave Pegg definitely plays an Ibanez 5 string, Rick Kemp, who virtually invented folk rock bass playing in Steeleye Span, used a 70's F. Telecaster bass with the dreadful Mudbucker type pickup, but then added 2 Precision pickups before abandoning this in favour of an Overwater, but when last I saw him I think it too was playing an Ibanez. Then there was the iconic Silly Wizard and a F. Precision. Ashley Hutchings who created Fairport and Steeleye and the Albion Band plays a Warwick, Demon Barber Road show the bassist plays a Jazz type which I don't think is Fender. Then there was a band called the Byrds, also credited with inventing FolkRock, Chris Hillman mainly played a Guild Starfire, but he was really a mandolin player so what he know!!!!!!!! The answer has to be - play what you feel comfortable with and suits the sound of your band because there really is no precedence.

http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/overwater-by-tanglewood-contemporary-jazz-bass/ Sorry should have put the link in!

There's a great looking Overwater by Tanglewood Contemporary Jazz with 22frets at the Great Britsih Bass Lounge 2nd hand for £400.

I quite like marmite from time to time but the shape of the 4003! Now the 4005 is a different thing altogether , but I think I'd need to sell the car to afford one.

Looks like the designer had a bit of a bat fetish!😆

[quote name='Paulhauser' timestamp='1460962082' post='3030073'] I have tried / owned most of the basses you have. I assume it is 4 strings and fretted, so based on your current staple and my personal opinion I'd buy a Spector Euro. It is ergonomic, great sounding and nice looking. [/quote] I agree, get a Spector, really comfortable to play, the curved body sets them apart from the electric planks.

Perhaps with an anodised gold scratch plate and gold hardware or is that too much of the Midas touch! 😃