1980's bass choice for £500ish

[Adee 168]

How about a Washburn Chicago B-80 !?

 

Edited October 9, 2020 by Adee

[Beedster 3,221]

Seemed important to post this

 

[Doctor J 2,440]

 

12 minutes ago, Adee said:

How about a Washburn Chicago B-80 !?

 

Yes, this kind of thing or some tasty, pointy headed Charvels 

[ezbass 2,853]

2 hours ago, Dandelion said:

Right....  I have taken a punt on something. I will let you know if it comes off.  Its a bit niche though... 

Ooh, you tease!

[P-Belly Evans 228]

58 minutes ago, Adee said:

 

 

58 minutes ago, Adee said:

How about a Washburn Chicago B-80 !?

 

Oh yes using the black one whilst dreaming of doing this

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Edited October 9, 2020 by P-Belly Evans

[Bassassin 2,054]

If you're lucky you might find an Aria Pro SB-R80/SB Elite II/SB-ELT for £500. All essentially the same bass with very minor differences:

 

[Skybone 1,054]

Washburn Force 4 or 8? 

Washburn B20?

[tubbybloke68 21]

Ibanez roadster II or an MC924 (though slightly over budget I guess) 😊

[Maude 5,694]

I'm just going to ask a quick question here, sorry @Dandelion but you've left us all hanging with your teasing 😉.

Is the Westone Thunder I with the single P pickup held in high regard along with the rest of the Thunders? There's one for sale near me for £150

[Teebs 10,330]

In my (very humble) opinion, the Westone Thunder is a fantastic instrument.

My first bass was a Westone 1A Thunder (single pickup, active), and I've never had a bass that I got on with as well. I never used it active, 'cos I used to gig a lot & batteries are just something else that can go wrong. I also used it for all the recordings that we did & would trust it for reliability & tone implicitly.

I still have that bass & I'd never ever let it go.

They're built like a tank and sound ace!

For £150 - condition dependent, you can't go wrong.

👍

[Maude 5,694]

There's something odd with it though. The pickup is routed slightly off centre (lining pole pieces up with the body laminate lines) and as such the bridge is way off centre. The strings run parallel to the fretboard but way off from the body laminate lines. It all looks untampered with though. Which made wonder if these were poor quality. 

[TrevorR 1,430]

Another vote for an Aria SB! They’re lovely (if weighty) basses. Here’s my SB700. My first ever bass. Still love it!

[Teebs 10,330]

13 minutes ago, Maude said:

Which made wonder if these were poor quality. 

They're really not.

[Teebs 10,330]

There's a thread about them here:

 

[Maude 5,694]

Thanks @Teebs, maybe another restoration project on the cards then.

Anyway I've derailed enough. 

Back to the suspense of what @Dandelionhas bought. 

[Teebs 10,330]

Yeah! @Dandelion!

What have you bought?

[Teebs 10,330]

Is it...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...a tractor? 🚜

[Teebs 10,330]

A ming vase? 🏺

[Teebs 10,330]

A giant head from Easter Island? 🗿

[Grahambythesea 302]

I was going to say Ibanez Roadster too, but @tubbybloke68 beat me to it. The bound edge bodied versions are particularly handsome and very 80’s. Perhaps a Charvel Surfcaster as well ( but may be beyond the budget).

[Dandelion 75]

Right..  I have it in my possession...  I'm just of to take a photo.. 

 

But..  It is not a bass.. 

 

And as promised it is niche.. 

 

I am prepared for this thread to go really quiet..... 😜

[Teebs 10,330]

1 minute ago, Dandelion said:

Right..  I have it in my possession...  I'm just of to take a photo.. 

 

But..  It is not a bass.. 

 

And as promised it is niche.. 

 

I am prepared for this thread to go really quiet..... 😜

If it's a guitar  you're in sooooooo much trouble!

 

 

[Dandelion 75]

Oops..... 

[Teebs 10,330]

Show & tell.

[Dandelion 75]

It's a Aria RS-800.   As per Wayne Hussey - Sisters of Mercy era..

A few bits of lacquer failing but nothing disappointing for a early 1980s instrument..