Rayman

Fabulous bass. I've had a couple of RBXs, really great instruments regardless of the price. 

Is this still available?

6 hours ago, neepheid said:

Wasn't it a Thunderbird last week?

 

For the band…..always the Thunderbird live yes….., but at home and for anything else, it’s been one of these three for the last few months. 
 

I recorded a couple of tracks with some friends at the weekend, and used the GTB jazz…. it recorded really well.

Sleaford Mods & Big Special 

Superb both

Sat here with a large coffee, after a morning session with my (current) favourite 3 basses.

Regardless of price…. these Arias are absolutely my go to basses right now. Lovely players, comfortable and awesome sounding. It does make me wonder why I still hanker for expensive gear, when instruments like these are around for peanuts. 

I hunt around for the Korean ones mostly, or the Japanese ones if there’s a bargain to be had. The 5er at the top is an IGB68 and was 200 quid. Awesome tone, beautiful fretboard, crap tuners, I intend to change them. The Integra on the left was a 100, fabulous tone, the pickups are brilliant in these, nice neck…. and the GTB on the right was 50 quid….. absolutely ridiculously lovely bass, again great neck, great pickups. I put Gotoh GB707s on both of those basses. It massively improves the playing experience.

To be honest, between the three basses, I really don’t need any of the others, they’re that good, in my opinion.

Ashdown are the best. Dave is a lovely and very helpful chap…. and everyone upstairs in the office are just as friendly. Great amps, great company.

Although the OP is sorted, just a quick plug for Matt @ House of Tone in Chester. Anyone needing pickup work doing in the NW (of England) he’s your guy.

So there it is finished, complete with its new Gotoh GB707s.

As you can see, it bares a few scars, but man, this is a lovely comfortable bass that sounds killer. Very happy.

Bargain 

1 hour ago, Rich said:

Ditto. CAR with matching headstock please.

 

 

😍

I'd agree, my rule is, if in doubt, do nothing. 

This is a beautiful bass, and if I'm in a position to have it from you early next year, I'll be messaging you! In the meantime, if it sells, the new owner will not be disappointed.

Fabulous, love it

I’m loving this…..

An antidote to the extortionate prices of some of the gear out there at the moment.

Oh we absolutely need to see that……

……….

😧

I love my Warwicks. So comfortable and ergonomic. I wish I could relieve you of this one, I'd love a Corvette to add to the collection, but I can't right now. I might well have it in the New Year if it's still available. Such great basses.

Manias are fantastic basses.

So having played this little Aria a lot over the last few hours, I love it even more. 
 

The only change I’m going to make, and I think it’s worth it because I’m absolutely keeping it, is a new set of Gotoh GB7 tuners. Everything else will stay as is. It’s great.

Holy c**p on a cracker........ that's a stunner. Beautiful bass.

It's an enviable position, to have just one great instrument, that you really love and know inside out. Many have tried to get there, by selling off most of their basses and just keeping that special one, that becomes two again, then four.... and up the numbers go once again. I don't know anyone who's managed it. 

The history or Aria and the man that started it is really fascinating. High end instruments made in Japan that rivalled the other Japanese builders. Down the years its been relegated to a perceived budget brand, which is a shame. I have no idea if the new Chinese stuff is any good or not.

All said, there’s a lot of very affordable MIJ & MIK basses that punch well above the used prices.

Oh yes, very nice 

Yes my IGB68 5er is a MM pickup bass. Bizarrely, they used a ‘neck’ position pickup in them as standard, so the pole pieces don’t quite align with the strings.

35 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

I told a friend of mine about an Integra that was on eBay about a year ago.  It was about £100.00.  Mental.  It needed a bit of a set up, but it was stonking.

 

Get a good one, they’re really great. Worth every penny.

41 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

I remember Arias being highly regarded in the 80s.

No idea if they lost their way or if its just a flavour of the month thing but others with long memories should agree.

Yes the SB series, MIJ, were great basses. Subsequently production moved to Korea, and they became more intermediate, good, but not quite up there with the Japanese made instruments. The 90s and early 00s MIK Integras were great. I have a couple, my 5er is an IGB68, great bass. 
 

Now, they’re made in China I believe, but even Chinese production is getting good now.

All that said, there’ll be more knowledgable Aria enthusiasts on here with more accurate information than me. I’m just a big fan.

20 minutes ago, lemmywinks said:

That's a great score, has the old stock MIJ Aria bridge on it as well.

Yep, always a plus point with these.