Rayman

So embarrassingly, after 40yrs of using combos, I have a question. Proof that you're never too old to learn... I just can't keep lugging my Ashdown ABM combo around anymore. We live in an upstairs flat, and it's getting impossible to hump it up and down the stairs. So I'm looking to move to separates, a lightweight head and 1 or 2 cabs instead. How does the Ohm thing work? Can I use a 500W rated head with a 300W cab? Thanks for your assistance

I think Dave Swift knows Pino, obviously Pino was in the Who…. I’ll message Dave.

Joe Osborn. I had a candy apple red one, with Fralins. Absolutely outstanding bass, probably the best "jazz" bass I ever had.

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.

😍

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……

………. 😧

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.