Rayman

I deleted my account of 20yrs about a year ago. Best thing I ever did.

When I was a kid (70s), my brother, who’s 3yrs older, was a Massive Yes fan. Don’t Kill The Whale was one of the singles he had, and the only song I liked, so I used to play it all the time. Along with “I want to live in a wigwam” by Cat Stephens, which was the B side of Morning Has Broken I think… ANYWAAAYY…..

Yeah that ^ I’m an amateur illustrator, and use a bunch of different inks… I’d be practicing with some “Noodlers” permanent green ink. Very similar colour to that green you have there.

You and me both

I hear you , but actually it’s not as hard as you think, just needs practice, I’m really enjoying it. Years ago, I played a couple of metal gigs with a newly acquired Ibanez GWB35 fretless…. that was a fun experience.

Last few pictures…. A really nicely put together bass, very impressed. I’ve spent the afternoon working through Tony Franklins fretless course…. great fun.

It makes me feel kind of empty?

I left it on overnight and buffed it off this morning. In theory it goes darker the longer you leave it, a maximum of 48hrs, but overnight is plenty.

Yep readily available from Matt at Monty’s…. he even has a video on how to apply it in YT

I think the comment about applying a lot of conditioner earlier is probably as a result of the picture I posted after I’d applied it. With this particular conditioner the idea is to put it on heavily, then buff it all off some hours later. I love the appearance, nice and dark. You’re right about Lemon Oil, it’s overhyped, if you over apply it, it sinks in, then sweats back out again if the wood is saturated …. and, Linseed oil, if it’s over applied can (will) go hard and leave an unpleasant film. Normally, less is more, but in the case of the Monty’s wax, more seems to be more. Wood eh?

It never fails to amaze me…. After 20yrs on here… fabulous bunch Awesome thank you

Cheers mate. Yeah, it was lighter and browner before the wax..... but I like dark fingerboards, ideally ebony, but if not as dark as possible. I'm not keen on the Indian Laural board on my Epiphone Newport.... but I can live with it. Mate, if you have some TIs, I'll take those, they're my favourite. TI flats or D'Addario Tapes are my choice at the moment. I can live with the coloured silks.

Ooh….. if you have a set of tapes…. I’d be very interested. I can’t afford another new set…..

Yep, this one is active, nicely shielded cavity, neat and tidy electronics, sounds absolutely fab. Very very impressive, for a apparently modest instrument, that also cost me a ton. It’s a hundred quid well spent, and who knows where it’ll lead me. Possibly a fretless journey like you maybe….

No mate, it’s gone a lot darker with the wax, which is what I was hoping for, but you can still see the shape of the grain and the variations in the tones close up. Pretty sure these MIK ones were Mahogany/Maple bodies with a 5pce maple/rosewood neck and Pau Ferro fingerboard, with the info I’ve found. Happy to be corrected though

Absolutely marvellous thing this…. It’s turned out beautifully, plays and sounds absolutely lovely, despite the ageing Rotosound Monel flats I had knocking around (I hate coloured silks). Anyway, fabulous bass, very happy with it.

Come up very nice

Cheers for that, yep, I know all about wood treatments, I’ve been in the industrial timber coatings industry for 30 years. Yep, you can over do it, but used within the guidelines specified you’re usually ok. I believe the fingerboard is Pau Ferro but I can’t be certain. This is an older Korean model, so finding the specs is a bit tricky.

Thomastik JF344 flats The perfect flat. Lots of low end but a really nice punchy high on top. They last forever and feel like your favourite slippers.

First job….. Monty’s Fretboard Conditioner….. leave it overnight

But nowhere near as good 😆 I do love me an Aria.

I can only echo what others have said. Been there, done it. I used to work for a piano specialist, moving and installing them. These older family models aren’t worth much unfortunately, unless they’re great condition and made by a top notch maker, which they usually aren’t. Its very sad… I virtually gave my mums old piano away for nothing, but apparently it went to a good home. It’s a shame that nobody wants them anymore.

So the herd continues to grow….. I picked this up for peanuts, honestly expecting it to be majorly goosed, but it really isn’t at all. Nice clean bass, needs fretboard conditioning and straightening, and probably flats or even tapes. The previous owner dug into it pretty hard, but I’m going to give it a much more gentle future, and maybe fit a ramp. Made in Korea at the Un Sung factory, Grover tuners…. decent little bass, never had a Dean before. Anyway, best start working on my intonation eh?