Rayman

Once you have a 5, you'll start learning songs that are pretty hard to play without one, and there's no way back, in my opinion. For example at home, I play along with a ton of jazz and trip hop stuff, which needs a low B. There's no way I could do without a 5er in my collection now.

Yeah lobster and bully both disliked it, BUT you can't judge a bass with someone else's ears, you might love the Pre. I was told my Hohner B Bass would sound weak..... no chance, it sounds fabulous to me.

I think the M5/7 is maybe a better bet. It seems like a total all rounder. But yes the Charvel is a looker, I love the colours available, but again, apparently the Pre is a bit weak.

Fretted version https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334308194433?hash=item4dd6523881%3Ag%3At1cAAOSwK0ph7dEo&LH_ItemCondition=3000

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224815384625?hash=item34580a8831%3Ag%3AX1QAAOSwbbZh9r~d&LH_ItemCondition=3000 Not mine...... but, I'd be all over this if I had the spare cash *EDIT It's fretless...... I'd still buy it though

Sire V9 or M7 (V7 or M5 for cheaper but awesome versions) would be where I'd be looking. That's from New. Personally I almost always go second hand. Ibanez 5ers are easy to play, narrow spacing and well built. A Yamaha BB is always a safe bet. I've heard the San Dimas comes with a very unexciting Pre.... Otherwise a lovely bass, if you're prepared to upgrade the Pre to something more useable. Having said that, the bass player with Diamond Head (old school rock) was using one the other night, and it sounded really great. I LOVE the look of the San Dimas.... I'm tempted myself..... but having researched the M5/M7 I'd probably go down that road..... (If you can live with the headstock).

We played the Manchester Academy 3 a handful of years ago. All was going well until I stepped forward to sing one of our more popular songs, caught my foot around the lead and pulled the DI box off the top of the amp. My bass went dead, and I had no clue what had happened. After looking at the sound woman, who shrugged her shoulders, I binned the bass and sang the song without it. Bloody technology coupled with a clumsy pillock.... not my finest hour.

Like Kiwi, I don't have any keepers. They're tools, and none of them are particularly precious to me. I've had hundreds over the years. Although the Aria Integra 5 is the nearest thing to a keeper.... bought for me by my partner for Christmas.... trouble is I haven't decided if I'm keeping her or not yet.

Update for anyone interested.... my tech measured the pots, said they were fine and replacing them would be pointless. So, I brought it home, and raised the pickups. I didn't think it would make a difference but it really did. The Barts obviously need to be nearer to the strings to function properly. You'd think, after 40yrs I'd know that already. So now it sounds awesome. Happy days. Maybe a John East pre might go in it in the future. It'll be worth it, it's a really comfortable bass to play.

My 68 is up there with an Overwater Progress 5 I had, which even Chris May (who built it) agreed was a beast.

Yep, it's half the weight of my IGB68/5, very nice thing indeed, hopefully the upgraded pots will help its slightly polite sound. The IGB68 sounds immense, but of course that's active.

Late 90s Aria with Barts. Light, nice action, ergonomically nice to play.... surprisingly average sound. I'm guessing that the original MIK EQ is a bit crap, so it's going in for new pots etc. Anyone know anything about the Bartolinis? Any danger they designed to be active? This bass is passive. Other than the sound at this point, I'm very happy with it.

I remember the likes of Vantage and Westbury all being a cut above the usual crap around in the 70s/80s.

I wonder if anyone has gone the other way? Preferring a warm tone for a long time, but more recently going brighter? I'm talking more about home playing/listening mostly. Obviously a gig often demands a particular tone, so that's slightly different.

As the years pass by, my taste in tone has definitely changed. 20yrs ago I was into Marcus style zingy slap style, plenty of top end to the point where the audience at gigs we're wincing as I went at it on my Stingrays. Now, it's very different. I prefer a much warmer tone. I love a round tone, with the top end rolled off both of my Arias. It's funkier, and sits in the mix much more comfortably. I still love Marcus, but I really struggle with that bright zing now. Is it an age thing?

You can pick up a 90s/00s Aria for a couple of hundred quid, and it'll dump from a great height on basses 3 times the price IMO. Having just spent an hour on my IGB68/5 I couldn't be more convinced.

I really liked some of their recorded stuff...... but after seeing them live I wasn't that impressed. Surprising, as I expected them to be amazing live.

I have a couple of Aria Integras, great basses, well made, MIK, the electrics are decent I'm no hurry to upgrade anything, but they're heavy. The 5er is very weighty. As far as Westone, I can only remember what we thought of them in the late 70s early 80s..... just ok. The Thunder 1 was a common starter bass, I wasn't overly excited by the one my mate had, but the Thunder 3 is meant to be a sought after 'classic' these days. I've seen some silly asking prices, in MY opinion, for some of these old MIJ basses, but each to their own.

I don't own one, but borrowed one a while back. I put TI flats on it (my favourite strings anyway), and it was really awesome with them. For me, the difference between those and tapes, is that TIs are more versatile. They still have some top end if you need it, whereas tapes are a bit more 'one trick pony' IMO. NICE pony to ride though if that's your bag.

Kinal MK5 Overwater Progress 5 Lakland Joe Osborn '78 Fender Precision Warwick Fortress There are SO many.... if I could have one back, it would be the Kinal.

Ahhh yes.... I remember, a Stingray yep.

NICE mate..... I don't even remember what bass I bought from you maybe 10yrs ago, probably a Precision?