stewblack

I like it a lot. But you know, we all like different looks. Some people play basses (out of choice) which make me want to take up the oboe.

Absolutely, it does Ric very well! And if I had it all gnarley through an overdriven valve amp I'd be rattling away happily, but it needs taming a little for my taste that's all.

OK so, first impressions are almost all positive. I buy B-Stock whenever i can so I don't worry about the first ding, it's already done for me! In this case it's a small mark to the back of the neck. Not a problem, I'll soon add more to keep it company. It balances beautifully, as has been said above, both standing and sitting. The neck goes all the way from the bottom from to the top which I always like in a bass. Seriously though the double cutaway makes the neck look like a landing strip. It's only 22 frets but looks way longer somehow, Extremely comfy to ply up the dusty end which i like a lot. This was bought for it's looks, that's subjective so no point going into how utterly gorgeous it is, those who disagree will only get shirty with me. Neck is straight, plays very nicely. Pick ups are pretty punchy. Not up there with my BB or my Bruce Thomas but those are freakishly powerful pups. Bidge pick up pleasantly pokey (I usually dislike them - often too weedy) and the tone pots actually have a noticeable effect throughout their travel - not just on/off like some. Bridge seems solid and easy to adjust, pick cover not in my way but that's either going to clash with your playing style or it isn't and it's only a couple of screws if you hate it. No buzzes or hums, tuners firm and responsive and accurate. No sharp fret ends, no buzzy frets, no dead spots, intonation is good. Downsides? Well it came set up and in tune (those crazy Germans) but the action is set way too low for me and the strings are zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzingy rounds which I dislike. I get why it's set up to within a half a thou of the fretboard - many people like a low action and often give a positive review of a bass, based partly on how low that can be. Makes sense to ship it really low and have everyone saying Wow the action was great straight out the box rather than I had do a bunch of work to get it right which is off putting for those who can't adjust stuff themselves. But that is literally all I can fault it on. I prefer a higher action and less lively strings - not exactly damning criticism is it? Oh - is it chambered? Well I rapped my knuckles on it and frankly that highly scientific test was inconclusive.

Beautiful bass mate - I took the plunge too. So far my Aria has held up, great to actually gig it in comfort at last.

Ah OK, that is unusual for Thomann to give a misleading description. I will find out how it balances by the end of the day

I bought Bruce Thomas sig from @Kevsy71 and it came loaded with Stadium Elites. I love the subtle, warm nuanced sound of flatwound strings (dull? thud? absolutely not) but as @chris_b says its the sound you achieve that matters not how you achieve it. The sound and feel of the Elites is fabulous.

That's the weirdest thing ever. It had an extra string and no headstock!

Just what I was thinking

Never known Thomann be inaccurate with a description. Don't know what weight of the instrument is but the total weight of package (according to the shipping note) is 5kg. So can't be that heavy.

http://theokatzman.bandcamp.com/album/heartbreak-hits

Mccaffertys Irish Bar, Bicester. Not absolutely from hell, but... No vehicular access, no car park. Extremely busy area with on street parking but seldom a space. My technique is to circle the centre until someone exits a takeaway then grab their space. However far from the venue. Then walk. Oh and it's always raining too. Can't explain that bit. So I have a one lift rig for that gig. Everything on sack trucks, gig bag on my back. Then you get in the venue and the 'stage' is a postage stamp sized corner with nowhere to leave cases. (see also Whelan's Uxbridge and Flan O'Brians in Bath. What is it with Irish themed pubs?)

Depends on your chosen definition of cheap.

Thank you.

Cheers Frank. In the past I've only needed the longest ones but since I decided buying basses was cheaper than replacing strings I've now discovered the red silky bit comes over the nut on some of them.

How do you ascertain the scale length of your bass ?

Cool Thanks.

How do you work out what length strings you need?

fixed it for you

I well remember having to leave a beloved band Each of the goodbye gigs left a very bitter sweet taste. Good luck for the future mate.

Oh no they don't

Bloke who sold it told me it was made by Chowny but I suspect its a standard AliExpress 4005. I've heard all the horror stories but the neck is straight, finish is great, pickups a little weak maybe but sounded fine to me last night.