uk_lefty

Thanks I was tempted to do this even if not going for a refin just so it's more comfortable under hand and at the same time see if this crack runs deep.

So I managed this very easily with some dettol spray and a cloth. And cleaned the whole bass while I was at it. Very glad I could do that, now a clean headstock on my project bass. I'm doing a restoration diary elsewhere in this section of the forum if anyone wants to go "NOOOOOOOO!" before I do something catastrophic to this already mistreated bass.

On closer I section it seems like the fingerboard is coming away at the top end and the play in the neck feels like it's just that, though one of the cracks appears a bit more sinister than I had thought at first. I've tried the truss rod, it turns. There's no strings on now so not wanting to push it but I got a quarter turn each way, back and forth, with only a slight cracking noise from stiffness then not too much of a push required. My Fender jazz had a stiffer truss rod so hoping this is a good sign that the neck can be straightened out.

The pickup works! Not great but working at least. I fitted an old string to the bass and used a right handed bass nut form the spares box to prop it up and I'm getting something from the pickup. However, both pots seem to be volume only and the switch just saps volume altogether... Needs more investigation, I expect the whole guts need replacing then starting again really. I've seen far worse conditions inside a control cavity before

I think it's the angle of the photo making it look worse than it is... Hope / think.

Thanks. I'm not bothered about the yellowing too much, think it's just been out in the sun a lot in the last 35plus years!

Some of the frets are rough as hell and quite worn... This may be going Fretless at some point in time. On inspecting the headstock lacquer cracking what do you guys think of this? I've given it a firm woggle and there's some play in there, but not sure if that indicates a structural crack that needs repair (something I can't do) or if it's just normal because it's a thin neck? The bridge is tarnished but the springs are still springy, I reckon it's still working.

So after a two week wait the day has arrived. My 1984 (year of birth incidentally) Aria SB Elite has arrived. Its a white, thru neck, matsumoko built bass. I got it for a relative bargain knowing it was in a state and prepared to spend a bit of money getting it going again. Here's the rub, I'm no handyman. But I want to learn. What better way than buying a bass I want with hopefully not too many hidden gremlins? The good points : I'm told the pickup works. All tuners and the bridge are present though tarnished. The paint chips are smaller than I was expecting. The headstock logo is present and correct and the batwings have had a paint chip but no wood chips. Fingerboard and inlays look ok The questionable: It's filthy and nicotine yellow instead of pearl white. Theres no nut The neck bows backwards at about the 12th but I don't know how long it's gone without strings Theres a knob missing and I haven't been able to find replacements yet, will keep searching Theres a lot of lacquer cracking at the back of the headstock, I don't think this goes any deeper but need to investigate. I don't know what really works, i.e truss rod and electrics The bad: I can't find a picture of John Taylor with the pearl white one! So this will be a job I get to over the next few weeks when I get some spare time and will have to order in parts and tools just to see what will and won't work. Advice from you all would be very gratefully received. I've already asked about getting rid of felt tip from the headstock, but general cleaning...? My Stingray came with some packs of wipes but not sure they'll be heavy duty enough. It might be dettol spray and a kitchen cloth just to get started! Before I invest too much time I want to get a nut on and some strings and test the electrics. I'm guessing setting strings on in tune will help me get the neck straightened out too? Any advice on where I can find Aria replacement parts on the Web would be gratefully received. I'm praying that the pickup is still alive...

God no!

Thanks, I'll use the household stuff I've got first and see how it goes!

I bought a 1984 Aria SB that needs some restoration in order to learn about tweaking, minor repairs and set ups. It arrives tomorrow. First job, some plank has written on it in some sort of felt tip pen on the headstock... The bit I can't just remove the finish from because of the logo and the headstock writing. Any tips for removing felt tip pen marks without damaging the finish? Thank you

I thought this one was listed for ages and didn't sell? Might just want a quick sale and didn't know how to do it properly

Do it! You get a lot for your money with a Sire, and if you don't identify as a bassist but dabble you've got an instrument for life that you'll never feel the need to upgrade... Unless you stay on BC and read about all kinds of weird exotica and think you need to have it!

I didn't read it as ageist, just more surprised that there was a youthful audience for jazz. I read it more as amazement that anything cool could happen in Norwich!

Anything by Sting and the Police... I just thought they were naff and a bit creepy. My uncle bought me a best of one Christmas and I was a bit disappointed. I absolutely love a lot of Sting and the Police's stuff now. Took me a few years and a dose of the flu where I stuck in the nearest CD on repeat and I realised there was some great song writing in there and a style that resonated with me. I'm determined to front my own band where the opener every night will be Message in a Bottle.

I'd chop off a nut to never have to listen to Jessie J.

Probably my dream bass there. But right handed.

I'll give it a go using a Boss GT10-B for amp sims. My real point though was he has this bit of kit yet the one time it would have been most useful and he decided not to use it! So he obviously doesn't have confidence in it for a pub gig.

My guitarist uses the head rush. It's loud as hell. We gigged in a very cramped space on Saturday and he used his massive fender valve amp...

It was more the round, plummy, big traditional P bass tones than anything gritty. Deacon is maybe a better way to explain the tone I'm after though.

I've got an old set of Thomastik flats that were on the P and I'm tempted to throw them on the Ray and see what happens. They were too light for the P but I think they could work on the Ray.

Hahaha maybe you know something I don't?!

There are some lines even I won't cross and I love some cheesy songs! Our drummer wanted us to do a Take That song. Not an "original era" one either, one of the ITV Mothers Day cow poop fodder 40+ market Take That songs. He was voted down, we didn't even have a go like we do with a lot to see if they work in a pub gig. I would reluctantly do a very cheesy 90s Take That song if we could spin it a way we wanted but not their "recent" stuff. Recent in "" because I mean since 2000 which in my book qualifies as new music!

My band applies the principle... People who can afford bands are usually in their 40s and 50s, so what music do they like and will sing and dance along to? I like data too, didn't even know if I could do demographic analysis of our Facebook...

I really want this band name!