Krysbass

I started playing when I was 20 and a student and I wish I had started earlier. Shortly after getting my business studies degree, I fell into the print industry, where I've worked for 8 different companies since 1984 to escape the redundancy axe (with varying degrees of success). If I'd the chance to do it all again, I'd have practiced harder on the bass, listened to the people who told me I was good at it, and been true to my creative side and tried to make a career out of it. I'd probably have been as poor as a church-mouse (ie, marginally poorer than I am now), but I'm sure I'd have been happier.......

That's a nice bass and a real bargain for the specification. I can’t work out what’s happened with Aria. In the ‘80’s practically every music shop seemed to stock their gear and the SB basses were one of the most popular lines. Somewhere along the line the bubble seems to have burst (maybe not unconnected with the demise of the Matsumoku factory in Japan and the move of Aria production to Korea). I’ve always wanted an Aria SB1000 and got in touch with Aria recently to get a price on the Korean-made re-issue model. I was stunned when they told me the RRP is £1,499. I’d love one, but there’s so much else you could have, made in Europe or USA too, for that sort of money.

Also with the thought "how bad can it be?" I bought my son a new "Raypierre B4" Precision copy off Ebay last year. I really wish I hadn't. When it arrived, the intonation was all over the place - so bad, I had to remove the bridge and re-position it. (If I'd sent the bass back, the delivery costs each way would have been more than the £69.99 cost of the bass). This was fine for a while, until I noticed that the neck had bowed under the pull of the strings. So I started to adjust the truss-rod, only to find that it wouldn't tighten any more. So now we have a bass that looks quite nice, (mainly because it's hardly ever been played) but has a neck like a banana and strings getting on for 10mm off the fretboard! I'll have to find my son a new bass now, in the hope he doesn't end up being put off the instrument for life! (Anyone need a door-stop that looks like a bass?)

Check out the DiMarzio P+J passive set. I put a set of these on my Stagg fretless mainly because the standard pickups had poor output and nondescript tone. Both these are vastly improved now.

That's one thing about Westones - it tends to be those of us who were there when you could still buy them new (ie mainly the '80's) who know first-hand how good they are. With production ending in the late '80's when the Matsumoku factory burned down (or whatever happened to it), those who've begun playing guitar or bass since then often aren't aware of the heritage behind this brand, and the low prices Westones usually fetch on Ebay don't give any clues about the quality either. They've become a bit of a well kept secret. Good news if you're buying, but bad news if you're selling!

Ah, at last another Westone owner! That's a nice bass - looks to be in good order. My first "proper" bass (as opposed to "pretend") was a Thunder IA in the same finish. In fact, I liked my IA so much I moved on to a Thunder III, which more than 20 years on is still my main bass. I've looked for something newer from time to time, but could never find anything better without having to take out a 2nd mortgage.

I think that if you really are after the trademark sound of a particular amp, then maybe that's what you should set your sights on. Having bought a Line 6 Lowdown Studio 110 modelling amp recently I have to say that the accuracy of the modelled sounds on offer played no part whatsoever in my decision to buy. Instead, my main priorities were for an amp that had some good sounds (regardless of what they were supposed to be), but that defied the laws of physics by delivering it in as small a package as possible, with all the connectivity options the Studio 110 offers too. Some reviewers have been quite scathing on this amp, but in the end it all comes down to what your personal priorities are.

I'm another very satisfied Line 6 Studio 110 owner - though it's one you need to try before you buy. If you're not looking to spend quite so much money, I can strongly recommend the Behringer BX108. Unlike the Line 6, this is strictly a practice amp, as it's only 15 watts, but it's well built (had one in our family for over 5 years with no problems whatsoever), looks very vintage and has extra inputs and outputs so you can hook up a CD player or drum machine. When I bought this I compared it side-by-side with a Peavey Microbass and I felt it sounded better than the Peavey, which was more expensive. Have passed the Behringer on to my son now where it's found a new vocation doing a great impression of a guitar amp!