Conan

The OP is (to my ears) a bizarre clash of styles. But somehow it kind of works! At least the first four minutes or so does. The wheels come off a bit after that and they sound like three music students trying to out-womble each other...

I think that, to a certain extent, it depends on how many different genres they involve themselves in. Miller and Sheehan have not really strayed far outside their chosen (and fairly specific) genres. Compare that to someone like Pino for example who has played with lots of acts over the years. Although his fretless work is pretty easily identifiable, his playing on fretted basses is less so. And does he always sound like Pino? In style maybe, but not in tone I wouldn't say. Same goes for people like Bobby Vega and numerous others that I can't be bothered to think of...!

Balok!! Or did you mean my own face Tom?!

Full size bass... I'm six foot three and a bit "large-boned" mind... Moomintroll will (as always) provide a sense of scale

A couple of years ago I sold my Status series II that I had bought new in 1986. Not quite in the same league (price-wise, at least) as your Wal, but still a pretty expensive bass. It was the usual story - the band I was in at the time didn't suit the Status's tone (and looks) and I wanted to free up some cash to try other brands... Now, I find myself in a 1980s covers band that cries out for a Status, but of course I can't afford to replace it with another. Buy a cheap(ish) P bass and keep the Wal!

I work in a school, and our music department has one of those Aria STBs. It looks pretty good but when I played it I was very impressed! I don't like it quite as much as my J&D but it is very close.

Aye. "Fish on Friday" was a top show. As was Rick Wakeman's Saturday morning slot Obviously a bit challenging for "White Van Man" who seems to be their target demographic these days...

Better than Barefaced CHEEK! I'll leave the images to your imagination for that one...

Yeah right

Maybe the increase is to pay for the new product line?

Yeah, that's not bad - although it's a bit bling up the bridge end for my taste...

Agreed! Not that easy to find now, but when they come up they tend to go for very decent prices. Excellent quality for very little cash

I'm not a five string player, and I usually find a lot of fivers to be quite ugly - but that is really quite attractive! There is something about its shape that is very appealing and just works...

Not if you buy used. And I'd add Maruszczyk to the list too. My Elwood is excellent and I payed around £750 for it brand new (well, ex-exhibition so "nearly new"). https://public-peace.de/bass-guitars/maruszczyk/elwood/4-string

Geddy Lee sig Jazzes are awesome for the money. You can usually pick up a used one for around £550 (sometimes less). There is little real difference between the CIJ/MIJ and the MIM versions (other than snobbery!). I have owned four of these, and all have been great basses.

Some interesting definitions of "well-known" in this thread! Well-known by bassists, or well-known in a wider sense? And I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who hears "What is Hip?" and thinks "well, that one is pretty straightforward and shouldn't give me too many problems - I'll just busk it".