Aria pro ii SB1000 => should I join the ennemy ?

[Diaboloooo]

Aria pro ii SB1000 => should I join the ennemy ?

OBJECT:
should I abandon my SB1000 and go for JB / PB, MM etc ?
...or should I just change the strings ?

Dear Brothers & Sisters
I've always played on SB1000s, due to random life events.
Two days ago my trumpetist/drummer brought his brand new US Jazz Bass...
I put it around my shoulders and... shock and horror : it's a ukulele !!!!!

I don't mean just the size and weight, I mean mainly the fluidity of finger play !
Thinking it could be due to the bass itself, the vicious idea of getting rid of my SB1000 entered my brain.
I've had (hereditary) general arthritis in my hands for the last 6 months, so 3 hour long gigs start to take their toll.
I play mainly good old vintage Soul from the Sixties, only fingers, no slap, on flat wounds.
My strings are Labella FS760, BEAD (before that I had BEAD flats from d'addario chromes for many years)

So this lunchtime I went to my local music shop, and tested Fender JB USA, Rick 4003, MM Sterling & Yamaha Something...
All had standard roundwounds, all were EADG
Apart from the obvious sound differences and neck sizes, all had the same fluidity as my friend's JB.
The notes were well defined, even in quick legatto.

I therefore deduce that my problem comes from the strings, too fat ? too tense ?
(however, I HATE the sound of rounds...)

=> QUESTION
=> if I buy a JB / MM /Rcik..; and mount the same FS760s, will I get the same problem ?
=> if I keep my SB1000 but just swap the strings, for FL760s or something else, will I find that lovely fluidity ?
in short, should I betray my SB100, or should I just change the strings ?

Thanks for your feedback !!!!!

Orphée, Grenoble, France

ps: forget about money.... I'll sell my 3 Arias if it saves my fingers
pps: of course my Aria will get a check up from the shop newt week
ppps: just sold my Nemesis head + 2x Bag End S15Ds and bought a 13kg Markbass CMD121P => my back is reborn !

 

[tomydacat]

well I put half rounds or half flats on my Aria Pro Black n Gold 1 and it sounds and plays FANTASTIC..it does not have all of the tonal differences a SB1000 has but i am sure if you change the strings it will sound great. also if you do get a jazz look into the 89-93 Boner jazz mine is perfect very thin fast neck and tone to boot

 

[Diaboloooo]

Thanks for the 1/2 round idea, Ill try that too.
Now, Just remembered there is a dedicated aria pro ii topic, so I've brought my plight there.
Thanks
O

 

[Malak the Mad]

Changing strings is always a cheaper, and in my opinion, a more sensible option to explore first. Try some different strings before casting off a solid player's bass. I almost got rid of a bass thinking it was sounding very poor, despite a pickup upgrade and new strings. But I tried out a completely different set of strings and the difference was magical.