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Aria Sinsonido Portable Bass
- Thread starter SBassman
- Start date
Hey Folks,
Id like to report in that I have pulled the trigger and become the proud owner of a Sinsonido fretless. Due to a job change Ill be doing a lot more travel in the coming year and want to have a bass with me on the road. I researched portable basses and the Sinsonido floated way to the top of the list. I played the fretted version at a local store about ten days ago and was sold on it hands down.
My fretless arrived last Thursday and I immediately put on a set of TI Jazz Flats. Nice tone, great feeling neck, and wow is it comfortable to play! When strapped on it weighs just about nothing and I feel like I can manipulate the neck just like someone else is holding it there for me. And it looks pretty damn cool too. No regrets whatsoever.
I do need to set it up, and will attempt to do it myself. The strings seem a bit too low out of the box, particularly close to the nut. Any pointers on setting up a Sinsonido? Start with a truss rod tweak, then adjust the bridge as necessary? Any help would be appreciated.
One more note when I was at the local music shop playing the fretted version, I asked the owner about ordering a fretless. He said that Aria just notified him that they are raising the price to dealers, so ordering a fretless would cost me $80 more than the in-stock model. So it appears that Aria indeed is raising the price. Makes $300 for an eBay purchase look like a steal.
Thanks......
Id like to report in that I have pulled the trigger and become the proud owner of a Sinsonido fretless. Due to a job change Ill be doing a lot more travel in the coming year and want to have a bass with me on the road. I researched portable basses and the Sinsonido floated way to the top of the list. I played the fretted version at a local store about ten days ago and was sold on it hands down.
My fretless arrived last Thursday and I immediately put on a set of TI Jazz Flats. Nice tone, great feeling neck, and wow is it comfortable to play! When strapped on it weighs just about nothing and I feel like I can manipulate the neck just like someone else is holding it there for me. And it looks pretty damn cool too. No regrets whatsoever.
I do need to set it up, and will attempt to do it myself. The strings seem a bit too low out of the box, particularly close to the nut. Any pointers on setting up a Sinsonido? Start with a truss rod tweak, then adjust the bridge as necessary? Any help would be appreciated.
One more note when I was at the local music shop playing the fretted version, I asked the owner about ordering a fretless. He said that Aria just notified him that they are raising the price to dealers, so ordering a fretless would cost me $80 more than the in-stock model. So it appears that Aria indeed is raising the price. Makes $300 for an eBay purchase look like a steal.
Thanks......
Wow - so the story about the price increase is true.
To set it up, yeah, start with a truss rod adjustment.
Have you done that before?
Fret the bass near the top and bottom of the neck, then look at the string clearance near the middle of the neck.
Get that to where you want it, then move to string height at the bridge.
Congrats on joining the club of the small number of people knowing the secret of how cool these things are to play.
To set it up, yeah, start with a truss rod adjustment.
Have you done that before?
Fret the bass near the top and bottom of the neck, then look at the string clearance near the middle of the neck.
Get that to where you want it, then move to string height at the bridge.
Congrats on joining the club of the small number of people knowing the secret of how cool these things are to play.
I had to record a line for my guitarist last night, and it got me listening to my recorded tone. I have actually done very little bass recording, just clips here and there.
So, I thought I'd post a very simple line to solicit comments on the tone. I actually did this in a full thread elsewhere, and there were many views and no comments. Hopefully, that doesn't mean people don't think much of the tone.
So, take a listen, and critique the tone:
So, I thought I'd post a very simple line to solicit comments on the tone. I actually did this in a full thread elsewhere, and there were many views and no comments. Hopefully, that doesn't mean people don't think much of the tone.
So, take a listen, and critique the tone:
Very good tone for what you are doing, perhaps a bit heavy on the lows/bass. Otherwise pretty good. I'm not sure it would cut it in my situation, with a loud rock band, not enough highs and high mids.
pocket_groover said:Yes, please post your thoughts
I received my fretless yesterday from ebay. Wow! Very nice. I am completely satisfied, particularly for the price. The best purchase that I've made in recent memory. The design is much more elegant in person, and very comfortable. I will probably play with the attachments as I generally play sitting down. The fingerboard is beautiful, although it would be nice to have the option of no fretlines.
The sound... Thick. Very nice bass response. With rounds, it's a bit bright for my tastes, but that's remedied with a turn of the tone knob. I may switch to Elixirs or flats. Quite sensitive to the touch, particularly with the rounds.
So that my mini-review isn't completely lopsided, I'll note that the heel begins sooner than on other basses. However, there is no horn to impede upper fret access and the heel is contoured.
I'll keep you posted as I play it more, but my first impression is extremely positive.
That's good to hear, mheintz! I noticed the rounds that came stock with it were chewing up the fingerboard, esp on the E. I put some black nylon tapewounds on it and that cured the problem (will also cure the brightness for you).
Welcome to the small but happy club!
Welcome to the small but happy club!
This is the single best move you can make with this bass. It totally transforms the sound/feel of the instrument.pocket_groover said:
Re: the chewed up fingerboard.....
.... I was surprised to see slight groove lines worn into the fingerboard by the roundwounds put on my supposedly brand new bass. I played it with roundwounds for less than an hour before putting on TI Jazz Flats (which sound fabulous, by the way). Perhaps the fingerboard is made of particularly soft rosewood?
I've now noticed an issue with the volume pot. I had it turned up all the way for most of the time for several days, but now that I've been playing with the settings I hear a disconnect in the volume level as I turn it up. It goes in a steady gradient of volume from 0% to about 80%, then does a jump direct up to 100%. In other words, either it's full bore, or I have to drop the volume significantly to gain finer control of it. The tone pot is fine.
Anyone else have this problem? Do you think Aria would send me a new volume pot?
P.S. I still love this puppy despite a minor flaw; look forward to my first flight with it in the overhead compartment....
.... I was surprised to see slight groove lines worn into the fingerboard by the roundwounds put on my supposedly brand new bass. I played it with roundwounds for less than an hour before putting on TI Jazz Flats (which sound fabulous, by the way). Perhaps the fingerboard is made of particularly soft rosewood?
I've now noticed an issue with the volume pot. I had it turned up all the way for most of the time for several days, but now that I've been playing with the settings I hear a disconnect in the volume level as I turn it up. It goes in a steady gradient of volume from 0% to about 80%, then does a jump direct up to 100%. In other words, either it's full bore, or I have to drop the volume significantly to gain finer control of it. The tone pot is fine.
Anyone else have this problem? Do you think Aria would send me a new volume pot?
P.S. I still love this puppy despite a minor flaw; look forward to my first flight with it in the overhead compartment....
If they had a 5 string, I'd be all over it. Until then I just bought an OLP MM3 and hope that the airline doesn't kill it. Wish me luck, I'm flying on Sunday. Wonder if they'll make me check it at the gate, I'm only taking it in a cheap gig bag.
JessRobinson said:
I don't know if you can replace just a pot, but, there's certainly a chance they'll give a whole preamp replacement. Give them a try - they were very helpful to me.
BTW, re:cranking it up to 100%.
The preamp is very hot, and I find it sound best rolling it down a bit. It's almost out of control cranked to the max.
The preamp is very hot, and I find it sound best rolling it down a bit. It's almost out of control cranked to the max.
Sean Baumann said:
Thank you for responding. I appreciate it. Between the two threads soliciting feedback, you were the only one who bothered. I guess my tone sucks to a whole lot of people, and they took the silent route.
Yup, I do migrate to round, not so cutting tone. No matter how hard I try, when I shape tone, it can start out cutting, but by the end, it's that round tone.
I would understand how it would not work for many people. While among the stage mix, it doesn't always cut, it always seems to add positively to the sound from a short distance. I have had many compliments about how I was coaxing such cool, warm, full tone out of that "stick" and a small amp.
Anway, thanks again.
JessRobinson said:
A bit tangential, I haven't noticed scoring yet, but I just received the bass yesterday. If I like the Labellas, I'll leave the fingerboard as is. If I don't, I'll wipe a few coats of tru oil on the fingerboard. This will provide decent protection against rounds or flats. Very easy to apply and in my opinion, best to apply on a new board. You'll still see scoring, but it won't eat up the wood. There are a couple threads on Tru Oil in the Luthier's Corner.
I haven't noticed that the wood is any less sturdy than other boards. Having had ebony boards in the past, I'm always suprised how much softer rosewood fingerboards are.
SBassman4x said:Thank you for responding. I appreciate it. Between the two threads soliciting feedback, you were the only one who bothered. I guess my tone sucks to a whole lot of people, and they took the silent route.
Yup, I do migrate to round, not so cutting tone. No matter how hard I try, when I shape tone, it can start out cutting, but by the end, it's that round tone.
While among the stage mix, it doesn't always cut, it always seems to add positively to the sound from a short distance. I have had many compliments about how I was coaxing such cool, warm, full tone out of that "stick" and a small amp.
Anway, thanks again.
Thats true! I wouldn't expect such a big tone from a little bass like that. I liked it
It is inspiring me to try flats on my Fender.
Great tone Frank. Could have been an upright..it's amazing what can be done on this little bass. OK, that setting wouldn't suit a heavy rock band, but on those days, we just twiddle the tone setting!
And..I'm using BNTs now. Took some finding in the UK and very expensive, but well worth it.
And..I'm using BNTs now. Took some finding in the UK and very expensive, but well worth it.
Thanks. I appreciate the feedback.
While I later saw it was recorded a bit too hot - at least for the car stereo - I was hoping other pairs of ears would confirm a little of what I thought I was hearing - that the tone was pretty decent. I personally was pleased when I played back that scribbling. I thought the tone was good.
While I later saw it was recorded a bit too hot - at least for the car stereo - I was hoping other pairs of ears would confirm a little of what I thought I was hearing - that the tone was pretty decent. I personally was pleased when I played back that scribbling. I thought the tone was good.
Some thoughts after the string change...mheintz said:
I like the Labellas. The sound is very thick now. Not an upright (my main instrument), but definitely a nice round sound with a good percusive quality. I had to widen the D string slot in the bridge to fit the new string. I also lowered the action almost as low as it will go and adjusted the truss rod to compensate for the lower tension of the Labellas. Perhaps, the round slots in the headstock should have metal ferrules. I could see them wearing down after a few years of string changes.
I still roll off the tone knob about 3/4's of the way. If I roll it off too much, the upper register sounds like it's under a cover, but without rolling it off, the pickup is too sensitive.
I have been playing with the attachments. I find that without them the bass moves too much for me. Then again, I tend to play at home sitting down. I also tend to rest my forearm on the upper attachment. Quite comfortable.
If I'm just sitting around, this is the bass that I grab. It's so light and easy to carry.
