Dincrest and the Quest for bass!

[Dincrest]

@klattman I used to have a Hipshot Xtender on my 4-banger, but found it twiddly and fiddly (especially with tuning), and I found that using it deadened my E string faster. Plus, I don't particularly enjoy playing in drop tunings. My intellectual curiosity likes them, but my brain doesn't since the notes aren't in the "right" places and I have to look at the fingerboard and think a lot while playing. I'd rather have a 5 so I can access the low notes without breaking standard tuning. I can "think less, bass more" and look around me standing up stright rather than slouch/hunch looking at my fingerboard.

I would like to try a Reverend 5... if I can find one. The best Reverend dealer closest to me (50 minute drive maybe) rarely has more than 1-2 in stock and almost never a 5er. Plus, how will I know I'll like a Reverend 5er without trying it? And that is a bass I would need to try since the numbers on the spec sheet (47mm nut width, 19mm string spacing) are what I typically dislike.

Plus... 24 frets is the must-have for me and Reverends only have 21.

My Reverend Decision P is a fine fine bass... but getting it may have been a classic TalkBass GAS-infatuation mistake.

 

[dave64o]

24 frets just eliminated the suggestions I was going to make.

Will be interested to hear more as you continue on your quest, especially since I've been quite happy with my small collection and haven't browsed the (dwindling number) of stores in the area in quite a while. Would be interesting to hear what's out there these days.

 

[Dincrest]

Oh I definitely expanded my radius. Nearest mom 'n pop shops by me are in Blackwood (they recently expanded, but the bulk of their business is in repairs), Vineland (selection isn't bad and the tech on their retainer does killer work), Woodstown (that shop doesn't have a good selection but the proprietor does the BEST setups). A couple of shops further out I like are 50-90 minutes from me (Hamilton, Edison).

Two on my try-GAS list are an Ibanez Mode 5 and a Reverend Mercalli 5 (Yeah, I know that one only has 21 frets, but I'm still curious to try it IF I can).

 

[BassicJazzy]

Oh I definitely expanded my radius. Nearest mom 'n pop shops by me are in Blackwood (they recently expanded, but the bulk of their business is in repairs), Vineland (selection isn't bad and the tech on their retainer does killer work), Woodstown (that shop doesn't have a good selection but the proprietor does the BEST setups). A couple of shops further out I like are 50-90 minutes from me (Hamilton, Edison).

Two on my try-GAS list are an Ibanez Mode 5 and a Reverend Mercalli 5 (Yeah, I know that one only has 21 frets, but I'm still curious to try it IF I can).

Those are two really good choices. Will be curious to hear what you think of them if you get your hands on them.

21 or 24 frets isn't a big deal, but some folks say it changes how the fretboard is positioned, with 24 making it more accessible (i.e., easier to access the nut). I don't know. Either works for me.

 

[dave64o]

Oh I definitely expanded my radius. Nearest mom 'n pop shops by me are in Blackwood (they recently expanded, but the bulk of their business is in repairs), Vineland (selection isn't bad and the tech on their retainer does killer work), Woodstown (that shop doesn't have a good selection but the proprietor does the BEST setups). A couple of shops further out I like are 50-90 minutes from me (Hamilton, Edison).

Two on my try-GAS list are an Ibanez Mode 5 and a Reverend Mercalli 5 (Yeah, I know that one only has 21 frets, but I'm still curious to try it IF I can).

I’ll have to get in touch about the techs you mentioned. Both of the guys I used to go to are building instruments full time now and the guy I’ve gone to a few times since then is also good, but he’s kind of far away from me.

 

[Dincrest]

@dave64o
I'll DM you with that information.

 

[Dincrest]

More bass tryouts to report:

I tried an Ibanez Mode MDM1605. Fantastic bass. Weight, balance, neck, playability, tone... all there. Though I feel like I'd need 2 days alone in a room to figure out what all the knobs do. However, as wonderful as that bass was... it's not for me. I feel similar to it as I do the Carvin Icon I tried. The squared-off, flattened back of the wide upper horn pressed uncomfortably into my sternum when I had my strap where the body hangs most comfortably. I much prefer the skinnier upper horn with rounded contours of Soundgear basses.

I also tried an Ibanez GSR200, and I like the slightly girthier GSR necks more than the skinny Soundgear necks... but the 16.5mm string spacing felt tight.

I'd love to try an ANB205 (Adam Nitti signature 5-string), but it's impossible to find one of those. Plus they're expensive. I'll add that to my "try-GAS" list.

 

[Dincrest]

Well folks... I found my 5-string bass!

At a very cool shop in central NJ over the weekend, I found this killer Japanese-made Aria Pro II Avante 5-string (serial number indicates 1995). Older bass, yes, but looked, felt, and sounded like something far newer/younger (kinda like me; I turn 48 on 5/8 but most people think I'm 10-15 years younger). Everything was stock, yet super clean. Definitely a quality instrument that was well cared for. I think this one's a rare beast too, since most of the Japanese-made Aria Avantes have 4 knobs, but this one has the 5-knob 3-band preamp. Super comfortable to play.

I know country-of-origin shouldn't really matter, but I've played and/or owned basses made in USA, Japan, Germany, Czech Republic, South Korea, Indonesia, China... and the basses that always felt the smoothest to me were those made in Japan (be they fancy ones like Ibanez' Prestige lines or the not-so-fancy ones like Fender Aerodynes).

Plus, it wasn't expensive though it feels like I got a Cadillac at a Chevy price.

It has some caveats, though.

-The stock pickups hum when soloed, but are noiseless when blended. That's fine with me since that's the best tone.
-The preamp doesn't have a passive bypass.
-The battery compartment, while separate, requires a screwdriver to open and does not have threaded brass inserts to prevent stripped out screw holes. I prefer easy access battery compartments.
-As great as the bass looks, I prefer lighter and brighter colors (the finish is gorgeous, but the colors are too dark for my tastes).
-I did sell my Reverend (named Mira) for it, but that bass (though excellent) would have been neglected otherwise.



It's in the shop for its first setup (it's getting GHS Boomers 40-120 strings and some Dunlop Straplocks).

 

[BassicJazzy]

Well folks... I found my 5-string bass!

At a very cool shop in central NJ over the weekend, I found this killer Japanese-made Aria Pro II Avante 5-string (serial number indicates 1995). Older bass, yes, but looked, felt, and sounded like something far newer/younger (kinda like me; I turn 48 on 5/8 but most people think I'm 10-15 years younger). Everything was stock, yet super clean. Definitely a quality instrument that was well cared for. I think this one's a rare beast too, since most of the Japanese-made Aria Avantes have 4 knobs, but this one has the 5-knob 3-band preamp. Super comfortable to play.

I know country-of-origin shouldn't really matter, but I've played and/or owned basses made in USA, Japan, Germany, Czech Republic, South Korea, Indonesia, China... and the basses that always felt the smoothest to me were those made in Japan (be they fancy ones like Ibanez' Prestige lines or the not-so-fancy ones like Fender Aerodynes).

Plus, it wasn't expensive though it feels like I got a Cadillac at a Chevy price.

It has some caveats, though.

-The stock pickups hum when soloed, but are noiseless when blended. That's fine with me since that's the best tone.
-The preamp doesn't have a passive bypass.
-The battery compartment, while separate, requires a screwdriver to open and does not have threaded brass inserts to prevent stripped out screw holes. I prefer easy access battery compartments.
-As great as the bass looks, I prefer lighter and brighter colors (the finish is gorgeous, but the colors are too dark for my tastes).

View attachment 7486617

It's in the shop for its first setup (it's getting GHS Boomers 40-120 strings and some Dunlop Straplocks).

Excellent bass, built the way they made them at that time in Japan. None of the basses back then had easy access batteries. I had a Japanese "Bass Collection" 310 from this period and it was very similar. Obviously p'ups are single coils and may not have noise cancellation, but that's fine, just keep them somewhat balanced. Everything else about it looks like it's been well cared for, and it should be a solid player.

 

[Dincrest]

Excellent bass, built the way they made them at that time in Japan. None of the basses back then had easy access batteries. I had a Japanese "Bass Collection" 310 from this period and it was very similar. Obviously p'ups are single coils and may not have noise cancellation, but that's fine, just keep them somewhat balanced. Everything else about it looks like it's been well cared for, and it should be a solid player.

Yeah, no hum with the blend at center detent. (And best tone too, at least to my ears). And I think the only basses back in '95 that had easy-access doors were Carvins. I think Pedulla Raptures did too. The flip-up battery doors were a new thing. Even separate compartments for that matter. Most had them in the control cavity. This one's battery compartment is separate.

Yeah it's clear the previous owner took care of this bass (a few scuffs, but I've seen younger basses with more scuffs) and the shop's owner takes great care of the instruments (he has a lot of nice high end stuff and some entry-level stuff too). He also had an Affirma there so I went back and forth between that and the Aria, and the Aria won out. It just vibed with me.

I vaguely remember seeing small ads for Bass Collection basses in Bass Player magazine back then. A lot of cool Japanese basses that may not have name recognition, but are quality pieces... if you can find them. I had no idea this Aria even existed until I tried it in the shop.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Yeah, no hum with the blend at center detent. (And best tone too, at least to my ears). And I think the only basses back in '95 that had easy-access doors were Carvins. I think Pedulla Raptures did too. The flip-up battery doors were a new thing. Even separate compartments for that matter. Most had them in the control cavity. This one's battery compartment is separate.

Yeah it's clear the previous owner took care of this bass (a few scuffs, but I've seen younger basses with more scuffs) and the shop's owner takes great care of the instruments (he has a lot of nice high end stuff and some entry-level stuff too). He also had an Affirma there so I went back and forth between that and the Aria, and the Aria won out. It just vibed with me.

I vaguely remember seeing small ads for Bass Collection basses in Bass Player magazine back then. A lot of cool Japanese basses that may not have name recognition, but are quality pieces... if you can find them. I had no idea this Aria even existed until I tried it in the shop.

Bass player for Muse played one for awhile. Fastest bass I ever played, but it had no tone, and it neck dived.

 

[dave64o]

Well folks... I found my 5-string bass!

At a very cool shop in central NJ over the weekend, I found this killer Japanese-made Aria Pro II Avante 5-string (serial number indicates 1995). Older bass, yes, but looked, felt, and sounded like something far newer/younger (kinda like me; I turn 48 on 5/8 but most people think I'm 10-15 years younger). Everything was stock, yet super clean. Definitely a quality instrument that was well cared for. I think this one's a rare beast too, since most of the Japanese-made Aria Avantes have 4 knobs, but this one has the 5-knob 3-band preamp. Super comfortable to play.

I know country-of-origin shouldn't really matter, but I've played and/or owned basses made in USA, Japan, Germany, Czech Republic, South Korea, Indonesia, China... and the basses that always felt the smoothest to me were those made in Japan (be they fancy ones like Ibanez' Prestige lines or the not-so-fancy ones like Fender Aerodynes).

Plus, it wasn't expensive though it feels like I got a Cadillac at a Chevy price.

It has some caveats, though.

-The stock pickups hum when soloed, but are noiseless when blended. That's fine with me since that's the best tone.
-The preamp doesn't have a passive bypass.
-The battery compartment, while separate, requires a screwdriver to open and does not have threaded brass inserts to prevent stripped out screw holes. I prefer easy access battery compartments.
-As great as the bass looks, I prefer lighter and brighter colors (the finish is gorgeous, but the colors are too dark for my tastes).
-I did sell my Reverend (named Mira) for it, but that bass (though excellent) would have been neglected otherwise.

View attachment 7486617

It's in the shop for its first setup (it's getting GHS Boomers 40-120 strings and some Dunlop Straplocks).

Congrats, that’s a nice looking bass! Stingrays are my true love, but I’m also a Jazz bass guy, too, and have a couple of them as well (one active, one passive).

Will look forward to hearing what you think after you play it for a while.

 

[TomB]

Yeah, no hum with the blend at center detent. (And best tone too, at least to my ears). And I think the only basses back in '95 that had easy-access doors were Carvins. I think Pedulla Raptures did too. The flip-up battery doors were a new thing. Even separate compartments for that matter. Most had them in the control cavity. This one's battery compartment is separate.

Yeah it's clear the previous owner took care of this bass (a few scuffs, but I've seen younger basses with more scuffs) and the shop's owner takes great care of the instruments (he has a lot of nice high end stuff and some entry-level stuff too). He also had an Affirma there so I went back and forth between that and the Aria, and the Aria won out. It just vibed with me.

I vaguely remember seeing small ads for Bass Collection basses in Bass Player magazine back then. A lot of cool Japanese basses that may not have name recognition, but are quality pieces... if you can find them. I had no idea this Aria even existed until I tried it in the shop.

I had a mid-90’s Moon J5 that was a similar design. …unbelievable build quality and electronics. It came through Luthiers Access Guild in Illinois. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did that.

 

[Dincrest]

Here's what's crazy...

My Aria 5-string has 16.5mm string spacing at the bridge, yet it doesn't feel tight at all. On the other hand, when I tried out an Ibanez GSR, also with 16.5mm string spacing, that string spacing felt much tighter. I wonder if it's because my Aria's neck has a pretty flat radius so the strings sit in a certain way that works for my fingers? I dunno. What I DO know is that in looking at all the basses I've tried (from a Fender Aerodyne with a 7.25" radius to a Warwick Corvette which I think had either a 19" or 20" radius), my hands definitely prefer a flatter radius neck.

(I just got it back from the shop where it got some maintenance. Looks happy with a newly oiled fingerboard (it was pretty dry), feels good with GHS Boomers 40-120 strings, I'll be rocking it at my next band practice on Saturday.

It just goes to show the importance of considering a bass's overall design and not just cherry pick certain factors. For example, I've heard some people say 35" scale is a dealbreaker, but I've played some 35" scale basses that had shorter reach to the first position money notes than some 34" scale basses.

Family photo:

 

[dave64o]

Well put.

And I've also found what you said about first position reach to be true. I *loved* the Warwick FNA Jazzman 5 I used to own (sold to yet another South Jersey guy), which was basically a gussied-up Corvette model. But I always felt like my left/fretting hand was reaching way out to my left to get to the nut and I finally sold it. Over ten years later I still miss its look, feel, tone, and versatility, but I concluded the ergonomics didn't fit me and it wasn't worth keeping if I couldn't comfortably play it.

BTW, the hydro dipped finish on your ESP is spectacular, especially with the matching headstock! I like the (mostly) markerless fretboard, too.

 

[Dincrest]

Yep, @dave64o I had pretty much the exact experience with a Warwick Corvette Standard 4 I used to own.

And that ESP is coming with me to the afterlife. It's a total ride-or-die bass.

 

[Dincrest]

I put my new weapon through the paces at band practice tonight. And Wow! I don't think I've ever sounded better with the band. Other basses I've tried through the rehearsal room's backline bass amp (which is a really good amp; an Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 through a pair of Ampeg cabs- a 4x10 and a 1x15) always sounded weak... even some high-end ones I used to have (my swirl ESP/LTD sounds weak through it, my old Reverend Decision P sounded weak through it, even a Prestige Ibanez Soundgear I once had sounded weak). But this Aria was a powerhouse! Even the lowest notes on the low-B string punched through! Playing felt effortless too.

It's like... I know that Aguilar amp is "better/higher end" than the Peavey MiniMax I have, but my basses always sounded better (and louder) through my Peavey. With my new-to-me Aria, this is the first time that Aguilar ToneHammer was a hammer! I'll bet it will be a monster through my Peavey head.

I'm thrilled that this bass found me.

 

[Dincrest]

Put this thing through the paces at another band practice (where we introduced a new member). Some band members wanted to experiment in drop A (AEADG), so I was afraid of everything being floppy and muddy.

But even despite my Aria being a 34" scale with a 120 B-string, it didn't sound or feel floppy in drop A! It sounded good! So yay! This is why I say things like scale length only tell part of the story with regard to 5-strings. I've played 35" scale 5ers that felt and sounded floppy in both B and A, even despite setups with strings like DR DDTs.

This bass continues to surprise me in all the best ways.