So, until last month I was without a bass for two miserable years for various miserable reasons including theft.
Very limited budget for the time being, but I'm turning 50 in a week so last month I decided to peruse local pawn shops (after finding nothing on CL) hoping to find a cheap Squier P or something. Yes, I'm a P man.
Anyhow, what I found was nothing like the cheap P I was hoping for, but after sighting the neck, checking for dead spots and playing through a Rumble practice amp, for $65 all in I came home with this cheap Stingray knockoff branded Arbor. Research revealed it's an Arbor AB410 model. I believe they were made in the early 2000s for just a couple years.
Only Stingray-like in looks (4 in line tuners, passive, generic offshore dolphin-nose headstock) I was still surprised that this El Cheapo is as decent as it is. No scratchy pots or jack, really comfy neck, frets in perfect shape. It actually sounds really good too, with some tonal versatility.
This model came in trans red and trans blue:
Mine's blue:
It's really quite pretty.
Now, I still desire, and will acquire (or build) my dream P bass eventually, but I'm increasingly thinking of keeping this "Thingray" as a beater or backup.
I don't plan any upgrades now because it simply doesn't truly need anything at this point.
Also, I don't want to start in on a refin job and wind up bassless again while in the process. But I did use to refinish guitars and basses and miss that hobby.
When the time comes, here are the options I'm considering. Would welcome and appreciate any input.
Option 1-- Keep the finish but swap for a black pickguard (and maybe a white or cream pickup cover for contrast) :
Option 2-- I'm real picky about wood grain, but this wood looks good under the trans blue. This is probably my favorite look/option. If the wood is nice I could stain it lightly with amber tint or some honey-gold stain:
Option 3-- White on white...likely more off white or vintage/cream than straight white (possibly with a black or red tort pickguard) :
Option 5-- Black on black (also possibly with a tort guard.) My only real issue with black is that IMO it would look so much nicer with a maple fingerboard and mine has rosewood:
Option 6-- Leave it the hell alone, dunbass...it looks fine and is too cheap to futz with!
What say you, good people of TB?
What would you do?
Any advice or suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
Very limited budget for the time being, but I'm turning 50 in a week so last month I decided to peruse local pawn shops (after finding nothing on CL) hoping to find a cheap Squier P or something. Yes, I'm a P man.
Anyhow, what I found was nothing like the cheap P I was hoping for, but after sighting the neck, checking for dead spots and playing through a Rumble practice amp, for $65 all in I came home with this cheap Stingray knockoff branded Arbor. Research revealed it's an Arbor AB410 model. I believe they were made in the early 2000s for just a couple years.
Only Stingray-like in looks (4 in line tuners, passive, generic offshore dolphin-nose headstock) I was still surprised that this El Cheapo is as decent as it is. No scratchy pots or jack, really comfy neck, frets in perfect shape. It actually sounds really good too, with some tonal versatility.
This model came in trans red and trans blue:
Mine's blue:
It's really quite pretty.
Now, I still desire, and will acquire (or build) my dream P bass eventually, but I'm increasingly thinking of keeping this "Thingray" as a beater or backup.
I don't plan any upgrades now because it simply doesn't truly need anything at this point.
Also, I don't want to start in on a refin job and wind up bassless again while in the process. But I did use to refinish guitars and basses and miss that hobby.
When the time comes, here are the options I'm considering. Would welcome and appreciate any input.
Option 1-- Keep the finish but swap for a black pickguard (and maybe a white or cream pickup cover for contrast) :
Option 2-- I'm real picky about wood grain, but this wood looks good under the trans blue. This is probably my favorite look/option. If the wood is nice I could stain it lightly with amber tint or some honey-gold stain:
Option 3-- White on white...likely more off white or vintage/cream than straight white (possibly with a black or red tort pickguard) :
Option 5-- Black on black (also possibly with a tort guard.) My only real issue with black is that IMO it would look so much nicer with a maple fingerboard and mine has rosewood:
Option 6-- Leave it the hell alone, dunbass...it looks fine and is too cheap to futz with!
What say you, good people of TB?
What would you do?
Any advice or suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
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