mcnach

[quote name='Heathy' timestamp='1479979224' post='3180692'] I parted company with my Stingray for this reason. I read that it's an issue with the electronics - I would definitely agree with this as acoustically it was fine. Adjusting pick up height didn't appear to help me. Adjusting the EQ helped a bit - but you shouldn't have to do that. Playing with a pick helped a bit - so possibly a technique issue, but again a compromise you shouldn't have to make. In the end I lost patience and went back to Fenders. A great bass in all other respects though. [/quote] you shouldn't have to adjust the EQ to make it sound the way you want it? I've heard people moaning about playing the Jazz bass on two pickups full and getting lost in the mix... no surprise if you essentially have a very scooped sound and the rest of the band is prominent on lows/highs so you're directly competing rather than fitting in. That gets solved by changing the sound... different pickup balance (adjusting heights slightly differently also has a big effect on how scooped the sound is to start with), different EQ. I don't think the Stingray is that different a case.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1479951629' post='3180591'] I must be blessed. I've heard about issues with dead G strings. [/quote] They look beautiful if you remove the pickguard

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1479780153' post='3179256'] I just emailed Adrian [/quote] ... and I've finally decided on a couple of issues I was unsure about. Now just checking the colour is the one I'm after exciting! Essentially, I was unsure between a solid metallic colour, or the wood stain with satin finish instead. Also, I was going to have it pickguard-less, but ordering also a pickguard in case... and now I'm just having it with a pickguard, I think it'll look better.

[quote name='phil.c60' timestamp='1479907944' post='3180186'] Yes you certainly can. The inserts pop out of the moulds with the assistance of the little plastic cleaning tool that comes with them. You have to be able to remove them, because you should wash the moulds in warm soapy water occasionally and you must not get water in the inserts. (or a gentle tease with a cocktail stick as I lost the plastic tool at a gig some time ago). Do be careful though, because they are quite small and do literally "pop" out. First time I did it I spent five minutes on my hands and knees under the kitchen table! Fortunately I found the one I dropped. I have considered getting some even lower ones for watching gigs, and some higher ones for when my wife snores! FinnDave beat me to it! [/quote] Ha! Right... I'll contact ACS and suggest they make the filters magnetic, so that if you drop them all you have to do is comb the area with a magnet

[quote name='phil.c60' timestamp='1479906610' post='3180164'] Yep - you just make an appointment at Boots for a hearing test and tell them it's because you want some ACS plugs, they check your hearing and your ear canals, take the moulds and you pay there and then. Everything is included in the price. A couple of weeks later they pop through your letter box. If you decide, like I did, that you need different attenuation ( I dropped from 17's to 15's)you can send them back within a month and they'll swap the inserts FOC. Mine were back in three days. I've had them three years and never play or rehearse without them. They also keep your moulds on file, so if you need another pair you can just order them using your original customer number. Great service, great product. Buy some. [/quote] is the filter substitution something you could do yourself? Just wondering whether it could be practical to have two sets of attenuation filters... although I guess one level works unless you play with different bands with wildly different sound levels...

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1479901490' post='3180105'] I did the whole thing through my local Boots branch. They do the impressions then deal with the rest for you, [/quote] thank you. I'm going away for a week so when I return I'll get on with this

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1479904392' post='3180139'] I wouldn't have thought you need to use a magnet on the pole piece, I think a piece of steel or iron (something magnetis[i]able[/i]) would do the same job without risking demagnetising the pickup itself. [/quote] the only way to increase the magnetic field on an existing polepiece is to make the magnet stronger, I guess. Since in alnico pickups the polepieces themselves are the magnets, adding metal underneath would not make it stronger, right? I have no idea whether it can make the existing magetic polepieces lose properties or anything. I just remembered coming across a post on TB where some people did just that and it seemed to work for them (higher output on their pickups) actually... there was talk about that but I think the images I saw (on the same thread?) was of a pickup with non magnetic poles where they removed the ceramic magnet and used a neo one instead... so I don't know anymore!

[quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1479900089' post='3180090'] A lot of stingrays have this issue, moving the pickup for most does not really sort the Issue out for one that is bad as the four middle poles are higher so if you raise the bottom of the pick up to try and make the g louder the d gets louder, The main prob really comes into play when I play swing or walking bass lines when I move to the g all the loudness drops out. There is a cure I have done and covered this before, Now here is my disclaimer .... I have done this to all my stingrays and works great, up to you if you want to try it, or get advice first.... The four middle poles will push down, don't attempt to raise the end ones as the coils are wrapped around these and so a lot of tension on them , but if you press down gently but firmly the middle four will go down and even out all the poles, then when you raise the pickup the g will be as loud as the a an d , I can post a pic if wanted of all my poles flat inline, makes a big difference, Now will say again, only try this if it's really bad as a last resort befor say changing the pickup, and if you not up to it get advice about it, Hope it helps [/quote] I wonder if adding a small circular neodymium magnet under the polepieces of the G string would help without affecting tone too much. I've heard about people adding a couple of magnets like that for higher output... I have no direct experience on that.

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1479846196' post='3179775'] Does that not tell you something then? How many beginners or average players post vids of themselves on here? Its probably just me being old and British but I have an aversion to showing off. They are all better than me also but frankly who cares what someone looks like playing something? Its music, its what it sounds like that counts. Bah humbug....Nurse, my medication. [/quote] People have enjoyed watching others play instruments for centuries, if not millenia. It's nothing new or... show-offy (necessarily). I enjoy watching people of all levels who make music I like. I enjoy watching people who are better than me, and sometimes I get inspiration from that. I enjoy watching people who are no better than me and participate in this forum because... I don't know. Because I see their names around and I am curious and they're "one of us" or something. Quite frankly, the notion of X is better than me or Y is worse than me doesn't even cross my mind. Hey, you can always minimise the window and simply listen to the audio if you prefer

The Barefaced Two10 is around £500 (I think it's £499 plus postage). It's a 2x10 but with surprising volume and sounds a lot bigger than its size suggests. Get the 4ohm version and you'll be fine. If you're interested in light and relatively compact, but still loud, deep and good sounding... The Two10 is great.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1479829220' post='3179618'] Doesn't word exclusion help at all..? Searching for 'Fender -Squier' would bring up only ads with the word Fender, as long as there is no mention of Squier. Not perfect, but what is..? [/quote] It does to some extent. If you look for Squier -Fender you'll miss a lot of Squiers 'though. Ebay's search engine is not too bad. Other sites are horrendous

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1479825393' post='3179574'] I think there is a subtle but significant difference between Squier and Epiphone. If you click on the Fender website you will see Squier products advertised under a Fender logo'd page, this doesn't happen with Gibson/Epiphone. I think describing a Squier as a "Fender Squier", or "Squier by Fender" is perfectly acceptable. On the other hand describing a non Fender/Squier as a Precision Bass, or a non Gibson/Epiphone as an Explorer Bass is incorrect [/quote] if we're strict with the meaning, you are correct. However, as a way for people to label their ads so that others can search for what they're after, it completely buggers things up and it seems ridiculous.

[quote name='HengistPod' timestamp='1479816615' post='3179473'] No, but there bloody should be. It's alright for the multi-band guy, but not handy when you get offered gigs and the drummer is out with his wedding band ... again. [/quote] Yeah, that's annoying but... if that is a problem remember you can get another drummer. As long as the band members have a similar expectation and priority, being in several bands not only is workable, but it can also help. It's helped my band when a member got sick just before a gig, it's helped my band get more gigs... it's not all bad, And people often become better musicians when they play with other people as they're less likely to "stick to what they know" and get more inspiration too.

[quote name='pierreganseman' timestamp='1479799823' post='3179289'] good move ! :-D [/quote] and... it won't be red!

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1479804430' post='3179330'] Come to think of It Jose i can't recall ever seeing a P Bass with 2 jazz pickups.? [/quote] There aren't many. Squier made a couple, I think. But it surprises me too. I guess most people are happy with a P/J and don't feel going the whole JJ is necessary.

I just emailed Adrian

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1479591217' post='3177774'] Is this whole thread not just a "Look at me, i'm better than you" fest. We play, or I do, music cos we love it, who cares what we look like doing it, especially our peers. [/quote] what? who is passing any judgements here? I have not seen anything but friendly compliments and no sense of competition at all. I don't know where you got that from

[quote name='Jon bass' timestamp='1479692680' post='3178533'] I have a 1992 black maple 2eq 4 string. I had this issue years ago but not anymore. I slightly raise the pickup towards the D and G string and slightly lower on E and A side. Also a mistake people make is having bass and treble up full, this can make the G string sound weak and too clicky. Having both at 50% gives you the midrange and then adjust slightly as you need to. [/quote] That seems to match my experience too

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1479734778' post='3178807'] I do with the E and B on my Gus basses as they bend at almost 90° over the bridge and need a little help to bed down properly because of their girth. I don't bother at the nut because all my basses have angled headstocks and properly cut nuts, so the strings bend properly anyway. [/quote] I asked because I think part of the "going slightly flat" after tuning to pitch is the strings taking that shape. The other 2 factors I can think of are slack at tuning posts and string stretching. Slack at tuning posts can be reasonably dealt with by being careful, but pulling on the strings I guess can help too. Actual string stretching... I don't think that contributes much, based on my experience. I guess we all have our ways and I don't lose sleep on it, quite frankly.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1479727365' post='3178718'] Most strings need to be stretched out, because the material that they are made of has not been under tension before, and therefore still has some "give" in it that needs to be worked out before the tuning will stabilise. This is separate to any issues that you might have from strings bedding in around the machine head tuning posts. I don't bother stretching out my strings unless I'm going to be playing the newly strung guitar or bass with other instruments in next couple of days. Instead I just tune about a semi tone sharp and let the excess elasticity in the string work itself out. I suppose it could be possible to damage the string by excessive manual stretching, but I've never had it happen myself, and I would generally suspect that the string was faulty anyway if it occurred. [/quote] Do you press on the strings at both sides of the nut and saddles to create witness points, or you don't bother with that?

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1479722801' post='3178654'] With regards to MM tone - there is the fact that is MM Stingray is active and relies on the MM circuit. A MM pickup, even in the correct location, will not get you there alone. Couple this fact with a JB being passive, there's no way you can get a true MM and J in one using the same set of controls. We all know for example, that a filter system does not a Wal make. Similarly, the individual coil around each pole approach to pickups does not a Wal make. Even an aftermarket filter preamp and aftermarket pickup made in the aforementioned manner does not make a Wal! [/quote] But the thing is a Stingray with a bypass switch sounds most definitely "Stingray". You just don't get access to *other* Stingray sounds. I had such switch installed in my bass. I was very surprised to find that the sound I generally go for is very nearly the same sound as the bypassed preamp gives me. Not exactly the same, but pretty close!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1479700522' post='3178541'] Sort of looking for attention,admittedly. Many of us 60 plus guys reference the old days. This pic showed up on Facebook today and went viral amongst all my old mates. To me the pic brings back great memories and how marvelous the last 55 years of playing ha been. Looks like I had sort of a Liverpool look thing going on, LOL I'm the guy in the upper right corner.I had already been playing for several years. I was a High School freshman in this pic. The pic paints a picture or explains why I'm somewhat stuck in the past. When you look at the me, upper right, remember I have the same enthusiasm for playing now as I did back in 1969 (the date in the pic is wrong). Me and Doug, the guy playing the Fender Mustang talk to each other on a daily basis. The Yellow MIJ Fender Tele Bass Bass pic is from 2016 Blue aka Daryl [/quote] That's really cool!

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1479670449' post='3178345'] When we say "stretching the strings", is that really what's happening or is it just tightening up the part of the string around the tuning peg? I would suggest that is what causes most of the initial minor tuning issues. [/quote] That's my take too.

[quote name='LITTLEWING' timestamp='1479656912' post='3178165'] I've just been reading on Talkbass five pages on stretching or not stretching new strings. There's a bit about not doing it as it can detach the windings from the core and instantly 'kill' the string, some people just go ahead and fit them and tune up all evening during a gig and some completely laugh at the idea. Personally I give them a few little tugs about a couple of inches off the fretboard while tuning to pitch then quickly check the intonation and lastly apply a little pressure just after each saddle to create the 'witness' point and to date have never broken a string and have had a great tone for ages. What do other good people here on BC in the UK think and apply? [/quote] Talking about using fresh strings just before a gig, years ago, with a live guitar tech who would put fresh strings on his guitarist's strings every night... he told me all you had to do was wind the strings carefully to avoid any slack, not use more turns around the post than necessary (a couple are plenty, except when you need them purely to ensure the strings leave from a low point to give enough angle at the nut...), and just tune up and push the strings down at both sides of the nut/saddles to create the witness points fast. I have used his advice ever since and the tuning has always been stable. I never stretch the strings. But I suppose that's a way to remove possible slack at the tuning posts... however that's not necessary if you do just a couple of turns and/or are careful.

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1479666510' post='3178290'] Did you mod it or did you buy it like that? I'm only asking because that's exactly what I fitted to my blue OLP [/quote] all of mine were stock when I bought them and I modified them myself. Except the second one that I bought which was "meh" and sold it after just one gig with it.