mcnach

Oh, I discovered the switches that set the frequency centre for the mids... it was set at 900Hz. At 275Hz it was very interesting and fat, hmmm. But at 600Hz it was the best.... which turns out it's the default. With the humbucker set as single coil, using the coil fartherst from the bridge, it still does not sound like a Stingray, but it has a little of its spirit. I like it a lot. Of course, only now I found that Lakland actually did a real Stingray type bass, the 55-76... very rare, as it was only made for a short time.

[quote name='haimesy' timestamp='1387286058' post='2310206'] Hi Jose..I fancy one off these and have been looking at the other ones for sale here , as well as the one you bought , Just can't make up my mind..Since selling my DJ been missing a 5....Hope you enjoy playing this one...All the best John...ps ..still got your DVD.... [/quote] Hey, we should get together and you can have a go with the 55-02. Join me and Sam (uncle psychosis) in January? Larry Graham DVD, right? I remember. Sorry it's been so complicated to arrange another time to meet! Let's fix that

I really like the Ernie Ball strings on my Stingray, 45-65-80-100. But DR Fat Beams are great too, good suggestion! Very authoritative low end. If you want more prominent mids, more presence, you may want to try the Ernie Ball Cobalts.

Well, the bass arrived today. Very disappointed with the packaging job... IT WAS AMAZING! So it took me a little while to unpack it, peeling layer after layer, so cruel... oh so cruel! The seller, "chardbass", used supermarket bags stuffed with more bags inside the hard case, to ensure the bass fitted snugly and did not move about. That works really well! I will certainly use this trick next time I post instruments. I thought maybe some of you might find it interesting too. The bass is really nice It's practically mint, seriously. It's so pretty that previous owners must have spent most of the time just staring at it, I imagine I love the body shape, how it balances... the neck is fantastic... the string spacing is just perfect... It's better than I expected in every way. Because I don't really pla 5 strings, my technique leaves something to be desired when it comes to muting. And slap? So many extranoeus noises get added... urgh... but I find it a lot easier than other 5-string basses. The string spacing really helps a lot for me. 35" scale is interesting. On the one hand, I can barely tell... only if I close my eyes I notice that my hands miss the intended spot I wanted to go to, ever so slightly... But not more than what I get when playing a bass I'm not used to, and I adjust in a few minutes. But I do think the extra inch may help achieve a nicer tension overall, and the B string does ring clear and sounds like it belongs with the others, a natural extension, with depth and definition. Great bass!!! The only reaosn it could never be my number one is... it's not a Stingray. I knew that. But it does a great fat Jazz, which is not bad as it's my second favourite sound. Ah, if only they had moved that bridge pickup a little farther from the bridge! It would have been perfect then. It's the most comfortable 5-string bass I have every tried... so perhaps I can conquer 5-stringdom at last, even 'though I don't really need one, it'll be nice to have the ability to play more across the strings than up and down, and having a few extra lower notes could be cool at times too. There are some things in my main band where I'd play a C#, and I've been either playing it an octave higher or playing a ghost note instead... with this I can play a fatter C#, oh yes GAS is great sometimes

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1387141170' post='2308690'] Sounds good. I'll give you a shout via PM nearer the time. I've even stocked up on Caesar Augustus and other Williams Bros treats [/quote] Aha! Brilliant!

[quote name='duffer1' timestamp='1387162313' post='2308921'] ended up with a Roland bass microcube which is not very loud [/quote] you're right about that!

Ferna[b]N[/b]des...

Yes, Ou7shined was talking about the Made in USA SUBs, without a doubt. Those are great basses and any difference between them and a Stingray -other than cosmetics- is insignificant. The USA SUB line was made in the same factory, with the same electronics. Uglier (for some) finishes, being just a handful of solid colour finishes and rough texture, slab bodies (no forearm or belly contours), the back of teh neck is painted black, and so is the headstock. They were only made between 2003-2006 so if you want one it has to be used, They go for around £350-400, depending on condition, and they're awesome (I own two, and a Stingray. The Stingray is prettier, that's all). To confuse matters, another company (Sterling by MusicMan, not Ernie Ball Music Man) has been recently making Stingrays and Sterlings under license, and they started a budget line named, unfortunately, SUB, which is currently in production. They have some very tasty looking instruments, and maple fingerboards (USA SUBs were all rosewood), but they do not approach the quality of the original SUB line. I would recommend finding a used USA SUB, if you want a Stingray without spending too much. Yes, it'll cost a bit more than an Indonesian SUB (SBMM instruments), but you'll really get a true Stingray, both in quality and sound.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1387019764' post='2307442'] No, but I own a 55-02 and they're very consistent; knowing your playing and tonal preferences from other threads I reckon this'll suit you down to the ground, it even matches the bass in your avatar. Enjoy. [/quote] I haven't been this excited about a bass since I got my Stingray (on my avatar). And comments like yours don't help me wait calmly I just checked the tracking... it's already in Edinburgh. "Planned delivery date 16th December"

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1386981579' post='2307280'] wasn't the court you got a 5 too? [/quote] No, the Cort is a 4-string. I still have that one a GB74, ash/maple. The lightest bass I have owned, yet it balances very well.

[quote name='Green Alsatian' timestamp='1386980535' post='2307268'] That is precisely the colour and model I'm after myself. I intended for one to pair with the 55-01 I had in maple/natural which I bitterly regret having to sell when the gearbox in my car decided to erupt earlier in the year. If the 02 feels/plays as nicely as the 01 (and I see no reason why it shouldn't), I think you'll really enjoy it! [/quote] I'm glad I got there before you , for it's exactly the model and finish I was after too. I would have preferred a single MM pickup, very slightly further from the bridge (Stingray!), but they don't make a version like that, and who knows? I might end up liking the extra sounds!

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1386979005' post='2307255'] Great bass, you'll like that a lot. [/quote] I know this bass hass changed hands a couple of times in BC, were you one of the previous owners?

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1386972950' post='2307167'] I like the look of that. I'll need to have a shot on it. ;-) are you about over Christmas? We could have a bass party! [/quote] I'm going away, but coming back on the 29th and I have another two weeks holidays after that so if you're free in early January... :-)

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1386965105' post='2307033'] That does look nice. I'm a big fan of natural finished ash and maple together! [/quote] You, Sir, have taste.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1386964974' post='2307031'] It looks great - but I think your tital about the horror is a bit misleading - I've lost count on the number of 5 strings you've had down the years! [/quote] Ha ha you're right! 1 - Cruiser soemthing or another. Two MM style pickups. Wide neck. Too wide (I thought) I sold it after maybe playing it for a total of 3 hours. 2 - Washburn PB2500. Single MM style pickup. Narrow spacing. Similar fate as the Cruiser. Ah no, rather than selling it, I traded it for an Ashdown MAG250 head and a mini 15" cab to go with it. I used the amp in teh first week more than I had used the bass in months. 3 - EBMM SUB5. Lovely. Great sound. Narrow spacing. I used this one a bit more, because at least it had the sound I liked. Still, not much use, and I wished it had a wider string spacing. 4 - G&L L2500 Tribute series. Ash natural and maple. Beast. Awesome bass. Narrow spacing. I sold the SUB5 first, then this one soon after. Eventually I got an L2000, also ash natural and maple. 5 - I sold those two when I found that a Squier deLuxe V felt much more at home. Wide neck and spacing... the pickups were not right. The bridge pickup was farther from the bridge than usual for a Jazz, bringing it nicely into a more MM-like territory... but the pickups were a bit polite and the preamp nasty... Eventually I let it go too. 6 - That Stagg Stingray copy thing... I barely got it fixed and the Lakland has shown up, so I'm not sure whether I'll give up on these two soon or what... But this time I got it right, I think. If I don't get along with the Lakland, then that's it and I'll forget about 5-string basses Edit: I also owned, briefly, a Peavey Millennium. Very very narrow spacing....

Keep an eye on eBay (set a search that warns you by email) and be ready I've seen them go for anything from £50 to £100. I bought one a month or two ago and I paid about £80, if I recall correctly. If you can wait, you can get it for less. Pretty cool octaver.

Ha ha! There's clearly some history between the parties, eh?

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1386870404' post='2305766'] We're going to recording an EP just after Christmas, and will be putting it out digitally soon after. Artwork all ready to go! My last band did the same, but the 'band leader' took care of it, so my knowledge is limited. I think he uploaded through Tunecore - seemed to be quite quick and easy, and the stuff is still up there on Amazon, iTunes, etc. Saw some of it for sale in some place in America last week! Because he dealt with it and we split up, I've go no idea how many were ever sold, and never received a penny! Has anyone on BC done this? If so, any tips on the best 'seller' to go with? They all seem to be in $. Do I assume that once you pay the fee, it's available digitally forever through the normal sites? Any tips and experience welcome. [/quote] we went through "emubands". That way we did not have to worry about anything and our CD is on iTunes, Googleplay, amazon, spotify... the lot. That's for digital copies. We also set up a Bandcamp account for physical CDs, sold directly by us. It works.

Do I play 5 string basses? No. Do I ever feel I am missing something in any of the bands I play with? Not really. Sometimes I think "ah, this would surely be a bit easier on a 5er", but that's about it. I use Hipshot Bass EXtenders to detune the E to D in a few of my basses, and other than that I'm happy with EADG. So, do I want a 5-string bass? A little. (ah, so it's not about needing) Have I tried 5-string basses before? Yup. I owned a few. They all suffered identical fate: neglect and sale. Do I really want a 5-string bass? Well, I want something quite specific. That something... came to my attention on Sunday or Monday night. I would like a 5-string if it were a Stingray, essentially. BUT, I really don't like their narrow string spacing. I have recently "improved" a 5-string Stagg Stingray copy (thank you, Ou7shined! ), which has a wide neck and wide string spacing... and it just confirmed to me just how much better wide spacing it works for me. The bass, however, it's not exactly a contender when standing next to my Stingray or SUBs. A while ago I decided that a Lakland 55-02 would probably be a decent compromise. It would not have *the* Stingray sound, unfortunately, but it sounds good, the neck seems right... and it's pretty But it had to be natural finish with a maple neck. And earlier this week, I saw such a thing advertised in this forum. It's now making its way towards Edinburgh, and I can't wait to get it in my hands!!! It looks like this: How could I possibly resist? EBMM does not want to make a 19mm spacing Stingray-5, then it's got to be Lakland to the rescue.

[quote name='Geddys nose' timestamp='1386859363' post='2305493'] I'd prefer the guitars being played and banged than sitting in a air con case TBH. Alcatrazz was a great band with Bonnet & Malmsteen- he never sounded better than on 'No Parole' really and Bonnet was a great singer very up and down vocal wise, when he could find them notes he was unmatched . Soundtrack of my youth. [/quote] ah, Bonnet... The Alcatrazz album and Michael Schenker Group "Assault Attack"... incredible!

Yup, post #13 by Lowender sums it up, I also think. I loved his first solo album, and his playing in Alcatrazz. "No parole for Rock and roll" by Alcatrazz was a great album (was that from 1981 or 1983? I can't recall). Graham Bonnet's vocals are awesome, and Yngwie plays a lot and plays fast, but there is a lot of melody there and it seems that the solos do have a point and are part of the song. It's one of my all time favourite albums. The first Rising Force album was recorded at around the same time, and finished just a bit later, and it showed a -to me- very interesting guitar player. It can get a bit widdly widdly at times, but the compositions are more sensible than what he did a few years later and until now. It was also quite different from what anybody else seemed to be doing. That album made an impact on me and I still play it regularly. Only two tracks had vocals, so I treat it as a guitar instrumental album, and for me it's stil unsurpassed. I listened to and liked a lot of stuff by Tony MacAlpine, Vai, Satriani... there's great stuff from all of them, but that first solo album by Malmsteen remains fresh and awe-inspiring to me. The second album is not bad, but it starts getting into widdle-festing too much. The Third, Trilogy, is incredibly dated... you hear a bit of it and immediately you know it was a product of the mid 80s... That's when he turned into "commercial" (he admits in his biography that it's the way he wanted to go, he did not like guitar instrumental albums and did not want to do anything like on the first album)... and then Odyssey arrived. There's some cool stuff in there too, but I think the Malmsteen formula was already well established: every song ever after appears to have teh same kind of tonality and structure, and they're vehicles for excessive soloing in the middle, where each solo appears to be identical to the others, cramming every single note and scale into every single one of them. Yawn. Physically admirable. Musically sterile. And live... he seems to do that only faster, and he destroys the solos that sounded like actual compositions by giving in to the urge of adding a few thousand extra notes per minute. It gets boring really fast. But the guy knows what he wants, worked hard, and got it. He does come across as a little bit arrogant... I never met him personally, so I don't know. I imagine he has to deal with a LOT of bullshit nearly everyday, and I can easily imagine I could sound a lot like him if I had to endure the same kind of crap constantly for years. What frustrates me is that he has the ability and ear to create something truly beautiful... but he just does not seem interested anymore. Of course, beauty is subjective. Still, even his detractors have to admit he has a vibrato to die for. I love his guitar sound and vibrato and general expressivity... when he calms down for a second and lets it flow freely. Yum.