mcnach

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1347457210' post='1801061'] Offer thanks to the deity of your choice? [/quote]

I keep coming back to it. Ok, that doesn't surprise me. My Stingray and my SUB are probably the two basses I would save first from a fire. Lately the Stingray have languished and has not seen much action. Partly because when I bought the SUB, the Stingray needed a re-string, and I loved the SUB's punch courtesy of a humbucker in series (rather than parallel as on the Stingray), and partly because then I restrung the Stingray using nylon tapewounds. They are ok. You get some cool sounds. But nah, in the end, it's like you're castrating the Stingray. So I've been using the SUB, with progressively deader strings (I like them!) after probably 7 months of gigs, and various others, usually Jazz or of a Jazz flavour. Not long ago I finally restrung the Stingray, with Ernie Ball Cobalts, as I was curious about them. My first impression was a bit mixed. Punchy. Oh yes. I noticed a higher output and more midrange. But I had mixed feelings. They felt a bit tougher/rougher than my usual D'Addario EXL170. I liked the basic sound, but they were too "clangy". Well, they were, playing at home at neighbour-friendly volume. Today I took it to rehearsal. The strings have been on for probably a month, maybe 6 weeks, but used little. I took my TC RH450 head, into an Ampeg 8x10 of some description that I normally use there. HUGE!!!!!!! Big bottom, great definition... fantastic slap tone, not too trebly, the G string was fat, liquid... I am in love again with my Stingray. There are other basses, but for me, this is the one that does it. Two gigs this week... I think the Stingray will feature in both!

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1347456029' post='1801040'] you do like naked wood bodies don't you! [/quote] you could say that!!!

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1347449927' post='1800893'] Really?? A [/quote] go away go away go away go away!!!! (hmmm, I like the straight Stingray type alone better, but... this is quite nice, actually. I think I should start making my own pickguards! Or stop reading BC )

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1347449547' post='1800885'] Haha for a minute i thought you were going to say cream coloured wilkinson pickups ;-) i have actually been wondering about those you have for sale, ive never had any wilkinson pups are they any good for the money? [/quote] I think they are alright. Punchy, but not as "jazzy" as I'd have wanted them to be. I replaced them in my Vintage brand Jazz with the USA set from my Fender (now with Nordstrands) and it then sounded unmistakeably "Jazz bass". Before it was a good sound, but I was no getting that particular nasal tone I like from the bridge pickup, although it sounded good, especially with both pickups in series. If you want a "classic" Jazz bass sound, the Wilkinsons are not the best match. If you don't care so much and just want a decent punchy sound, then they are fine. Good value. But I may be biased

I am so very jealous of that body. But then I saw it all assembled, and... I'm jealous of the whole thing. Love it. Cream-covered DiMarzio Model J pickups... hmmm

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1347445906' post='1800807'] Did someone mention pick guards!!! It is quit a bit of work to cover the front but not too difficult. Cut a ledge around the cavity you want to fill and plug with 4mm ply. Either fill with grain filler and respray or veneer the whole front for a guaranteed no gap finish. One advantage you have is that black binding. Mask up to that and paint the front a different colour. That Ray PG looks way better than the other options. OR You could do a 'Burns' style and have two or three seperate PG sections to cover all the bits!!! You also have the added bonus of incorperating another marque into the mix [b][i]Rayburnfenderbacker [/i][/b] A [/quote] oh, I'm so glad I live so far from you!!!

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1347441590' post='1800723'] Some people don't like the idea of publishing their address on a public forum for the world to see, it is understandable. I don't suffer this particular paranoia myself, but I can understand the logic I guess. [/quote] nobody asked for an address, or a name. A town, an area is enough. I find it strange, amusing and a little sad at the same time. It must be terrible to live with so much fear of... of I can't imagine what, really.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1347438028' post='1800673'] I know thats just a trace but I think it looks much better with that creamy/white pickguard.... [/quote] NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNO!!! just not a big fan of white guards on red guitars.

[quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1347398778' post='1800404'] Then you would have one even more unique bass! [/quote] at this rate I'd need a new house to keep them all! at first it was "it's ok, as long as they all fit in my 7-space guitar rack". Then it was "ok, and there may be a bit of overflow, in the corners". Now it's "as long as they all fit in my music room". It's getting dangerously crowded already! edit: besides... I'm not great at doing these involved projects. I start things all too easily but have difficulty finishing them. I just want to play, not work so much on them!

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1347389734' post='1800194'] It really does work. Just add a Sterling or G&L control layout, and it'd be the king of mind**** basses. [/quote] Ha ha brilliant!!! Now I want to buy another to transform it this way! (not really... but.. hmmm... I like that!. plug the hole, refinish... )

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1347258157' post='1798466'] I wanted to buy a bass from Thomann, they wanted bank transfer. Our bank this end wanted £24 for £509 changed to however many Euros. They said the bank at the other end would charge but they couldn't tell me how much . I didn't buy the bass. [/quote] bank transfer with Thomann? why not a credit/debit card, buying in pounds through their "in-sterling-pounds" site? I bought many times from Thomann, never did a bank transfer.

Well, my modified trace would work: so it's time to get it done. Just for fun... I thought this would be nice, if the control cavity were at the back That's an OLP pickguard, which doesn't quite match the Stingray regarding pickup placement, but it doesn't work too bad here... in case you are curious.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1347380302' post='1800015'] Why don't you want to tell us wich town you live in? There's a lot of members trying to see if they can pass near you to help you out FOR FREE!!! What the hell are you waiting for?!! [/quote] nah, why make life easier, eh?

porn!!!

[quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1347279043' post='1798698'] Good to know they are being helpful, any news yet on if your scratch plate can be made? [/quote] Very helpful. I really have no reservations about dealing with them. the Bass Doc says it's doable provided I can give the right instructions etc. He very rightfully said that if the new plate was not going to fit perfectly, it would defeat the reason why I want it made in the first place. So last night I traced the plate, made a few measurements and annotations and drew what the new one should be like. I want to make a photocopy and use it to verify my measurements are all good before sending the plans away... but I forgot about it this morning. If I don't forget again, I will make the copy tomorrow and use it to verify fit in the evening. If all good, I'll send away the original pickguard plus the new plans. If it's not quite right, I'll modify the plans and repeat. Until I get it just right. I thought it would be much better to be able to provide a trace of what the final one should be like, rather than just give measurements etc. So it should be doable. Single ply black, like the original.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1347275177' post='1798609'] I don't like the extended pickguard at all---the stock version is much better... ...but then, its not my bass [/quote] what do you know, anyway? You let go a wonderful black Jazz bass!!!

[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1347218288' post='1798204'] See, this is the trouble with forums like this. I've been slimming down my arsenal and was looking at the seven left (still trying to slim due to getting a Variax) and realised they were all rosewood necks, I was quietly thinking to myself 'do I need a maple neck', almost to the point of starting a thread to find out others preferences for maple or rosewood, and then I read this thread. That green one is as sexy as they come and I'm getting strong urges and finding it hard to resist. Help! [/quote] "Resistance is futile" just embrace the GAS

Result! David says that if I am happy with keeping the bass, he'll treat it as a "second" and issue a partial refund accordingly, which will more than cover the cost of the pickguard. So it looks like this is my bass Still haven't heard from the 'Doc'... hopefully he will make the pickguard.

Indeed I think I'll leave the neck pickup where it is. Less hassle. It's easy to adapt the slap technique to having a pickup in the way. I just contacted our Bass Doc with views to getting the pickguard made, and also David at ProBass to see whether he'd be willing to contribute (it'll save both of us hassle shipping basses, it will ensure I do keep the bass rather than returning it, and he does not have a bass in stock that he'd have to take care of before selling it again). It was hard to refrain myself from installing the SD preamp already!!! But I need to wait until the basics are sorted. That bridge pickup is one loud mother... humbucker! Just being adjusting its height and once again I'm amazed at how much of a difference it makes when you alter it. I brought the whole pickup down, and then angled it to get the E-string side a bit lower still, and it has improved the general tone noticeably. No, it's not going to be my #1 bass, but this is going to be a sweet one.

[quote name='luke Ray-Von' timestamp='1347153904' post='1797543'] Get a set up the will cost around 60 to £100 to level your frets stone the, etc which will help with the intonation etc will feel so much better [/quote] +1 this just seems the most reasonable way to proceed at this point. Much cheaper than a new bass, which may still need a proper set up anyway. I'm out.