mcnach

That's if you find a UK seller who has what you want. For the most part it's probably ok, but I was looking to buy a Becos Stella compressor (small company in Romania) and they won't ship to the UK now, and I can't find it anywhere else that would ship here. It reminds me of times long long ago when we just bought what we could find in our local shop.

I'm intrigued by this control, it sounds on paper like something I would enjoy playing with. Does anybody have (or can make) any clips demonstrating the effect the Tape Sat control has?

I'll remember this

Yeah, I have to think what note is where on that B string, not long but it's not automatic yet like it is on other strings. However, I am used to recognising certain intervals and that just comes naturally which is nice. I always like it when I realise I already know something, like the day I discovered my fingers knew where each letter was on a computer keyboard: ask me where H is, and I'll have to think a while but ask me to type 'while' blindfolded and I'll just do it. Crazy.

Over the years I've owned a bunch of 5 string basses, not out of necessity but because I wanted to have the option. I have owned Squiers, Peaveys, EBMM, G&L, Lakland... Some were really sweet, like the Lakland 5502, some had the sound I wanted (EBMM SUB5), but I never really gelled with any. My girlfriend bought me a Harley Benton MB-5 SBK (the Stingray style one in satin black finish) for Xmas... and I haven't played anything else since. At first I made lots of mistakes, and my muting left a lot to be desired. But the bass felt great, it's light (8.6 lbs, which for a 5 string is pretty good), and it sounds good too. Because it felt and sounded 'just right', it didn't feel like homework... so I made the point of using this one exclusively so that I get used to the 5th string, and within 2-3 weeks I have improved a lot. I still make a mistake here and there, and occasionally I get the wrong string(s) ringing, still lots to do, but I'll get there. Ok, so that's the bit about getting used to the ergonomics of a 5-string. What about the advantages? I didn't really care that much for having a few additional lower notes available to me, although sometimes it's nice (very nice), but I really like covering so much ground *across* the strings. It's actually easier to play without looking at the fingerboard because I have to move a lot less up and down the neck and when I do it's typically one position (3-4 frets) higher or lower, which is easy to shift without looking. That is nice. It also gives me more note options easily, as the octave (higher or lower, depending) is just there at your fingertips much more frequently than on a 4-string... I seem to be able to break from my usual patterns more easily too. I played one of my 4-string basses yesterday and it was familiar territory and comfortable and all, but I missed that low B string, and the ability to choose say between an F on the low E 1st fret, or on the low B 6th fret: one sounds tighter and the other sounds fatter, so you can pick one or the other depending on what you're playing. I can't believe it took me this long to 'get it'. I knew, of course, that the extended range available 'sideways' across the strings was one of the selling points of a 5 string, but because I never gelled with any 5-string bass I never played them long enough to really absorb it into my playing. Now I feel like I'be been missing out a lot

I never found a good solution for neck dive. Non-slip strap? it pulls on my shirt and eventually it still dives and takes my shirt with it (I don't wear a thick jacket on stage). Repositioning strap buttons in some cases it can help, but when I tried it I didn't quite like the new position either. Lighter tuners can be a good solution but only when the dive is not too serious. In the end if a bass has neck dive, it's got to go: I'd rather look for another bass that is better balanced. Neck dive is a deal breaker for me, even more so than the weight, although fortunately there are so many options that one can probably find the 'Goldilocks' bass if you look around a bit.

+1 on installing a switch. The parallel mode gives you the classic Stingray sound, but the series mode is very good too in my opinion: fatter, stronger low mids... it's good to have the option.

I had the GFS on an OLP too, and while it was a bit better than the original I personally didn't rate it highly. After trying some cheaper pickups, I was only happy after I went with Seymour Duncan SMB-4A. It's perhaps twice the price but money well spent. You can spend a lot more (Aguilar and Nordstrand make pickups very close to the Stingray originals, the Nordstrand MM4.2 in particular was very close) but the SMB-4A is really good. I wouldn't waste time/money with unknown quantities. I have come across some really nice sounding MM pickups on cheap basses sometimes, so you can get good stuff cheap, the problem is you can't tell until you try them.

wow, the RFE sold out within hours it seems. I guess I looked at the right time.

My '96 Olympic White Stratocaster was a slightly creamy type of white when I bought it (new), and over the years it has become a bit darker, more cream, and now it's almost the same colour as the cream Matt Freeman Squier Precision. I've seen 'Olympic White' in various shades of cream, but Arctic White is always snow white-ish as far as I can tell.

Very true. Nothing more disappointing than grabbing a bass "oh, it's light, nice" and then have it neck-dive. (No such problem on the MB-5 edit: did I mention it's 8.6 lbs? )

If you're looking for a 5-string Stingray alternative, especially light weight, I cannot recommend the Harley Benton MB-5 SBK enough (it's important that it is the SBK model, the satin black one). They seem consistently low weight (mine is 8.6 lbs) and they're superb. Yes, they're passive, but also they only cost £125 or thereabouts, so if you *must* put a preamp in it the total cost won't be high, which is nice. It is the first 5-string I really gelled with (the closest before this was the Lakland 5502, and a USA EBMM SUB, but one didn't have the sound I wanted and the other was very heavy, the G&L L2500 was a beast, but never felt comfortable enough and was also very heavy...) and I have been playing it exclusively since I got it. EBMM Stingray and Sandberg be damned, as nice as they are... I just gravitate towards the MB-5 every time. The only problem is they seem out of stock now, but they'll come back. If you're willing to wait, I cannot recommend it enough.

In case you were interested, they're back in stock (a few hours ago). I just ordered one. £168 inc. delivery (plus the charges I'll get when it arrives, usually working out to around 25%)

The USA ones? Yes, they can be removed just like on the others. I dislike their metallic pickguards too.

I tried the Prosteels, being a stainless steel fan, but it took a while until they sounded ok to me. When fresh they just had too much top end and felt even slightly mid-scooped, but after a few weeks they settled nicely. I since moved to other strings that get me there faster, I hate the sound of new strings and Prosteels were one of the worst in that respect (which means they might just be great for someone who likes the zing of new strings)

I'd say Jazz on steroids. The neck pickup definitely gets into that Precision-esque territory, and in combination with the bridge pickup you get some sounds that resemble a Jazz, only fatter. But it's got its own thing going on, and with the various switches you can get a very broad range of sounds, really versatile. The passive tone controls are really cool too. I should stay away... I'm getting urges to buy another

They're both quite different, but both really good. The L2000 cannot sound anything like a Stingray, but a Stingray doesn't sound like a L2000, they complement each other nicely... which is why I kick myself for selling my L2000 😥

Can you print a Stonehenge stage prop?

The weight surprised me a lot too. My girlfriend has the Precision and is also very light, it looks like it's a general feature of these black satin (SBK) models. I've got some adhesive vinyl sheets that I can try for the pickguard, I have some brushed metallic copper effect that could be interesting, as well as black matt. One day that I feel handy with a scalpel I'll try.

I think only Thomann sells those. Last I looked they were not expected back for 12-14 weeks. Even if they end up costing a bit more, they're completely worth it I think. I can't comment on the G string (which is only a 4-string issue as far as I understand, when it happens).

Not exactly NBD since I had it for a couple of weeks now or so. This is the black satin 'stealth' finish. They seemed to be on the light weight side, and mine didn't disappoint at 8.6 lbs. The set up was poor to start, far too much relief and very high saddles, but a few minutes spent reducing the neck curvature and adjusting the saddles brought it to a very comfortable action. The nut slots are well contoured but a bit too high, which makes me think that somebody tried to adjust the action by playing with the truss rod and saddles, failing, and then going the other way... I haven't adjusted the nut yet because it plays well enough already, but I'll have to do that to make the top positions a bit more comfy to play. I really like it. The neck is wider than a SR5 (so the G string doesn't fall off! ) but not excessively chunky. I find it quite comfortable. Not as nice as the Lakland 5502, but still very comfortable. The narrower string spacing (compared to my 4 strings) and the additional string means I was a little clumsy to start, but I've been playing this bass exclussively since I got it and I'm getting there now. In fact, I'm starting to really like this 5 string thing. I owned 5 string basses before but I never really got along with any. The closest ones were the Lakland 5502 and the old made in USA EBMM SUB 5. The Lakland had the wider string spacing that I prefer, but I didn't get the Stingray-like sound I prefer. The SUB5 had the sound, but I felt the neck was a bit too narrow and it was a very heavy bass. A Squier Jazz V came and went too, and over the years so did a Peavey Millenium, a Washburn Bantam (that one was pretty good too), a Crafter something or another, a G&L L2500, and maybe something else too. Nothing really stuck. And here comes the Harley Benton. I didn't need a new bass, certainly not a 5-string (by now I had accepted 5 strings are not for me and I no longer wanted to own one)... but these satin black ones looked so good, were so cheap, and the reviews were so positive... that it tempted me. Before I pressed the button, my girlfriend went and ordered one for me, just before they sold out in November. If I had to give it a one word review it would be 'wow'. This is a very decent bass, regardless of price, but when you consider the price... yeah, wow. It has that Stingray vibe and the passive electronics are just fine. Sure, not as versatile as having an onboard preamp, but I actually love passive tone controls, so I'm happy with it as it is. For some reason this bass feels and sounds nicer than any of my previous 5 string basses, and because of that playing it exclusively for the past 2 weeks was not a chore. Yeah, it was frustrating at first, but as I adjust to the different layout it becomes more fun... and I feel like something clicked. I'm enjoying immensely how I can move across strings and reduce the movement up/down the neck that way. I don't use the additional lower notes that much, but I use a lot of the notes I would often play on the E string on the B string now, just moving across with fewer jumps to different hand positions on the neck which also means I look at the neck a lot less. And having the option to play those notes between the low E and A on the E string for more definition or on the B string for additional girth is really useful too. This may be the bass that makes me finally 'get' 5 string basses. How much does it cost? Crazy. I would have paid quite a bit more for a bass that I can enjoy as much as this one. The pickguard will be replaced 'though. Not a fan of tortoiseshell, I think it's screaming for a black one.

Good post. There are enough rules already, I don't need no steekin' new rulez that tell me what guitar I can or cannot have and where to use it, darn it.

I've put a couple of members on my ignore list from time to time, it's a good option when you know someone tends to annoy you and you just want a chilled browse of the forum. I'm not sure you can be blocked from accessing just two subforums but... isn't it easier just to not click on those subforums? 🤔

Yeah, what next? Take up insurance at the restaurant in case they give you food poisoning? THEY should have an insurance, not us.

While the USA SUB is without question the better instrument, the SBMM SUB Ray4 ones are not bad at all. I always value playability first... so I like your approach, plus you get a much nicer bass to look at (sure, looks are secondary but they matter too). Your Ray4 will be a real beast, in the best possible way, you've chosen very good components IMO