mcnach

At least it says clearly that the expected delivery would be 7th-10th of January. What really annoys me is when they say it's in stock (somewhere in the planet) and don't indicate delivery dates... so you order, and THEN they tell you "oh, we hope to receive it by next week, you ok with that?". Tell me before I order, then I'll decide. I ordered that Ibanez soft wide strap from Absolute Music and that's what happened. It was finally delivered... while I was away from the country, so I still haven't even seen it. My girlfriend likes it 'though

I'm just not convinced. It's not on the level of a 1961 Fender Jazz or the like. (It is a much nicer bass for a lot less money )

The John East preamps are very easy to install, and it's all reversible very quickly. There was one recently for sale in the forum... It would be easy to have a go and see if it's for you, and not lose any money if it turned out it wasn't for you. But I'll stop, in case I'm accused of being pushy

That's good to know! Do you know what kind of frequency it is set up at or any other details? It can potentially explain why some feel the Stingray lacks a bit of bottom end, if they tried a 3-band and they're used to something a bit... girthier. I have only played 2-band Stingrays, really, and I find it difficult to imagine someone could feel they lack bottom end.

Oh, you did? I went crazy at one point with those preamps, and I had 6-7 Stingray-like basses at one point, all being modified... I can't remember where they all went One thing I discovered is that if the pickup is wired in series rather than the usual parallel, it suits the 2EQ much better, for my liking. It's like the extra low mids punch fill in a little hole left in the preamp or something. I don't know, I like it a lot. My USA MM SUB is wired like that and I never missed the semiparametric mids on that one. So much so that I'm tempted to rewire my Stingray... Maybe one day...

I don't see why edit: unless you're a collector?

You seem confused about shims and what they indicate or not.

It seems a bit... stubborn... to insist there is not an issue when so many people owning Stingrays (specifically 4 string ones) have mentioned they feel that. I don't notice that in either of mine, so I would accept it may be a combination of factors (bass/pickup/preamp/chosen tone/amplifier) that does not affect me, but it clearly affects some people and they don't have that issue with other basses. It gets tiring. Cheers.

My 2002 Stingray was 2-band, and now has a John East 3-band in it (2-band plus mids module). I'd say the 2-band part is very very similar to the original, but a bit sweeter: the treble doesn't get so shrill if you overdo it, and the bottom end feels a bit tighter. But it's not radically different. I love the MMSR preamp. Go for it!

Is that true??? That could explain a lot of those comments. I have never played a 3-band (once, briefly, at a store), my experience somehow has only been with 2-band ones. My Stingray is 3-band only because I put a John East preamp in it, which is a classic 2-band module plus a semiparametric mids module...

only ONE great sound? User error surely (kidding, personal preferences and all that, I respect )

That's for a standard one. The one in the picture seems to be a Classic series one, which goes for a fair bit more.

Nope. I play a Stingray >90% of the time. I find it has as much bottom end as I want and then some. I play ska, reggae, funk, mostly... but also some rock, and with heavy overdrive... all kinds. Never lacking. You can boost the lows on that thing enough to make windows rattle in Australia. I enjoy how they can sound fat, but retain definition. I'm not a fan of whooly bass tones... Then again, I'm quite happy with a Precision too. I can understand how they may not have the tone some people prefer, and that's fine. But lacking bottom end? I really don't get it. I find them very well balanced in that respect, and the preamps are powerful enough to give you all kinds of tones.

The place is open until 5am, people will come back (Bombskare is playing after us, they're the main attraction)... but they might not be back until they're due, is my fear... Like you say, if people break for the fireworks they tend to continue being distracted. In our venue, the bar is physically in the same place (elevated stage placed centrally, dancing space in front, two bars one on each side - and then the top floor), so I hope some will come soonish, since they paid etc. But I would not be surprised if they do not come back until 1am when Bombskare is due. We save the best for the end, maybe we shouldn't this time!

You'd be surprised how many don't feel that way. You just need to give it a try, and you realise that you are not becoming the 'weirdo' you might have thought you'd become for going out and not drinking... and that you're not alone. But you're right...let's not derail too much. I hope you have a great NYE's gig! I hope mine goes well too... we're scheduled to play through the bells, which is ok, we'll insert our little welcome to the new year into our set at the right time... but I fear the place will empty significantly to watch the fireworks outside, 200m down the road... and that many might get distracted and never come back We will see!

There's lots you can do whilst not drinking... or is drinking a goal in itself for most?

So, before you had an idea, but now you have confirmation of why they can't keep a bass player. They sound like a charming precious lot

If I had a 55-02 that I liked, I really would not spend time trying other basses. To me the electrics are 'consumables'... you can change, modify, replace. You can restore to original if you wish too. I used to own a 55-02, and I thought the electrics let it down a little. A little. That thing felt great in my hands, it was beautiful, one of those rare instruments that feel just right. Had I kept it (not really into 5 strings after all) I might have replaced pickups and preamp: for me 1st the bass must feel physically right, then I'll deal with the electrics. That's just me.

But the 55-02 just *feels* fantastic and it's extremely well made. It makes sense to me to apply a simple mod like that to get it just right.

Ooops, there was a chrome leg stand behind the ASAT and I thought it was an extension screwed into where the strap button normally is. Shows how much attention I was paying

You can phone up and book, no problem... but it'll cost you more.

They generally bring in the number of staff needed for the expected audience, and they count on having a certain amount of drinks sales. It's because of that, that if they know your band is going to attract enough people, you often can get a reduced booking rate.

I see you also dislike the neck dive on those basses, eh? I have a similar bodied bass (not an ASAT) and I'm considering doing something similar. How deeply into the body did you drill?

I have to say that him and his girlfriend had a 'vibe' that reminded me of those Forensic Files type of TV shows...

You're right assuming there are decent monitors onstage for bass, which is not always the case for many of the bands we are in here. Having some kind of amplification able to serve as stage monitor is maybe not absolutely necessary, but almost.