Shonks

bought a bass from Phil today...thoroughly nice bloke

i know this is an old topic, and there's been a lot of tech-talk on how to handle attenuating the horn on a bass cab. taking it out...cutting wires..replacing it..blah blah.. So here's a very simple cheap easy fix: Take off the speaker grill and get a bit of foam and stick in front of the tweeter... use the speaker grill to keep it in place ... é voila thight less dense foam will let some highs thru, and the dense stuff pads it off completely. I cut a circle of foam and made a hole in the middle like a squashed corn plaster. Experiment... It works a treat! when you want to sell ..remove the foam...back to square one

i've done a review for this bass under 'Ernie Ball Sterling' earlier on in this forum if you need more info

me: pro session bassist from the 70's through to 2000. semi retired session player now, mainly writing jingles for TV, mostly sports shows worldwide. here's my two pennies worth on the [b]Sterling[/b]: I've owned quite a few basses in my lifetime too. I started with a Fender Jazz way back, spent the 80's using a Wal & an Alembic Series II Omega Through the nineties all sorts but eventually went back to Fenders. In the noughties I experimented with quite a few which included 4 and 5 string Stingrays and although impressed with the Stingray sound, [u]very impressed[/u], I never really got on with the feel of 4 or the five. They felt slightly cumbersome, and the few I've owned had some build issues, like uneven fret work . The 5 string to me was weird too, I found the G string too close the the edge of the neck and had to practice so Iwouldn't slip of the fretboard, I never experienced that with any other bass. I only had the one 5 string Ray so It might have been just that one, but it put me off all the MM 5ers for good. So on to the Sterling I think it's everything the Stingray should be. That's it in a nutshell really. I can understand why the Ray is so popular, it's iconic, it has quedos being Leo's follow up to the JB's and P basses, but the Sterling has 'that' sound, even the variables from the select switch still has 'that' sound, but to me it's an all round better instrument. The neck is slim and fast, the body sleek and lightweight, and of all the other basses Musicman produce, the Bongo or the Sabre for example, the Sterling has the vibe of the Stingray's smarter sibling. It's not as popular as the Stingray, let's face the name 'Sterling, which is the name of Ernie Ball's son, isn't half as cool as Stingray now is it. Ernie ball has also hurt the reputation of the Sterling by naming the new cheaper Asian range of basses 'Sterling By Musicman'. Stupid marketing move if you ask me. So, to reiterate, [size=5]The best Stingray bass you can buy is the Musicman USA Sterling[/size]

I'd just like to give a shout out to[b] Hiscox cases[/b]. A great product that is light and durable and as effective as those heavy old fashioned flight case cases of days past. After a trip from Brazil, my Hiscox case saved a bass from annihilation. I told hiscox about it, and also told them I'd lost the keys and wanted to buy a new set. They sent me a new set the next day free of charge. tip: If you are flying and intend to put you bass in the hold, it's a good idea to slacken everything off; strings, truss rod etc Particularly if you're going to a hot country. The hold in a plane drops way below freezing, then when the bass is removed into a hot climate...well you know how wood behaves..

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1457140694' post='2995826'] I like to think most of the members of BC are a fairly intelligent bunch.[/quote] .....but they're bass players.....

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1457121613' post='2995678'] Folks wishing to sell would be best advised to create the best, most informative and attractive ads possible; it's in their interest. Why don't they, some of 'em..? Dunno; I'd just move on to a more informative ad and not buy. Darwin will sort out the rest, maybe..? [/quote]yep... it is nuts, specially selling an instrument. Personally, I'm not into buying an instrument new or used without trying it first. Even the big reputable brands are inconsistent, that's the nature of the beast. ... even a proximity of the location gives us a clue to whether it's even worth considering.

[quote name='barneyg42' timestamp='1452293141' post='2948719'] Phwoar!!! I get me coat!! [/quote]I'll get my coat too

Look..I'm 62, and I just wanna say....er......oh never mind...I forgot what it was now....

[quote name='operative451' timestamp='1455545652' post='2980032'] Lives on the internet, never more than 3ft away from their smartphone, will only use amps with valves? [/quote]

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1455369471' post='2978490'] [i]Modern = contemporary, not antiquated... up to date.[/i] In my opinion relevance is more important than being [i]modern [/i]as [i]modern [/i]has a close association with that which is currently fashionable. Modern bass player = up to date, contemporary and closely aligned to current trend (even if that is a trend for old technology or ideology) Relevant bass player = meaningful and impactive (often regardless of the norm or current trend) [/quote] ................oooops, nodded off there.......