Linus27

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1388355607' post='2321230'] Wow! I played this very bass at Guitar Village on my recent Mustang-shopping trip, and I can confirm it is a corker. If any bass was going to turn me back on to Jazzes, it would be this one. Congrats Linus! [/quote] Thank you. I have spent some more time playing the bass tonight and it feels like a bass I have owned and played for years. It is amazing

Thanks everyone and yes Guitar Village. They have some amazing basses in stock at the moment. Many thanks for the gardening tips. I have passed all the info on to my wife who is currently bringing half the garden into the kitchen now

Well, I had no intention to buy any new bass. However, after xilddx posted a picture a few years back of the Fender Japan 66 re-issue jazz in white with block, binding and matching headstock, I immediately fell in love. Sadly, they were only available in Japan, near on impossible to get and so I gave up the idea. So to my surprise, I find Fender had released a very limited amount out of Japan for 2013. No idea how many have been released into the UK but the States got 136. I then notice last night that one of my local guitar shops had one in stock. So today I popped down, had a look, had a play, and that was enough. Half an hour later and I was £1000 poorer but it is so worth it. The quality is amazing, the tone is incredible and the feel is stunning. Not only does it look like a vintage bass, Fender have actually made it feel like one so top marks for that. The neck just feels wonderful and very retro. Even the lacquer feels vintage It does not feel like a modern Jazz in anyway which to me is great as it would ruin the whole point of this bass. The tone is very very tight and focused and sounds quite burpy. Its also very balanced with an even tone. I love it Anyway, I am so over the moon with this bass, it will be my main bass from now on along with my Stingray with fretless Status neck once I get that made. [URL=http://s85.photobucket.com/user/Linus27uk/media/SDC10136_zpsdda2ec39.jpg.html][IMG]http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k46/Linus27uk/SDC10136_zpsdda2ec39.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I have mixed views on both basses and found it really depends on the style of music you play and how you play. My dream bass was always a Stingray. I was fortunate enough to get a 3EQ model with a record deal advance some 16 years ago and it was beautiful. However, I could never ever get it to sound any good. It was thin, twangy and had no bottom end or drive. I ended up touring and recording with a 77 Fender Precision which was amazing. I eventually sold the Stingray as I never even bothered to take it on tour as a back up as it sounded so weak. For the last 13 years I have been playing a Fender Precision, either the 77 or a 2010 model. Both ace and both your typical Precision tone. Move on to around 3 years ago and I wanted to get my dream bass back as the Stingray dream was not over. This time I got a 2EQ model and it could not be any more different than my 3EQ I previously owned. It sounds and plays amazing. Huge bottom end but with the ability to dial in many different tones from a full out driving Precision to a nasal sounding Jazz bass. It is simply amazing and I no longer own a Precision If I am honest, if I was going to do driving guitar based music that will fill the bottom end then I would more than likely choose a Precision although I would give the Stingray a jolly good go. I do feel the Precision would fill the bottom end better though as the tone is more balanced across the spectrum where as the Stingray has more expression and articulation in its tone due to the pronounced mids and pickup placement. However, if I was playing something that has move movement and is less driving then I would choose the Stingray as I would want my bass notes to be heard rather than adding drive and filling the bottom end.

After 25 years of playing, I still get self-conscious a little when the red light goes on. Not un-common though so don't worry about it too much, just one of those things Getting up in front of 20,000 to play live on the other hand has never been an issue. I guess when recording, the spot light is on you more.

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1384285863' post='2274905'] John, Sid, Steve and... Michael. [/quote] HAHAHA all these years and that's never been said. Its bloody obvious now. Nice one

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1384277621' post='2274766'] were you in the Sex Pistols then? [/quote] Huh?? (This is where I admit to knowing nothing about the Sex Pistols)

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1384128812' post='2273162'] The moral for me is that bands as democracy have the potential to lose drive and fizzle out like a cheap firework. None of the really good bands I've been in have been democratic. I think a band like RUSH is very rare. I have a firm belief that one needs a good bandleader, someone with talent and creativity, vision and drive, quality control and discipline, with a tangible level of confidence in the songs and the band's performance. These IME will usually be high calibre singer-songwriters. Unless you have all those qualities yourself and start your own band, I would try to get in an established band who sound like they know where they're going. Talk to them first and get a feel for them. There are never any guarantees with a band though. Hope you get there man. Good luck. And it will be mostly luck you need [/quote] This is a very good point and something I have been very aware of in the past. All the bands I have been in have always played originals. Covers just never interested me. I was fortunate enough to set a band up with some mates, who were all very hard working, dedicated which in turned paid off as we got signed and had a chunk of success. However, each band member had strengths and weaknesses. The singer/lead guitarist and I were the song writers. I would arrange and structure the song etc but would never interfere with the vocals, melody or lead guitar parts. The drummer and rhythm guitarist were happy to be led musically to the point of being guided or even told what to play. However, they did a hell of a lot of work behind the scenes like booking gigs, talking to promoter's, mailshots, photo-shoots, promotion and eventually dealing with the record company. This just made life so much easier as we could all trust and rely on each others judgements and we never got into arguments or bicker. Song writing was always a pleasure as Steve and I had the freedom musically. John and Sid likewise had the freedom to lead the band behind the scenes and it just so worked. We all knew our places and roles in the band and stuck to them.

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1384032992' post='2272210'] Can we just lose the 'this is the first time I've ever heard them' and how it's 'dull and boring' stuff please! This video is hardly blummin' representative of their body of work!! P [/quote] Why should we do that, that wouldn't be a true opinion. It is the first time I've heard NIN so I am basing my opinion on this song which was dull and boring. The first song I heard from Pearl Jam (Jeremy) was bloody amazing and they are one of my favourite bands but a lot of the later stuff is dull and boring. I'm not going to change my opinion just to suit someone else.

[quote name='witterth' timestamp='1383956563' post='2271400'] what was awful? I love Pino's playing he cant do wrong for me and I loved that stuff [/quote] Yeah Pino is one of my favourite bassists but the song was so dull and had no melody, energy or direction. It just seemed a mess to me.

I've not heard any NIN before but that was simply awful. Obviously not my cup of tea

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1383921027' post='2270845'] Without wishing to change your mind on opting for a wooden neck , my two pence worth would be that , yes, a graphite neck sounds different, not least of all because of the hard and extremely reflective graphite fingerboard, but whereas that can sound slightly harsh and hypercritical in terms of technique when you are playing on your own , that perceived harshness all but dissappears when you are playing in a band context , and instead translates into some welcome extra cut in the mix. Fretless basses sound much more muted than fretted ones where a big part of the tone comes from a steel string being in contact with a steel fret. Once you remove the steel fret the tone and envelope of the same note is very, very different . The extended upper frequencies that a graphite neck can provide can to some extent be seen as a positive substitute for the change of tone made by removing the frets. It's a similar trade-off on fretless basses that have an epoxy coating on the fingerboard. You lose some woody warmth , but gain a lot of sustain , clarity and top end . It also has to be said ,that woody warmth can very easily become an over-softness on a fretless bass , hence why so many fretless players boost their midrange frequencies to make themselves more clearly heard . As with fretted basses , I would recommend players who buy a graphite necked bass embrace the tone for what it is rather than try and compare it to a bass with a conventional wooden neck . Graphite is a terriffic sound in its' own right , and a great option if you want your bass to be clearly audible . [/quote] Thank you, that has put a nice spin on it. Considering I have a Warwick Streamer Jazzman Fretless and an ESP Jazz fretless, maybe a graphite would be a nice addition as well as an alterative. By the way, I would had replied quicker but I could not stop stairing at your avatar

Thank you everyone for the replies. I think, the fact I don't want to lose that woody earthy fretless tone, I will skip getting a fretless graphite neck for my Stingray. Cheers for everyones input.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Sadly, I am no wiser as there seems a mix between sounding different and not sounding any different I do have a tendancy to create a fair bit of fret noise when playing but this is only on a fretted bass so I might be ok

[quote name='pierreganseman' timestamp='1383902027' post='2270486'] Well, they are not the same beast. No doubt every thing produced by status is amazingly made etc I am gonna guess you could probably have a 'ray neck by musicman for a bit cheaper.. the main thing , they will not sound even close, sound of graphite vs sound of wood..... just my 2cent [/quote] Thanks for the reply. The problem is, finding a genuine fretless Stingray neck is near on impossible. The two options are to get Shuker to make one or get a Status one. That's surprising that you say there is such a big difference in tone between a graphite neck and a wooden neck. I wouldn't had thought it would be that big with the feel and perhaps the sustain being the biggest difference. Cheers.

Just wondering if anyone has an experience or owns one of the Status grapite fretless necks for a Stingray. I did a search and found no threads discussing them to my surprise. I am considering getting one for my current Stingray and would be interested to hear anyones thoughts and experience. Would holding out for a proper fretless Stingray be a better option or are the Status graphite necks even better than a wooden fretless neck?

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1378029238' post='2194769'] Wow, thanks Linus - hope you don't mind me passing that comment on to Rob! [/quote] No problem at all, he's a very talented guy and deserves the praise and respect.

I'm sorry but that that is simply amazing. Probably the best piece of music and playing I have heard this year. Top stuff.

I would sooner listen to this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGdiE-Ssfx4

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1377855827' post='2192726'] With all that fiddlin' around at the dusty end of the neck and multi stringed instruments why didn't they just play guitars? Sorry, but I'm a believer in that bass is a tuneful rhythm instrument.................. .................................but I have got a rug like wot they've got so maybe I should shut up. [/quote] This is my thinking also. They are playing bass like its a guitar so why not just play a guitar, its going to sound 10 x better. Sounded bloody awful to me.

[quote name='shizznit' timestamp='1370222348' post='2097818'] I don't own a Stingray at the moment, but I do use the MM pickup on my Lakland 55-02 most of the time and get pretty close to a Stingray tone. I tend to use the following amp settings to get that high mid burpy MM tone. [attachment=136166:IMG_0094.JPG] Adjust the bass, treble and bright to taste depending on conditions, but I always make sure the high mid frequency is up there. Everything else will work around that and always sounds right for a MM tone somehow. But, as always, this type of thing is subjective. Give these settings a try and let me know how you get on . [/quote] Just to say these settings worked great for my Stingray so many thanks. I now use these settings all the time.

Does anyone have some settings they run with a Stingray. Would be interesting to try some other players amp settings out to compare.

Hiya, I've just found out that the band have now found someone who can do the gig. Many thanks Roger.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1366462723' post='2052891'] That EQ setting is just what is needed. You've notched out some problem frequencies and bumped up a couple that were a bit weak. When I see massive EQ cuts ands boosts, it suggests that there's a problem in the signal chain... [/quote] Excellent, then at least my ears were telling me the right thing to do even if I didn't actually know what I was doing