Kiwi

late 80's are good years for Stingrays. Nice score matey.

I have and usually regretted it but not always. Its not like its possible to audition gear in gig-like settings anyway.

[quote name='yybass' post='730859' date='Jan 31 2010, 05:50 PM']IMHO Alembic's, Fodera & Ken Smith basses are in a different class to the aforementioned basses.[/quote] I've owned three Ken Smiths. Unlike the Foderas I liked them enough to own them but they've all been sold since. I still own an Alembic but I like the sound of my modified 600 quid '96 Czech made Spector to be honest. It's way better than all three Smiths ever were in every way. The Smiths and Alembics I've played are all idiosyncratic instruments, meaning if I took one to a gig I'd have to set my backline up around compensating for those idiosyncracies. So in my experience the distinction isn't so clear based on brand if it just comes down to sound and playability.

Fodera's prices are influenced mostly by demand, they have a 2-3 year waiting list. Maybe take what you value about Fodera and see if someone else offers the same but more reasonable price? Loads of contenders at least in the US. I can think of a couple of names in the UK too.

Those wear patterns look really odd. The thumb wear pattern on the body is too far above the strings for starters...why? On the back of the neck, there are wear marks right up at the dusty end...why? There's also a gold undercoat under the body finish which appears to be on top of a silver basecoat but there's just a silver basecoat under the headstock. Is this correct for the year? I know Fender buggered about with custom finishes but I'd imagine they'd at least have the same undercoat for CAR if the instrument is chronologically correct. The scratch plate is also remarkably flat. For a bass of that age I'd expect to see some warping. The tuners also look very clean for a bass that has been so well used. I'd expect to see them more pitted considering the condition of the headstock. I'm thinking the bass might have a reliced refin and replacement bits.

I heard of a guy in London who had a GK RB head into a 4x10+horn for the clarity and a Mesa Boogie 400+ into a 2x15" for the low end and warmth. Apparently sounded monstrous. I've had a much more satisfying sound from two 2x12 cabs rather than one. Just feels like the whole rig isn't trying as hard and the sound is fuller and cleaner. I try and keep the number of total drivers I'm listening to, at a minimum though because I've found it muddies the attack.

I've used it on loads of stuff. Works great when you give it a decent dose of UV. +1 on getting it smooth though, you'd need to layer it with loads of clear coats and sand back or just accept it as it is. One idea I've been toying around with is finishing a bass in dayglo flourescent colours, for UV stage lighting.

[url="http://music.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=151843728"]http://music.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx...entid=151843728[/url] The story has now made the front page of MSN Today for those who have MSN Messenger installed.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='721982' date='Jan 23 2010, 10:18 AM']And if it sounds like an Alembic and not a jazz bass, quids in![/quote] Yeah, its not really a super jazz, it sounded more like a Persuader to me.

Yes his user name is Kingbassist. Nice chap. Uses this place to offload bits of kit.

I've tried one, it doesn't sound like a jazz bass.

Dreadful news, thanks for telling us Jack. My thoughts are with you and your daughter. Mention of it on the BBC news website here: [url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8473958.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8473958.stm[/url]

He's been an influence on me for as long as I've played bass. Love his playing to bits, a seriously under rated disco bassist who deserves to be up there with Bernard Edwards. Thats not his actual myspace page though, its a tribute.

As the owner of a V8, I voted Mesa. Much more sophisticated eq and sounds every bit as good. I loved mine even if it killed me to lift it. The eq on the Trace V8 lets it down a little if you team it up with a harsh sounding bass. Never liked Ampeg SVT's just couldn't get a clean and honest sound out of them. Never played an Orange so can't comment on those. Tip on buying used Mesa 400+, as well as checking when the valves were last replaced, also check the condition of the transformers. If they show signs of significant rust then walk away. Mesa didn't coat their transformers and any corrosion weakens them by bridging the gaps between plates.

I think the seed of a resolution has been sown. Lets wrap this one up and put it to bed one way or another.

I'd suggest people have the right to buy in good faith....anywhere, not just on basschat. Hope you manage to sort it out Eezer, not a very pleasant first experience for you.

Dunno if its his playing or the bass but the sensitivity and tracking is less than impressive. Have you managed to get better results Squire?

Tal W was in the studio with Vinnie C yesterday and Steve Lukather recording an album apparently. She's not going to need to hunt for work but I don't see whats to get excited about. Rhonda Smith is pretty good though, some of her lines with Prince were amazing funky and she never gets carried away when its her turn for a solo.

I've got a whole load of Prince recordings on in the car. Really interesting to hear his approach as MD.

Wizard GEM 'kiwi specials' with coil splits and Noll 3 band parametric eq. Crispy, warm and toit loike a toiger...LOADS of usable sounds all very fat and funky and a near infinite amount of tonal control. If I have two inside coils on for a stingray-type sound, I can tweak the parametric eq to make that a tad more convincing. The pickups do need to be carefully matched to the character of the bass though. A crap sound doesn't necessarily mean crap pickups but more a bad choice of pickups.

a few more as promised... ...this group shot is the only one I have of both Modulii when I owned them: [attachment=40459:DSCF0144.JPG] The Cutlery (although not strictly identical twins, its as close as I could get when I owned them): [attachment=40461:DSCF1233.JPG] The two Spector NS5CRFMs: [attachment=40460:DSC03147.JPG] If I'd had the presence of mind, I could have taken a couple of the Celinder Update J's while I had the black one but the headstocks were slightly different anyway.

If you change the name of the folder in the links then people can't cheat.