Mudpup

[quote name='Carl W - Guitar Sound' timestamp='1455055751' post='2975586'] Hi Phil, A friend just sent me this discussion link and as the owner of Guitar Sound I wanted a chance to reply. Firstly I'm sorry we got it wrong on this occasion, you're absolutely right we want to give every customer who walks in justification as to why they've shopped locally and clearly that didn't happen. We do stock a range of Whirlwind cables, I can see the 18ft braided black/silver cable you mentioned on the wall at the moment so it's a shame the staff didn't point it out to you. I have to say though we do usually get it right and the shop has been such a success I'm about to open another. Online selling is fantastically convenient and we all take advantage of it but bricks and mortar retail still comes in to its own for a more tactile sale like a guitar. The success of the shop shows how many customers have chosen the shop as a preferred means of purchasing a guitar so I think there's a future for guitar shops yet. Clearly we got it wrong with you for the minute or so we saw you on that particular day, and that can happen, but I do promise we also get it right most of the time and we'd always love another chance to prove it. Carl [/quote] Well said......

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1454852019' post='2973509'] Slightly over budget but well worth the extra tenner [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoom-B1on-Bass-Effects-Pedal/dp/B00JLEHMG6/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1454851984&sr=1-1&keywords=zoom+b1on"]http://www.amazon.co...words=zoom+b1on[/url] [/quote] Absolutely this........essential bargain

I think the best way to dip a toe in the water is pick up a second hand one from this site, theres usually a few kicking about. Between 650 and 800 quid seems to be the going rate for a non mint one - you can always flip it for about the same after running it for a few months if you dont get on with it or if you fall in love and go on to choose the perfect colour and spec new. I have had 4 versions so far and love them all in their own way - Started with a USA Sub which kicked off the obsession. Its a great cheap way to get pretty much a full fat Classic for 400/500 quid. Upside is awesome gritty proper 2 band eq Ray sound and build quality. Downside is some dont get on with the slab body or painted neck. Then tried a USA Sterling, lovely bass but found the neck a bit too skinny for my taste - swapped it for a 2 band proper Stingray. Still have it and love it. At the same time, fell over a mad coloured 3 band eq Stingray. Had to have it. Its the easiest to play out of all of them, the neck is a touch skinnier and its a bit lighter than the 2 band. The sound was a bit thinner, slightly less fat bass and a glassier treble than the 2 eq. Still great though and you dont notice it so much when recording, it just didnt quite have the trouser shake that the 2 band has. So i popped a John East 3 band preamp in it and now its much more to my taste. Rounder fatter bass (althought still not quite the same as the 2 band) and a nicer smoother top end. It works better in boomy rooms. I reckon the USA Sub is the way to go for a taster....... I'm In Essex/Herts and youre welcome to pop round for a go on any if you like.

I always thought slimmer necks would be easier/faster to play. Wrong...... Bought a USA Musicman Sub, loved it so much i picked up a USA Sterling assuming the skinnier neck would be an even better option. I found i kept tripping over my fingers and cramping up on the smaller neck - the standard Musicman neck just feels better to me.....

What bass?

You're going to be paying top money if its a custom order - guessing around £1600/1700. I believe the 2 band and SLO neck is a no cost option - in the USA its actually $50 less. Are you sure you want a SLO neck? If you don't then you can pick up a new 2 band from various places in the UK for about £1000 - theres a nice black one at Bass Direct now for under a grand. I thought i would like a SLO neck, bought a USA Sterling which has the same neck and found i actually preferred the standard neck after all. The standard necks do vary a touch - my 2002 Ray is a fair bit slimmer than my 1997 one.

[quote name='Greg.Bassman' timestamp='1453668276' post='2961634'] Hi all. Great feedback, cheers! As far as 2-band's go, I've only tried one of the limited editions (no hardcase/limited colours) that they released some time back; and I can confirm that there was no detents on that one- so naturally I've assumed that all 2-band'ers are like that. The quote that I have sent off for was to Musicman themselves; 100% uncompromised Ernie Ball. Do you think [i]that bass[/i] would be the same, or feature detents? [/quote] Those cheaper ltd edition 133 series Rays are proper full fat 2 band Stingrays in just a couple of colours with a gigbag instead of hard case to keep the cost down. I heard they may have poplar bodies too - not such a nice grain so used on solid colours. They have the same preamp as a £1500+ Stingray ordered from the UK distributor/Ernie Ball. If you like black, pearl blue or candy red you may as well go for one and save a few quid. There are still a few around in the shops if you have a hunt.

Its very much a case of "use your ears" with that eq.......... And i dont think many eq systems are actually flat at centre anyway, theyre all voiced differently - the 3 band MM preamp has a high pass filter which thins out the bass a little too. Its very noticeable when you play it next to a 2 band. If youre local, youre welcome to pop round and have a blast on mine. I just took out a 3 band eq and replaced it with a John East to get it more like the 2 band and also have a standard 2 band Ray as well

Name and shame please I bet a load of us are buying them.........

Wonder how much they are?? They look like Sandberg Electras to me

This looks fun...... [url="http://www.talkbass.com/attachments/screenshot_2016-01-20-08-06-00-1-png.777558/"]screenshot_2016-01-20-08-06-00-1-png.777558[/url] Just announced at NAMM Oops just spotted other thread sorry

We rotate Learning to Fly, Times like These and The Pretender - love playing them all. Just really good songs i think - some plain and simple and some with crafty subtle bits. Rope is fun too........

i would love to test a set of 4 string 45-100's please! I absolutely kill strings and have tried pretty much everything available in the never ending quest - currently settled on Dunlop Super brights but love EB Cobalts too..... gigging every week and get about 4 gigs to each set before i change them.

Probably the best Musicman Stingray bass comparison on the net - well done. Played thru decent headphones you can really hear the subtle differences. Really good playing too - not just another hero slapping da bass. Dont suppose you could find an early USA Sub to compare against the Classic to lay one of my personal demons to rest?

Jose is the John Lewis of basschatters! Thoroughly recommended.........

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' timestamp='1452628910' post='2951880'] I use Mono Betty straps and Schaller straplocks on my Ray (well, all my basses) [/quote] Me too........ But i was thinking of trying out some of those Loxx straplocks - they look like a good idea.

Heres a link to a page with better pics of your sparkly colour......... [url="http://www.talkbass.com/threads/ft-original-musicman-blue-dawn-sterling.336013/"]http://www.talkbass....terling.336013/[/url]

Shift it.......

Weekend warrior rock covers band bassist here - I usually do around 45 x 3 hour gigs per year and play at home every few nights learning new stuff. I only actually need 2 basses - I always take a spare to each gig although i've only ever needed to do an emergency switch once in 5 years when i broke an A string 30 seconds into an opening number. I usually switch basses on the second set just to rotate them a bit. Trouble is, i am up to 4 basses now! I had the luxury of a 3rd one and accumulated a 4th recently in a trade with the intention of moving one on but am struggling to give one up. I have 3 Stingrays and each sounds a little different and plays slightly different so i'm happy picking any of those up. The 1997 2 band eq has the most sublime almost twenty years worn in neck and bowel shaking organic lows. The 2002 3 band eq is really light and has a slimmer neck and is about to develop a John East preamp to give it a bit more booty - feels a bit more delicate than the 2 band. The other is a USA Sub which is an absolute monster - much less refined than the others and with the most amazing in your face gritty/slammy piano tone you could wish for even though its the cheapest of the bunch. This should be the one to lose as there are a few compromises like a painted neck and slab body which make it a bit less comfy to play than the others but i can't bear to give it up! Apparently its wired in series which is what gives it the magic. The 4th bass is an old Sandberg VM4 - lovely slim neck, great precision tone if i need something different and a lovely rock bass - hasn't had a look in since i discovered Stingrays as its a bit subtle compared with the others but i know i would regret it if i sold it.......

YES