drTStingray

My basses have a range of weights and frankly, if this was 1980 I would have absolutely no interest in how much a bass weighed!!! The sound and look was what I was after so for example:- 1) pastel shade guitars and basses were totally unhip (and had been since the Shadows were passé in the mid 60s - in fact they’d become almost a variety act but were just having a resurgence (with Alan Jones playing an active bass). 2) Fender basses were totally passé - you needed to be able to slap (would probably fail auditions if you couldn’t), and get a fat sound like a keyboard (bassists, guitarists and drummers were losing jobs to keyboard players and machines!!) - they were ok for punk and ska 3) the weight of a bass had no bearing as far as I remember!!! These days, most of my basses are 9-10 lbs but I have a Stingray 5 which is a bit heavier - more recently, new basses I’ve bought have been 8 lbs of a bit over. To be honest, weight of basses still only really affects my thinking if I have a long gig to do. There are other considerations - will it be a very dark stage? If so definitely not fretless and possibly maple board will be easier to see. For v long gigs I would either take more than one bass or a very light one - however I don’t udder from a bad back so can’t comment on that - but with a decent padded strap and a well balanced bass, a heavier bass won’t make a big difference to me - I’d probably pick a lighter bass if I’m doing a long gig - probably my age makes me think like that!! 😬

Thanks - I’m spending another afternoon playing it!! 😁👍

I was pleasantly surprised how good the passive electronics sound - I think I’ve said elsewhere, I really like the series pick up setting with the tone set around the centre of its travel. Just a really nice bass all round, and (the version I have) mixes the classic Stingray natural body/large bridge with black hardware and the Stingray Special neck and neck/body joint.

Yeah I’m watching it - it’s very good - I never realised that they recruited Willie Weeks when Tyrone Porter left the band, towards its initial end. Nice film of him playing an LPB Precision 🙂

Monday will be here soon enough!! I’m sure you’ll love the bass when it arrives 👍😊 - as you may know, those of us buying new, limited or unusual Musicman models have been used to waiting 6 months plus to take delivery (certainly was with my 5HH Special!!) so just over a week is unheard of unless buying from dealer stock!!

I bought it within a day of announcement!! But this variant sold out quickly!!

I can only think that those retailers have bought on line and are selling them from their shop (which would explain the BD price). Re the short scale basses, the Tim Commerford video (on the EBMM site and You Tube) gives an explanation of his like for these (along with the mute pads for use with drive, and the ramp). It’s all good, but I really wanted a natural with black hardware - the fact it has all these other variations is great!!

Absolutely no problem - in fact I had notifications re shipping and then it was going to be delayed till Monday, but it still turned up yesterday!! When you order they give you a warning it may take up to four months but they charge you including the shipping and tax but guarantee the price. I guess it depends how much you want the type of instrument on offer. On this occasion I guess I got one of the already made batch of instruments!!

Thanks - these TC signature basses are on line exclusive from the EBMM shop (The Vault), which can be bought internationally 😀 https://www.music-man.com

Cheers guys. It certainly meets expectations!

My TC Signature StingRay arrived this afternoon. I must say I’m really very pleased with it. It has passive electronics (series; parallel; single coil pick up settings. Boost on the volume control (or cut if you use it that way round), and passive tone control. It weighs around 8 lbs, has a nicely figured two piece swamp ash body, roasted maple neck with a very dark ebony board. All the hardware is black, including the hardened steel strings through bridge with mute system. The sound through my Mark Bass LM3 and 2 x 10 Traveller is great - I think I prefer the series with the tone control around centre. It has a perfect Musicman sound, looks, feels and plays excellently - the neck is, as always with roasted maple and the Musicman oil and wax finish, incredibly slick!! Some photos……

I switched mine and really didn’t like it (on an iPhone 12). This is, in my view, akin to typing a Word document with a black background and white font. I actually found it quite a strain on the eyes, so would prefer to keep the existing theme (and have reverted to it).

I think you’re correct on that - just by way of an update I received from UPS global, my bass is now due to be delivered Monday morning (rather than Friday)!! Really looking forward to receiving this and having watched the Vulfpeck MSG performance I’m feeling very inclined to look at compressors again (so good is the sound Joe Dart gets - although part of that is his brilliance, of course 😏😬). I used to use an Aphex Punch Factory (when I used my Ashdown ABM) - I’ve never used one since using Mark Bass. I also keep looking at that Bongo Crescendo - looks fabulous hmmm 🤔

I’ve just had notification from UPS that mine has shipped!! 😊👍

It seems @Eldon Tyrell we have both chosen the most popular of the TC basses (natural; black hardware; passive; long scale). Last time I looked there were 9 left. However there were plenty of short scales (around 30 of each) - the active short scale is unique to these artist basses. Have you heard anything re delivery yet? I haven’t.

I passed the ‘proficiency’ level last week as well - this is the previous proficiency badge I attained….. Have you taken a look at the amount of power/rating you need to achieve the next level - it’s about double what you have already!!! There are additional ‘badges’ awarded it seems. I quite like mine, even if the forum level of ‘proficient’ is a bit naff!!

I ordered the passive long scale for several reasons, one being I really wanted a natural Ray with black hardware - but the other thing is the sound from 5:30 in the video in the OP - passive tones with mutes engaged - sounds fabulous!!

I have ordered a long scale passive one as well (it’s natural ash/black hardware/ebony board). I was going to order a white Bongo and then saw these!! No shipping date for mine yet.

I’ve heard the GR Yaris is highly regarded 😁 …….ok, I’ll leave instantly (I’d get my coat if it wasn’t so damned humid) 😂👍

An early one then - I love these old SR5s but this one looks great - I did exactly the same with mine (replacing the scratch plate with a white Pearl one).

Lack of space to accommodate them focusses the mind but I agree with the sentiment 👍

Has there been a change to the size of photo which can be uploaded to the site? Seems to be limited to 1 mb or lower, which rules out most up to date phone photos unless significantly compressed?

The entire group was sessions players (Les playing on work by Chris Spedding for instance). According to wiki, Spedding used his usual white Gibson Flying V when playing (or miming in the case of TOTP) as part of the Wombles - maybe Les Hurdle had moved on to a Rickenbacker bass for this. Having been asked to write the initial song (which was very successful) and waived his fee, Batt had negotiated an arrangement whereby he could write more songs and he and the band make money from this - resulting in a stream of hits over several years. According to wiki, on one TOTP the band Steeleye Span donned the outfits as the proper band wasn’t available. So folks, this is what the average session musician and writer/producer (or famous folk rock group) might get up to (making money playing music as part of a sort of park keeper/rubbish collector furry creature franchise). Well I suppose Ringo narrated Thomas the Tank Engine, but somehow the roles played by the likes of Carol Kaye, Herbie Flowers (what a great, creative player he is) etc etc always seem more glamorous - I guess they’ve all had to play questionable music, but wonder if any of them performed in quite such silly outfits as this!!! Now badges - I believe I’m now on level 10 of 14 but only about 800 to go till my next level is achieved 😀 I’m expecting the odds are the site will be updated again and the ‘badges’ dropped before I reach the next level….. even if it’s not done for several years….

Very tempted by this one - though of course I don’t ‘need’ another bass!! 😬

What year is that bass @Stingray5? The necks on Musicman basses do darken quite nicely with age and use - but the combination with the white body looks great. Many years ago I saw a Stax musical and the bass player used an SR5 (white/maple) and the board looked like rosewood in some lights, it was that dark.