Cairobill

I play a 78 4001 and a 75 RI jazz. Both are stunning and yes, it took me many, many basses to find these good ones. Interestingly though, the jazz proved harder to find.

One thing I really love about the Ray is the way they feel extremely robust and ergonomic at the same time. They balance very well with no sign of nose dive, at least not in my experience. They are such a comfortable bass. Tonally, I'm getting a big thumping sound in the studio from the two band. Really heavy tone. They do sound like a more aggressive P. I've chosen not to have full on zing and the bass is doing the business. GREAT bass....

Thats interesting. I found the 1994 neck to be simliar to the present day ones. I guess its a case of try before you buy?

I recently went back to a Ray as my main stage bass after using a 94 for a couple of years in the nineties. I chose the classic as the two band eq is killer, it was very light (make sure you get a light one as it is possible to find them out there) and it looks great. Another big factor in favour of the classic was the neck profile. The 1994 i had (which had a three band, VERY clangy) had a flat radius board and a chunky neck. Not comfortable for my hand. The classic neck profile (7.25 radius, less girth) is honestly one of the great necks around at the moment. If you can't get a classic, get an 80s Ray with the slimmer profile unless you want to go the whole hog and get a pre EB, but then you could run into cost/construction/weight issues. I've seen 88/89 Rays go for 8-900 in the gallery so they are a genuine alternative to a new standard Ray and IMHO are better than the new rays. I tried a number of new standard Rays and honestly think they are not in the same league, quality wise, as the mid nineties bass I had, which is a shame.

I have a cab in need of some woodwork on the enclosure. Anyone know a backline tech who can do this sort of thing? The gear is based in Deptford/ New Cross SE1 area Cheers! Nick

4001 with TI flats and shitloads of compression

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1371167998' post='2110901'] the latter lacking only the assertion 'plays superb like butter'. [/quote] Or the more irritating version from across the pond "plays like BUTTAH"... At close to 13 pounds, that p is not a bass, it's a punishment...

my advice is to check out the link below. Scott Devine's free online lessons are a treasure trove and will blast a dose of salts through your playing. They're great... http://scottsbasslessons.com/online-video-bass-lessons

The Classics have a rounder (smaller) radius on the fretboard in a vintage style (7.5 radius?). Not sure if they're thinner across or front to back but the neck definitely feels smaller in the hand and very playable indeed. I had a 94 'Ray which felt too chunky and flat in the board. The eighties Ray's have thinner necks with smaller radius boards and feel great too. Don't know why they insist on making the modern stingrays chunky in the neck...

My main bass at the moment is a Classic Ray, for live and studio. It sounds immense. The neck profile is perfect. Why they insist on having a different profile on the standard Ray is beyond me....

It's interesting.How do they compare against American Vintage J's and P's? They go for around 800 quid second hand?

Laurence is brilliant!

Are they heavier than a standard Ray maple neck with a metal trussrod? That's a bit bonkers given how light graphite is. The best thing about the Ray design is the balance. I have a light one and even that has no headstock dive at all, which is a pet hate of mine...