Duarte

We have been busy in the studio recording our first album (having formed last summer) I posted this in the off topic section but it seems that nobody is really interested in other peoples recordings, so I'll put it here too! These are very rough at the moment, and hardly any EQ or mixing has actually taken place, but I wanted to show you guys what was going on. Feedback would be greatly appreciated (bearing in mind that there are some obvious issues that need addressing...) be it kind words or crushing criticism. Here is one track called 'Food Song' [url="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5087999/Give%20Peas%20A%20Chance%20-%20Food%20Song%20-%20rough%20mix.mp3"]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5087999/Give%20Pea...rough%20mix.mp3[/url] The other 4 we are working on will crop up sooner or later, one of which is loaded with crazy breakbeats for some reason... Anyway, enjoy. Thanks, Zak

[quote name='funkgod' post='758098' date='Feb 26 2010, 12:22 PM']the neck now is made from cheep "NEW" wood and is very wide open grain ( not old tight grain) the so called now smooth back of the neck is just sh*t, and soon wares off leaving dark patches, they should of left it varnished, the body is now very open grained, the selection process i think goes like this, if it looks ok spray it naturel, if it looks not bad with some figuring spray it translucent if it looks pants with different coloured woods or miss matched grain ..paint it solid. now there is nothing wrong with this process as everyone does it but you dont know whats under the paint, as the natural ones are now open grained enough.[/quote] Do consider the availability of attractive wood. MM stopped using birdseye necks on standard models because it is too rare and expensive to source, and would raise the price of what is already considered by many as overpriced. However, you can specify attractive woods if you want by choosing a model which they are offered on. Just do that.

[quote name='artisan' post='759667' date='Feb 28 2010, 11:43 AM']EBMM pickup anybody ?[/quote] If you actually do want rid of it, I'll have it good sir! Just a tip for people who raise their pickups a lot, be careful (especially on stingrays where the pole pieces are MASSIVE) that the magnetic pull doesn't affect the string's vibrations. Having a string too close on these pickups will make it vibrate a lot less, and make it sound like it has no sustain and in effect, much weaker...

If there is fret buzz and a 'noisy string tree' you clearly just need it set up properly. I personally wouldn't dream of selling a Ray HH for a Fender Deluxe. The pre-amps in those things are not good at all.

I love the look of the Delano pickups, how exactly do they sound? If you are able to describe accurately in words...

The Pink Panther theme tune.

Go for the G&L if you don't mind sounding like that. That's right, I went there!

You would have a P bass with another pickup essentially...

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='749368' date='Feb 18 2010, 10:23 AM']The bridge on musicman basses has changed quite a bit since the 70's and is now less substantial than its ever been, particularly on EB designed models. Not sure what Sterling Ball is getting at but the bridge is also another part that EB don't sell separately.[/quote] The bridge has changed, but not that significantly really - as you can see from these pictures of my old Rays, one is an older and one is more modern. The bridge on the more modern one is shorter in length, because the mutes have been removed. The structure of it is otherwise exactly the same, it just has the top bit cut off. The mutes are cool, but apparently they took them off because they can be sharp and quite dangerous on your fingers... Both have the same base plate (although one is half the size), the same saddles, the same massive bolts on the sides - maybe it does help in making THAT tone.

Best tone I've ever heard.

[quote name='bass5' post='751165' date='Feb 19 2010, 05:40 PM'][b]MusicMan Bongo 5HH does everything, swiss army knife type of bass.[/b][/quote] + A TRILLION

[url="http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/42121-brace-your-selves-classic-sting-ray-5-pics-surpirse.html"]http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-...s-surpirse.html[/url]

At least it's an improvement on the toilet seat jokes...heheh.

It's sorted but not back from the shop yet, I'm so relieved - and it's not expensive they say, but I need to go in and they will tell me about it. Can't wait to get it back.

Another on the way...

Sterling ball is convinced that the bridge as a huge impact on the tone. It is quite a meaty bridge...

Also, bear in mind that as the Ray is wired in parallel, there may be volume differences between each pickup setting (the Sterling is consistent as it is wired in series). I have an HS Bongo, and the single is GREAT. I solo it all the time - EBMM have done it very well.

Yeah, you can order them now because of the classics. get one!

I played a 'Cat' bass a while ago and loved it, it had the classic P/J configuration and it sounded like...well a P/J bass. I like the looks and it played awesomely. The OLP is a piece of sh*te, it looks like a StingRay - but the sound or playability is nothing like. The woods and electronics are completely different for a start - just becasue it has a humbucker in 'that bit' doesn't mean it sounds like a Ray.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='743490' date='Feb 12 2010, 08:45 PM']Does the single coil at bridge sound better with a H or HS?![/quote] It sounds the same. They all sound good. Here is a link to an incredible Sterling 5HS review - with audio samples and all. Scroll down the page a bit. [url="http://www.bassemporium.com/newsletters/0908newsletter.html"]http://www.bassemporium.com/newsletters/0908newsletter.html[/url] and here is an HH to compare it to... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwJz_KRlW8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwJz_KRlW8[/url]

I'm just sayin'.

Or an HS Ray. using the 5 way switch you can get - Classic StingRay tone, Single bridge coil, all 3 coils, 2 singles (neck and bridge), neck single. That covers Ray, J and P basses. Easy.

The newer Ray 5's have alnico magnets - same electronics as the Stingray. The Old SR5's had Sterling electronics...maybe check out the new Sterling 5.