budget bassist

at the risk of sparking some controversey, the bass cellar always has some EBMM stock in (mainly because they couldn't sell a bass to save their lives), if you go in looking pretty smart and maybe flash some cash, but without the intention of buying, they might let you have a go.

i think one reason that rays may not be as popular or as rare/mystical creatures as they once seemed is the influx of new brands etc to have come since the 70's, cheaper instruments made overseas, particularly japanese ibbys etc, means you can get a quality instrument for much less, and it's no longer leo guitars (fender and musicman) dominating the market as there's a lot more out there. obviously though some brands come in and out of fashion, like warwick. they're starting to come back though.

i don't believe them for a second.

i just thought i'd say CURSE YOU! you've given me musicman GAS again

plus EBMM truss rods are a piece of cake to adjust ^

yeah, mainly due to the exchange rate i would imagine, same with anywhere in europe right now i guess. Definitely some nice basses there though

it's all a bit expensive though...

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='656949' date='Nov 17 2009, 01:16 PM']If you look on Dave's pic here, it was black pearloid beforehand. I have both, so I can always swap between the two [/quote] i think black suits it much better!

[quote name='Duarte' post='656958' date='Nov 17 2009, 01:23 PM']The Phantom coil is to eliminate hum in the single coil setting.[/quote] yeah of course, that makes sense

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='656957' date='Nov 17 2009, 01:22 PM']I just had a look on Thomanns at the MM basses. Blimey, i didnt know they were that expensive.[/quote] That's just thomann, everything on there is expensive right now due to the euro being almost as strong as the pound. GAK have two band stingrays for about 1k.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='656946' date='Nov 17 2009, 01:14 PM']I had thought about putting a MM pup in my DJ5 at the bridge position but i still think ill have that dark tone and its not something i can afford to take a gamble on.[/quote] yeah, not really worth it on such an expensive bass really

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='656942' date='Nov 17 2009, 01:12 PM']Thanks guys. Now the GAS really has started :-( Rich. It was your recent posts that got me interested in a MM. Im not really one for overly bright tones but i do like a bit of bite and growl. Wil summed up what im looking for and so i think im on the right path.[/quote] They have quite a versatile sound, i find they actually sound really nice with the EQ flat a lot of the time, they don't have to be super bright.

[quote name='Wil' post='656923' date='Nov 17 2009, 01:03 PM']I think for me, the Stingray tone is [i]the[/i] ultimate bass sound. Modern, yet classic. Growly, yet smooth. Punchy, but with warm lows and articulate highs. Bloody wonderful, basically.[/quote] same, since i went musicman i haven't gone back (well, musicman style pickups that is, my corvette $$ sounds very stingrayish)

very nice, what did it have on before? i think black really is the only one to have on natural. There's just a really classy retro look about it

the sterling has different pickup magnets to the ray, a coil selector switch and a phantom coil to eliminate hum or something? not that i've ever found that to be a problem on a ray.... They're supposedly a little more subdued sounding but still that classic musicman sound. The body is smaller and it has a jazz profile neck and is arguably more versatile. Personally, due to the ergonomics, i'd have either an HH or an HS sterling over any other EBMM. There's the ray 5, different body shape but fat neck like a ray but has the coil selector like the sterling you can now get a sterling 5, basically a sterling with 5 strings and a thinner neck than a ray 5 there's also the bongo, 4 band EQ, neodymium pickup magnets, very big and versatile sound and really lovely necks, somewhere between the ray and the sterling i think. Very comfy, but the looks are a bit marmite as i'm sure you know. Also available in 5 and 6 string Hope that helped

may i be the first to say: OMNOMNOMNOMNOM love orange gear, particularly the tiny terror and that looks pretty cool in white, think i still prefer the orange though

sweeeeeeet, love your basses zak. Still have GAS for a sterling... don't think i could give up my warwick for one though!

yeah if it was up to me i would definitely go for a used EBMM sterling (that's hopefully my next bass) over anything made in korea!!