martthebass

I've had fretless basses with Rosewood (MIA Jazz), Phenolic (Fender-Status Jazz thing) and Ebony (my current Overwater). Out of the 3 my preference is ebony. Rosewood for me was nice and mwwahhhy but could struggle with definition at the dusty end. The phenolic was too bright and clattery (even with flats). I find ebony gives a good balance of the 2, though it may be a bit bright for some tastes on rounds (I always use flats so can't comment on this). Also I just love the feel of ebony when playing, silky smoot and warm - well worth paying the price for a piece thats even blacker than the blackest black pudding (where even the white bits are black).

Chris...........if you ever even contemplate selling this I suggest you be taken outside and shot. Great bass, now where will I find a Feb 63 Jazz?

Px'd a mint JV series (large Fender logo) 57 reissue P bass against a US 1982 Jazz (Sienna Sunburst) in MusicGround Donny back in the late 80's. Well I guess we were all young and daft.....

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='665581' date='Nov 25 2009, 08:45 PM']That's an interesting viewpoint, James. Why is that so different from the MusicMan finish change between headstock and neck, which on my Stingray 5 is satin to bare wood? Admittedly on my Stingray piezo, there's no divider as such, as the neck has been refinished in satin lacquer.[/quote] It's the price you pay for the body finished headstock Rich. My SLO Ray5 with body coloured HS was the same as the Ray34 in this respect.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='665587' date='Nov 25 2009, 08:50 PM']Ah, thanks for that Sam - I'd forgotten the 5 has the ceramic magnets like a Sterling. I was wondering why the sound was so different to the piezo Ray![/quote] I found my old Ray5 a lot smoother than the Ray4, and considering the ceramic/alnico thing, than the Sterling. Nice bass Rich - my favourite 5er.

Corvette: With the ash body it is light, but I found mine tended to be a bit neck heavy because of this. The neck profile was thicker (front to back) than the Jazz it replaced but width-wise was ok. The sound was nice and growly but not refined - but if you're into 'heavier' stuff it suits that well. In the end the neck dive and 'un-finished' look did it for me and it went to the bay. G&L L2000: As said above the neck is a bit thick for some (1.75" at the nut like an old precision) - I think there are a couple of profile options on the US models tho - one thinner than the other. I personally found the tonal options (on my L2500) amazing but bewildering. Ray 4: Does what it says on the tin. Less tonal options than the 2 above (assuming you go for the active 'vette) but growls as well as a Wick IMHO. I find the neck profile ok (1.625" at the nut like a new precision), slim (front to back) and fast with the oil finish. If you want a jazz type neck go for the Sterling. Buy one used and you shouldn't lose much if you change your mind. Oh.....and if you decide to go for the 'vette, do not buy new, good used actives should be easy to come by for <£400.

[quote name='cd_david' post='662399' date='Nov 23 2009, 09:34 AM']Its funny how most people want flexibility in an instrument. I have had and still got basses with 2 pickups, blend pots and eq on, yet i set one sound and leave it at that, ALWAYS. My main gigging basses are an overwater 4 and musicman. I can get the sound i want with both these basses and never touch the controls. I don't think i could see a need to change them. I think that's why I'm satisfied with one pickup on a stingray, if i can get my sound with a bass that's all i need.[/quote] Pretty much ditto. My main gigging basses are a Status 2PuP and a single H Ray4. Only changes I make onstage are to the eqs to dial out boom/add in sizzle as the case may be. Tend to play around a bit more with the Overwater tho - guess that's because its F'less and I find the ability to blend the pups essential to get the 'right' sound for the song.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='659760' date='Nov 19 2009, 11:23 PM']I think Dave, that once you find a really good MusicMan that blows your socks off, worries about tone will be a thing of the past. As a strict comparison, the Sandberg PM Supreme I mentioned was a very hifi sounding bass with a lot of punch, but my Stingray is in a different league altogether. Masses of tone even at low volumes right across the range & sustain like you wouldn't believe. I don't know if mine is a one off, or is perhaps richer sounding due to it's age (June 2000), but as you can tell, I really am impressed. [/quote] Is this a honeymoon period Rich - only joking. How much of your 'tone' do you attribute to the Piezo? I get a nice beefy tone from my MM but it's not as controlable as the 2 band Status, having said that the sustain and 'top end (which can be had without some of the 'clatter' you sometimes get on a graphite board) is top notch.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='659841' date='Nov 20 2009, 07:09 AM']I don't know the new range, especially the BO models very well but do they have the active/passive, push/pull pot on the volume control? If so, try giving it a push/pull just to ensure it isn't in passive mode whereby the tone controls do nowt! Oh and a big +1 to what 'tnit' ^ said.[/quote] Yup you're right WH. Pull for active on the vol IIRC. Oh and I found the Thru neck a lot more mellow and contolable than the BO.

[quote name='chardbass' post='657885' date='Nov 18 2009, 10:29 AM']Duran Duran were a big influence on me in the mid to late 80s despite me being a rock fan. Learning to play Rio was a bit of a musical epiphany and a stepping stone to 'ghost notes' etc. Bless 'em.[/quote] Ditto, spent 4 solid hours nailing Rio. Lived in Brum in the early 80's - it was against the law not to like DD

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='657161' date='Nov 17 2009, 04:24 PM']You do all seem to have the older ones. Uncles i tried a load of them i wouldn't know a good one from a bad one, unless there really is a big difference it tone. I think if i do go the MM route it might have to be a Sterling By MM, for cost mainly.[/quote] I've only gone back as far as 1990 with Ray's - ownership. But apart from some nice birdseye maple necks on that age I can't say I've found much difference sound or construction wise to my current 2005. Maybe it's the general 'older is better' perception. Also while some pre EBMM's I've played have been sublime some have been complete dogs. As per usual - try a few and make your own mind up. Also good condition used EB Rays still seem to be going for £6-650.

I swapped out my DJ5 for a SR5. There were a few things I didn't like about the DJ5 - I also didn't like the overall 'darkness' of the sound, though I understand many do as it's supposed to be representative of that '60's/70's vibe. Regarding Rays, I didn't find much difference in the sound between my old 2EQ Ray4 (1990) and my current 3EQ Ray4 (2005) - the newer one is a little brighter when flat but it doesn't take any effort to get the sound of the 2EQ and I like having the mid as it is very useful in a live situation. I couldn't get on with the Sterling (had a 2004 single H) - it was a helluva lot brighter than any of the Rays I've owned and I couldn't tame it. All of the Ray4's I've had have had weak G to a greater or lesser extent. I've found it fairly curable with heavier gauge strings (45's) and ajusting the pup.

I'd have to agree with all the above. Can't think of anything less than £400 that would touch the VMJ.

I haven't had a chance to play one of the Indonesian MM's yet. The comments are that the quality is good and not far off the US SLO made MM's. Personally, I would try and find the extra £100 or so to buy the US MM Sterling, if for the only reason that much of the depreciation has been taken out of it and if you decide to sell on you shouldn't lose anything/much. If you could go for a Ray - you open up your options a bit as these tend to come up a bit more frequently. I'd go into a shop and try one out - the neck isn't as intimidating as you might think. I was a Fender Jazz player for years and find my 2005 Ray neck profile to be fine, yes it's a little thicker at the nut but it's slim front to back and the oil finish makes it nice and fast.

First one - wouldn't touch. Overpriced Third one, nice but £499? Last one - nice but I reckon you could walk into a shop and get one for that(ish) with some negotiation. Second one all the way for me if I could get it for £6-650.

M, I think balance is also a contributing factor. I had a Ray5 at 10.5lb that balanced great so didn't feel too bad for a little un like me. On the other hand I had a DJ5 at the same weight that sempt neck heavy and I couldn't get on with it. Also we are all different with weight tolerance, I sold my Sandberg basic 5 (which was about 9.5-10lb and felt quite light to me) to 'Beneath it all' who subsequently found it too heavy and sold it on. Looking at what you play (Rays 9 to 9.5lb?) I'd have thought you should be ok to that weight just make sure they don't neck dive which 5er's can be more prone to due to more tuners/wood. Might be worth talking to Shuker/Overwater who could take your weight requirements into account (for info my Overwater 4 is only just over 7lbs so it can be done on a standard sized bass - as opposed to my girly Streamline)

Nice stuff there Nick. That's one of the nicest Fender necks I think I've ever seen. I find meself strangely attracted to the SG, this is a bad sign.

Until I Joined this site I stuck with the same MM Ray for 15 years (tho I did add a backup Mex Jazz during that time). I think I've bought/sold probably 15 basses since joining Bassworld..... This place has been a bad influence on me.

Used a H/H Musician head with a 15" cab for many years. Sounded great (unless you knocked it and the spring reverb clanged) - totally indestructible.

Good score. Best I've done on a Mex Jazz was £230 but that was about 3/4 years back. Think the best new is about £450 now?

All I would say is, having been a MM guy, going to Warwick and then coming back to MM is.........try a few stood up for more than half an hour before you buy. The small body/long neck combo isn't for everyone. I couldn't get on with the balance with either my ash Corvette or Thumb BO4 for that reason. Loved the sound but got bad cramp/shoulder ache if I was playing longer sets, which was strange because both were about a pound lighter than my Ray4.