martthebass

Being the last owner of your SR5 Andrew and also having a SR4 of nearly the same age, the main difference between these 2 was string spacing and tone. The weight was also as expected about half a pound less. The SR5 tone was much less 'in your face' than the SR4 - smoother if you like. String tension was about the same E-G with the MM super slinkies that I used. Having been a big MIA Jazz user in the past, the main difference between my old 1999 MIA Jazz and the SR4H IMHO is that I feel the SR4 is more out and out rock, growl and spit - more top end and more punch/cut through in the mix. However the Jazz was more subtle and could give the honk that I've never been able to get (nor tried to really) from the SR4. The recent MIA jazzes I think are also about a pound lighter than the typical EB SR4's. To be honest If you want a Jazz sound don't get a SR4 and vice versa.

If you're seriously into slap - Status. Second hand Series 2 or Stealth 2 on your budget. Having said that I'm not into slap and I love my Streamline but you gotta get past the looks.

[quote name='stevieb85' post='496548' date='May 24 2009, 12:06 PM']ok ok when i said they demanded i got a stingray i was saying it jokeingly it was nothin more than a simple suguestion. have any of you guys gone from fender to musicman? it has been fender i have always used, currently using my fender usa 1 pbass, and just sold my jazz to get money for a new toy. is there a lot of playing and sound diffrence?[/quote] I've currently got US S1 P Bass and Ray4 3EQ. The P bass is better for certain things (like R&B, 60's 'pop') and the Ray to me works better on stage because it is easier to get it cutting through the mix. The P bass is a bit lighter and is more comfortable on a long gig. The MM feels better made, and has a faster neck (unfinished - waxed/oiled). If I could only keep one................don't make me choose.

[quote name='Mr.T' post='487621' date='May 14 2009, 09:57 AM']I get a similar thing with my Headless Status 2000. I have only gigged it three times, but if one more more person comes up and tells me "The end is broken off"......[/quote] Never gets old does it

Use EB SS's on the Ray4 - no problem with deadness but I'm not a 'heavy' player. Strangely though I found they used to go off quite quickly on my (now departed) MIM Jazz.

Musicman.....they have their faults but nothing else sounds like a 'Ray. In the last 20 years I've only been without an MM for 18 months - it was too long. Fender......loved Jazzes for years, currently like Precisions, why? because it does what it says on the tin. Status.....especially the all graphite ones (I'd love a Stealth 2 or Streamline 5er). Brilliant all rounder, pull out a Streamline and see the grins/smirks at a jam night that turn to smiles when you plug it in.

Pics on post #124 page 7 of the link below. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=25449&st=120"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=25449&st=120[/url] This was before the Ray4 was retro-fitted so it's sporting it's original black/white/black number

[quote name='OldGit' post='484825' date='May 11 2009, 09:29 AM']I find P basses through Ashdown / Trace Elliott don't work for me. P basses are fine with my tatty old Peavey and my posh Markbass/Bergantino but for some reason TE/Ash just doesn't do it.[/quote] Ditto....my P bass always sempt dead with my old TE combo. It also struggles with my Markbass stuff, however if I put the cab on a beer crate the sound comes alive. Never have a problem with the Stingray - always cuts through...........doesn't do subtle tho.

I had black pearl on my Met Blue Ray 5 (now with Bubinga 5). Looked excellent - so much that I got a black pearl pg for my CAR Ray4.

Nothing wrong with that. I played a 1996 MIM Jazz in preference to my 1990 Stingray for about 5 years.

That SB900 takes me back to my yoof and reminds me that I no longer have the shoulder, neck or back to handle one........

[quote name='steantval' post='469978' date='Apr 22 2009, 08:24 PM']Thanks for response guys. F*ck the looks, I'll stick with my tried and trusted Musicman that plays like a dream.[/quote] Good call, I 'had' to play a selection of Free and Bad Co at a jam night last night with my trusty Ray4 and it coped just fine. Sounded a damn sight better on Doctor Doctor than an EB0 would too.....

Fender: Pros and cons; does what it says on the tin and you know what it'll be worth should you want to get rid. Not the highest quality, mass produced (unless CS) Shuker: Pros and cons; built to your spec (so should suit you), excellent quality. Because it's bespoke it might not appeal to as many people should you wish to sell it.

[quote name='Faithless' post='463520' date='Apr 15 2009, 11:23 PM']Thanks for your input, guys Well, at the end, I wasn't preparing to buy it, as I have no serious interest in MM's at all, actually, but, simply, it looked a bit pity to me for him, as he was trying to sell his MM for about half-year now, probably.. Shame, that here [i]our [/i]musos are more interested in cheapish stuff, rather than something serious..[/quote] Tell him to try and sell it on here. I sold my 2002 SR5 here a couple of weeks ago for the target price - I could have sold it 3 or 4 times over.

Only got experience with Skylines I'm afraid, but my 2p: Had a DJ5 briefly, Rich (Out to play Jazz) played it and loved it but I found it heavy (over 10lb) and hated the 35" and string spacing - but I can't blame Lakland for that. The BG I had was sorry to say heavy, unbalanced and not well finished - sorry to be a heretic but it wasn't a patch on my 2004 MIA Precision. A few months back I played a good 5-6 Lakky Skylines in Electro (Doncaster), they all appear to have gone now, however I was amazed by the level of weight difference - particularly on the DJ5's (anywhere from 8.5 to 11lbs). The best of the bunch was a nice sounding JO4 that I would have had in front of any of the MIA Fender Jazzes I've had in the past.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='463297' date='Apr 15 2009, 06:48 PM']That'll be left over stock from last year, probably. I paid £840 for a sunburst Am.Std. Precision last June. The newer stuff will be significantly higher, I'd imagine.[/quote] Rich, you're going to have to build an extension for all these 'extra' basses soon How's the OLP? Give me first dibs when/if you get bored with it - I'm missing my SR5 (tho the Stremline helps make up for the loss)

I've had a few MM's in my time and generally find room for one in my 'armoury'. There are differences between the ones I've had but its generally been limited to weight and neck dead spots. In terms of weight the current Ray 4 (2005) I have is spot on average (9.25lbs) but the Sterling 4 (2004) it replaced was a bit on the heavy side at nearly 10. Again the Ray4 I currently have (and a Ray5 I've just sold) is pretty free of dead spots wheras there were more noticeable ones on the 1990 2EQ Ray4 and the afforementioned Sterling (both cured to an extent with decent string selection and a bit of a rod tweak). In terms of quality I think the recent MM's I've had were as good as the 1990 one (a period considered by many to be pretty good for MM production), fit, finish and playability being in good order - my 2005 Ray4 also has a nicer (to me) and faster neck profile. If I compare my Ray with the MIA (2004) P bass I have it feels a more 'expensive' instrument - sorry I can't come up with a better adjective. I'd agree with Rich that with all mass produced instruments it's a 'try before you buy' situation but I have less hesitation buying a MM blind than a Fender (except maybe MIJ) or even Lakland Skyline.

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='462336' date='Apr 14 2009, 05:55 PM']My gear MASSIVELY outweighs how good I am.[/quote] You could donate the FBass to me then JB Know what you mean tho. My band's on a sabatical at the mo so why the hell do I have 3 decent quality 4 stringers sat around the house playing along to the bloody IPod?