martthebass

[quote name='Kaiu' post='529646' date='Jul 1 2009, 03:13 PM']Do these sound anything like a Musicman Sterling? I have a sterling at the moment that sounds great, however I love the shape and feel of the Jazz style basses and I was thinking of getting one of these. Thanks, Ed[/quote] Hi Ed, If I remember correctly that particular Sterling (i.e. yours) was nice/hard and growly. The double MM config I've got in my Sandy Basic 5 is a lot smoother and doesn't cut through in the same way, but there is a lot more depth to the sound. Switching to the neck humbucker only and rolling back the treble gives you even more sweetness/thump - more like a precision. They are quite different, also the active 3 band pre isn't as obtrusive as in a MM plus you can go fully passive (though I don't think this is a plus in this particular bass because the active is sweet and not too in your face). Get to Electro and try one out - if Dave's still got some in.

+3 I guess. They are so different that you can't really compare em. They do different jobs. If you want an out and out spitting rock/slap beast that cuts through anything then it's a Ray. If you want something smoother, more versatile and laid back then it's a DJ or JO or Fender Jazz (pretty much interchangeable - Ducks from the Lakky fans).

Some Thin Lizzy, Waiting for an Alibi, Boys are back in Town? Yeah I know it's just downtuned 4 (to E flat) but it gets your fingers moving on a 5 to play in record key. Song 2 - Blur Another brick in the wall (part 2)

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm definitely in two minds on this one. If the bass was a standard, say Fender, I'd source a F'less neck but I guess this is less easy on the Sandberg - I suspect even if I could source a neck from them it would be prohibitive in price and might compromise the pocket fit (the fit is typical Germanic precision - i.e. tight). My initial thoughts for the job turned to Jon S, but I wasn't sure if he still took this kind of work on seeing as he's busy making half the custom builds for Basschat! Guess I'll float the bass in the 'for sale' for a little while longer while I come to a decision.

Well I don't seem to be having much luck funding my fretless aspirations by selling my newly acquired Sandberg basic Ken Taylor 5 (thread below): [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=51060"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=51060[/url] So, seeing as I'm starting to get used to the neck (it's not so different to my old SR5 now that I'm becoming familiar with the gloss neck rather than the wax/oil on the MM) and it seems to be able generate a level of warmth that I like in a fretless, I'm seriously considering getting it defretted. So a few questions: 1. Would this be a good idea - or would it destroy any value in the bass? 2. What would you look at for the 'line' - maple or plastic? 3. What should I expect in terms of cost for a 'professional' job? 4. And finally, any recomendations for a good luthier in the Sheffield/Doncaster area. Mods... if you think this would be better in the reps/tech area please move. Cheers, Mart