Chiliwailer

Well, obviously that attempt to ‘break the cycle’ didn’t work. Maybe this one will? Old Smoothie Stingray, 3 band Stingray, 66 Precision, US Std Jazz

It’d be worth checking the pickup casings - My old telecaster needed an added earth wire to the casing when I added a 4 way switch.

That was scary for a second... we have that same rug at the moment and I have an Old Smoothie 🤔 The 2 band EQ's aren't centre dented, must have been a 3 band you played. Glad you got one, they are quite special.

Basschat spreading the love (ur, GAS) as always

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/STINGRAY_4H_Old_Smoothie.html 2nd hand

They are stunning, I’m very pleased I got one. The Andertons butterscotch one is really well priced, I paid more for my chocolate burst Smoothie. Mansons have a chocolate one still, I think the rest may all be sold now? Their price is high, but they did recently advertise at £2099 so maybe they’ll haggle. https://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-dept/bass-guitars/retro-bass-guitars/music-man-stingray-old-smoothie-butterscotch

Ah mate, Purps is sounding a treat! Nice playing too I’m glad it’s getting gigged, rather just sitting in my cupboard until I want to jam along to Califonicstion LP!!! —-lump in throat—

I’m with you Chris, great post. I just re-read mine, I suppose I didn’t make it clear that the pre EB’s I played, and Marcus talked about, differed in tone, I didn’t mean quality. These days I have a 3 band which does exactly what I need a 3 band with rounds to do, and I’m beginning to bond nicely with my new Old Smoothie with flats. They are both so Stingray, but oh so different to each other!

It’s a tricky one, I’ve found that many pre EB’s vastly differ, even if the same year. Last year I bought a 79 Sabre as I always regretted selling one of the same year. It was a lovely bass, but it just wasn’t the same as my old one. Marcus at Bass Direct was recently telling me how they had 2 pre EB Stingrays in stock at the same time, and they were chalk and cheese. I can believe that having played a fair few in the past, and also found that on old Fenders of the same year and spec. It’s an old cliche, but a good Music Man is a good one, and an average one is an average one, no matter what the year is. Sorry to hear your story pal, hope you find a good Ray that you click with.

Check this link out, much stems from CBS selling Fender https://www.talkbass.com/threads/hard-to-see-fender-1987-88-89-bass.656577/

I’ve literally lost count of the amount of deals Mark and I have done together, buying and selling to each other. He’s a top bloke, reliable and as honest as they come. And only into very nice basses .

duplicate!

You’re absolutely right about the lack of zing, or treble, for the LaBella’s, the EQ became much less versatile when those strings were on. That said, I like that type of string, and quality, just on a different bass. For the moment I’m seeing how the Chromes break in. They sound great on my Fenders, and after the LaBella’s actually felt like a welcome relief in an odd way. If flats weren’t so expensive I reckon there’d be a good few sets I’d like to try.

I think you’re on to something there...

I had the low tension set on, but in the past have not clicked with the regular tension sets either. It’s annoyingly as they are great strings, I still use them on my Steinberger Spirit, they just don’t suit me on other basses.

My LaBella love/hate relationship continues, took them off the bass this morning. The old school vibe was excellent but the lack of volume and weight was bothering me. Will probably put them up on the for sale section soon.

I've now got the low tension LaBellas on the Ray, I'm liking them a lot. The Chromes were great too, but I had an old school vibe in mind and the LaBella nail that. I suppose the Chromes are more hifi, they have more volume, punch and top end. My other Ray has roundwounds so the LaBella are a better opposite for me. The Chromes tension doesn't bother me on my other basses but just didn't feel right on the Ray, too stiff for that particular bass. The LaBella are just like Thomastiks, and suit the bass. Its an Old Smoothie Stingray, and the LaBella definitely make it a smoother bass to my ear, and exactly what I had in mind when I heard it with rounds and bought it.

Still on the hunt...

Cheers Andy, I'll send him an email.

still looking... any ideas?

Pm’d

SORTED - just needed some switch cleaner! Hi, has anyone here bought a replacement on/off switch, in the UK, for an old DOD FX25? Cheers

I’ll post how I get on. I should have mentioned earlier that the Chromes sounded good on my 3 band Ray, I use that bass with the mids down a bit and they were well matched so there wasn’t an issue. But Old Smoothie is a very different Ray in sound and feel so I’m looking forward to trying the LaBella low tension.

Excellent I’m hopeful, though I never gelled with LaBella on my Fenders I do like them on my Steinberger Spirt and reckon they are just what my 2 band Stingray needs. It’s weird because the Chromes sounded great on my 3 band...different animals and all that.