dave_bass5

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='834190' date='May 11 2010, 01:22 PM'](Slightly OT but) I'm not sure what to think about this weak G phenomenon. When I first got my 'ray I was showing it off to a fellow bassist (who was very well informed but had little first hand knowledge) he loved the sound of the bass but commented that it had a quiet G string - it so totally didn't - but because he'd read about it he then thought he could hear it. Also, I've just built a bass using a genuine 'ray pup (2006 I believe) which was take out of it's original home because of it allegedly having a quiet G (the replacement Nordy fixed his problem) but when I put it in my project bass, you guessed it, no quiet G - in fact sometimes I think it's too loud when popping. I've had 2 Fender '51 pups with weak E strings but to date no probs with MM pups. Maybe I've been lucky. [/quote] Im convinced its a EQ/Freq and technique thing. Ive done all the set up adjustments and changed the pup to a Nordy in the Ray34. To be honest i didnt notice much improvement. The Sub was a bit easier to fix as i leveled the pole pieces. It seemed to do the trick. Still not as loud as my Duck Dunn but better than it was. When i play with a pick (most of the time) and dont cut the mids or highs its fine. It doesnt jump out like my previous basses (P's and Jazz) but its there. when i boost the lows or cut the mids, some notes on the G string almost disappear, normally at the first 5 or six frets. I only ever hear this when im playing along to music or gigging, not just playing on my own. Just doing the usual root octave thing is when i notice it more. Im not a slapper (not on bass anyway ;-) but when i pop the G occasionally its pretty damn loud so no, i dont think its a volume issue as such. I've also check the levels using the input on my PC and all strings seem to read about the same, with everything set flat. I have gig recordings that do prove its not just my imagination. I do think that if everyone else can live with it then i can. Its not a big deal.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='834109' date='May 11 2010, 12:17 PM']Those are entirely my thoughts too. The SUB will be extremely sought after in the years to come, and in less than 10 years it'll probably reach legend status, can you say the same about an Indonesian SBMM?[/quote] All subjective so ill not get sucked in to that one. I do see more SUB's for sale now than i do SBMM. Make of that what you will ;-)

I think im going to go for the free version and add in the bass amp. That should do me. Not interested in the stomp boxes. Im also hoping to pick up a iPhone 4 when they come out but might keep the iPod Touch for this sort of thing.

Both my Ray and the weak G thing and i did fix it on the Sub but cant on the Ray34. Ive even changed the pup. Its not bad, and i can control it but its still bugging me and putting me off getting a SR4 in the future. I know what you mean about having to have Made in USA on it. I was quite proud that my Sub had this on it. Sad i know. They do come out of the same factory as the Skyline range by Lakland though, thats encouraging as well all know (except Gareth;-) how well Skylines are made.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='833830' date='May 11 2010, 12:22 AM']Isn't the new price on a SBMM a fair bit less than what the SUBs were selling for when they were new? I'd agree that the finish could be better on the SBMM (only seen photos mind) but I can't see how they could be built better - I had no quibbles with mine in that respect at all. I'd go as far as saying that my SUB was put together better than any Fender I've had and equally as good as my 'ray.[/quote] I didnt know there was a new price for the SBMM, ive not noticed any price drop since Christmas. I know the Subs are well built, so are Squiers and loads of other cheap (and expensive )instruments. My comments are really only comparing my SUB to my Ray34, not Fenders or any other bass. Im not talking about how well they are put together, but how they feel, play and look. I didnt like the painted neck at all. And i found the non contoured body a bit strange. I've not seen many second hand Ray34's but if there is less than £100 difference, and im basing this on a SUB for £350-£400 and a Ray34 for around £400 then i dont think the SUB is the outright winner, just because its made in the USA and nails a certain tone. I made my choice because, to me, the Ray34 feels like a classier instrument, i much prefer a glossy finish, the matching headstock (in fact the whole look of it is just perfect to me), the neck feels smoother, i prefer a contoured body and im getting to like the 3EQ. The last few posts give me the impression that people are assuming the Sub is better and have not directly compared them to the SBMM. Maybe ive been a bit harsh on the Sub as i did like it at the start but im much happier with the Ray34, i even sold off my Lakland because i use the Ray34 all the time. Sorry to the OP if this thread has gone too far off course.

[quote name='Kev' post='833758' date='May 10 2010, 11:07 PM']Lets not get into a fender type arguement. As the SUBs are made in USA you would expect they would be better quality instruments, but as with fender the cheaper built SBMM may produce the odd gem.[/quote] But the SBMM range aren't cheaper than the SUB. They arent budget versions of the SUB, they are budget versions of the SR and Sterling. For around £300 they are nice basses, im not denying that, but i still think the Ray34 is built better and has a better finish. Just my thoughts (again).

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='833379' date='May 10 2010, 06:23 PM']I am afraid but I have to disagree... If we are talking playabilty and sound the Sub are superior in my views. To me Sterling By MM is a bit like mutton dressed as lamb. the few I tried loked nicely polished and pretty coloured but playing them they eventually felt like copies, I didn't feel like jumping up and down about them. I still believe that if you succeed in getting a decently priced SUB you will own a better instrument.[/quote] Most of my negatives are based on looks, feel and the fact that people are asking too much for some Subs. Im not saying that the SBMM is better, just that for me it is. For me the Ray34 was just an all round better instrument than my sub, as good as that was (is).

[quote name='Musicman20' post='833225' date='May 10 2010, 04:42 PM']Oh heck, I hope its alright Tony. Im sure the redesigned version should be. I want this one: [url="http://www.bassmerchant.com/item_detail.php?product_id=990&category_id=2"]http://www.bassmerchant.com/item_detail.ph...p;category_id=2[/url][/quote] I know some people use the 151P as a one cab rig so im sure Tony will be fine. I just needed something more full range and louder. I A/B'ed it with a Epifani UL15 in the Gallery when i took it back and it was like a thick fire blanket had been taken off the cab when we plugged in to the UL115.

For what its worth my MB 151P cab was the worst cab ive ever owned. Not wanting to bring a downer on this thread but it lasted all of two gigs (regular ones so i knew how different i sounded) before i took it back to the shop. The problem was i wanted a one cab rig and while the MB was a nice cab it really needed something to go with it. It was all low end with no mid punch. Its the only time ive ever had to have the master on my SA450 almost all the way up to get heard, and that was not a good tone. Even my MAG115 deep outperformed it with the same amp at the same gigs. And yes, i did everything i could with the EQ. Thats the only reason it lasted two gigs. Tony, i hope you have better luck than i did. EDIT: I should add it was the older, square version. It was too small to deliver. Hopefully the newer ones are better.

[quote name='faceman' post='833088' date='May 10 2010, 02:24 PM']It certainly is, how are you getting on with your bass search Dave? Buying the SUB from you has stimulated by GAS again and I've picked up a '75 Reissue CIJ Jazz for a second bass! I took it to the gallery when I left London but am debating having them ship it back here so I can either keep or sell privately![/quote] Well i sold the DD last week but so far i haven't decided or seen anything i like to replace it with. Im getting on fine with the Ray34 at the moment. Its not perfect but it seems to be doing a good job with the covers bands. My minds all over the pace at the moment but a CIJ Jazz has also been considered, as has a Squier CV jazz, HW-one Jazz. I do quite fancy a jazz with a pre in it though. If i got any of the above i think i would put an Audere in it. Im also thinking of a 5 string again. But i guess the Ray34 is doing such a great job that im in no hurry. I guess that says something. Ive taken to the MM tone really quickly. Just wish the string spacing was a bit narrower.

[quote name='faceman' post='833080' date='May 10 2010, 02:18 PM']I have one for sale in the Gallery in Camden which may or may not be coming back to me if you are interested in it? I'd be looking for around ~£300 for it.[/quote] Now thats a decent price ;-)

[quote name='cameltoe' post='833027' date='May 10 2010, 01:16 PM']Would you generally rate Sterling by MM as a better quality instrument? Seems like that range has taken over where the SUB left off, so would be good to know, especially if they're knocking about in a similar price range[/quote] I would rate MY Ray34 over MY old Sub. It just feels and looks a lot classier to me. Then again im comparing a brand new bass to a 7 year old one that had at least two owners before me. The body is contoured, the neck feels much nicer, especially the back of it. I really didn't like the painted neck on the Sub. The frets, while not sticking up and so causing any issues, did have slight gaps under some of them. It felt cheap (but thne it is). Tone wise, the Sub had a 2EQ pre and i actually preferred that to the 3EQ on my Ray34. I would be happy with another Sub and they are nice basses, but i think some people are just asking too much for them, especially if you have to spend money on it afterwards. The Ray34 also came in the exact colour combination i wanted. Again, all in my limited experience.

My band did a gig at a social club last week and they let us use one of these. Its ok i guess. we were surprised at how thin the lights are, very compact. I had great fun playing with the footswitch, to the point of playing badly because i wasn't concentrating. [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=228057&C=Froogle&U=228057&T=Module"]KAM LED PARBAR[/url]

I agree with Kev. I sold mine recently on here for £300. I think that was a good price but im amazed that some people are asking £400+ for these basses. They are nice basses but not worth paying over the odds for IMHO. Although ive only ever played the one Sub i wouldn't have said the workmanship is worth £450+ secondhand, especially when you can get a Sterling by MM for about £550 new, and of course less if second hand.

[quote name='JackLondon' post='830902' date='May 7 2010, 06:26 PM']Yes I know which strings the post was about, I'm getting at the "west end" prices, fair enough it's a tourist are but in essence this is the main reason the axe fell on music ground, ridiculous prices and rude staff. £5 I can understand but £20 is a bit of a joke tbh.[/quote] Fair enough but this still doesnt show how im wrong, as you pointed out. In the 30 odd years ive been going in to the west end ive always found prices to be high.

[quote name='JackLondon' post='830824' date='May 7 2010, 05:05 PM']WRONG! Sorry but just because they are in west end does not warrant a £62 for a set of Dr Lo-Riders for a 6-string bass when they are £20 cheaper on most expensive websites...[/quote] Wrong? How so?. Are you saying that its not a tourist area or its not understandable that prices are higher? I was replying to the post about a set of DR Black Beauties for £40. Strings direct sell them for £35 so a £5 mark up is pretty normal i would have said. No one was talking about the 6 string set.

[quote name='silddx' post='830701' date='May 7 2010, 02:46 PM']Damn right, they wanted £40 for a set of DR Black Beauties when I was last in there [/quote] Thats just west end prices though. Everything is expensive in the west end.

Ive never suffered from amp/cab GAS either. I'd like new rigs but cant seem to bring myself to spend any money on new amps/cabs. I think the biggest reason is my gear just fits in the cars, so anything bigger would be pointless. Its a good situation, i just wish i could find a reason to stop swapping basses.

The one i have for the istrobe cost me £14 but ti doesnt have a headphone out on it. I guess the IK one will work with both anyway.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='830469' date='May 7 2010, 11:06 AM']Woah![/quote] Indeed. Ive been using Amplitube 2 and 3 at home and really like it. Hopefully there should be one or two tones that will be usable. Even better if it allows you to play along with your music. Ive also got the Peterson Istrobe, shame i cant use the jack adaptor with the this.