Treb

I choose option 1. The J-Retro and a J-bass is a match made in heaven if you crave "that J-bass tone", think Miller-esque. I finally was able to get that elusive tone once I installed a DJ-Retro in my DJ4 and strung it with DR FatBeams. If you want to run it VVT checkout ebay, I've seen some prewired VVT setups complete with metal control plate. Making one yourself isn't very difficult though, a few bits and bobs and some soldering skills is all that's required.

For reference, this one is Candy Red: http://www.essemusic.it/EN/Electric-Basses/Music-Man/Stingray-4-Candy-Red-Mp/

Nice bass dude! BTW do pass the A and D strings under the retainer. WRT its discontinuation, when it comes to MusicMan basses it's as if there's only the StingRay. Shops usually only have StingRays in stock. Dunno if there's hardly to no demand for Sterlings and Sabres (discontinued, again) or if they're just underexposed. Some shops don't even stock EBMM basses but only the SBMM range...

[quote name='chickenjames' timestamp='1461967431' post='3039297'] I also have a Micromark 801 which is my home practice amp. [/quote] Say hello to daddy. This is my home practice amp, two NY804's. I have never run it full throttle, as I'm afraid it would bring down the ceiling. Yep, my neighbours hate my guts... [sharedmedia=core:attachments:209234] Back on topic: get separates. Buy a 102 @ 8 Ohms now, add a second one later on. Moves a serious amount of air. Have you considered buying used?

Marcus Miller can be seen playing a fretless Sterling on occasion. Marcus is kinda famous... I would opt for a used Sterling instead of a new SB-14 if I was on a budget. Resale value for an EBMM bass is likely to be higher and there's no substitute for the real thing, eh? What I really dislike is the long stem tuners on the Sterling by MusicMan basses. Looks weird IMO. Just this week I read (on TalkBass?) that the SB-14 has been discontinued due to lack of sales. Still, for the money it looks and sounds great. Would love to compare an SB-14 bass to my EBMM Sterling.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1461753302' post='3037298']BTW why do old Fenders see to shed their finish at the drop of a hat?[/quote] Nitro-cellulose finishes aren't the most durable...

I bought a new one (incl. its case) last year, a 2010 one in vintage sunburst. Paid [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]£[/font][/color]1300 shipping included.

[quote name='JoeEvans' timestamp='1461522721' post='3035399'] The wear on it is extraordinary and a bit fake-looking. It looks like someone's done a tour wearing a sandpaper suit then tried to use the bass to chop logs. Do basses really end up looking like that just from playing them? [/quote] Go check out Bobby Vega's stack knob Jazz bass...

A Dutch bass & guitar builder uploaded some soundclips of different J-pickups (Nordstrand, Lollar, Aguilar, Fralin): https://soundcloud.com/degierguitars/sets Look for the BeBop (his take on a J-bass) soundclips.

The Aguilar OBP-1 is warm and fat. Haven't heard the OBP-2. The OBP-1 is very similar to the Sadowsky preamp. Both offer bass @ 40 Hz and treble @ 4KHz and both are boost-only. The Sadowsky is more clean/HiFi-ish than the OBP-1 according to those who heard both. Have a look at the J-Retro preamps from John East, his preamps are awesome. My DJ4 has one, couldn't be happier with it. I love its mid sweep. John East is a pleasure to deal with. Highly recommended.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1457827499' post='3002212'] Fender Rhodes. She still gigs it. [/quote] Wow, what a stroke of luck!

I bought my TH350 from a Dutch shop in may last year for €499 (brand new, no discount or special offer), right now they want €699 fot it... Prices @Thomann went up too in a similar way but have come down recently. Thomann now wants €544 for a TH350.

The fan is on a hair trigger apparently. It switches on really early and once it's on it doesn't switch off until you power down the amp. I can see it could bother those recording with it. I wish Aguilar had invested in some lower noise fans. I've toyed with the idea of replacing it with a more silent one, but silent fans usually have a much lower air displacement and thus lower cooling capacity. If Noctua ever makes a 50mm fan I might do it though...

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1456933828' post='2993735'] 3 band EQ with MHS is probably around £1500 new now! Maybe a little less.[/quote] There's a really nice one in white pearl available @ Esse Music in Italy right now. Sells for ~ £1470 excluding shipping. Not cheap but what a bass!

Excellent sounding preamp, John East sure knows how to design a great EQ. Controls have a useable range. Bass boost, treble boost&cut, bright switch and a mid boost&cut with sweep. Excellent construction. What's not to like? Buy one! BTW, John is very responsive, drop him an email should you have any questions. I have the the DJ Retro preamp in my Lakland.

It is easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission... Hope you don't get cold during your hikes. If you do, think of your bass, will make feel all warm and fuzzy.

The Aguilar obp-1 (just like the Sadowsky preamp a design by Alex Aguilar) is supposed to sound a bit warmer than the Sadowsky which is considered a bit more hi-fi-ish. Both the Sadowsky and the Aguilar are boost-only (bass @ 40Hz, treble @ 4000Hz). I still have my Aguilar DB924, great preamp (in essence an obp-1 in a box). Look into the John East preamps too! Very good sounding stuff, I have a DJ-Retro in my Lakland. That mid-sweep is sweet!

Hey nice one! Great to hear the different flavours. Well done video. Difficult to pick a clear winner, they all have something going for them... Gold: 3b ceramic Silver: 2b alnico Bronze: 3b alnico

Sterling 4H owner here (vintage sunburst, rosewood fb, tort guard). After years of lusting after a MM (it's that tone), I bought a new one last year. The Sterling has a smaller body combined with a J-like neck width. Compared with a full sized Jazz bass body it's almost tiny. MM purists say there's only one MM tone, the 2 band StingRay, but this puppy barks and growls like there's no tomorrow. I love how you can use the entire 3 band EQ, even with maxed out controls it sounds great. I run mine in parallel pickup mode. It's an other take on the MM tone in a smaller and thus lighter package. I love it!

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1452772242' post='2953261'] I think considering how easily you can pick up a used StingRay for around £800 on here, the new ones represent poor value. [/quote] Hmmm, you have a point there. But only if you want a used Stingray. Used Sterlings are almost as rare as hen's teeth 'round here.

The price jump for a natural may have to do with body wood selection and matching. Still quite a bit more money though. chickenjames nails it IMO, the bargain models offer eveything you could want. A black and rosewood Stingray has that workhorse aesthetic appeal you can't deny. If you want a better/nicer spec Stingray check out Esse Music in Italy. In 2015 they had and sold a few SLO's. A recent price hike has made them less affordable though. Perhaps you can order your dream Stingray through them? The Sterling (ebmm not sbmm) I bought there last summer was considerably cheaper than most other retailers, if they even stock the Sterling. Very few do, I got lucky with my vintage sunburst & rosewood one.

Mellow yellow... Nice one!

This does punchy quite well... [attachment=209234:image (2).jpeg] Two NY804's, Tone Hammmer 350. A bit too loud for the living room.

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1450450239' post='2932970'] Lakland Daryl Jones. [/quote] +1 The reason I bought myself a DJ4: smaller body and the really comfy neck. Warmoth has the dinky j body that is compatible with its necks, the difference in size isn't very large though. There is a graphic on their site showing the difference. Sadowsky J's are smaller, the Will Lee appears really slender. Avoid the UV range, ultra vintage in appearance and size. Dunno about the relative size of the Hamer Cruise basses. Anyone?

wow! nice one! does it sound as killer as it looks?