jonnybass

I’ve owned 3 stingrays over the last 30 years, 2 five strings and a four. Absolutely lusted after them since the mid 90’s. All were great to play and for workhorse live basses they are great. But I have played other peoples, and I’ve played ones in shops that all played better than mine and as such all have been moved on. I think in terms of the four, I didn’t spend long enough playing it live to get used to the sound and how it would work for me. jonny

Beautiful bass

Oh wow I’d never heard of that guy, but not someone I’ll be checking out based on Danny’s video. jonny

All licensed premises in England, Scotland and Wales are required by law to provide free water to their customers upon request. Although they can charge for a glass and service.

I agree but I dont always think the value is 'cash based' it may be listening and enjoying your original music for example. Jonny

For me it depends on the reason I am in the band and what the band is being asked to do "whats in it for me". I used to play in covers/tribute bands, I would expect to get paid for these gigs I am there to play and hopefully make money. At the same time I have played in a jazz trio, again this was covers, we'd rock up play standards in a pub every fortnight. Our pay was £40 for a taxi and 6 pints (2 each). Never expected a penny and usually the fee covered our taxis home. I was doing this to experience playing jazz standards live. Also played in originals (still do) bands, never expect payment its about playing music i want to play, and people coming is a bonus, unless someone is selling tickets with our name on it and they have sold allot (its not happened often) where I'd expect the band to be paid. In all of these bands any money earned is put back into the band and no one ever takes a cut for themselves. So to the OP I play live to get something from the gig, given how i balance my music it generally wont be money. But before I join a band I will know 'whats in it for me' and thats why I'lll play with that band. Jonny

Thanks Clarky, i'll do that when i get the chance, its red silks both ends with what looks like a slug end. According to Gollihurs site probable Spirocores. Jonny

No worries at all Jack. it was more curiousity than anything else. Jonny p.s. loving the bass, played my first gig, with more coming and some recording dates too. Fantastic instrument to learn.

I'm just curious, really happy with the sound of the bass its a 4/4 and I think it sounds nice at the moment but really researching and trying to understand as much about the instrument as I can. As i bought the bass from @Happy Jack theres a chance he'll know what strings are on it, but it was more my curious nature. Jonny

Hi all, i have a question about string tension. I keep seeing strings as either having medium or light tension. Being new to double bass, how do i know if I have medium or light tension strings on my bass? and if I replace them with the wrong kind, will it cause a problem to the bass?? Jonny

Just looking in the market place on this site there are a number of high quality basses from great builders at the £2k point. To command a £2k second hand price this builder must have a good reputation so I'd say get them to build what they are famous for and people usually buy from them, to me that would be the route to a quick sale. Jonny

What is the ballpark ££ for your preferred builders? Do you want a quick sale or are you looking to maximise return? Both will have different answers. If its maximise return then it should be the model closest to the one the builder is good at. I wouldnt buy a 34 inch passive four string wooden necked tobias or status. Like wise I wouldnt buy a 6 string 24 fret 4 band active eq graphite necked modern vintage bass. So what type of bass the does builder usually build, and will selling one second hand get you enough ££ to buy your dream bass?? Nothing else really matters as much to be honest. Jonny

It will depend on the maker as well....I'd say a 36 inch scale fodera six string will be worth more than a Harley Benton p bass. By the same token, a NYC sadowsky 4 string 34 inch scale will be worth more than a Cort A5. If you are just looking for a quick sale 34inch scale 4 string would be the most probable to sell quickly. Jonny

I have Nordstrand hum cancelling jazz pickups (NJ4SE) in a jazz bass and a Lindy Fralin humcancelling jazz bridge pickup in a PJ bass. Both are great sounding pickups IMO. Jonny

Personally I'd say if its a £700 bass cab £5 is cheap. if its pickups then they are smaller but easier to pocket by someone a bit naughty so £5 for guaranteed arrival feels ok to me too. But its your money and your choice if you arent happy about it, can you shop for these products elsewhere and get free delivery. I do hate the 24 hr g'teed delivery that takes 48 hrs, but in my experience that wasnt Bass Direct that was the delivery company. jonny

Different things altogether for me. I think an onboard preamp means you can go to a gig with a bass a lead and a stand. Add in an outboard preamp especially a quad cortex or a Helix or even an HX stomp and you need another bag, possibly an extension cable. I use an HX stomp xl, but i cant see how I could boost the bass halfway through a song during a live gig as easily as I can using my onboard pre amp. Fine if the boost is preprogrammed but not if its just because of the venue/sound/my mood. Jonny

The accountants and lawyers I know own 0 fender custom shop basses and guitars, However 100% of the owners of Fender Custom Shop guitars and basses that I know (including me) are musicians. Maybe perception doesn't match reality here? Jonny

I'd agree, I had to think long and hard and I came to the conclusion that after a set up and with the right strings I hadnt had a four string that played as well for me as the jazz bass. So the mods were done. If it was just an ok bass to play I would have sold it as was and kept looking. Jonny

To me the Custom shop is about getting a bass you want, not just vintage reproductions. I got a Fender Custom shop Custom classic Jazz bass second hand. Played beautifully, looks amazing, doesnt weigh too much. Was equipped with Fender N3 noiseless pickups and a fender 3 band pre amp. After 18-24 months of playing it I could not get a sound out of it I really liked. To me it sounded ok, but not amazing. I didnt sell it as it played so well. Fitted Nordstrand pickups and a custom East pre-amp and its became an incredible sounding bass (IMO) gigged and recorded it sounds exactly how I want it to. D-tuner now fitted, luminlay side dots fitted and its now a bass I'll keep til I cant play bass anymore. Versatile, comfortable sounds and looks great, again in my opinion. Perfect jazz bass for me. It took a big leap to mod the bass though...but so glad I have done it now. Jonny

Thre snothing like playing with other people especially jazz, nice one dude. jonny

I think the craftsmanship looks fantastic and from the electronics being offered I think they will sound amazing too. Love when bass builders design new shapes. However, I dont like the shape of the four string. Love the double cut SM2 basses in five and six string format. If i was looking for a very well built modern five I'd look at a Jones SM2, not sure how they play though. Any owners out there? Jonny

Bass collection SB315 in pearlescent white, with black hardware. Great bass to play but pickups and electronics were a bit meh, in was 1995 so had no idea about being able to change electronics so traded it for a mexican jazz, which was traded for a Fender precision lyte, which was traded for a yamaha BB1500a, which was sold to fund a Stingray V, which was sold to buy....etc etc Still have an occasional thought of buying one and getting new electronics in it. jonny

I used to use a Zoom b6. This was to switch between various 'styles' of sounds Vintage, modern, dubby that sort of thing. really easy to use, has dual inputs (if thats important) balanced DI out and a great tuner, used you'd be looking at around £200=£250. I moved it on to get a HX stomp XL but thats as i was no longer playing live with the band where i needed these styles of sounds and i was wanting to do more experimental effects. Jonny

@BigRedX uninstall re-install worked Hx stomp xl now working. Thanks for the advice. jonny