noelk27

[quote name='Bassassin' post='872873' date='Jun 20 2010, 06:02 PM']Considering the new list price was $10000 - odd and there were so few of them made, I can't see the one you've (theoretically) been offered having depreciated a great deal! Possibly the opposite, depending on collector demand. Much better pics of the MC30th here: [url="http://www.ibanezrules.com/namm/2009/mc30th.htm"]http://www.ibanezrules.com/namm/2009/mc30th.htm[/url] Can't help thinking they could've tried a bit harder with those pickup covers... J.[/quote] Hmm, the plot thickens - this bass is not the MC30TH, but one from the early 80s - it has the usual exposed pole pieces on the pickups, a dark ebony touchboard, and dark stain - the bass in question has serial G806058 - and an inlay at the 24th fret that says "Limited Edition". I'd post some pics, but can't seem to attach tonight!

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' post='885272' date='Jul 4 2010, 09:10 AM']The marcus miller's are the same yeah Most other strings these days are made with a Hex core which generally makes the string have a tighter feel than round core ones from DR website: Hi-Beam stainless steel bass strings are round wound and constructed upon a round core which is unique in the industry. Hi-Beams require much more time, care, and extra steps to make than other bass strings. The extra effort DR expends making Hi-Beams results in a bass string that is highly flexible, musically bright (not harshly bright) and renowned for durability,unusually long life, consistency, and string-to-string balance. They don’t eat your frets. HI-BEAMS are the string to choose for brightness, punch and ease of playing. the Marcus Miller fat beams are just like a custom version of the above [/quote] "Unique" not in that the core is round but in that the core is treated in a specific way before it receives the core wrap. But it's not whether the core is round or shaped that influences how "tight" a string feels but the ratio of the core to the wrap. Setting aside discussion of ratio, and limiting discussion to the core: a string with a larger core is stiffer and feels more resistant than a string with a smaller core. Understanding this, and assuming like materials, it's then possible to examine how the ratio of the wrap to wrap influences the characteristics of the string: a string with a larger first wrap will be bright and flexible but lack volume and sustain compared to a string with a smaller first wrap. There are a lot of exaggerated - and unsubstantiated - claims made by string manufacturers, and it really is unwise to rely on the marketing puff utilised by any particularly manufacturer. (Remember, all the string manufacturers purchase their raw materials from the very small number of wire manufacturers.)

[url="http://www.liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm"]http://www.liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm[/url] [quote name='CHRISDABASS' post='885162' date='Jul 3 2010, 11:28 PM']I'd suggest DR high beam strings! They're made with a pretty unique round core that makes them really flexible and great to play [/quote] And there's nothing unique about a round core. Round core is the original. What's different, although not unique, about DR's winding process is the use of compression.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='883565' date='Jul 1 2010, 10:55 PM']Now that is strange - not sure whether I like it or not. Maybe a refin; but he does say 1988, ie post - Matsumoku so it might be a Korean peculiarity. Odd that he says [i]designed[/i] by Matsumoku, rather than built.[/quote] It's an '80 - transition model - three different burst finishes were available - between '80 and '82 - similarly a gold fade and a silver fade - all are rare here - the tobacco burst (so-called) is the one you see most often - this looks like the version which had a higher yellow content (seen on examples dating from '80 and '81).

Two suggestions, if you can source suitable vintage instruments: G&L SB1 and Yamaha BB1200.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='871698' date='Jun 19 2010, 12:42 PM']They did - there was a 30th Anniversary reissue last year: [url="http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum/handcrafted-re-issues/limited-edition-mc30th-musician-bass-reissue-at-namm-%2709/"]http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum/hand...-at-namm-%2709/[/url] Not exactly affordable & easy to find though![/quote] Interesting. (But now only "quite interesting" as it's not an official Sting signature piece.) Jon, In theory, just saying, imagine if, etc, I've just been offered one of these (fifteen) basses, pre-owned, what sort of price tag are we talking?

[quote name='Toddy' post='871536' date='Jun 19 2010, 08:50 AM']Er this isnt gonna be like a question on QI,,,[/quote] Making me Stephen Fry? No is what I'd have said, but I don't know enough about the Ibanez catalogue to be certain.

So, did Ibanez ever release a limited edition Sting signature model?

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='866463' date='Jun 13 2010, 08:24 PM']You can always spot the guitarist trying to play a bass - They always hook their thumb over the top of the neck, play with that slanty hand (shockingly bad technique!) & have no clue what their fourth finger is for![/quote] Not sure I'd agree about the 4th finger comment - find my 4th finger routinely in use when playing guitar. But you're right, the biomechanics - wrist angle particularly - are very different when playing guitar and playing bass. In part it's those physical attributes and learned behaviours that cause difficulties for players switching between instruments. Similarly, the point about technique has some validity, although some notable bassists deploy the thumb over technique - Sting comes to mind - although it isn't by any means an essential in the bassist’s arsenal. But the point about technique holds true for players switching between a variety of instruments - banjo players when switching to guitar, and vice versa, is a good example. Any musician with a modicum of commonsense would recognise that they may have some transferable knowledge, but that all instruments require differing techniques. It’s ignorance - and bigotry - that has a musician versed in one instrument diminishing the worth or skills of a musician versed in a different instrument.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='863499' date='Jun 10 2010, 04:27 PM']Ive just received my new Squier CV Jazz and while im impressed with it the G tuner is rattling really loudly. ... [S]o much for these basses rivalling MIM.[/quote] And, of course, there's absolutely no doubt it's a manufacturing defect/quality control issue at Squier and there's absolutely no possibility the instrument has taken a knock in transit - from the manufacturer to the distributor; from the distributor to the reseller; from the reseller to you, the customer.

[quote name='throwoff' post='860749' date='Jun 8 2010, 09:05 AM']I thought I was quite clear but oh well!! I have no clue about Arias except that some people really rate certain ones and others not so much! Is this one of the models that is any good? What years are the good ones?[/quote] In which case it might be a good idea to learn what the phrase wolf in sheep's clothing means, and how to use it. It's an SB700 carcass, irrespective of catalogue designation. It's neck-thru, constructed using Sen ash, maple, walnut and rosewood, with a quick release bridge design and quality hardware, and a passive pickup and electrics (volume, tone and phase reverse switch). The three main SB designs are all regarded as being high quality - a matter of preference as to which is best, depending on whether it's active electrics (SB1000), passive electrics (SB700) or the flexibility of two pickups (SB900) being sought. There are some who think the earlier (pre-81) versions are less reliable than later versions, as a consequence of the original pickup design, but the earlier versions have different tonal characteristics to production from '81 onwards.

[quote name='throwoff' post='860697' date='Jun 8 2010, 08:24 AM']Is this a wolf in sheeps clothing or just mutton?[/quote] Not sure what you're trying to say, but it's easy to get the seller to confirm the year of production by telling you the first digit of the serial, and whether the serial is six (70s) or seven (80s) digits. For comparison, there was an Oak SB1000 (right-handed/fretless) manufactured in '80 listed on BC for £450. Being a left-handed model, the seller is probably being realistic with the pricing to move it on.

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='858712' date='Jun 6 2010, 10:01 AM'][G]enerally the public like flash and showmanship over steadiness and solidness.[/quote] [quote name='Rich' post='858881' date='Jun 6 2010, 12:53 PM']Yeah, that Entwistle bloke would have been rubbish in a rock band... [/quote] Explaining the winners in every category - and why any band that comprised Mercury, Hendrix, Flea and Bonham would be crap. Call me cynical, but I'd be more interested in learning where the money raised from the telephone voting goes than I was in hearing the outcome of any of the polls.

You'd get a used G&L Tribute L2500 with that budget.

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='857183' date='Jun 4 2010, 12:22 PM']Depends what you mean by 'narrow'. Thin front to back? String spacing? Narrow nut width? Something else?[/quote] Hitting all the possible narrow/thin requirements (and nothing to do with me re sale): [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=88368&hl=Yamaha"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...8&hl=Yamaha[/url]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='857773' date='Jun 4 2010, 09:37 PM']According to the S/N it's an '86 - When did production shift? I thought it was '87.[/quote] Matsumoku closed '87. Production of certain models moved to Taiwan and Korea '85. [quote name='Bassassin' post='857886' date='Jun 5 2010, 12:03 AM']From what I've read it looks like there was a transitional period and I think 87 was the cut-off point for Matsumoku Arias. It's generally assumed that if it doesn't say MIJ then it's Korean production - but clearly this is all just archaeology & guesswork! Pretty sure I've also read that some late MIJ Arias came from factories other than Matsumoku, so there's no telling how you'd ID those...[/quote] There are examples of LEB models both MIJ and MIK manufactured between '85 and '87. There are examples of non-Matsumoku MIJ APII models from '85 onwards.