4 Strings

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1412114261' post='2565915'] Hi 4strings, I used the 'pre EB guys' moniker to avoid using the nasty 'f' word ....... I think you'll find the EB Classic Rays have the neck feature you describe (theyre 7.5 in radius compared to the regular 11 in radius), and the 2 band should give that shimmering treble sound. I used to own a pre EB (from new)and one in decent condition is a great instrument - indeed I wish I'd bought the inca silver mentioned above, a few years back. Love my Classic Ray though. [/quote] Not played a 'Classic', if I was buying a new 'Ray and had enough money I'd be looking at those first (although if I had that sort of money I'm sure I'd be looking for another Pre-EB!). I don't think they have any magic, they just suit me perfectly. The neck is quite wide (top to bottom) but also fabulously slim (front to back). Not sure I'd notice the board radius but I'm sure that adds to the feel. Do the maple Classic 'Rays have one piece necks (i.e. no separate fingerboard)?

'Pre-EB Guys'? As an owner of a Pre-EB Stingray, I can report certain factual things about my bass. The neck is very slim (to my taste), the treble control adds a very high frequency fizz to the sound (fab for slap and general livening the sound if needed) it's not unduly heavy and plays like butter. I've had some EB Stingrays and liked the mid control, but the necks have not been the same and they don't give that very high frequency with the treble control. These don't make it worth £8k, nor are these features to everyones taste. At the moment (while my custom bass on on long term being looked at) my 'Ray is in every day use and I'm loving it!

I think it's looking great. I wondered about London Plane for the Ruach bass I had made last year, seeing as I'm from London etc, looking t yours, wish I'd stuck with it!

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1409826906' post='2543640'] If anyone is not sure about flatwounds then just listen to the bass on anything recorded before the mid 1960s as there's a good possibility that's what you're listening to. [/quote] Or by Sting

Why not skim off the back, rout it out and then put a plate on that, wouldn't it be easier?

Hang on, you've got mono-rails. Not using a 'proper' bridge?

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1411406770' post='2559229'] Was it a cover version of this? [media]http://youtu.be/WxY47jh9owA[/media] [/quote] Yep, the song was written for Lori, but, I have to say, I prefer the cover! I really like Roberta's voice and phrasing anyway but I also I like the arrangement more. I think this is an amazing song, words and music.

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1410288025' post='2547906'] I was into Rock back in the day, and Kiss were the biggest disappointment ever. I saw pictures of them before I heard anything by them, and my imagination went wild thinking about how evil and extreme they would sound. My benchmark was (and largely remains) Motorhead - i.e. bands were either more or less loud/fast/aggressive than them. I thought Kiss must be off the scale. So imagine my surprise when I did finally get to hear them - boring MOR rock of the tamest kind. Things are much better now - kids now have bands that do sound like Kiss should have done. My own personal favourite in this vein is Nails. Note how they reverse the Kiss appearance/reality disjunction altogether - totally unassuming-looking, but proper scary music: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg5K42gfbh8[/media] [/quote] hmmph, can't hear the words.

Brave post! Sharay's become a bit of a legend on Youtube, he's great. That song gets played tens of thousands of times a week in churches but no doubt not with bass playing like that, but certainly with at least as many covered mistakes!

[quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1411126179' post='2556697'] Alternatively get a USA made SUB. They're usually around half the price, sound and feel like a Ray if you don't mind the rather industrial paint. [/quote] Do this.

Sounds like they have fitted an ebony fretboard over the original. One of the nice things about the earlier maple fingerboard 'Rays (and Fenders come to that) was the one piece neck, i.e. no separate fingerboard, the frets set directly into the maple neck. Clearly someone preferred ebony and liked the bass enough to carry out the work! Nothing wrong with that, it's what they do in the factory anyway when they put on a fingerboard, but makes for an interesting bass. ps, mine has the extra dot too!

[quote name='witterth' timestamp='1411307982' post='2558275'] thanks for posting that never seen it before and totally made my day/month just what the Dr ordered!! [/quote] Great example of a Stingray sound!

[quote name='Stance' timestamp='1411270800' post='2558019'] Like Blur say "There´s no other way" - just the dots on one side (I think I understood your question right) [/quote] No. Here's the reason for the question. I have a Sabre with an ebony fingerboard. The dots on the side coincide precisely with the position of the frets (not the gaps between them) as it used to be a fretless. Someone put frets on it and, at the same time, put dots on the front. Of course the dots on the front go in between the fret positions and so are in a different position to those on the side. I wondered yours had come a similar journey.

[quote name='Stance' timestamp='1411208071' post='2557486'] Thanks! The side dots are sandwiched between the neck and the fretboard [/quote] Ok, thanks, and going the other way, do they line up with the frets or are they halfway in the gap between frets (like on the front)?

[quote name='wwcringe' timestamp='1410620567' post='2551342'] This is a wicked looking bass!! Please can we see the tuner? [/quote] Thanks, wwcringe! Yes, although the bass is away at the moment having that MM pup looked at. As soon as it's back I'll do some more pics of details etc. Hopefully will have something to say about the sound too.

[quote name='Stance' timestamp='1410737254' post='2552668'] Here´s mine 83 Trans Red with Ebony Fretboard (also notice the extra dot) -the battery compartment is also flushed - I guess it´s the correct term) Came with the original case - I bought it like this - the original owner was a famous Portuguese luthier, so that´s why the bass has these small chages - at least he kept the color [url="http://s163.photobucket.com/user/cacem/media/IMG_20140915_002345_zps03d4734c.jpg.html"][/url] The other one I got is the black one that´s on my Avatar [/quote] Very nice! Are the side dots on the frets or in the gaps?

Build diary here, one piece flame maple neck and solid British sycamore body. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/209972-ruach-utility-bass/ Sycamore is, apparently, of the maple family and has been uncommon use for classical instruments for many years. Heath, at Ruach, is an enthusiast for it's use in bass bodies. As rubbish for syrup as it is good for little helicopters.

[quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1410589502' post='2550996'] Bernard Edwards. ray4 into?. That's my stingray tone heaven. [/quote] Into the desk I would have thought.

[quote name='bottomfeed' timestamp='1407893946' post='2525167'] Something I did a while ago with a couple of mates.... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQvbbIiL23o[/media] even though we came from very different places, We met here!... really enjoyed it... [/quote] Me too.

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1408120353' post='2527355'] A video clip from our festival appearance at Bestival 2013. You probably recognise the song. :-) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWp7EE6NNis[/media] [/quote] I'm a sucker for anything with live brass, but thanks, I really enjoyed that!

I remember when I was very, very young, at a holiday camp with the March of the Mods being played, and us all marching round as you did, I was fascinated by the bass. Still young, I often went stock-car racing and the whistley tune they played as the cars paraded I remember the bass line (and can still sing it) more than anything. Equally young I used to mime to Happy Jack in the living room, but playing the bass - not that I really knew what it was. It seems I have always been fascinated by the bottom end as I have been playing bass for over 30 years now, even both my sons play bass - very well too.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1409124130' post='2536434'] An apostrophe in a domain name? [/quote] No, I was talking about their real name.

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1409123780' post='2536429'] I had no idea hyphens were old fashioned! so dots are considered OK or will they age to? the reason I ask is my business has a hyphen in it's domain name. [/quote] Probably underscores are the real dated ones, from a time of less flexible naming. If the real name has a hyphen no problem with the domain having one.

The real name has an apostrophe. I know it's fashionable and tiresome to rail against these, but if it's your name it should be right. Does the Explosion belong to the 60s? In which case the ownership involved would require the apostrophe. Or is it an Explosion of the 60s? In which case the plural would require apostrophe be taken away. Personally, I wouldn't like 'sex' in the name either, but of the three I'd go for 1, its your name.

Portugal, out in the mountains (about half way up, nearing Spanish border), Fretal, tiny little town of 600, and it was Festas (and 200 turn up!) with live music every night for a week and they do this 4 times a year. However, it's latin music, not with lovely rhythms but drum machines banging out euro style boom boom with auto-bass fifths on the keyboard (think Y Viva Espania but slightly different). Everybody enjoyed themselves, most people dancing and singing along. I wouldn't have thought anyone would ask for a band with proper bass and drums as they would no longer sound 'right' and find it hard to belt out the beat the way they have come to expect it. Not an English or American song in sight (which I found quite refreshing!) (The dancing, by the way, was always in couples, mostly 2 girls with one taking the lead, but when the guys joined in they were very good, both young and old. All in the hip movements, but pretty innocent, just dancing because they love it.)