implo

Hello, Apologies if this is an oft' discussed topic, but I couldn't find anything specific via search. Ok, so finally bought a 2008 Stingray 3 EQ and it's currently on its merry little way over. However, I already know it's not going to sound exactly like I want it to, given I'm after that Joe Lally 2EQ sound. I have three basic issues really. 1) Are there any 'Ray owners who have tried converting a 3 EQ model to a 2? I've heard John East's BTB MMSR Preamp captures the pre-EB sound. Has anyone tried this set-up with any success? 2) The 'disappearing G string' trick. Can this be solved just by shifting out the pick up, or does it require a pup+pre-amp swap? Given I'm after a specific tone, would you recommend a Bartolini, Nordstrand or a Seymour? I've heard the Nordstrand is the most faithful reproduction of the early MM pups, but the web is awash with contradictions. 3) I'm ok with a soldering iron, but have never poked about inside a bass. Is all this talk of shifting things out just idiocy? Any modifications have to be done at home, given the extortionate prices here. Thanks again for the invaluable advice! I really hope yet another Stingray thread doesn't make people want to kill themselves. :-/

Aye, it's not easy unlearning. I play with my thumb and forefinger, so am neither a picker nor a proper, erm, ... fingerer. My 'slap' technique too is a homemade variety, tapping the strings up on the fretboard. It's just something that's always been so and I've never been able to make the two finger approach work. Play with a pick now and again, mostly when I want that Stranglers sound, so each technique has it's application. Certainly, neither are mutually exclusive. I'm not a very big fan of 'should', mainly as any kind of musical instrument is subject to the idiosyncrasies of the player. In your position, I would focus less on playing the 'right' way, and more on finding a middle ground that sounds ok and still feels good to you. Just my tuppence.

[quote name='FreddyS' post='749595' date='Feb 18 2010, 01:51 PM']Go' dag ja, hvor holder du til hen?[/quote] Ut på landet i Akershus. Du da? Edit *kremt* Gjøvik, tydeligvis...

[quote name='FreddyS' post='749082' date='Feb 17 2010, 11:55 PM']Hi, my name is Freddy, I'm 37 years old and am from Norway. I mainly play different kinds of (hopefully) funky music... My current setup is: 9 string Chris Larkin bass, 6 string Chris Larkin bass, 8 string Basslab bass and a 6 string electric upright Chris Larkin bass. I do also own a Yamaha 415 bass that I hardly use... For amplification I use Hughes and Kettner Quantum Leap 421 combo paired with a House Of Speakers 2*12" + 1*6" cabinet Cheers![/quote] Ja, go' dag - nok en norg!

[quote name='Les' post='749433' date='Feb 18 2010, 12:15 PM']Walk away Implo. As much as I hate to rain on your parade, there are too many if's, but's, and maybe's with this bass, and too many if's, but's, and maybe's in your head. [/quote] I think you may be right there, sir.

[quote name='bass5' post='748940' date='Feb 17 2010, 10:02 PM']IF: 1) The price is right 2) The bass is in good conditions. Both structurally and electronically, preamp working? all pots working? 3) How does it play through an amp 4) Is the neck straight and I mean not warped so that it looks like an elliptical dna chain? If all of the above are a pass then sod the colour and get it, looks like a good'n from here with plenty mojo. take the body to a luthier and have it stripped repainted in whatever you like.[/quote] Not able to play it, but am assured it's in good order. The luthier tip is definitely worth considering. [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='748982' date='Feb 17 2010, 10:31 PM']nice instrument, its year will be a talking point for sure. Whats the serial? MM started the serials at 1000 BTW...[/quote] B006585 (see previous post) [quote name='RhysP' post='749030' date='Feb 17 2010, 11:15 PM']If it was me buying it there's no way I'd give it a wax or oil finish - that would definitely f*** up the resale value. Have it refinished in a way that is in keeping with the year of the instrument, be it a natural or colour finish.[/quote] Good point, well made.

A new twist in the tale - got the serial - B006585 - and it transpires this is not a '76 at all, in fact it looks to be a '78. At least if [url="http://www.musicmanbass.org/mycustompage0011.htm"]this[/url] site is anything to go by, and, as it's the site The Balls themselves use/refer to, I'm guessing it's dependable. Would explain why the fretboard is in better condition than expected. I'm wondering if the shop-peeps were told it was a 76 and didn't bother checking, or knew but didn't think anyone else would check. Never underestimate a pedant. Either way, not quite the same temptation as much of the appeal was the rocking horse sh*t aspect.

[quote name='henry norton' post='748680' date='Feb 17 2010, 06:07 PM']All bass players should own at least one Stingray in their lifetime - it's a bit like a rite of passage.[/quote] Amen.

[quote name='henry norton' post='748188' date='Feb 17 2010, 12:08 PM']Yeah that's a fair point but it's a buyers market at the moment so prices should be pretty good. I know some people swear by old MusicMan basses - I've owned a pre EB Stingray - and it certainly had some quality issues you wouldn't find on any Ernie Ball Ray, so it's always going to be a bit of a gamble buying an older version. That said, if you want it RIGHT NOW and are prepared to do some work on it who am I to tell you otherwise? Good luck with it.[/quote] Oh prices are good by norwegian standards. You didn't see EBs turning up below 10000NOK in 2008, but now prices are edging closer to 80k. If I could ask for a little more of your time, I wondered if you could expand on what issues I can possibly expect? Thanks for your help, Henry, it's much appreciated, and certainly the reason I'm here is to make sure people [i]do[/i] tell me otherwise...

[quote name='matski' post='748342' date='Feb 17 2010, 01:54 PM']Just buy it! Then strip it and paint it black.... Finding decent '76 StingRays these days is hard work. From personal experience the pre-EBs sound way better than post-EBs - much fatter in the lower end, and not so 'clacky' with the treble dialled in. I have a '79er and as soon as EB started production back in the 80s I bought one as a live back-up bass - the sound sucked compared to the '79 so i sold it about 2 months later...[/quote] I do love a ray in black, it must be said. You're definitely not the first to say the sound is very different, and it's mostly that that's putting pressure on this possible sale. [quote name='TheRev' post='748387' date='Feb 17 2010, 02:21 PM']I'd buy it and just replace the black guard with a red tortie one.[/quote] By no word of a lie, I found myself wondering what a red plate would look like on it. As far as home-brewed paintwork is concerned, it it looks to be a half decent job. It might be ok as is. [quote name='bh2' post='748511' date='Feb 17 2010, 03:47 PM']God I miss that ray.[/quote] Seems to be a mantra, that.

[quote name='Tait' post='746611' date='Feb 15 2010, 11:22 PM']here's the profile of a koala's face.[/quote] Such a sad little chap, too. Stop thrusting your buckle in his face!

[quote name='alanbass1' post='747683' date='Feb 16 2010, 08:48 PM']Looks OK from the photo's. Have you played it, if it feels/sounds good then get it. Many 70's Musicman basses are heavy which is a no no for me. I picked up my Stingray in '79 and it weighs in a tad over 8.5lbs, which is light for a Stingray. Had from new and still love it: [/quote] Sir! That is unutterably gorgeous. I'm an absolute sucker for the classic finishes and that looks in exceptional condition. Excuse me as I wipe the drool from my chin. No, I've not been able to play it as it's a long way away and I don't drive. I've played Rays before, although not pre-EB. If I decide to go ahead, one of the terms will be that I can return it if I don't like it. One of the advantages of buying from a shop, I suppose.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='747656' date='Feb 16 2010, 08:22 PM']I LOVE white basses.[/quote] Sorry man, no disrespect meant., of course.

[quote name='henry norton' post='747532' date='Feb 16 2010, 06:57 PM']Doesn't look too bad to me - but beware if you strip it back to bare wood it's more likely to be a boring looking Alder body rather than an interesting looking Ash. Also, if you do decide to give it an oil and wax finish it'll make it very very difficult to repaint it. 1300 sounds quite allot of money - especially for a refin. Have you checked out any others from around the world (with shipping etc.)?[/quote] I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's a natural finish that's been painted over. I've asked the seller the same but not gotten a reply as of yet. That being the case, I would hope the body's a decent chunk of wood. 12000NOK is expensive, but the market here is totally dead for the moment. I've been looking for a Stingray since december and found only 3 so far, all of which were either too expensive or sold. The market for used basses here is infinitely smaller than the UK, more's the pity. This is also a shop-bought bass, so will have been set up properly. That alone is something which will cost me in excess of 100 quid if I were to buy the service. And yep, I've contacted people abroad, both in the UK and the US (a couple through basschat actually) but the shipping hassle and the charges I'll incur are definitely a deterrent. That said , I am keeping my options open for the moment, and the only reason this particular bass is tempting is entirely down to the age.

[quote name='Les' post='747516' date='Feb 16 2010, 06:48 PM']Don't think it looks that bad to be honest. The fret board looks in better nick than my 79 Ray, so I say go for it, and welcome to the club, so to speak. [/quote] As far as WHITE basses go it's not to shabby, but it's just so hair-metal. Coincidentally, I viewed a '79 Ray recently and the fretboard was shockingly bad. Maybe they were using different techniques or something. But these replies have been very helpful, especially so given this was essentially my first post. Sincerely, thanks all.

[quote name='Jerry_B' post='747508' date='Feb 16 2010, 06:41 PM']I guess you may not be able to see what the original colour was until you take it apart. There may be traces in the electronics wells.[/quote] Good tip, thanks.

[quote name='Les' post='747493' date='Feb 16 2010, 06:26 PM']Show us the pictures. [/quote] I don't think I can see colour under the scratches... [attachment=42809:main.jpg] [attachment=42810:front.jpg] [attachment=42811:back.jpg]

[quote name='Beedster' post='747462' date='Feb 16 2010, 06:07 PM']Strip it back to bare wood and wax/oil it. Make it your own. Make sure the original finish isn't underneath the refin first, occasionally people get lucky like that (or unlucky when they find out too late that they could have saved the original finish).[/quote] That's a bloody good idea, that. I had thought of getting it resprayed, but oiling it would be a lovely option. From the pictures, I think the original finish was natural, so hopefully it wouldn't be horror-show underneath. Thanks.

[quote name='noelk27' post='747458' date='Feb 16 2010, 06:04 PM']You always have the option of getting it refinished. I suppose it depends on how much of the bass is original (electronics, hardware, etc), and what the asking price is when measured against market value for an factory finished example.[/quote] It's the 'keeping original' bit which is such a problem. Although, I suppose as it's already non-original that's a moot point. Other than the paint, as far as I'm aware it's original. The market's not exactly buoyant here at the moment, but it's going for roughly 1200 quid. New EBs here are anything from 1500 up to the late 2000s. Vintage MMs can sell for anything from 1300 to stupid money, depending on condition. This one 'should be' 2000, I'm told.

So yes, I live in sunny Norway - the land of snow, dull cheese and incredibly expensive instruments. It's commonplace to buy stuff from half way around the world, pay shipping, import taxes and VAT and still come out smiling. Imagine my disbelief, then, when I learn of a 1976 Stingray for sale here at way under the price of a new EB. I get in contact with the guy selling it and yes, it's still for sale. I requests pictures and... there's the catch. In very good nick, but it seems the the previous owner decided to paint it. White. Predictably, in such a situation there is no choice but to take refuge in the humble list. [b][+][/b] • It's a '76 Stingray. • It's going to be 100% studio-bound so how it looks isn't particularly important to me as a player. • It's a '76 Stingray. [b][–][/b] • A homemade paint-job is going to absolutely f*ck the resale value. And while I don't think it's likely I'll sell it in the future, I felt exactly the same about my previous 4 basses. Which I sold. • It's close to 300 quid beyond what I had in mind as a budget. • It's white, which is just about the unsexiest colour for a bass at the best of times, but especially in this case given this should be a schaa-wing! bass of the highest order. What to do? What do do!

[quote name='FlatEric' post='696925' date='Dec 31 2009, 07:40 AM']Hope you get your hands on it. [/quote] Bought! The guy was off-line because it's christmas. Lightweight... ;-) Thanks again for the info and not least the manuals. I'll post some pics in gear porn once it's here. :-)

-FlatEric. Sir! Sorry about the delay. Thanks very, very much for the info - extremely useful. I've not seen the T-40 stuff in Gear Porn so I'll have a gander in just a moment. It's always a risk buying something you haven't played, and I've ummed and aahed about it for some time now. Ultimately though it could be a good bass, sound wise, and even if the neck isn't Milestone-esque, it still sounds ok from your description. The weight issue won't be so important given it will only be used in the studio. I managed to get the guy down to 3500 NOK (roughly 350 quid) which struck me as pretty reasonable for a bass approaching 'vintage' status, especially so given everything in Norway is f*cking expensive. The bloke's no longer responding to my emails though, so it may be a no-goer, which, given it looks in very good condition... [attachment=39006:T_40.jpg] Would be very sad. -neepheid + silverfoxnik :-) Takk takk.

Hello, I stumbled into 'gear porn' after googling the Peavey T-40/T-45 and thought you seemed like a splendid bunch. I'm originally a soft southern tw*t who now lives in Norway, where I spend alot of my free time writing [url="http://implosionquintet.com"]odd sh*t[/url]. Bass-wise, I'm self-taught and have been playing for 14 years, and currently own a Warwick Corvette 5 (which I'm attempting to flog to the norgs). As was mentioned, I came in via a search for a Peavey T-45, a particularly mint example of which I found for sale over here. I wondered if there are any T-45 players out there who can give me any idea as to how it sounds/plays? As a reference point, I spent some time working in a guitar shop in Bath years ago, and played regularly on two basses - a beyond-my-wages Stingray and a tuppence Peavey milestone. The 'Ray was superb, EB or not, but the Milestone had that neck... Cheapy or not, it was lovely to play. So, The T-45 struck me as a kind of mid-way between the two - it looks to have a milestone-esque neck, and what with the pick up being where it is (and that curious little roll-off pot), I thought it may come close to MM tone. Maybe. Any input is very welcome indeed. My thanks, gentlemen. *doffs*