Steff

Looks fine to me but I'm a bit worried about the condition of the neck. Judging by the way it looks it might have been stored in some shed or a basement along with some junk and I won't be surprised if the neck has developed a nice curve. It definitely doesn't look like a bedroom bass.

Might also be worth mentioning, what era are you aiming for? There's a big difference between 60s/70's/modern days Ps, also MIJ, MIA, CIJ or whatever else there is. Also I've never played a proper vintage Ray, neither one of those new ones, but from what I know they all sound a bit different too. One thing I know for sure is and I've mentioned it before, 1990's rays (and maybe + - a few years) as mine is will expose your playing much more than a P. If your timing is great, definitely a Ray. If it isn't that well refined, the P will be more "friendly". The Ray will deliver the note you're playing at the exact time you play it, as the P is a bit more rounded and the time of the exact tone attack isnt that clear (don't throw stones at me now, I'm only talking about the time of tone's attack). With the P's I've played that is. Also worth mentioning. When I got my 77 Jazz, it had Fender CS 60s pickups in. I've recently bought a pair of original 70s pickups and the difference is night and day. So much that now I wanna play my jazz more and more. Before with the CS 60s it was more about owning a 70s jazz rather than playing a 70s jazz. Also a few people mention Rays sound terrible on their own. Are you sure you've actually tried genuine Rays? I'd say that's very subjective. In my opinion my ray never sounded bad on its own apart from when it has very old strings. Which is the case with any other bass really.

Never had a problem with the G string on my Ray5. Just try to play as many Rays and Ps in gig or at least rehearsal situations before taking the final decision. Also consider what are your favourite bassists playing - I bought my Ray back in '99 just because I was and still am a big Tony Levin fan (mostly of his work with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson and his session work). Ordered it without ever seen one in flesh and never regretted.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1388073843' post='2318301'] So do we conclude that if you want to stand out and be heard you will use a Stingray and if you want to sit in the mix you will use a P? [/quote] I'd say it depends on your playing and where you wanna place yourself in the mix but yes, the SR is easier to stand out and the P is easier to blend in. In my experience that is.

Played a Stingray5 for 15 years but I will buy a 70s precision soon too. They're just different. If I had to choose one though it'd be the Ray. Never had a problem with it fitting in any genre from pop to soul to funk, rock, metal, whatever you think of. To me the Ray is more versatile because of the EQ (3eq on mine). Also playability - the only one bass I've ever seen with lower action than mine was a £2500 Sadowsky.

I've had my SR5 since '99... Doing music for a living since then with an average of 3-6 gigs per week. Here's what I think in short: As a bass player I'd say - never sell a quality bass (as the MM is one, regardless of if you like the tone or not). You will regret later. As a SR lover - I can see where everyone saying it's a one trick pony are coming from. The SR's presence in the mix, the low - low mid thump is always there. That never changes no matter what knobs you turn. However, mine is 3 EQ and it's quite versatile. I can dial pretty much any sound (need to position my right hand accordingly) with ease, sounds great with a pick, fingers or slap. I could never get the Jaco tone, but check this out - this girl nails it. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHMs8f5G2mQ[/media] Now the StingRay is a rare beast... It could be a bless and a curse. The low mid focus and its signature sound strips down and exposes your playing so much that if your timing isn't perfect, everyone will hear it. If your timing is perfect, again everyone will hear it . Unlike most of the other basses who are more or less player friendly and have nice rounded lows which really integrates the playing within the mix nicely, with the SR you have to be perfect. Which is a great thing because you can always hear your mistakes and makes you improve and become a better player. I have a littlemark 2 and I find it better sounding with the Ray paired with my Schroeder 21012 cab rather than with the 310 Epifani (which is by the way much more transparent). The Schroeder adds a mid frequency focus to the Ray sound and honestly, there's nothing more I could ever want from my sound. And I've tried dozens of amps and cabs. My other setup is ampeg svt2p to a PreSonus studio channel to a QSC power amp, again same here but with much more versatility and the lovely tubey warmth from the ampeg. Also with the Ray (at least mine) you can get ridiculously low action, if you aren't a heavy player. You can be gentle and play close to the neck, to be surrounded by a nice bassy soft sound, or you can dig in by the pickup and get that earth-shaking uncompromising sound that says - I'm here, but I'm sure you've already noticed that. With my playing I can even get synth - like sound, come see me playing Ain't nobody - no effects needed. Of course I wanna have 10 basses, I own a Fender jazz which I prefer for some gigs (but not many), but if I was allowed to have only 1 bass, that would have been the Ray5. In conclusion I'd say, if you're comfortable with the neck and the general way it feels, DON'T sell it! You will find the right tone through playing and experience. Save money, in the meantime try as many other basses as you can (best on a gig or at least rehearsal), and whenever you save enough - go and buy one more. And then one more . Steff

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1387734164' post='2315028'] Correct decision, Hutton! As Steff says, it would be nice to have 2x2, but if you only have one J and one P, and want some versatility in your sounds, then I would always put roundwounds on the Jazz, and flats on the Precision. Nickel roundwounds, right? [/quote] +1 Precision with flats... now thats a dream. Or just the new year's resolution Tried Nickels on my StingRay5 - was quite pleased with the results. Darker, but a bit warmer and a tad growlier sound. Currently have steels, but will try again nickels next time I restring. A set of Bass Centre Elites nickel is coming my way soon, will try them on the Fender.

I never said shipping. If you read my posts you'll see I was suggesting someone went there, bought it and flew back. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to pay import duties, neither shipping or VAT. It doesn't really matter now since it's more than clear it's a scam But really, the legal way isn't the only way to get an item from overseas. I would never do or encourage such thing, but a lot of people do it. I just bought an original '74 jazz pickup from the US and didn't even ask the seller if he can reduce its value on the invoice in order to lower/skip import fees. Fact is, many people do that. I am just saying not everything that looks too good to be true is a scam. There was a £180 Fender musicmaster '77 on gumtree a few months ago and I missed it just out of too much hesitation. Also if you had seen the Alembic I used to own selling on gumtree for £600, you'd probably think it's a scam again. Well it wasn't . It was brought (not shipped) from the US.

So... The "seller" has responded to my enquiry, and he asked me my email address for faster communication. Here it is, first email is the latest so to be read from bottom to top Hello again , The bass is already at a Parcel2Go office The transaction will be closed through Parcel2Go. You will have the opportunity to try the item as I said before. You will not pay me any money until you see and inspect the product, all you have to do is purchase PaySafecard receipts from the store and confirm them online with Parcel2Go after they send you the invoice with our transaction details. Also you have to keep the receipts and forward them to me after you decide to keep the item. If the item is not as described you will receive a full refund from Parcel2Go. Please reply me with your Full name and delivery address so i can search a PaySafe store near you and inform Parcel2Go about our transaction. Thanks Sergent: Dale Hart RAF Aldergrove On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 11:00 PM, Stefan <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Dale, Would you mind cash on collection as I don't mind driving when it comes to such an expensive instrument. Best, Steff Sent from my iPhone On 23 Dec 2013, at 20:11, Dale Hart <[email protected]> wrote: Hi, The bass is still available. My name is Dale Hart , I work as a flight sergeant in the Royal Air Force, I have recently been transferred to a new military base in Northern Ireland (RAF Aldergrove base) but you don't have to worry because the item is in UK and we will use a fast and reliable cash on delivery service (Parcel2go) , this way you will have the opportunity to try the item first. Let me know if you're interested to use this service. Cheers Sergent: Dale Hart RAF Aldergrove On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 7:43 PM, Stefan Marinov <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Dale, I am interested in the bass, can you please send some more photos if possible, also a few more details? When are you available to meet? Best, Steff <$(KGrHqF,!lcFIUbwBF0uBSG70Z6BVg~~60_57.JPG> <$(KGrHqJ,!qgFI,5)lfBRBSG79b0QFw~~60_57.JPG> <$(KGrHqN,!nUFH9rr4V+OBSG8p)emVg~~60_57.JPG> <$(KGrHqR,!qIFIYQbR(zEBSG78ryvig~~60_57.JPG> <$(KGrHqV,!k8FH6QCZ4q1BSG8BkI!og~~60_57.JPG> <$T2eC16F,!)0FIZ15+(7GBSG8CS0RZQ~~60_57.JPG> <$T2eC16N,!)EE9s2ufg46BSG8q+Dv4Q~~60_57.JPG> <$T2eC16R,!yUE9s6NFHnmBSG8!ubjJg~~60_57.JPG> <$T2eC16Z,!ygE9s7HJ-1oBSG75KqlPw~~60_57.JPG> The scam explained: http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?74125-Is-this-a-scam-as-it-s-a-new-one-on-me Hope that'll help prevent anyone from falling for this new type a scam.

Yep I was looking at this one earlier too... Looks good and I've checked eBay, they start from 800 usd for a decent condition one... Never played one of those though.

Of course, not in that context. I meant if an UK citizen was on some trip in the US or if he arranged his own courier after winning the auction. That's the story of my £600 Alembic.

If people buy/sell 20k cars on gumtree, I don't see a reason why they shouldn't sell 2-3k basses there.

I'm not saying you guys are wrong, just saying I wouldn't write it off that fast. Might as well be a big phat fraud

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1387736499' post='2315068'] I'd say chances are nil; nobody buys a bass in September for roughly £2,600 then sells it a couple of months later for £1,000 and uses the same item description as the guy they just bought it from. [/quote] You've got a point mate but unfortunate things in life happen and sometimes people are forced to sell at a big loss. A friend of mine bought a genuine '71 precision for 1k. All original. I've seen it and played it. Now I'm sure whoever did it, had a reason to let it go for about half the money he could have sold it for.

[quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1387736485' post='2315067'] Gumtree just bounced me the 'fraudulent ad' response. [/quote] Yes. That's what they do when an ad gets reported as fraudulent. That doesn't mean the ad is actually fraudulent. It means someone has pressed the button "report this ad".

What are the chances of someone from the UK buying this bass from the US owner, then bringing it over and now selling it? I wouldn't report a listing on gumtree as fraudulent just because the same photos have been used in an eBay auction 3 months earlier... There's a lot of people selling cheap due to a changed financial situation. The price paid would have been around £2k right? I bought an used Alembic Epic fretless V on here 3 years ago for £600 and it's rrp is 6000 dollars... And I can assure you every bit of it was genuine.

Also if it's a scam why would he suggest you'd check it on Ritters web site since once you do it you can clearly see it's been sold in the USA?...

It's definitely the same one like on the website as I've compared the photos. I've emailed the seller, will post when I get a reply.

Ideally I'd have two jazzes and two precisions, one of each with flats and the other with rounds... It's just a different animal. Unfortunately I only have one Jazz, always strung with rounds as I do play slap every now and again. My experience with fender strings is rather bad. I remember putting a fresh set once before a long rehearsal - about 6 hours, and the important gig was the next day. They died so much during the rehearsal that for the gig next day I had to put back the old elixirs... Never tried fender strings again. I don't know, maybe I bought some fake ones (quite possible as I was back in Bulgaria back then). Ernieball rounds work quite well for me and they last me the most of all uncoated strings too.

Good point about the Duncan designed pups, I've just put a pair of 70s pickups in mine(thanks to Bass Doc), so the CS 60s will be up for sale soon. Already can hear a difference plugged in my computer, can't wait to test them on a gig tomorrow! There's a few treads on talkbass about the difference between CS 60s and original 60s pups, some guy did a A/B and found significant(in my opinion) differences. The CS sounded more refined, smoother, with more mellow highs. The original 60s were much punchier which is actually what I really value in a Fender basses because they already have those nice soft lows and for my playing I need a pickups that'll be nice and smooth when I play light and punchy and growly when I dig in. I can already hear the 70s I just got are much closer to that than the CS 60s. And I can confirm, I already feel better ...