OliverBlackman

As B5 said it looks like a computer generated image at the headstock end

Fair enough, mine sounded ordinary compared to my other basses. The only wow factors were the looks and build quality - much like a BMW. But to keep the analogy going, like covering a lot of miles on the motorway, if I was regularly gigging, a stingray (BMW) would be a better choice than a Warwick Thumb (my Alfa).

My thought process was I could either continue being poor and rent in London, or get an office job to build a secure future and have time and money for my other interests. If I had loved every single minute of the gigs I played I might have made the sacrifice but I didn’t. I’m pretty sure that is choice over destiny.

You need to learn theory to make sense of it all, otherwise you will always be limited. I would love to start again now with the likes of SBL online.

As an Alfa owner I don’t see this comparison. The Alfa is like a Warwick Thumb bass, beautiful, full of soul but some minor design faults that make it impractical. Stingrays are more like a BMW; good reputation, reliable, easy to use, does the job, but lacks the performance of alternatives.

I don’t think they’ll be making it in high numbers then 😂 For me it has the luxuries you would expect of a modern jazz bass but with a vintage vibe. At first glance, and before I learnt it was a burl top, I thought it might be a Lee Sklaar signature.

It might have only related to the SR5s but I’m sure there was a period with ceramic pickups, rather than alnico. Found this from Seymour Duncan: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/latest-updates/the-history-of-the-music-man-stingray-bass-pickup-1976-2021#:~:text=Stingray invented it.-,The Music Man Pickup,found in the bridge position.

I’ve always thought I’d rather get a luthier to build a jazz over a Fender custom shop (and did for my fretless) but this is as beautiful a jazz as I’ve ever seen https://www.fendercustomshop.com/series/artisan/artisan-maple-burl-jazz-bass-3a-rosewood-fingerboard-aged-natural/

I had an 07/08 3EQ H 4 string and it suffered from the notorious weak G string. Good build quality but no character. The special that I have played was far superior but much more ££. The late 80s/ early 90s with birdseye maple and bassmutes have a good reputation

Bloody hell, where to start….. probably 1977 or was it ‘76 😬

The Bass Gallery has always been old school and you get so much more out of face to face interaction there than you would an automated online transaction. For them it must work well that way otherwise you’d think there’d put more resource into the website.

Fixed. Cases should only be black or in the event of early Fenders, tweed. Anything else is too extravagant for the bass community and would bring our dull reputation into disrepute.

Unfortunately a refinish but what a colour! https://thebassgallery.com/products/fender-precision-bass-1962

I’m assuming if the OP didn’t know what it was, they got it for a good price.

Depends what you mean as pro? Not many make it as artists/ famous bands. I wanted to be a session musician until I really understood what that meant, travelling the length of the country to play a wedding, corporate gig, Christmas party ect. All for a moderate living and unhealthy work/ life balance. Then I found that a lot of bands out there require BVs and there’s no way anyone would pay for that from me.

Jam nights are a different to regular gigs as it often requires; learning a song as you play, following cues from other players, and improvisation. Ive embarrassed myself plenty of times but I came away each time knowing what I need to work on if I go again.

There’s a thread in bass guitars

Judging by the fact it’s USD I assume OP is in the states where Wal prices are even higher than UK (if Talkbass is anything to go on). Can you get a 70s Fender Jazz for that price in the US? I think that’d be my shout or a used Ken smith if one came up in budget.

My interpretation is pre 1980

I thought white finishes tended to yellow but the colour under the bridge ashtray suggests it has faded instead

I once asked to try a gorgeous MM stingray in a shop in Barcelona…. I got a firm no! Pity because I ended up buying the same model/ colour in the UK and didn’t sound as good as it had looked in the Catalan sunshine.

Also the roots have been house band for Jimmy Fallon since 2009 which I believe is very popular in the states. While Pino is in my book an icon, he’s not widely known beyond musician circles. I would assume by his demeanour and lack of media, that is the way he likes it.

Parents seem to willingly spend £500 on a PlayStation or £1k+ on a phone so who knows these days.

I would expect a store with such a big online presence to expect a % of returns and the best way to keep consumer confidence is to not fuss over them. If they can’t handle that, don’t sell online. I’ve not had any experience from there since 2009 when I bought an interface. Funnily enough I was advised against the Focurite because this other one would last forever. They weren’t wrong, it’s still going strong!