5 String bass? Purchase has been made!

[thodrik]

Looking at the Bass Direct site, I like the look of the Mayones, as well as the MTD Kingston Heir for buying new. I try not to look at the Vigiers, Skjolds and others that I have no real hope of affording! I'm looking at getting a fiver myself, the G and L L2500 seem like good value bought from new, the only thing stopping me from really wanting it is that I would quite like a 24 fret neck. Good luck in your search.

[OliverBlackman]

Maybe think about ordering an Elrick Jazz? (http://www.expatnjs.com/) Theyve been out for a while now and have been incredibly popular with reviewers in the states.

A bit pricey i know but with the "Take away" deal it wouldnt be too bad

[JTUK]

Well, you know what you are getting with MM and the string spacing should be comfortable as you use them in 4's..

I would think you need to be sure about the 35" scale of the JO, IIRC, so you need to be certain on that.
I always think 5's and scale are no problem if you use a classical LH grip, but more of a problem with LH thumb overlap.

The JO would cover sounds the MM couldn't and the pre adds flexibilty, but I am guessing you have no problems with the MM sound anyway.

Tough call and it will be down to whichever one grabs you when you play it.
Of course, all you can do over the internet is narrow down the choices.. you never know for sure until you play one..and that is how it should be, IMO.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1059830' date='Dec 15 2010, 06:25 PM']...[b]Ou7shined[/b] and [b]Liam[/b] The Squier is tempting and it will be first to be tried if we end up at guitar guitar in Birmingham, As far as a present for the wife [size=3]her favourite thing is money in the bank to look at[/size]! Hence leaving it in there and going 0%, best of both worlds!....[/quote]
Haha mine's the same.

Hope you get to try the Squier also having only played the 4 banger I'd love to know what you think of the L-2500.

[Musicman20]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1060106' date='Dec 15 2010, 10:19 PM']Proof will be in the pudding but going to 5 isnt feeling like an issue after one full night of staying with it rather than just for the songs I need it for. In fact Im a bit upset at the thought of not wanting to use any of my 4's after I get one, Keep an eye in the FS for a nice EBMM [/quote]

Woah, dont sell your 4s. Im in the camp that believes you can have a few of each....certain styles suit certain basses that I use much better than others.

Eg Id much rather use a P Bass or Ray 4 in a normal punk context with a pick, than a Ray 5.

As soon as we are talking fingerstyle, and say something like funk, then you could definitely use a 5er.

I just treat them as totally different instruments.

[stingrayPete1977]

Thats what Im hoping Musicman20 as you know I do love them and would like to have my 2002 forever as I have played it so much since buying it brand new. Im hoping the snow isnt going to put a spanner in the works for this weekends shopping trip!

Anyone know of a shop stocking Ray 5's midlands'ish area?

[stingrayPete1977]

This fits the bill perfect but Im not sure about the headstock? Its a bit of a Jimmy Coppolo paddle!
[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Clover_Apeiron_H.5.htm"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...Apeiron_H.5.htm[/url]

[martthebass]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1060106' date='Dec 15 2010, 10:19 PM']Well I have just got in from having a bash with Dave Barron (see below) and played his OLP 5 all night without too much trouble, In fact going back to my Jazz for a quick blast was actually more confudling! Proper confused now but maybe [b]gassing for a RAY 5[/b] how predicatble am I?

Proof will be in the pudding but going to 5 isnt feeling like an issue after one full night of staying with it rather than just for the songs I need it for. In fact Im a bit upset at the thought of not wanting to use any of my 4's after I get one, Keep an eye in the FS for a nice EBMM [/quote]

Pete, I went through a few 5s before settling on a Ray5.

First was a DJ5 - loved the sound but hated the string spacing - too wide for my hands - made the fretboard feel like a plank to me. The 35" didn't help either. If it had had a Ray5 neck it would have been perfect!

Second was a US G&L, heavy as f$%* and the neck was a bit 'clubby'. The sounds were good but all the switches etc made life complicated. I decided to get rid when it developed a lacquer crack in the neck pocket overnight - I didn't sell it on BC!

Third was a SR5 - the one I sold to Bubinga5 - beautiful bass. I only sold it because I developed a shoulder problem and needed a lightweight 4 string, so it went to fund the Streamline.

I've got a SR5 fretless at the mo (couldn't get hold of a SR4 F'less when I needed one) - very playable, the only criticism I have is that it's a bit on the heavy side so I don't like it for long sets. I think SR5's can be had used at a decent price, mine's a 1998, near mint (no dings at all) and cost me £725 all in - tho I have decided to have a bit of work done on it by Mr Shuker which will up that a bit

Overall I like having a 5 string - especially for working out new songs for the set but I don't think I'd get rid of the 4s (however if a nice Streamline 5 came along.....)

[stingrayPete1977]

Thanks for the info mart, It is nice to have all you guys to guide me knowing you lot have actually owned various versions of the basses in question rather than a lot of threads where people are dissing stuff they have never played! This is where a forum does work well and the mods should be happy and not get so worried about the OT threads.

Me and Russ have had a slight change of plan and are hitting guitar guitar first as they open an hour before Mark (Lazy get!) and check out what they have first then see how they compare to Bassdirects ones.

This is worth a look as its kinda like the G&L Pearl that started it all off but with more strings!
[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=com-NE15JE31"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...ck=com-NE15JE31[/url]

Also this
[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=08020613442538"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...=08020613442538[/url] Always a safe bet IMO

And this also available in stock in natural or RW fingerboard (Actually lots of the Lakland range to look at!)
[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=10111617261529"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...=10111617261529[/url]

They also have this, Again a natural option is in stock for the same price
[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=09090913250038"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...=09090913250038[/url]

Then Mark at Bassdirect choices
[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Jabba_5_Sunb.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...bba_5_Sunb.html[/url] Nice needs trying
[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Jabba_5_Black.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...ba_5_Black.html[/url] Nice needs trying
[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Clover_Apeiron_H.5.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...peiron_H.5.html[/url] FTW?
[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/G%26L_TribL2500BluebMP.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...500BluebMP.html[/url] Nice needs trying (The wifes choice because its the cheapest!) I like all the colours so depends which feels right from them all.

So there we are I have done as much homework as possible time to go and try them all out! Cant complain really there is worse things to have to do on a saturday, I will almost certainly come back with something totally different

Edited December 16, 2010 by stingrayPete1977

[Musicman20]

I bet if you asked you could get a Ray 5 HS, as mentioned above, or HH, with your choice of plate, for £1400.

Its all a case of offering, and coming to a deal, as Im sure you know.

The new 08 onwards Stingray 5s have the Alnico Ray pups, and the normal Ray 5 pups are now in the Sterling 5.

So it will DEFINITELY sound like a Ray, and the extra pickups really are nice....if you like single coils eg single coil at bridge (splitting the MM H pup) or a combination, or a P like S near the neck, then the HS just a stunning beast.

What I love about the Musicman 5s is that the pickups just ooze quality. Massive, meaty, and awesome tone.

One thing to note, because of the changes in 2008, the Ray 5 Single H does NOT allow you to have a single coil tone at the bridge anymore. It used to....now its another version of serial or parallel mode, not sure which. This makes it a no brainer for me...HS.

[ThomBassmonkey]

I recently picked up a Sandbeg JJ5 from Ash on here and it's lovely, not seen anything bad said about them so they're worth checking out.

Also love my Thumb 5, of course.

[stingrayPete1977]

Musicman20 can you tell if this is going to be the earlier version with the old pup or the later one as you say?, It sounds like I would prefer the one with the alnico pup. The blurb says its alnico but as its secondhand they might of just lifted that from anything its certainly not aged yellow for a start! Or is there a way of telling when we get there in the morning? Thanks for the advice in advance.

[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=com-NE15JE31#ProductDetail"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...1#ProductDetail[/url] This is winning at the moment for me both on price and Im liking the white its very festive

I will update either tomorrow or sunday as I have a gig saturday night so might not have time for pics and as we know without them it dont exist! Whatever it is its coming straight out the box and into a 2 hour set for my first time on a fiver, wish me luck...

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1061848' date='Dec 17 2010, 05:52 PM']Whatever it is its coming straight out the box and into a 2 hour set for my first time on a fiver, wish me luck...[/quote]

'tis the only way!

[Musicman20]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1061848' date='Dec 17 2010, 05:52 PM']Musicman20 can you tell if this is going to be the earlier version with the old pup or the later one as you say?, It sounds like I would prefer the one with the alnico pup. The blurb says its alnico but as its secondhand they might of just lifted that from anything its certainly not aged yellow for a start! Or is there a way of telling when we get there in the morning? Thanks for the advice in advance.

[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=com-NE15JE31#ProductDetail"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...1#ProductDetail[/url] This is winning at the moment for me both on price and Im liking the white its very festive

I will update either tomorrow or sunday as I have a gig saturday night so might not have time for pics and as we know without them it dont exist! Whatever it is its coming straight out the box and into a 2 hour set for my first time on a fiver, wish me luck...[/quote]


Hmm, it looks like it might be pretty recent. It has the barcode and serial number stickers still on it. EBMM forum could give you an exact date.

Are you coming to Newcastle to test it?!

The easiest way to tell is if the middle position on the selector sounds like a Jazz single coil (ish) then thats the earlier Ceramic version.

Pre 08 Ceramic (eg Sterling 4 magnets and now Sterling 5) selector switch on single H = Closest to bridge is both coils parallel, middle position is single coil closest to bridge + phantom, closest to neck is both coils in series.

Post 08 Alnico (eg Ray 4 magnets) selector switch on single H = Closest to bridge is both coils parallel, middle position is both coils in series plus filter, closest to neck is both coils in series.

The only way to get a new Ray 5 with the ability to have the bridge pickup solo'd is to get the Ray 5 HS....the Ray 5 H and HH wont give you any single coil options.

All depends what floats your boat

Edited December 17, 2010 by Musicman20

[stingrayPete1977]

Thanks MM20 I found it at the birmingham store but as its secondhand maybe its listed at all stores? I will update the thread later or maybe as we go from EBS_freaks phone!

[stingrayPete1977]

Bloody websites, The same stock is shown for all the branches! Theres only one way to find out..........

[EBS_freak]

Nevermind that, when you coming over?

[Musicman20]

I think that White Ray is up here in Newcastle....I think!

[EBS_freak]

Can you guess what he has gone for?

[Ou7shined]

SR 5

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1062501' date='Dec 18 2010, 02:29 PM']SR 5[/quote]

You've just won Bully's special prize.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='1062560' date='Dec 18 2010, 03:32 PM']You've just won Bully's special prize.[/quote]
Yay!


I'm so glad it wasn't the speedboat.

[stingrayPete1977]

Well here she is everyone! I have a nice pair of pictures on my phone, one with it as the centre piece of the EBMM display and one with a hole in the display but I cant work out how to upload them from my phone? Then these would not upload because it said the files were too big so I have had to lower the quality!

[attachment=66695:Ray_low_res.jpg]

[attachment=66694:Ray_stand_low_res.jpg]

2010 Stingray 5 with Blue pearl finish,Black gloss pickguard and knobs,Maple neck. I got a chunk off the tag and the old new mats & tank of petrol. (Jim dunlop straplocs and a spare set of EB 40-125s)

Inevitable outcome I suppose but what the heck its real nice!

[martthebass]

Nice one Pete............was it love at first sight or was there some non MM competition?

[stingrayPete1977]

Russ prefered the Lakland in the second shop but he could see I had left the one I loved in the first shop so we just went back and got it! The cheapest Lakland with the soap bars actually sounded real nice and we were both taken with it but it wasnt a tone I would want all the time instead of my Rays. The 55-02's were defo the next best thing for me and I actually preferred the cheaper one without the maple cap but for a few hundred less than the Ray5 we agreed I would only end up moving it on for a Ray! Fender USA Jazz 5 wasnt great IMO (sorry if you like them but just not my bag). We never got to bassdirect because of the snow but I had decided it would be the Ray by then anyway so it was just a matter of getting the right deal.

I just need your 30th and fretless and I have a full house!