SBMM Ray34CA. Any neck issues?

[dave_bass5]

Im thinking about one of the above (just thinking right now) as ive always wanted a narrow neck, vintage fretted Ray.
Ive got my eye on a Sterling on here but TBH i love the idea of the vintage frets and 2EQ.

It ticks all the right boxes although i know they aren't cheap, but im sure ive read a few posts complaining about the neck twisting or bowing?

Any thoughts/experiences?

Cheers.

[mushers]

had a neck issue on my ray35 the retailer was worse than useless
but strings and things wanted the instrument back asap after i mailed them and switched the neck over within a week new neck had some high frets on it which is a bit of a pisser but at least they didnt ignore everything i said like the retailer did
for a mass produced bass im sure if there are common neck issues there would be more people like me to whine about it
i reckon i was just unlucky thankfully tho strings n things honoured the warranty etc
even after my rays neck issues i bought a sterling sub for my daughter tho this time had a local shop order one in and ignored the lure of cheaper internet prices just incase there ever was an issue so i wasnt running about or waiting for couriers

Edited September 20, 2012 by mushers

[dave_bass5]

Thanks for the reply.

I had a Ray34 with no issues at all but the CA has a narrower neck, and i have read at least two people had issues but im hoping. expect these were isolated incidents.

Im looking at Thomanns if i do order. No issues with sending things back and they pay for the courier. Easier than buying from a shop for me and i get 30 days to decide if i want to keep it.

Edited September 20, 2012 by dave_bass5

[Grand Wazoo]

Someone's got [b]G[/b]eee [b]A[/b]aaye [b]S[/b]ssss!

[dave_bass5]

ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss :-(

[dave_bass5]

Even worse, tempted by Jimi's 55-02 :-(

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/186687-lakland-skyline-55-02-deluxe/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/186687-lakland-skyline-55-02-deluxe/[/url]

[Schnozzalee]

It's funny you ask this, every musicman I've played has had a twisted neck dead spots or bowing (I took one in part ex and sold it on without playing it). I wouldn't touch em with a barge pole anymore, especially after musicman20's return of a stingray classic, plus, I just hate the screws on the pickup sticking into my thumb - not comfortable. I'd sit tight with your CV precision and jazz! Try a kubicki

[dave_bass5]

Oh, the P and Jazz aren't going anywhere. Fran is right, i have GAS rather than need but the Ray34 CA is a bass that ticks every box other than price.Also want the Sterling thats on here, and the 55-02 in the link above lol.

[dave_bass5]

Oh, that reminds me of the weak G sting issue. Hmmm, not sure now.

[ezbass]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1348169437' post='1810423']
Even worse, tempted by Jimi's 55-02 :-(

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/186687-lakland-skyline-55-02-deluxe/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/186687-lakland-skyline-55-02-deluxe/[/url]
[/quote]Yeah that's giving me Lakky GAS big time. The SBMM Ray34 I had had a bit of a raised fret which I fixed back down correctly and I had to raise the p/up on the G side a fair bit, but other than that it was fine and sounded great.

[Lozz196]

I had an SBMM Ray34, and the neck was fantastic. No issues at all, could get the action sooooooo low, no dead spots. Really great neck on it. Yes, I had to adjust the pickup height a bit, raising the G side, and lowering the E, but I find I have to do that on all the basses I have, so no real issue. Ultimately, a bit too modern for me though, but couldn`t fault the instrument in any way.

[dave_bass5]

Cheers guys.
I am really only interested in the CA version. I was more that happy with my old Ray34 other than i felt the neck a bit uncomfortable. I did find the G to be a bit weak and changed the pup for a Nordstrand. That helped a bit.

[jezzaboy]

I had a CA in sunburst with the maple neck and the bass was spot on. I changed the tuners for Schaller ones but the stock ones were fine. I never noticed any problems with the neck and as I very rarely used the G string, I didn`t notice if it was weak.

[drTStingray]

[quote name='Schnozzalee' timestamp='1348169955' post='1810437']
every musicman I've played has had a twisted neck dead spots or bowing

You are definitely the world's unluckiest person - I've never heard of anyone having this problem before (other than with some 3 bolt pre EB Stingrays). Of course, set up of the modern basses with 6 bolt neck is very easy, given the improvements introduced under Sterling Ball's tenure (simple tweak of the truss rod wheel to adjust back bow etc).

[quote name='Schnozzalee' timestamp='1348169955' post='1810437']

I just hate the screws on the pickup sticking into my thumb - not comfortable. I'd sit tight with your CV precision and jazz! Try a kubicki [/quote]

You are certainly inaccurate as well - this type of pick up appears only on the SR4, SR4 Classic and SR5 Classic - none of the other Musicman bass models have them - they are flat topped on all of those. The gap between the screws on the original Leo design is usually wide enough for people to rest their thumb comfortably - unless you have extremely wide thumbs. Many bass players rest their thumb on the lowest string (almost essential on a 5 string anyway, to stop the string ringing when not in use)

Now I'm presuming you think that Jazz and Precision basses do not have dead spots.....................
[/quote]

Edited September 20, 2012 by drTStingray

[Grand Wazoo]

Yo Dave, check it out

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWedcQx66fs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWedcQx66fs[/url]

[dave_bass5]

Cheers Fran. Seen it, and the others, even the German one .

Now stop tempting me and make me see sense (and no, that doesn't mean the Sandberg lol).


[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1348177949' post='1810621']
I had a CA in sunburst with the maple neck and the bass was spot on. I changed the tuners for Schaller ones but the stock ones were fine. I never noticed any problems with the neck and as I very rarely used the G string, I didn`t notice if it was weak.
[/quote]

Good to know. Im sure the majority are fine. I remember thinking this might be a bit liek the MIM Geddy Jazz neck. A few people have said its too thin and bows too much but on the whole they are fine.

Edited September 21, 2012 by dave_bass5

[Grand Wazoo]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1348214964' post='1810819']
Cheers Fran. Seen it, and the others, even the German one .

Now stop tempting me and make me see sense (and no, that doesn't mean the Sandberg lol).


[/quote]

You're going to need one of each of these to see sense, and you still might miss it!

[center][color=#ee82ee][size=8][b]LENS PORN[/b][/size][/color]

[/center]

Edited September 21, 2012 by Grand Wazoo

[gafbass02]

I did :-( with a ray34ca, it had to go back, the neck/frets were a wavy mess that wouldn't set up and rattled no matter what you did. Gutted

[drTStingray]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1348214964' post='1810819']
Good to know. Im sure the majority are fine. I remember thinking this might be a bit liek the MIM Geddy Jazz neck. A few people have said its too thin and bows too much but on the whole they are fine.
[/quote]

The neck appears to be based on the MM Sterling, SLO Special Stingray and Big Al design - there are not issues of this type with those basses and I've personally not heard of issues with these - they seem to get praised by most people.

Have you tried a Sub SBMM - half the price and sounds very Stingray to me - the walnut one looks particularly good - they appear to have a narrower neck profile also (not sure if it's the Ray 34CA profile though).

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1348217581' post='1810882']
You're going to need one of each of these to see sense, and you still might miss it!



[center][color=#ee82ee][size=8][b]LENS PORN[/b][/size][/color]

[/center]
[/quote]

Now that explains everything - Fran those new basses of yours don't have straight frets you know

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1348235801' post='1811235']
I did :-( with a ray34ca, it had to go back, the neck/frets were a wavy mess that wouldn't set up and rattled no matter what you did. Gutted
[/quote]

Yeah, it think it was your post on TB that i remember.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1348235997' post='1811239']
The neck appears to be based on the MM Sterling, SLO Special Stingray and Big Al design - there are not issues of this type with those basses and I've personally not heard of issues with these - they seem to get praised by most people.

Have you tried a Sub SBMM - half the price and sounds very Stingray to me - the walnut one looks particularly good - they appear to have a narrower neck profile also (not sure if it's the Ray 34CA profile though).
[/quote]

Thanks. I do like the look of the new SUB's, and yes, that Walnut one looks very good (not sure its available over here, although im sure someone else will) but i like the idea of a tinted glossy neck with vintage frets rather than satin finish with med. Jumbos frets.