Greggo Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) Well I'm in a conundrum. I basically want to downsize my collection to just one bass, one electric guitar and one acoustic. I have two basses a Yamaha BB414 and a ray copy (vintage EST96). Ive already decided one or way another I want to shed the Vintage as it's 5 string and I don't really want a 5er anymore. I love my Yamaha BB414 especially now it's strung with flats but today I saw a bargain Indonesian SUB 4 in walnut for £160 and it was just lovely to play and I do like the whole Ray vibe. I think trading Vintage and Yamaha could yield at least 95 per cent of funds towards getting it. (I know if I sold both privately I could get more blah blah but I am a bit right here right now kind of person when it comes to my instruments) But wondering if in real world whether the Ray 4 would be the best bass for me as the one bass if I were to get it. Yammy after all is P/J but Ray 4 is single humbucker but with 2 band EQ. Anyone think I should go for it or just stick with the Yamaha? Anyone with both have a preference? Edited December 31, 2013 by Greggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 I tried a Sterling SUB yesterday. It gets very close to the Stingray sound but it felt a cheap bass as the body was very light. I'd stick with the versatility of the BB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fionn Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Yup, I'd stick with the Yamaha too. It's a great bass, versatile, and of undoubtable quality. That would seem like a nice 1-bass-solution to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) Another vote for the Yam! I love BB's, and prefer the sound of a Precision pickup to a 'Ray any day! Depends what you prefer the sound of really. Edited December 31, 2013 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 I had a BB, sold it - now have another. They are great basses that don't seem to have much secondhand value - so while assessing the "trade in value" of your BB realise that the real world value is probably 4 or 5 times that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 There's only really one person who can answer this [URL=http://s945.photobucket.com/user/nwmurphy/media/image-33.jpg.html][IMG]http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad298/nwmurphy/image-33.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) You will regret selling or trading your Yamaha - you will miss it. A quality instrument. Keep it! Edited December 31, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted December 31, 2013 Author Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) I'm glad I'm being talked around here, into not doing something silly! That SUB was all pretty and seducing me with its walnut finish, but I do love my Yammy and it does have some great tones at its disposal . Having changed to flats its just got even better for me. I guess I just like the idea of the ray tone but I suppose if I'm honest with myself whether it is the best sound for me/our style is a different question! The sound of other people playing is probably better than the sound I can make out of one! Edited December 31, 2013 by Greggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Keep the BB414. It would have to be a strong contender as the best budget bass of recent times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turk Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Yam !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizontalste Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I always keep a Bb close to hand, but I also have a Stingray. No help am I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 If you definitely want the SUB then use the Vintage as a trade, but keep the Yammy. Anything else just isn't cricket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) I'm trying not to persuade myself that I need two basses. I really don't these days Edited January 1, 2014 by Greggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 BB414...... all the bass you'll ever need sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fender73 Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Ive just sold a Sterling Sub. Great all round bass but the preamp is far too hot on them. I would keep the Yammie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 [quote name='fender73' timestamp='1388768543' post='2325886'] Ive just sold a Sterling Sub. Great all round bass but the preamp is far too hot on them. I would keep the Yammie! [/quote] The SUBs are pretty decent -I'm about to buy a 5er myself. The preamp is overly hot, though. There's a thread on Talkbass about this with a partial fix from a senior MM empoyee, plus, later on, a hack for the pre-amp to reduce its gain - or buy a Retrovibe pre amp. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 (edited) [quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1388858840' post='2327016'] The SUBs are pretty decent -I'm about to buy a 5er myself. The preamp is overly hot, though. There's a thread on Talkbass about this with a partial fix from a senior MM empoyee, plus, later on, a hack for the pre-amp to reduce its gain - or buy a Retrovibe pre amp. G. [/quote] I've actually got the Retrovibe preamp in my vintage. Does a good job, was always the plan to put in a SUB if I got one. I'm probably just gonna see if can swap my Vintage 5er for a 4 banger version. Edited January 4, 2014 by Greggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I'd put your Retrovibe in a SUB & replace the pup with a Seymour Duncan SMB-4A, wired via a 3 pos mini switch for parallel/single/series and you're in MM hog-heaven. In the long run, that's my aim. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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