Fat Rich

I reckon a Jazz neck would probably be closest to your Cort, most manufacturers go for a fairly slim profile these days. Have a go on as many Jazzes and Precisions in as many music shops as you can and see if you've actually been missing something, you might find you haven't. Or you might find a bass that feels perfect for you, in fact try as many basses from all manufacturers, why limit yourself? I've found that Fenders generally fit in well in most band situations, the Precision usually just works. A bit more care needs to be taken with the Jazz, if you wind everything to max you can end up with a scooped sound that gets lost in the mix. Also, there's a few bands that want to see you playing a Fender because they're considered the right choice. Maybe an image thing or just a lack of imagination?

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Lszt2HPK8&feature=relmfu"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Lszt2HPK8&feature=relmfu[/url]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1345019836' post='1772303'] I got this one... [/quote] Yeah, I got one of those ads this morning. Have you been using my PC again?

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1344981339' post='1772090'] If anyone is thinking of this, try whacking a set of flatwounds on your Ray (preferably EB group 3s cos they have v similar tension to rounds) and then thump it like a P bass - you will find you have no further need to change bass plus, a mere tweek of the EQ will take you back towards sizzle tone, if you want it - and you will avoid regrets like Nottsbass's. ..... [/quote] Cool, I'll give that a try!

I was thinking about trading mine for a P bass....maybe I should be thinking twice about that

I guess the mod is reversible, getting the pole pieces level is easy if the bobbins are on a flat surface like the bottom of the pickup rout in the body, they'll push in to the same level as the G and E. I guess to reverse it you'd need to put some kind of spacer under the E and G and then push the A and D pole pieces from the back. You'd need to know the difference in height between the pole pieces to find suitable spacers, something I didn't bother to make a note of!

[quote name='LITTLEWING' timestamp='1344896034' post='1770931'] Okay, here's a daft one, but it might make all the long-term difference. After a gig/rehearsal/home run-through, blah, blah, you lovingly put your baby back in it's case after wiping down the strings etc, etc. ...... [/quote] Wipe down the strings? Nah, you've lost me there. I used to to put my '62 Jazz in a black bin bag if it was raining, it never saw a hard case or gig bag the whole time I owned it and if it wasn't being played it was leaning up in some corner, not on a stand. I take more care of my basses now but I've never worried about whether the case is upright or flat. I've some flat under the bed, some standing up in cupboards.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1344900066' post='1770973'] what? a flinder jizz boss? what a ridiculous thing. i give it a year maximum, and they will have gone under. [/quote] Not so sure they'll go under, as long as they keep on coming up with new and exciting designs that surprise and and amaze us, pioneer the use of new materials and innovative electronics they might become popular.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1344903306' post='1770991'] Fat Rich, I've heard you talk about this before and no doubt it's worked for you. However, here's a point to consider. The A and D poles are raised on the single H pick up version of the Stingray - and they usually come from the factory set up with the saddles of the A and D string slightly higher than the E and G - by this means, the pick up poles and saddles match the curvature of the fretboard of the bass - and the strings follow this curvature. By flattening the poles off you lose this (and also by setting the saddles so they are all in line this happens). The question here is whether the problem arises on basses which have been re-set up so the saddles are in line? Of course, the pick up should also be set so the G string poles and the E string are the correct distance from the bottom of the string (if you go on the Musicman bass forum, there's a sticky thread iving FAQs - one is the set up details for a Musicman bass and they tell you the correct pick up height). [attachment=115594:15082010706.jpg] I have a 2EQ (which is more mid scooped than a 3EQ) Ray - it's still set as factory settings - it does not have a 'weak' G sound - indeed recorded live, ambiently, it sits beautifully in a guitar heavy mix and the G string sounds great - on high fills on the D and G string it also sounds great. Another case in point - I have a 3EQ Stingray Fretless H - that has a sweet 'patch' on the G string from about C (as 5th fret) to A (as 14th fret) - where holding a note it just swells to the most gorgeous fretless sound. It sounds just as you would expect a top quality fretless to sound - no weak G sound. All this is with factory setting basses which have not been modded. For those of you who believe the underlying sound of a Stingray is mostly EQ, put your ear to the top horn and play the bass acoustically - you get the underlying MM Stingray sound - the pick up and EQ just amplify that sound and as far as the EQ goes, tweaks up or down the parts of the frequency it affects - it's also interactive - boosting the treble affects the mids and lows and vice versa.........but beware...........it is possible to over scoop the sound on a Stingray and lose the strength (or at least as they sound on stage) of your higher strings..........beware also the sound guy who thinks all basses have a generic sound (usually Fender P.............).........so cuts the mids. Again, you will have too scooped a sound and the first thing you will notice is the higher strings sound thin.......and the bottom strings will be too bassy and overpower everything. As Musicman 20 has said, if you do swap the pick up or EQ, make sure you keep the bits because modified Musicman basses do not sell as well as stock ones - they tend to be a bass that few people modify. Most who have them love them as they come from the factory. Best of luck with your bass. [/quote] Ok, maybe I should make it clear, if you're happy with the string to string output balance on your Stingray, don't do the mod! There seem to be plenty of people who are totally happy with their Rays, but for those that aren't this is a simple and free fix. I think it was you that told me before the 4 string single pickup Stingray is the only one with the raised A and D pole pieces, the others have them all the same height and they never had the problem......I might be mistaken. I've also seen a post on the EB forum saying that this is a classic design feature aimed at Country and Western "click" players, whatever that is. Very few other manufacturers raise the middle pole pieces, look at a Jazz bass pickup and they're all level despite have a huge 7" radius on the fingerboard.....no string balance problems. My bridge is setup to follow the curve of the fingerboard, but the string balance is now perfect with the mod. Here's a pic: [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/richardmatthews_photos/forum%20stuff/Stingray.jpg[/IMG]

I had the weak G problem, no amount of angling the pickup would solve it. So basically: Strings off 3 screws out from pickup cover VERY carefully lift cover from pickup bobbins Remove 4 large springs under pickups Allow pickup bobbins to rest in the pickup cavity Carefully press the pole pieces for the A and D strings until level with E and G pole pieces Put 4 springs back under bobbins Cover and screws back on String up, set pickup pretty much level, possibly a little higher than before Enjoy punchy G and extra oooomph from E. Takes about 10-15 minutes, costs nothing.

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1344869251' post='1770356'] Oh yeah, Squier. Remember them. Dopes couldn't spell. I mean, how stupid do you need to be to get your own name wrong? Nole [/quote] Egsackly, though they usually get it right on ebay.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1344873062' post='1770448'] I'm sure I could only see one string on his bass?! Muse hate miming, so it may well have been his middle-finger to the organisers no-doubt asking them to behave lol. Perhaps I was seeing it wrong though Oh, it was a Status Si [/quote] Red White and Blue strings apparently but could only really see the white one.

It's an all graphite Status S2 Classic that's been built to Chris' spec.... there's more info on www.status-graphite.com Here's my prototype 5 stringer: [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/richardmatthews_photos/forum%20stuff/AllGraphite.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/richardmatthews_photos/forum%20stuff/AllGraphitecloseup.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1342622869' post='1738052'] I've never seen anything like it before. [/quote] It's amazing isn't it? The way it fades from dark chocolate brown through red to a golden yellow with the grain of the wood showing though. It's called Tobacco Sunburst, you could probably find someone to refinish all your basses like this one.

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1344559873' post='1766557'] To your ears The dangers of subjective opinions. Agree, it can he sharp - too sharp is a personal thing, to my mind. This lack of Stingray love is making my heart heavy, lah Still, isn't that the Stingray sound? [/quote] I bought one because I wanted that Stingray sound, and that's exactly what it does.... I'm just surprised how it sounds so different to my Fender and Status basses, it sort of doesn't fit in with the rest of my collection. And I think that's what's happening in this youtube showcase, if he'd set up his amp to sound really good with the Stingray the other basses probably would have sounded too dark. I've got nothing against Stingrays or Musicman, they can sound great and are full of character.

I buy cheapo straps and bolt 'em on..... strap button off, large washer between the strap and strap button, strap button back on again, often with a longer screw to be on the safe side. I've only dropped a bass once in my life, luckily it landed strap button down on my two (already) broken toes so it didn't even dent the finish. Edit: Forgot to mention some people use the rubber washers off Grolsch bottles, just pulled over the strap button.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1344453334' post='1764886'] Well that explains it then doesn't it, you silly sausage. That's like trying to tell the difference between a butternut squash and Ann Widdicombe's arse through the bottom of a bottle. [/quote] I insist on drinking the entire contents of the bottle before even contemplating looking at anything that resembles Ann Widdicombe's arse. As for the sound of the Stingray, I find with mine if I plug it in with the same amp settings I use for all my other basses it sounds thin and scratchy. Even with some serious EQing to get a fatter, richer sound it's still over bright and harsh if I play anything above the 12th fret. Even my bright punchy hifi sounding graphite Status basses sound warmer in the higher registers.

I quite like the perspex theme, not sure how strong they'd be long term though. But the bridge and pickups seem to have been made / installed by someone who knows nothing about guitars. Still, it has got Gibson lacquer.

I rarely play on the bridge pickup only unless I'm feeling a bit Jaco. However, I'll add some bridge pickup in sometimes because it scoops the sound somewhat... although it can then start to get lost in the mix. But for me it's like another tone control. It sounds like you're more of a Precision man so probably easier to go that route.

I think it's the CBS thing. When I started playing the CBS and later Fenders were considered junk and largely worthless. The pre-CBS were better instruments before mass production and profit became the main focus, although Leo designed them to be cheap to build. There were a limited number of pre-CBS instruments so the price went up and they became desirable. Now it's happening with 70s Fenders, there's a limited number of them around. So the people who would like a pre CBS but can't afford one buy a 70s instead. It's much more difficult to find a good one because they largely deserve their rotten reputation, but there are some great playing and sounding 70s Fenders out there if you're patient and willing to chuck some serious cash at one. It'll be interesting to see if the 80s Fenders become collectable one day, I suppose they will. As to whether the old ones are better, I've played a few pre CBS Jazzes and Precisions and they've all been great, some of them astonishing. I've never played a new Fender that sounds as quite as good, but it's a subtle difference.... your audience certainly won't hear it. If the quality hadn't dived so much when CBS took over I reckon the prices for old ones wouldn't be so high.

Gaffa Tape and step ladder. Run cable upwards from your amp to the ceiling, tape it up with gaffa tape. Run it forwards taping it to the ceiling every few metres to where you're going to be standing on stage, where it drops and plugs into your bass.

From Wunjo's Bass Centre web site: [b]"Like a child spending his formative years growing up next to a nuclear power station, Wunjo Guitars has grown a new arm."[/b] [b] [/b]

I was convinced you'd fail dismally but didn't think you'd want to hear that before the gig! Congratulations, that was an epic story with an astonishingly great outcome. As has been said already, you've become a Basschat Hero!

How about forgetting where they're made and just trying every Jazz and Precision bass you can lay your hands on? Fender's are so variable you can often find a cheap "lesser" model sounds and plays much better than an expensive one. I'd never buy a Fender online, I'd rather play it and see if it's a good one first. Try and find a few shops with some in stock and try them one after another and directly compare them if you can. I did that and ended up with MIJ Jazzes and Precisions from the early 90s, didn't set out specifically to buy Japanese Fenders but they were the best at the time and I've not found anything to beat them yet (although the pickups weren't brilliant but I upgraded to Fender Vintage).

I'm guessing a lot of bedroom bass players play sitting down, maybe there's less buckle rash on the back of an instrument that hasn't been gigged? Never gigged is one of those phrases I just ignore, it's irrelevant.