stingrayPete1977

I don't qualify on any level, thank f*** I suspect I'll be playing more gigs than them next year too.

All my five string basses are similar weights to the four string versions they replaced, the US Jazz V is lighter than most Stingray 4s. The extra weight is only an issue if you buy a heavy one, I've played a 16lb 70s Jazz in the past.

Yep, gets the job done and shows people not only what you are like but also that you are a real band with the equipment required to inspire confidence in booking you. It also shows roughly what area you will require etc. I'd suggest two versions of it, one a little bit shorter for things where it just gets clicked on then this version on your web page or agency stuff once they've liked you enough to look a bit deeper, on the longer version a quick few words confirming that you have insurance and PAT testing certificates you can email direct to the venue before hand etc and any requirements you have like stage area, I've stolen that from someone else here from their show reel but it does look professional, also if the person booking it was specifically told that it would be required it might just jog their memory when they see your video and book you even if the other bands have insurance etc but either didn't mention it or buried it in the small print on their website. It's loads better than our band's promo already though so well done

These are the Stagg replacement strings but they are meant to be terrible, at 40 euros instead of £145 for Spiros I suppose that is why! [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/stagg_db_55110_st_strings.htm?glp=1&gclid=CLrwgreUlNECFYk_GwoddL4JKQ"]https://www.thomann....CFYk_GwoddL4JKQ[/url] It looks like people might be fitting 4/4 strings to them as there is reference to strings being too long rather than too short.

Good question! I think 4/4 length strings will fit just fine but then the tensions will be different over the "almost" 3/4 length. We need someone with an Aria to help,anyone? I can measure my Stagg to see if it is indeed the same if you measure the Aria, I spent £145 on the Spiros and had messed the silks up trying to fit them before I worked it out , I don't want to see anyone else do the same. That said they are perfect now they are on it.

I have sold all my 4 string basses and replaced them with the closest possible 5 string version of each, 4 feels wrong to me now, would someone with a 4 string keep gigging a bass with a missing string?

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/faq/57-STRINGS_STRING_IDENTIFICATION_CHART.html There you go, For example I have Thomastik Spirocore weichs , if you look at the chart you can see they have red silk at the tailpiece end for that model of string then, the lavender silk at the pegbox end on all four strings shows them to be weichs. Just for info if you see a bass advertised as "has weichs on it" this is what it means. weich- light tension mittle- medium tension stark- heavy tension

Those ceramics sound great anyway, love my ceramic Stingray5.

I like Roy Wood and Imelda May but only with the proper bassists/band backing them, they don't need a boogie woogie accompaniment imo.

One thing to be wary of before shelling out on expensive strings, the Stagg I have is a rip off of the Aria and I had to 'perform delicate surgery' (bodge) the tail block to get standard upright strings to fit, with the ball seated in the block the strings were too short and the silks were not past the nut! I countersunk the ball ends deeper into the tail block and managed to peel the silks a bit before sealing them with clear nail varnish. It baffled me at first but when you compare where the block is in relation to the bridge on the eub against a tailpiece to bridge on a DB you can see where the extra string length is needed.

Sterlings are ceramic, when the 5 string Sterling came out (also ceramic) the Stingray 5 went back to Alnico. All Stingray 4s are Alnico not ceramic, and all multi pickup Stingrays are Alnico 4 or 5 string afaik.

I saw a bit, it was good.

And that stupid clock bloke, why do I always watch it if I'm not gigging?

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1482599933' post='3201785'] Thanks for the clarification Pete, I'll have to check the dates on mine, I think I have both alnico. The first is a '92 that has a pickup like th picture, and didn't realise they had changed the cover until I got my second one. The second one has an inverted curve on the top edge and is quite comfortable to play. Just not sure on the date, think it's an '08 with HS. [/quote] I think any with multiple pickups are Alnico, I could be wrong, where's DrStingray?

The one in the pic is really smart and the real deal, raid the piggy bank

You could soon whip one off and pop it on a cheap P bass body then without permanent damage to the twinny

Are the necks not bolt on?

[quote name='Downdown' timestamp='1482599355' post='3201779'] True, but Quo was over back in October: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37797845 [/quote] Yes but there's never returning and never returning, we now know he's never returning

You can't have Quo without Rick either, RIP both . I doubt 2017 will be any better, I think it will be the norm from now on, sadly I'll bet we'll be discussing this in a 2017 post in just over a week.

Also the better Gedo and Thomann basses are not from the far east. I think even the cheapest Gedo ones actually go through their German workshop before shipping because you can spec strings and the setup to taste on all of their basses, I had Spiros and an adjustable bridge fitted to mine, you tell them what you want and they give you a price all in English, if you want to proceed they create the bass on their site where you can purchase it like a stock item, I used a credit card to give me some buyers protection. Mine was listed as a regular model for a while as they thought it was a good value to quality spec, Romanian made half carved, adjustable bridge, ebony board and tail piece with Spirocore weichs. I've just had a look through my emails it should have been €1143 and they did it including the extras fitted and shipping to the UK for €1050 which I'm still very pleased with a few years on. If you took away the carved top, Spiro string upgrade and the adjustable bridge the budget would be not far off and possibly a decent enough bass but I can't vouch for the fully ply ones.

[quote name='Burns-bass' timestamp='1482576705' post='3201516'] Fair enough. I don't know enough about these instruments, but if people on here love them then that's enough for me. Personally I wouldn't buy a DB I hadn't seen or played, but I appreciate there are some amazing instruments coming out of the Far East. Particularly if cost is the deciding factor it's probably your only way to get something new. I guess the internet has enough advice on how to seat a bridge, check the soundpost is in the right place and so on. I'm conscious I may be annoying the original poster here as my views may not be particularly helpful. [/quote] It's just hard to find something in a reasonable budget that's playable, I've seen very few come up and even then they can be hundreds of miles away. Shops don't appear to stock much under around £1500 and from what I've seen my Gedo is much nicer than the sort of student stuff shops sell, probably because of the shops mark up. It's not easy at all and I'd recommend a good used bass from a player that is upgrading that has had the bass looked after by a luthier over a new one like mine all day long, but man are they rare!

I think the general consensus is that the better Gedo and Thomann basses are decent out of the box and at worst are at least worth a session with a luthier if needs be, the cheap chinese stuff or a 'bargain' antique bass sometimes are just unable to be made useable, destined to a life as a prop at the local amateur dramatic theatre!

Better lights and more PA gear would improve my band more than more bass related toys, I haven't money for more lights or room for more PA gear though.

I'm more likely to go even lighter than class D with in ears and a nicely mixed channel of the digital desk.