stingrayPete1977

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1415882802' post='2604777'] I've never found that adding a single inch to the speaking length of the string (less than 3% of the length) makes any useful difference. Fine if you like the feel of the extra space between the frets, but as a solution to a less than adequate low B, IME string choice and overall neck and neck joint construction are far more important. [/quote] I have been looking at my Stingray necks compared to my Fender neck and I can see an improvement Musicman have made that could be part of the "Stingray, has a killer B on it" "Flappy Fender V B string" from the same scale and bolt on construction that look fairly similar to most eyes, well the neck on a stingray 5 is thicker on the heel than a Fender 5, it would involve a lot more wasted wood to do that but it would make for a stronger neck join and less able to bend? 22mm of neck and 28mm of body on a Standard USA Fender Jazz V and with a small 4 bolt plate. 26mm of neck and 25mm of body on a USA EBMM Stingray5 which also has a much larger neck plate and 6 screws The 3mm lost pocket thickness makes more sense regarding construction as the body is not going to bend is it? and a 4mm gain in the most vulnerable not reinforced area is quite a bit IMO?

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1415881569' post='2604758'] With something as generic as a 5-string J bass there shouldn't be any need to mod one. There's so many different makes that it ought to be simply finding the one that ticks all the boxes as standard. [/quote] I know I am taking a bite from your anti Fender poisoned apple but we all know that is not how it works, you could say with something as generic as a five string bass guitar you should not need to mod one, a couple of chrome dildos for horns does not really do that much to a bass to make it that much different than any other fully functioning bass guitar from a playing POV IMO I really like some of the features of the deluxe but overall I liked the Standard hence the purchase, now if they had made a passive deluxe with all the bits I liked on the deluxe but with the passive pickups and controls I would have bought that, I suppose the DJ5 is closest to that but then that is not a Fender which I think I wanted plus the smaller body I am no so sure of? pros and cons to all of them BRX

You can't even get a USA standard five for a grand jtuk mine was nearly £1400, another couple of ton for the deluxe which is into used boutique money isn't it?

By which time Leo had started G&L too....

Nah the deluxe sucked! Weedy preamp, naff in passive mode

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1415833474' post='2604414'] Why..? [/quote] Just like Dave says above, at first I think wow this plays like the proverbial butter then as time goes by and I'm trying to thrash out town called malice with a pick it's too low. I also find it sucks the tone out of the bass if it's too low. Don't get me wrong mine are not that high and I'm sure you would be able to play them but from what you say you would like them lower and I'd like them higher. For a jam session there would be a point where I'd get on better with a high action clunky old p bass than an overly low ticklers jazz copy

Rickenbacker tuning pegs and a light weight body and hey presto, horizontal!

Day at the races is from 76 and there is a clip of them may 77 to of the pops good old fashioned lover boy so he must have got into rays very early on.

[quote name='Cairobill' timestamp='1415867399' post='2604541'] Anyone have a list of tracks where he used a stingray? Another One Bites the Dust? Was it a Bernard Edwards influence? Deacon is an amazing bassist. [/quote] Not unless he has a time machine

I suppose the pedant in me should point out that he isn't playing an Ernie ball bass and in fact is more fender than a fender of the same era.

He used one a lot more than people think from quite early on too as I've seen clips from 77 with one. I think I put a load of links to clips of him with one in a previous John deacon thread I think?

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1415824487' post='2604251'] I've always wanted and needed a low action... and always been picky on strings for feel and touch. Maybe I'm just picky. Of course, it doesn't matter how anyone sets up a bass, ... but most people find mine easier to play that their own.. Makes me wonder why they don't set theirs up like that. [/quote] Im not a fan of Rotosounds but I'd rather play a bass fitted with them than a super low action, initially when trying someones bass that is low I think it great, after a few days or a gig I'd be raising up I assure you.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1415824937' post='2604262'] I think StingrayPete (and Dave_bass5) nailed it. The vast majority of people just play them off the shelf. I wonder if pianists have the same conversations? "The hammers are just too 'bouncy' on the Steinway for my liking." . [/quote] I bought a Stingray new in 2002, I didnt touch the truss rod for about 4 years, I suppose I just thought that was how it is until it got bad enough that I decided to look at it, probably 4mm off the 12th fret maybe where I now set them to about 2mm with only a hint of neck relief, my jazz is a touch lower.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1415781730' post='2603618'] Love this tune. [/quote] It certainly is, one of the few things I like about christmas! Lol

We were too scared to touch the truss rod when we were young, some people still are I suppose?

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1415815820' post='2604097'] A truism....the definition of "good" tone is entirely subjective. [/quote]

A plug tester should be in all our kit bags really Just bought a spare one for less than £4 off ebay as I keep losing my work one then 'borrowing' my gig bag one!

So I had an 8 page thread about 5 string jazz basses and no one mentions these?!They look great imo, I really dont like the 3 and 2 or even 2 and 3 headstocks BRX, I've never had all the problems you always mention with string lie etc, even my Fender has straight strings and holds tune just fine for hours on end, it also has the lightweight F tuners so no neck dive even with a light for a Fender V body

Best tone? What was the scientific measure used for best tone? Filed under 'flawed' with all the other tests imo

Surely not, lol

Why play anything of any shape really?

I've moved all the notes to suit the five strings and I'm playing that part on the D now, I played it as a semi tone before but I think it probably is a full tone if I'm looking at the right bit. I've got a fairly reasonable version together now

But we are all different JTUK, your boring and easy line to the next person might be quite hard and rewarding for them, for most players that DJ5 would be a good enough instrument to not inhibit their playing, if its a jam you either play it and enjoy it or take your own single cut 37" scale 9 string half fretted half fretless next week

I think the term unplayable is the problem I suppose in fairness if a particular bass stops a person being able to play a piece they can on a different bass then to them that bass is unplayable even if that music sounds like a load of frustrated guitarist noise, even the worst bass with a setup and proper strings would be able to be used for something making it playable in the strictest sense of the word.

First rule of the active bass club, keep at least one battery in front of yourself, I have 3 pp3s in my gig bag at any one time, never needed to use one in an emergency but they are there, strings and battery once a year around my own birthday to help remember these days