Kev

The OC-5 doesn't have the volume issue, tracks as well as any octaver i've used, and also has an octave up? Sure you were comparing it to an OC-5?? But fair enough, it should be better given the price difference new, but from experience with the 3 Leaf octavers, it isn't always the case!

So is it the tone you don't like? Changing pickups and adding a preamp is a big jump, I would certainly start with one and see how you get on. The pickups are probably fine, so if you're looking to make it active then go for the preamp. Understand though that the £150 will all but disappear; there will be little if any increase in value to the bass post-work.

What was it about the Octron that made you want to spend such a significant amount more than the OC-5 you tried? I haven't actually tried a Octron, always figured it was just an OC-2 imitation circuit with a higher octave in a big footprint?

It has more headroom than an OC-2 too. Last OC-2 I had was distorted by the high output of one of my basses, no such issue with the same bass with the OC-5. And honestly, any notable sound difference people think they hear, I struggle to believe, the YT comparisons you'll find are spot on. As said, any "difference" is a positive one

The OC-5 is great, first octaver I've tried were you can genuinly say there is no point in paying more for an OC-2. It nails the tone and fixes the volume issue with the original. Top notch quality, the Japanese Boss pedals too.

Just checked, and I didn't even allude to how expensive and overpriced it may be 🙃

I don't remember being more disappointed with the sound of a pedal. Its aesthetically marvollous, but sonically plebeian.

👍 Good to see things are looking a little better in there.

Oh yikes, what is going on there? For what it's worth, the non original stacked pot visible in that pic indicates it likely isn't even a 2 band preamp in the bass, so nothing about that area is period correct or original, except perhaps the pickups

Yeah, basically I would buy it expecting the preamp to be entirely non original. I wouldn't attach too much value to that, personally, but I guess budget for replacing it if its a mess.

Quick look online this is the kind of thing I'd expect to see in a 1990 Thumb Cavity:

There is an awful lot going on in there. It doesn't look original to me, the 2 band MEC preamp from that era is a black box filled with white epoxy, rather than that circuit board, and is usually attached to the base of the cavity, rather than the side. I'm almost certain Warwick/MEC were not using those detachable cable sockets in 1990. And the left pot looks much newer than the rest. The only thing I recognise is the thick white pickup wire. Warwick did change things up often though.

The "cheap" one, but probably more expensive than the SUB was when new! They were effectively a US built Sterling, in that it was just a step down from a proper 'Ray.

Me too. Not the forum for this kind of discussion guys, so time to put this to bed.

My experience is quite a grinding feeling when bending strings on fanned frets.

Stick me on the list, I reckon I may do quite well this year

Do me a favour; open it up and have a look at the circuit board, and see what it says.

By any measure, any bass that can be set up well is good enough, regardless of brand, quality, woods, electronics or anything else

I've switched between regular and multi scale instruments enough over the years to answer closer to No. There are too many variables beyond the scale length that determine how a bass plays and balances between strings.

What I'd also add to the above ^^^ is specific to the StingRay Special; for me its head and shoulders above any other 'Ray variant I have played, be it USA Classic, old series, Sterling or even the old SUBs and OLP licensed models. I can't even pin what it is, but it just has a premium "feel" to it that I don't recognise from before. The higher end Sterling models seem to be great instruments for those who don't want to spend US prices, but as with the majority of brands, it just isn't quite the real thing. I would always go for a used USA 'Ray over a new Sterling for the same money.

It's like any other brand. The USA StingRays are obviously built to a "higher" standard in the US with "better" parts and materials. What that means to you is what it means to you, and it won't be the same as other people. Personally, my StingRay Special has hardware, electronics and a finish that is unavailable with the cheaper Sterling line, so to me its worth it.

Yeah that's fair enough, but response time to emails and enquiries is almost always how I guage my initial impressions of a guitar shop, so in that respect they have fallen behind almost anyone else. I've also made a number of offers in the past on instruments, both by email and on Reverb, and to this date not a single one has ever been responded to. Offers expire on the Reverb platform and emails go unresponded. But if they have such high walk in trade, I guess internet trade may not be their target. But back on topic, I think if Bass Direct had a proper website with stock built in, with a backoffice synced to support it, theyd be in a much better position. No excuse for telling you something was in stock when it wasn't, but a computer giving answers would be a big help.

I've had little dealings with the gallery (I live 10 mins from Bass Direct so haven't had much reason to), other than any time I've emailed them, I've either had no response or a response days later. Bass Direct usually respond within the hour on a working day.

Personally I have had nothing but positive experiences with Bass Direct. Ploughed thousands into them over the years and always been happy. I don't rate some of his staff too much, but Mark is a great guy. Highly opinionated and blunt, but that's just who he is, and I'd rather have that than a salesman. None of the advice I've heard him give has been in the vein of trying to get you to spend more etc. If he's getting a new website, that would be a huge improvement for sure, as the current leaves a lot to be desired.