rodney72a

Great basses, I have two in the Chocolate Burst finish. The Butterscotch colour looks ace though!

Vinnie Zummo's guitar solo on this one. Nicely set up by Graham Maby's bass break. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGqmiT7JJVg

I think the difference is mainly in the fingerboard radius - 7.5" on the Classics vs 11" on the regular SR5. Both great choices! Having owned a few regular SR5s, I recently got my first Classics, a light-ish one and a not so light one.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1491961178' post='3276806']Imagine what it could do to the vintage market..... [/quote] Good point. If we're talking Brazilian rosewood (used on Fenders until around 1965, for example), then nothing has changed really - the stuff had already been under the more severe CITES I restrictions since 1992. And yet vintage dealers are now starting to mention the need to get CITES certification which, although already a requirement since 1992, many (if not most of them) never bothered with before. So it looks the new general rosewood restrictions - even though they fall under the less severe CITES II - have also increasingly put the trade of vintage instruments containing Brazilian rosewood under the spotlight. How that will affect availability/demand/prices etc remains to be seen.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1485389915' post='3223699'] Yes, that's the one. It's a stunner IMHO. Action looks a little on the high side though. Having said that, I've just found this at Bass Central which looks very sexy.... [url="http://store.basscentral.info/ernie-ball-musicman-sting-ray-5-string-bass-limited-single-h-starry-night"]http://store.basscen...-h-starry-night[/url] [/quote] Tasty but they usually don't sell EBMM instruments to overseas customers.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1485299042' post='3223007'] By the way, if anyone is looking at buying one of these: ....you better have in the region of [b]£2,800[/b] in your sky rocket. (and if you do, it might be an idea to order the maple neck variant) [/quote] Like this, you mean? (Not mine, I should add - these are from a friend who was at NAMM.) [url="http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/72arodney/media/IMG_1917_zpsjcfttzac.jpeg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/72arodney/media/IMG_1918_zpsirqoxtre.jpeg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/72arodney/media/IMG_1919_zpsbfeqbuhi.jpeg.html"][/url]

[color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]While all this wasn't introduced primarily with an eye on the guitar industry, it still means that there will be potential implications on buying, selling or travelling with any instrument containing rosewood. [/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]The approach seems to vary from country to country though. There was an article in a German guitar magazine in December which strongly recommended to register all instruments containing rosewood before 1 January 2017 with the authorities. It pointed out that ownership is still perfectly legal - as is using those instruments in concerts, shows etc - but when selling an instrument the seller has to provide proof/documentation that the guitar was already in the EU before 1 January 2017. [/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]To get clarification, I rang the CITES people at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs a few weeks ago. I was told that - while the regulations equally apply to all ratifying countries - the approach on how they are implemented in practice does vary. Some countries like Germany, USA and Canada were set on 'regulation', whereas the approach in the UK was one of 'deregulation'.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]Furthermore, I was told that in the UK there is no need to register instruments. Also, if I understood correctly, they can still be traded by private sellers without the need for additional paperwork, at least for the time being. [/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]It gets a bit more tricky when travelling with an instrument. You should still be OK within the EU if it's for 'non-commercial purposes'. (Apparently that includes using the instrument for a show or concert.) When travelling outside the EU, I was told you should be covered if the overall weight of the rosewood in the instruments doesn't exceed 10kg. However, I was advised to apply for a permit, since there is some uncertainty over how custom officials in various countries are going to handle this.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]I was also told that of course no one knows at this stage how Brexit will affect any of this. [/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]I think - to be on the safe side - when buying a guitar or bass, it's advisable to ask the seller for some sort of documentation showing that the instrument had already been in the UK/EU before 1 January 2017. When buying new stuff, you should definitely expect a dealer or manufacturer to provide the relevant certificates.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]Overall, there seems to be a fair bit of uncertainty about how the new regulations are going to be implemented. One of the CITES persons I spoke to mentioned a meeting in mid-January in order to clarify some of the issues, for example travelling with musical instruments for 'non-commercial purposes' etc. [/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]I was advised to submit any questions in writing towards the end of the months to get an official position. [/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,]Here are some links I found useful:[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,][url="https://cites.org/eng/disc/how.php"]How CITES works | CITES[/url][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,][url="https://reverb.com/news/new-cites-regulations-for-all-rosewood-species?utm_campaign=eb4a3636e7-rn161209_content&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=0_5889ed6702-eb4a3636e7-57057585"]New CITES Regulations For All Rosewood Species[/url][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=HelveticaNeue,][url="http://sadowsky.com/a-note-on-the-export-of-instruments-containing-rosewood/"]A Note on the Export of Instruments Containing Rosewood – Sadowsky Guitars[/url][/font][/color] [color=#000000][size=3] [/size][/color]

Ian King, indeed. One of the very best. Any show he's in is worth seeing just for the bass playing alone. Phenomenal musician.

[quote name='mikeswals' timestamp='1483579984' post='3208494'] The pickguard was the same series vinyl/tort from 66-72. The earlier ones will fit but will cost 50-60% more. The Jazz pickguard screw patterns are the hardest to match. Look for your old one, but if the guard has already been off and sitting in a box it will have shrunk and the holes will likely no longer or barely line up anymore. [/quote] Only if it was an old nitro guard. By 1966 the vinyl ones were generally used and they don't shrink much.

What does that body date read? Can't make it out!

Mid '80s to early '90s for me. My first EBMM was a 1992 2-band Sunburst SR4, bought from new, still have it. It's on the heavy side but plays and sounds beautifully. The best features were around then - gloss necks, mute bridges, chrome battery covers, all on a contoured body. The 6-bolt necks with the capstan wheel may be more stable/practical but I'm particularly fond of the 4-bolts (on the SR4) with the adjuster at the headstock. Many necks had amazing figuring, too. Very playable, slim profiles. Plus some great finishes can be found in those years. Simple colours. Blueburst, Trans Red, Sunburst and my all-time favourite, Peach. In my experience, you can't go wrong with an instrument from that era.

White and tort - classic combo, looks great!

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1469221542' post='3096854'] As stated previously, your best course of action would be to buy a late 80s/early 90s 2 band EQ Stingray with lacquered figured neck. It would have all the features of a Classic Stingray except strings through the body, but would have a contoured body.[/quote] That's exactly it. They're out there and they're fantastic instruments. And, whereas the Classics all have ash bodies, with the late 80s/early 90s Stingrays, you even have a 'choice' of body wood, depending on colour. Many were done over ash as well but there are also the Bluebursts which generally had poplar bodies or the Trans Reds which were over alder. Worth exploring, and they won't cost you as much as a Classic either. Another thing, apart from the different fingerboard radius, is that the pre-1990 SR4s have a 4-bolt neck with the truss adjuster at the headstock. Looks great and it's just as easy to operate. A couple of samples: 1989 Sunburst [url="http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/72arodney/media/image_zpsbygtuk8h.jpeg.html"][/url] 1987 Trans Red [url="http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/72arodney/media/Trans%20Red%20body_zpsbb6kevif.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/72arodney/media/Red%20Ray%20Head_zpskpxvy3fk.jpg.html"][/url]

You'd be paying a significant amount to devalue your bass by a significant amount.