paulmcnamara

There's really no substitute for going to your local Musicman dealer and trying out a few Stingrays. That way it's your choice rather than someone else's that you've read or heard about. Think you might be happier then?

The 4/8 sounds a really interesting mix. I had a 4/6 which I advertised on BC last year and finally sold on Ebay. Great instruments. [attachment=114193:paul_shergold_small.jpg]

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1343289854' post='1748247'] Well, yes. But a huge portion of the price is because of the instruments collectability and history. You could get someone to make you a bass that looked, played, and sounded just like this one for a fraction of the price. But thats not really the point. [/quote] My point was, if a little obscure, that both of the aforementioned basses, might be overpriced, regardless of pedigree. And, I would add, that there will always be people willing to pay out for these items.

Makes Nash basses look like a bargain?

Find another band?

There a couple of video links of Bass Direct site, but they aren't too impressive. There are elsewhere 3 You Tube Videos hosted by Sterling Ball interviewing both Musicman guitarists and bass players alike, they are much much better. I liked the bit with Tony Levin who seems well impressed with the Game Changer. I think the videos are titled The Game Changer Part 1 etc. ATB, Paul.

Just wondering if anyone in the London area might be able to visit Westside M.I. in Denmark St to try out these basses; it would be good to get some other views and impressions of these for new sale Nashes, which going by many of the comments on this and other threads, seem to be quite a bit different from previous models. Anyone up for it over the holiday period; perhaps combine it with a visit to Stratford which is very quiet this time of year!

Following on from Hutton's comment: there is perhaps something a little disingenuous regarding relicing. At its heart we are try to make out that a bass is much older than it is; and possibly also that we have played it so much that the wear is a result of our gigging/rehearsing, wearing our musical credentials on our sleeve or instrument as it were. Of course the distressed look is fashionable too, and has been for some time in many walks of life. There is perhaps something about wanting to get to the destination without travelling the journey though..... think of stone washed pre faded jeans. I can't help but think that the promise oldness provides is an illusion. We often feel good about wearing our old comfortable clothes, because they feel part of us. But I wonder if we perhaps fool ourselves into thinking that a Roadworn Fender or a Nash is going to feel like an old friend from the word go? Its an interesting area of discussion and perhaps easy to see why thinking regarding relicing is often so polarised? Be interested to know others thoughts. (Hope I haven't hijacked this thread too much)

[indent=1]I've been interested in Nash basses for a while now, and have almost purchased one on a few occasions. I've heard many reports both good and bad regarding their guitars and basses. Recently I read in these pages about a new London stockist, and having a rare trip to London planned, thought that there is really only one way to find out how these Nash basses sound: and that was to try one out myself. So I decided to stop off at Denmark Street at the new home of Nash guitars: Westside M.I. who are Nash distributors as well. After enquiring if they stocked Nash basses as well as guitars, I was taken down to the basement to the bass section, where to my surprise I found 8 Nash basses amongst the collection.[/indent] [indent=1]I decided I’d like to try the one that hit me visually: an off-white Jazz with tort scratchplate. The first thing I noticed was it’s weight, it was heavy: guessing somewhere between 10 and 11 lbs. It was connected to a Mesa bass rig comprising of M Pulse 600 head and a 2 x 10 and 1 x 15 cabinet. I set the eq flat and proceeded to check out the JB 63 Nash bass, which as the model suggests is based on a 1963 Jazz bass. This one had been fitted with Di Marzio pick ups. The second thing I noticed was the action, which I found quite high. The bass felt good, it felt worn and comfortable, it was smooth and well balanced. It was finished extremely well in the heavy aging finish as stated by the tag. It looked good, in fact it looked great, very cool with the aged off white body and tort scratchplate. If there was a flaw in the look it the scratchplate itself which around the edges looked in pristine condition. The surface as well looked new except for the occasional surface scratch. Generally the aging looks the part, and feels right.[/indent] [indent=1]So, what did she sound like? My first reaction was a bit dull. I experimented with the two pick up volumes and the tone control, but reducing the bass just left a thinner sound. I was able to change the tone with some adjustment on the amp.[/indent] [indent=1]However, my overall feeling was that I was listening to strings and pick ups but not wood. The sound was without resonance, it felt flat and characterless. I was surprised also given the weight of the bass that the mass of wood was not more forthcoming in contributing to the sound of the bass. In fact I’m sure it was contributing to the sound of the bass; how could it not? But not in the way I would have liked. It wasn’t that the bass sounded awful or anything like that; no it just felt as if something was missing. My own reference points had been my own ’62 re issue Fender Jazz and a ’76 Fender Jazz, both of which have bags of woody tone.[/indent] [indent=1]I decided to ask the assistant to let me try another Jazz. This time I chose a sunburst JB 63 fitted with Seymour Duncan pick ups.[/indent] [indent=1]This had much the same feel although the aging was medium. Again it was heavy, and the action a little on the high side. It felt good and played well. Sound-wise it was different. It was brighter and capable of a larger tonal palette. I put this down to the pick ups, which could then be tweaked further on the amp.[/indent] [indent=1]However I still felt that there was something missing in the tone department. And when I say missing, I mean missing at a really fundamental level. That real sense that every part of the instrument is important and integral to the overall sound. Sadly, I just didn’t have that feeling with either of these basses. For the money, and we are talking about £2400 for the former, and £2000 for the latter, there is much worthwhile competition from Fender Custom Shop, and the second hand market alike. Next time I think I’d like to hear the Nash Precisions to see if they fare any better.[/indent]

Tom bought some strings from me. As always a straightforward and easy transaction. Good wishes, Paul.

Thanks Gary, sold 400 tickets so far and expect a couple of hundred more on the day. Forecast is good.........