Linus27

The worst shop for me has to be Music Ground in Doncaster. Totally ripped me off. I had some inheritance money so wanted to buy a couple of basses. Decided on a 77 MIA Fender Precision but could not decide on a Ricky or a Telecaster bass. The guy there, probably the manager said hey, don't worry, we do a 30 day return so if not happy, bring it back and we will refund you. Cool I thought. So bought the Ricky and took it home back to Surrey with the Precision. After a week, decided the Ricky was not for me so phoned up and they said yeah bring it back no worries. So drove all the way up from Surrey to Doncaster to be told that they don't do returns or refunds but we can exchange for something else. I was furious and ended up letting rip but he just said it was my fault. Plus I should had phoned before leaving which I informed him I did which he then denied ever having a phone call. Ended up swapping it for a Fender Telecaster bass but I was furious. Maybe a little niave on my part but they still lied to me and treated me like sh*t. I swear if I ever drive past that shop, it will be very hard to not throw a brick through the window. I don't really have a best as I have either bought so little or had mixed results. However, one shop that I used to use a long time back was Nova Guitar Centre in Guildford which was run by Tony and his wife. The shop was a total mess but, back in the 80's it was superb. Amazing customer service and nobody has set my basses up as good as Tony. Great prices also and you could go in and chat for hours. However, I think things started to go downhill in the late 90's and Tony turned heavily to religion and preaching and the service dropped off. He also lost a lot of his suppliers and just got a load of unknown chinese guitars in. What is odd is after the tsunami, I popped into his shop and he started prophesying to me. He predicted that within a year a natural disaster would strike America. It would be so obvious that it was a natural disaster that there could be no question about it being terrorism. He said that mother nature is currently cleanisng the earth and tsunami is one of her doings where she has washed away a lot of the bad things, prostitution, drugs etc in that region and America is going to be next. Well, eight months later, the floods hit New Orleans. Ok, I don't want to discuss his phrophecy but I've not been back to the shop since. Be worried about what he would say to me

If yo buy a new Warwick, then the necks are super thin. My Warwick Corvette has a really thin neck. Very much like a 62 Jazz bass. The old Warwick's had much thicker necks. I also own a SR4 and to be honest, I prefer the Warwick. It sounds amazing everytime I plug it in where as the SR4 can be a bit hit and miss. I think this is to do with it having a unique sound. Both are great and I am sure what ever you buy you will love but if buying without trying, then be prepared to not like it.

[quote name='JTUK' post='740070' date='Feb 9 2010, 03:45 PM']This is a what is 'cool' question, isn't it? Raised the bar when they first surfaced and are now mass produced - by comparison - by whoever now owns then. Not played one in a good few years now so if you find one you like, then good luck. But I am not sure if they pass your 'cool' test [/quote] Not actually quite true. The German models are still made to order and to your spec so not mass produced. I know this as I had to wait 10 weeks for them to build my bass. Warwick is also still owned by Hans Peter Wilfer. The new cheaper Pro models which are going to be made in Korea might change things but the German models certainly are not mass produced.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='739432' date='Feb 8 2010, 09:29 PM']Excellent work! Corvette next pls [/quote] HEHE funny you should ask as that was probably my next choice to do

Sorry guys, trying to create a poll but it won't work. Ped, can you help out please??

After my previous sound clip thread, which gave a quick over view of a few basses, I thought I would focus on one bass at a time. First up is my 2005 Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 3EQ which has a maple neck and has just been restrung with brand new Elite Stadium strings. The bass is being played into a Genz Benz Shuttle 6 amp head with its EQ totally flat. A Mini-disc recorder is connected via the headphones socket on the amp to record the sound. This is then plugged into my Creative Labs sound card on my PC and converted via Creative Media Player into MP3. So, the samples. I have tried to cover most options and included what I think I would probably use for my own personel sound. I have covered both fingerstyle and pick. 1. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Full, Mids Flat, Treble Quarter - Fingerstyle [attachment=42119:Stingray...gerstyle.mp3] 2. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Full, Mids Flat, Treble Quarter - Pick [attachment=42120:Stingray...r___Pick.mp3] 3. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Flat, Mids Flat, Treble Flat - Fingerstyle [attachment=42121:Stingray...erstyle_.mp3] 4. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Flat, Mids Flat, Treble Flat - Pick [attachment=42122:Stingray...t___Pick.mp3] 5. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Flat, Mids Off, Treble Flat - Fingerstyle [attachment=42123:Stingray...gerstyle.mp3] 6. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Flat, Mids Off, Treble Flat - Pick [attachment=42124:Stingray...t___Pick.mp3] 7. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Full, Mids Off, Treble Quarter - Fingerstyle [attachment=42125:Stingray...gerstyle.mp3] 8. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Full, Mids Off, Treble Quarter - Pick [attachment=42126:Stingray...r___Pick.mp3] 9. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Full, Mids Off, Treble Off - Fingerstyle [attachment=42127:Stingray...gerstyle.mp3] 10. Stingray 3EQ - Bass Full, Mids Off, Treble Off - Pick [attachment=42128:Stingray...f___Pick.mp3] 11. My Personel Choice - Stingray 3EQ - Bass Full, Mids Off A Quarter, Treble Quarter - Fingerstyle [attachment=42129:Stingray...gerstyle.mp3] 12. My Personel Choice - Stingray 3EQ - Bass Full, Mids Off A Quarter, Treble Flat - Pick [attachment=42130:Stingray...t___Pick.mp3] Let me know what you think of the different tones and vote away

[quote name='merello' post='738354' date='Feb 7 2010, 07:16 PM']Beautiful! Thanks for that. Love the look of the Fender RI but the ESP looks as if it could go into battle in Bagdad![/quote] You are very welcome. The ESP does have a fair few battle scars. It's seen a few wars over the years but she's a strong cookie :)

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='737972' date='Feb 7 2010, 11:56 AM']Quite true, 4000 - It definitely shows that we all have very different tastes. Michael, I liked the Ray with the touch of treble and lots of bass better, but that thing still needs new strings, mate As soon as I can figure out a way of doing it, I'll record mine. May have to do it live on video, as I have no way of plugging into the PC. Rich.[/quote] No worries Rich. I'll re-string the Stingray tonight and put a new battery in also just to be safe. I'll then put another recording up. Its odd as I have only done one gig and a couple of practises with it. Maybe I have played it more than I think at home. When you boost the bass, do you boost it all the way or just a bit? If full boost is 100% and flat is zero, then my recording I boosted it about 50% and the treble about 25%. Should I do more or less of each or is that about right? Thanks again.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='737929' date='Feb 7 2010, 11:19 AM']Thanks Michael. I agree about the Fender. Its a really nice tone and probably my favourite. The ESP and Warwick sound great as well of course. I really like the SR4 sound clip you earlier with the EQ adjusted. Very close to what i get with my Sub when played with fingers. Thanks for all the hard work.[/quote] No worries Dave, you're very welcome. Hope it has helped in comparing the different tones. If we meet up at Nick's, I'll try and get a recording of your DD and Nick's Precision is ok with you both and I'll post them up here to compare with the others. I could even do your SUB which would be very interesting to compare with the Stingray.

[quote name='merello' post='737846' date='Feb 7 2010, 08:24 AM']Can I suggest this thread is pointless without some low down bassporn pics of the actual planks? Esp. the ESP![/quote] HEHE ok, here is some porn Sorry no stands, I don't have enough to accomodate all my ladies From Left to right, Fender MIA 75 Jazz Re-Issue, ESP Jazz 400 Series, Warwick Corvette Standard Passive, Musicman Stingray 3EQ, Squire Vintage Modified Fretless.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='737819' date='Feb 7 2010, 02:56 AM']Thanks for the pick clips! The jazz sounds very different to what I expected![/quote] In what way was it different? Clunkier, smoother etc?

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='737970' date='Feb 7 2010, 11:56 AM']+1 These are what i've been using for years. I've never had a bad set of Elites and they're usually around £15, i've paid £30+ for strings before and got the odd duff one They are quite coarse but i find them really easy to play, great for RHCP style lines and they respond well when you dig in. They're also tough as hell[/quote] Yep, I also find them easy to play and I love the tone. I also dig in quite hard and have found no problem. For £13 a set, I think they are a bargain.

I use them. Have done for 23 years. I always use Elite Stadiums 45 - 105. Love them, great strings.

[quote name='Balcro' post='737533' date='Feb 6 2010, 07:17 PM']Hello Linus27. It's me again. I don't know whether it affects the overall result much - "Warwick with both pick-ups and tone on full still seems to be the winner", but the "Poll" description next to the vote buttons is still identical for both Warwick clips. Ped where are you? Balcro.[/quote] Hi Balco, thanks for pointing it out. All changed now.

[quote name='4000' post='737281' date='Feb 6 2010, 03:08 PM']I liked the Stingray tone best by far. I also like clacky...but you knew that right? Interesting thread and it just goes to illustrate how people have very different opinions about what a "good" sound is, which should always be born in mind when someone says "bass x sounds great", or "bass y sounds awful".[/quote] Yes very true. I would love to get a Precision with rounds and do the same test, played with fingers and played with a pick. I imagine the Precision with a pick would sound ace.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='735977' date='Feb 5 2010, 11:40 AM']Yeah, its a great tone. I would be very interested in any pick playing examples you can do. Ive given up on trying to play finger style.[/quote] Hi Dave, Here are some examples of played with a pick. Done very quickly so sorry if it sounds a bit rough. Musicman Stingray 3EQ, Bass Boosted, Treble Boosted, Mids Flat and Played With a Pick. [attachment=41944:Musicman...ith_Pick.mp3] Fender MIA Jazz 75 Re-Issue With Both Pickups On Full, Tone on Full Played with a Pick [attachment=41937:Fender_J...ith_Pick.mp3] Warwick Corvette Standard Passive With Both Pickups, Tone on Full Played With a Pick [attachment=41938:Warwick_...ith_Pick.mp3] ESP 400 Series Jazz with Both Pickups, Tone on Full Played With a Pick [attachment=41939:ESP_Jazz...ith_Pick.mp3] Personally, I think the Fender sounds nice. Quite full and agresive. Probably the ESP second but sounds a bit thinner to the Fender.

[quote name='redstriper' post='736091' date='Feb 5 2010, 12:53 PM']I'd like to hear the same comparison with the neck pups on full, no bridge pup and the tone rolled right off, playing finger style over the 15th fret and with the MM on full bass boost with no mid or treble. I understand if you don't want to do that coz it's not your style, but no one ever demos basses with a reggae tone (probably coz no one is interested except me) . Oh - and would it be too much trouble to change all the strings for well used flatwounds ? [/quote] Here is the Musicman on full bass boost with no mids and no treble played with fingers. [attachment=41932:Musicman...o_Treble.mp3]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='735610' date='Feb 4 2010, 10:48 PM']Hi Linus, it's the Warwick for me with both pickups on full. It has the best tone and a lovely growl to it. Very Status like, which is why I suppose I like it Try recording the Stingray again with clean strings and some bass boost and a touch of treble boost - You'll hear a massive difference. All of the clips sound quite "clacky" - Were you playing with a plectrum or something? Rich.[/quote] Hi Rich, Here is another recording of the Stingray with the Bass boosted, the Treble boosted and the mids flat as suggested. Played with fingers again also. As you said, quite a bit different and it does not sound that bad. [attachment=41931:Musicman...le_Boost.mp3]

[quote name='ape' post='737154' date='Feb 6 2010, 01:19 PM']My ESP is a B406-SM its the 6 string spalted maple one, its got a really nice sound to it to be honest very different to the Warwick and is really good for the money, don't get me wrong the stingray was nice sounding just not as good as the warwick but they say basses sound different in different peoples hands I guess[/quote] HAHA in that case, my hands are anti-Stingray as mine has never sounded good in my hands

[quote name='ape' post='737106' date='Feb 6 2010, 12:39 PM']Gotta be the Warwick for me followed closely by the ESP, strangely enough I've got a ESP and a Warwick although thats not why I voted lol. I was very much like you loved the idea of a stingray, flea used one they've always had a really nice sound and look really cool. Around last year I went to go and get a new bass as my vintage kramer had become somewhat unreliable and had become a bit worried about it getting scratched, dented or breathed on lol, so I went to my local ish music shop and tried a couple of basses. I tried a stingray that sounded brilliant unplugged and a couple of warwicks and then tried them through a mark bass amp, the stingray was good but as much as I liked it was just blown out of the water by the Streamer Jazzman I ended up buying, great thread by the way would love to see more like this with different basses[/quote] Glad you liked the clips. I will be doing some more as others have asked for them also. I am very dissapointed with the Stingray but as others have said, maybe it comes alive in the mix with a full band. What ESP do you have?