Linus27

[quote name='Brave Sir Robin' post='737078' date='Feb 6 2010, 12:24 PM']Cool clips. You can really see the difference in character. The ESP has more of the typical Jazz tone than the Fender! The strings on the Fender sound a bit dead to be fair. For me, Corvette(#1), ESP(#6), MM(#3), Fender. [sub] PS : They stopped making Corvette (Jazz configuration) in Germany BTW. The production moves somewhere in Asia, under the 'pro' line. I don't know if they will get cheaper but it makes sense. Not sure how economically viable it is for a big company to produce basses in germany for under £700. The fabled Corvettes 'Made In Germany'... [/sub][/quote] HEHE that made me laugh. Fender invented the Jazz bass and the one in this clip is a MIA 75 re-issue and so should sound very good as a Jazz. Yet the ESP sounds more like a Jazz :) As for the German Corvette's. Yeah, its a shame but I guess it makes sense economically. Warwick did say they were losing money on every standard Corvette they made. Not surprised as mine new cost £580. Thankfully I have one of the last German made ones.

One of my basses has lots of battle scars but only because its been gigged to hell and back. I've looked after it but being on the road and recording for 20 years has resulted in it being bashed about but unintentionally may I add. I don't mind a working bass to get scars and marks. A working bass to me is exactly that, a woking bass, a tool, something that you use and will in time, get worn out, damaged or break. I try and look after it, the same as I would clothes but eventually the more it gets used, the more its going to become worn.

[quote name='merello' post='736649' date='Feb 5 2010, 08:47 PM']Hey! Don't ask then! [/quote]

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='736646' date='Feb 5 2010, 08:42 PM'] I thought it would cost over £1000 (ok, ive not looked in to it). Hmmm, maybe this is something i need to investigate now lol.[/quote] BURBLE BURBLE. Whats That sound?? Oh thats the sound of ......... WARWICK GAS

[quote name='redstriper' post='736503' date='Feb 5 2010, 06:20 PM']You are a gentleman sir. BTW - I love the tone of your Warwick. There's a well used passive ash corvette in my local shop for £550 which is a joy to play and sounds great but I can't justify the price. My Tanglewwod Warrior (Corvette copy) is also very nice to play, not such great tone but it was a lot cheaper. Oh, if you get time maybe you could have a look at my thread about jazz pup tone [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=76104&pid=736489&st=0&#entry736489"]here[/url]. All opinions much appreciated. Thanks, Steve.[/quote] You are welcome. By the way, thats way expensive for that Corvette. Brand new mine cost me £580 so well used at £550 is way over priced. They usually go for about £300 - £350 second hand on here and thats usually in good condition.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='736202' date='Feb 5 2010, 02:13 PM']Gotta say the bassline is pretty sweet! Nice n musical. I'm also going to finger style more now...not got upto my pick speed yet, but I'm getting there. I realised after listening the Warwick sounds best![/quote] Hey, thanks very much. The bass line was something that just popped into my head but its the normal type of bass line I write.

[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] If I get chance, I am more than happy to do that. Not sure about the string changes though but the rest I can do

[quote name='Musicman20' post='736033' date='Feb 5 2010, 12:08 PM']I sense Warwick GAS![/quote] HAHAHAHA Dave, resistance is futile. Warwick will own you one day, there is no escape

[quote name='Musicman20' post='736029' date='Feb 5 2010, 12:07 PM']Hmmm, have you never been 100% with the tone of the Ray? I have my EQ on the Ray flat, sometimes with a slight treb/bass boost, but they both punch like crazy. Seriously aggressive tone which is the main reason, (and the oval plate) why I wanted one about 12 years ago. Is the ESP active? I'm guessing it's not. Boil the ray strings in water/washing up liquid for 5 mins, rinse thoroughly, then see if that helps?[/quote] Nope, never ever been happy with the Stingray tone. Has always sounded thin, weedy, clanky or boomy and muffled. If I turn the treble up to combat the boomyness it goes all clanky. I also hate mids which probably is a dissadvantage to liking the Stingray Its never ever sounded full and fat and in your face. Really frustrating as looks and feel its my favourite bass, it just sounds naff in my hands :)

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='736023' date='Feb 5 2010, 12:04 PM']look forward to them, thanks for taking the time and trouble. Other than the SR4 i think the other basses would all sound pretty similar in a band situation so i think for me it would come down to feel and playability. How does the Warwick neck feel compared to the Fender?[/quote] The Warwick neck feels different to the Fender. Its a little slimmer and flatter. Its also not varnished but very smooth. Oh course, you will find out when you play them all

[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] No worries Dave, I'll try and do some recording over the weekend with a pick. I will also do the Stingray with Rich's suggestions he posted earlier.

[quote name='MartyBRebelMC' post='735973' date='Feb 5 2010, 11:38 AM']Interesting stuff, thanks for taking the time to record and post the clips Michael. My preference is for the ESP, but here's the thing - I agree with others that the MM sounds least impressive in this context, however, having recently started using a Stingray I have found that in the mix of a band the tone is wonderfull, probably because of the midrange hump. The problem often seems to be HiFi sounding bass EQ's are great when recorded but very difficult to hear when played with other instruments especially live, this has been my experience anyway. Which is your favourite live bass Michael?[/quote] Thanks for the feedback. My favourite is probably the ESP or Warwick. I think both sound similar but as described ealier, the ESP is a bit drier. The ESP is actually a very rare bass. Its from 1989 and only cost £350. However, its a copy of a 1962 Fender and has exactly the same headstock as a Fender which was only for the Asian and European market. The US models of bass had a different headstock. In fact I have never seen another ESP bass with my headstock. Rumour has it that ESP at the time were making basses for Fender so it's quite possibly a bass that could had been labeled up as an ESP or Fender. The neck is super thin. I've never played a bass with a neck this thin. Its a wonderful bass that has served me very well on tour and recording.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='735970' date='Feb 5 2010, 11:36 AM']Warwick sounds more lively...nice tone but I think it comes alive more due to strings. Fender sounds different to what I expected...perhaps strings, not sure, but bridge pickup emphasis best. Stingray sounds like it has flats on...no that that's bad at all, just more muted than I'm used to. Rays to me normally just sound hugely aggressive all the time. Light touch, huge response. ESP sounds great...a hidden treasure! Thanks for making them...I like the Warwick more than I expected [/quote] The Stingray is a worry for me and my biggest frustration. I have never been able to get a sound I like from the Stingray despite it being my dream bass when I started playing. The recording is with the EQ flat and the bass is strung with rounds, Elite Stadiums. Infact, all the basses apart from the Warwick have Elite Stadiums rounds on.

[quote name='Balcro' post='735657' date='Feb 4 2010, 11:38 PM']Opinion - I like the Warwick with both pickups full. ESP surprisingly good - slightly drier than the Warwick full, but very close. Fender full is plummier. MM higher output and more mids than the others. Balcro[/quote] What a perfect way to describe the sounds. Totally connected with that especially the Fender being plummier.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='735631' date='Feb 4 2010, 11:10 PM']Hi Michael. My vote went to the ESP with both pups as i prefer that tone but i really do like the Warwick as well. In fact i like the Warwick better BUT the ESP would be my choice as i think it would fit in with what i play. I think that sounds a bit backward but i know what i mean.[/quote] HEHE I knew you would like the Warwick

[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, I will give that a go. I would be interested to hear how it sounds. I was also playing with my fingers. I do tend to dig in a bit hard and its a habit I am trying to fix. I played with a plectrum for 20 years, playing fairly heavy driving guitar music and so used to play with a lot of energy and drive. I tend to do the same with my fingers and I am teaching myself to play softer and turn the amp up instead.

[quote name='ped' post='735596' date='Feb 4 2010, 10:28 PM']Just added a poll for you!! ped[/quote] Nice one Ped, thank you

[quote name='Marvin' post='735582' date='Feb 4 2010, 10:17 PM']Nice array of basses for comparison. If I have to give a preference, ESP last one though with the front pick up half off.[/quote] Thanks, its seems like the ESP is quite liked. I should had done this as a poll to see what people liked the most

[quote name='alexharvay' post='735562' date='Feb 4 2010, 10:04 PM']Really nice selection of tones you have there. Your clips give a really good comparison between the four basses. And it's good that you played the same part for each clip. I think my least favourite is the Warwick, but that's just me. I need to spend more time with a Warwick, the only one I've played belongs to a friend and he's never changed the strings on it.[/quote] HEHE the bass part came into my head as soon as I walked through the door after work. No idea where it came from but I though it would be a good excuse to use to record the different basses. I'm actually really impressed with the Warwick. Its my first ever Warwick and I love the tone. No idea what its like live though

[quote name='ped' post='735561' date='Feb 4 2010, 10:02 PM']My fave - ESP 400 Series Jazz which has Bartolini Pickups with both pickups on and tone on full. really nice sound. Would like to hear more! Perhaps give it a bit of slap and tickle? What's the recording setup? ped[/quote] No worries Ped. Will do some more recording for you at some point although I don't really know how to slap The ESP really is a wonderful sounding bass. Some say its my nicest sounding bass. As for recording, bass into Shuttle 6 head. Then line out of the headphone socket on Shuttle 6 direct into my minidisc recorder. Then converted from minidisc into mp3 on PC using Creative Soundlab.

[quote name='mikhay77' post='735549' date='Feb 4 2010, 09:54 PM']+1. Also this might be just me but are the warwick strings like new and fender strings quite old?The fender just seemed to lack the new string tone sound,if you know what i mean.[/quote] HEHE your good, very good The Warwick strings are very new. I only got the bass on Saturday and I would say it has had around 2 hours total playing time. The Fender strings are not that old but have done a two hour gig last Saturday, plus a whole bunch of rehearsals plus tons and tons of practise at home.

[quote name='Gwilym' post='735539' date='Feb 4 2010, 09:41 PM']+1 I liked the warwick with both pickups and the ESP with both pickups the most. edit: the ESP - sounds a bit beefier than the Warwick to my ears, so I'd vote ESP. Fender tone didn't seem very even across the strings, and the Stingray not really doing it for me tone wise.[/quote] Thats cool. I love the ESP tone but the Warwick is also very cool. Probably more aggresive sounding but still nice.

[quote name='alexharvay' post='735538' date='Feb 4 2010, 09:41 PM']Fender, Sorry.[/quote] HEHE no worries. I think the Fender sounds nice and quite vintage.

[quote name='alexharvay' post='735527' date='Feb 4 2010, 09:31 PM']I like the Jazz.[/quote] Which one? The Fender or the ESP?