Linus27

I've had two Musicman Stingray basses. Both 3EQ, both with superb necks but both a total pain in the arse to get a decent sound from. I thought maybe it was just the rig I was playing. It was a Harke 7000 with the Harke alluminium coned 4 x 10XL and 1 x 15XL cabs. Nothing really wrong with the sound but it was just thin, tinny and no balls to it. I put this down to maybe the alluminium cones. The actual tone was pretty nice but it was just thin and weak. However, if I plugged my Fender 77 Precision in, it sounded amazing. Full, punchy, rounded and full of drive. It was like comparing a V8 Mustang to a 1.0 Metro. However, the Stingray was a total dream to play. A neck to die for and the balance was perfect but I sold her when times were tight. Now move forward 8 years and that memory was not gone and so I bought a new 3EQ Stingray. Again, a dream to play, beautiful balance and a neck to die for. This time, I am playing it through an Ashdown MAG 300H, Ashdown MAG 2 x 10 and 1 x 15. Again though, great tone but the bass is thin and has no balls. I then play my Fender Jazz and its full, smooth and warm. I then play my Lakland Duck Dunn and its fat, powerful, driving and has one set of meaty balls on it. I then go back to the Stingray and its thin and weedy and lacks real punch. I can't believe its all me or the way my rig is setup as I have found the same conclusion with two very different rigs. If I dial the bass up on the Stingray, it gets fuller but also goes a bit wooly and tends to lose the classic stingray tone. To me this makes it a bit pointless. I am beginning to wonder if maybe I have the wrong impression of the Stingray. I thought it would be a great rock bass, full sounding, driving but with its own tone. However, it just seems to lack any bottom end and fullness. I'm trying to actually think of any bands that play driving rock/metal/punk that use a Musicman. Has anyone else found anything similar? I love my Stingray but I can never get the sound I want out of it and I don't really want to start fiddling with changing pickups or using pedals etc.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='426405' date='Mar 5 2009, 04:39 PM']Define 'great'. To be frank, they never held my attention for very long. I don't dislike The Police, I just don't like them enough to consider spending any time listening to them. I can enjoy a track or two but that's about it but, as for great, no, not really. But that's just me.[/quote] I think, looking back at the time they were around, late 70's to early 80's, they were very much ahead of their time. In fact, some of the song could be called timeless classics because even today, some songs still sound fresh. Listening to a lot of other groups now from around them, the songs sound rough, raw and rubbish. I just think at the time, they were special and very much ahead of their time.

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426363' date='Mar 5 2009, 04:22 PM']Are you[b] absolutely [/b]positive? [/quote] In my opinion, YES

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426359' date='Mar 5 2009, 04:19 PM']Must.......................................................resist................................... ..........must.........................................resist [/quote] I'm resisting and so far its working.

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426346' date='Mar 5 2009, 04:12 PM']Fair enough. Oops!! [/quote] You crack me up OOOPPPSS bugger, now I done it

[quote name='Tee' post='426320' date='Mar 5 2009, 03:58 PM']The one on the right (maple) is my No.1 and it will be seeing action tonight.[/quote] Yeah I love the one with maple neck. Looks stunning.

[quote name='Bass_In_Yer_Face' post='426070' date='Mar 5 2009, 12:43 PM']is this worth debating? Copeland = favourite drummer of all time Sting = one of the main reasons i play bass.[/quote] +1

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426315' date='Mar 5 2009, 03:54 PM']God dammit!![/quote] You're go to hell now with a U2 album and beat up Fender Precision with one string so you can only play Adam Clayton bass line. You're a very bad man.

Guitar Village in Farnham has some ESP basses. Might be worth dropping them a note.

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426304' date='Mar 5 2009, 03:47 PM']Step [b]away[/b] from the thread!! [/quote] You did a smiley, you did a smiley. Your a very bad man hehehehe

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426293' date='Mar 5 2009, 03:40 PM']Leave it!![/quote] Just one more smiley for good luck???

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426216' date='Mar 5 2009, 02:40 PM'][b]He's behind you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/b][/quote] Is that a fact????

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426212' date='Mar 5 2009, 02:36 PM']Oh no we can't.[/quote] Oh yes we can

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='426146' date='Mar 5 2009, 01:41 PM']Can we stop with all the smiley f***ing faces?[/quote] Yes we can

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='426124' date='Mar 5 2009, 01:16 PM']LOL. You and your black scratch plates. I agree though. Black and white look fantastic.[/quote] HAHAHA its all your fault for showing me the pictures of your red DD with black scratchplate. I was not even looking at ore considering a Lakland until I saw your pictures :)

[quote name='Tee' post='425936' date='Mar 5 2009, 11:14 AM'][attachment=21492:Image033.jpg] Olympic white P's with black scratch plates. Me like. Here are my two US Ps[/quote] They look so yummy. Really falling in love with white precisions with black scratchplate. Must resist.

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='426059' date='Mar 5 2009, 12:35 PM']That's only [b]your[/b] opinion. [/quote] Is that fact or just in your opinion

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='425974' date='Mar 5 2009, 11:38 AM']It may only have been a fact [b]in his opinion [/b]of course, although I'd be inclined to agree with him on this occasion. [/quote] Is your agreement fact that his opinion was fact or just his opinion or is your agreement just your opinion that his opinion was fact or just his opinion Going to lay down now as my head hurts

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='425438' date='Mar 4 2009, 07:10 PM']No. I have not paid much attention to that other thread TBH Seems to have got a lot of people worked up though [/quote] OK thanks. Just worried my joke was being misread.

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='425343' date='Mar 4 2009, 05:40 PM']Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! I meant go on and [b]bite your tongue[/b]!!!! [/quote] You want to bite my tongue???

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='425356' date='Mar 4 2009, 05:49 PM']Nobody has to like motown any more than you have to like U2. However, the list of bass players who were influenced by Jamersons playing without even knowing who is was is enormous and you can still hear his influence on music today. Unlike some other revered bass players [/quote] Is this aimed at me?

[quote name='josh3184' post='425108' date='Mar 4 2009, 02:29 PM']I'm sure this will start flame wars, but I've never really seen what all the fuss is about...[/quote] Burn him ... he is the work of the devil Really enjoyed that, thanks for posting.

I think we need to agree that there is something terribly wrong with liking The Beautiful South. We can then move on and discuss even further the dramatic seriousness of losing all credability and loss of mental state from wanting to be in a Beautiful South tribute band. Someone please be on my side on this one

[quote name='beerdragon' post='425229' date='Mar 4 2009, 04:10 PM']For those of you who don't know bassicinstinct is in a Beautiful South tribute band The Beautiful Sound. you can see his gigs in the Gigs section.[/quote] I'm so biting my tongue here. I so want to reply but I must resist