drTStingray

13 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

That white Bongo is one of my favourite basses on Basschat. It does remind me of something else though...

 

 

Thanks - it does draw admiring comments when I take it to a gig (which is very very rare!!) And absolutely - I remember standard daleks, red ones and the black Dalek but don’t recall those - they’re excellent!! 
 

I somewhat got away with it Saturday night - the neck plus headstock is quite long and I bashed it a couple of times - thankfully no headstock chip!! (Talk about a long bass, I can barely reach the D string to tune it when on a strap 🥴 no problem playing it though!) 

All this talk of Bongos must have influenced me - I used my BFR Bongo on Saturday night for one set - sounded great and especially good with a octaver. 
 

However even without the scratch plate, someone on Talkbass thought the combination of white with gold hardware really conjured up that image. 
 

I tend to feel there must be a few bass players around with unnaturally vivid toilet fetishes 😂😂🙄 

Glad you’re enjoying yours @AndyTravis - both of mine have 5 strings (one is the obligatory orange - though not as striking as the tangerine pearl - which incidentally, you could get on a Stingray and other basses) - I have thought about getting a Bongo 4 in the past but am sort of stuck in the stingray or Stingrayish groove with 4 strings - for the other 45 on Saturday I used my Musicman Sabre. 

1 hour ago, ped said:

Bongbros 

What happened to the pink keyboard featured in profile pic, @ped

1 hour ago, briansbrew said:

 @AndyTravis well having tried the bass I got for Andy I just had to get one and as luck had it a bassist in Co Durham had 2 and this tangerine one was going begging so here she is.. 

 

Is that colour tangerine pearl? Excellent colour!! 

This looks as though it was inspired by the Musicman Big Al HH. Is it fitted with Dimension pick ups/electronics etc? 

The demos sound good but I also predict it won’t last too long in the range!! 

On 15/03/2022 at 14:29, Cato said:

With regards to the basses I they're probably getting it right.

 

I live quite near Warwick and back in the day hearing Americans say War Wick castle was an endless source of amusement to me and my school mates.

 

It was years before I realised that without prior knowledge there's no way in the world anyone's going to guess that the second 'w' is silent.

I can empathise with that - for anyone living in the Midlands in the 60s/70s, and with the hordes of US visitors to the area around Stratford, there were many irregular pronunciations to be sniggered at, including War Wick - and why not, hordes of our country folk have long taken the mickey out of some Midlands pronunciations (both East and West Midlands).

However it seems the Americans have, at times taken this to a new level - a couple of examples:-

Wal bass (Wall bass)

Rickenbacker (variously Rickenbarker; Rickenbocker) 

There was a long running thread on Talkbass arguing how Rickenbacker should be pronounced.
 

However having seen the Friends episode when they exclaimed ‘Happy Honikah Monica’ I could see where the problem lay 😀

Yeah she’s an excellent player. Love this bass cover. 

5 minutes ago, Ander87 said:

Hm! Interesting - shopping from the vault incurring customs and whatnot seems tedious though, how was your experience @drTStingray?

No problems whatsoever - couldn’t be easier - they give you a fixed price inclusive of shipping and customs - I ordered a Tim Commerford Stingray prior to this as well - they both arrived via UPS - the Bongo has a build date of about 10 days before I took delivery of it. I think the TC was already in stock and arrived within a week of purchase. 

On 09/03/2022 at 13:32, Machines said:

 

The only Bongos I can easily find new in the UK for £3350. Bearing in mind these instruments have been in production for 15+ years, there are a fair few 2nd hand, so i can't imagine the new ones really sell at all.

I suppose it depends what you’re looking for - I bought a new one last year, via EBMM direct internet sales (The Vault) - it was less than £3k.

Theres always the argument that used is better value but I have to say I wouldn’t have been able to get quite a number of my basses if I hadn’t bought them new.

Bongos are great btw - this is my second (and I did buy the other - also 5 string but with a piezo, used). 

Just picking up on the earlier conversation about the distance from the bridge of the bridge pick up on an HH Bongo compared to an HH Stingray, the bridge coils of a Ray bridge pick up are about 3” and the Bongo 2” from the nearest saddle. However the single H Bongo has its pick up more in the region of the pick up on a Stingray (it also has a 3 band EQ compared with the 4 band of the multi pick up Bongo). 

I ordered both of mine when they were first announced (April 2018) - the 4HH arrived in August 2018 and the SR5HH in November - they were both a shade under £2300 (3+ yrs ago) and thus pre Covid and other worldwide lunacy - they aren’t going anywhere but you’ll understand, if they were, I wouldn’t be willing to let them go for much under £1800 each!! 

Also note the SBMM Neptune blue, although nice, is not the same as the 2014 Musicman PDN offering

15 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

I turned 21 in 2005.

 

I had a mortgage, was living with the mother of my first child…

 

when I turned 21, my mum and dad - who I’ve battled with, but have been incredibly supportive of my musical endeavours asked me what I wanted.

 

”Musicman Bongo”

 

And they gave me £800. So I put the rest to it and I got one of the early bongos.

 

They didn’t come with a case originally.

 

i took a case…but was later informed it was a £120 optional extra 😕

 

Returned it.

 

Anyhow, 4 years later - my partner wrote her car off and quit her job on the same day when we had a brand new baby…so a massive bass sale began.

 

@LukeFRCand @Etienne got some basses…

 

the Bongo went, at a huge loss…

 

they weren’t popular at all at the time.

 

now I’m 37, the “brand new baby” is a 13 year old bass playing emo.

 

Its time

 

found the same age, spec, colour…

 

It’s in Northern Ireland.

 

i debate a flight. And then I remember my good mate @briansbrewis in Derry.

 

and here’s where a person shows their worth.

 

A message last night to Bri.

 

“Yeah it’s near me, I know him - let me work on it”

 

and nothing…for a bit.

 

this afternoon 

 

“I’ve gone out for a drive…here it is…got £150 knocked off and I’ll get it ready to ship…”

 

it’s in his lounge.

 

He’s bought the bloody bass!

 

What an absolute hero - Bri is no middleman…he is the man.

 

I never in a million years expected him to do this - I thought he was going to talk the guy into shipping the bass (listing was collection only)

 

I cannot express my thanks enough (I’ve paid him back - financially at least.)

 

A depressing thing is that I don’t have any pictures of me with my original bongo.

 

Anyhow - Publicly, thank you Brian.

 

 

Fabulous - Bongos are the secret weapon 😀👍 great colour as well - enjoy 

Great comparison video - all sounds great. However, I must say the Stingray sound appears far more refined than the Yamaha sound, and particularly with the Yamaha in P pick up only mode - that’s probably more a general comment on a P pick up sound than the way the Yamaha achieves it - which it does very well IMO. 

Though it pains me to say it, I’ve been involved in quite a number of these, one way or another…… 🥴

An interesting one which springs to mind was a gig in the Home Counties - I think Farnborough/ Aldershot way - we were booked for a NAAFI gig along with a deejay who worked for the same agent - on driving into the location, we were met by the spectacle of the deejay, who had been involved in quite a serious collision in his van, and was sporting a somewhat bloodied face and hands and a barely drivable van. Anyway he performed his role after being patched up a bit.

However, the place was packed with young men, and another act on the bill was meant to be a stripper - who failed to show up.
 

We went on stage with our rather attractive young lady singer to do our disco/soul set - you can imagine the atmosphere in this place - the slightly intoxicated and rowdy audience expecting our singer to be doing the exotic dancing as well 🥴 

We got through the set without a riot occurring though it was one of the most nerve wracking gigs I’ve ever done. 

On 24/01/2022 at 12:14, Old Horse Murphy said:

So after a quite honestly disgraceful 2021 of buying and selling, followed by an equally disgraceful January 2022, I've arrived at this lot:

 

Back Row L-R: 2015 Thunderbird/Guild Starfire 1/ Hohner B2A (not fully working). 
 

Front Row L-R: Stingray 5 Special (strung with rounds)/ Stingray 5 Special (flats)/ 1989 US Fender P Bass (flats)/ 4003S/ Fender American Pro II P Bass (rounds)/ G&L CLF L-2000/ Custom Fretless.  

My Ibanez EHB1505MS is not included as I've put it up for sale. 
 

I spent a really nerdy day yesterday, cleaning and setting up this lot. I must say it was rather fun
 

I'd really like to think I'm done and ideally would like to lose a couple, although for the life of me I can't decide which ones. If anything, I've got a hankering for a lightweight G&L SB-1 but we'll see...

Lovely 😎 - interesting you’ve strung the maple board Stingray Special with flats. How does it compare with the rosewood(or is it ebony??)/natural/ roundwound combination?

On 25/01/2022 at 12:38, fretmeister said:

 

 

I really want one!

 

Looks more like a Fender Dimension IMHO. 
 

It sounds good. However the sound is only one aspect of the Stingray - there are a series of other factors, not least the exquisitely playable necks on the Stingray Specials. 

Very very nice - lovely Classic 5 there. (Love the fretless as well)

17 hours ago, BassAdder27 said:

It’s the 2 band EQ Sub Ray and low cost pickup ( ceramic ) and budget pre amp. 
Still decent sounding but happy it’s only my backup bass

The 2 band scoops if you put both tone controls on full - bring them back towards the centre of their travel and you’ll get more mid range if you want to cut through more. You may also improve matters by not having the volume on full (up the amp a little to compensate). 
 

It has to be remembered that the original Stingray was designed to be an upgrade of the Precision and to combine some of the characteristics of a Thunderbird and a Jazz, sound wise. 
 

Effectively a bass for the mid 70s onwards but equally at home on ‘vintage’ (I.e 60s) material. Those using P and J basses in studios were often using them through Alembic pre amps at that time (even Jamerson was using a bespoke ‘interface’ in the studio in the 60s) - the Stingray placed the pre amp on the instrument, in the hands of the musician.
 

However you need the mutes to get the best level of thump out of a Stingray. 

The ceramic pick ups, in my experience, can add warmth or bite, dependent on how you play (my favourite Stingray 5 has a ceramic pick up). 

45 minutes ago, 4000 said:

Well I know what slapping a Ric sounds like. 😉 However that Ric sounds nothing like any of the many Rics I’ve owned. It sounds like he’s either got the deadest strings in the world……or flats. 😂 Sounds a bit pants, tbh. 

Having found out recently Leon Silvers 111 played a Rickenbacker with flats on all those famous Shalamar/Whispers songs, I’m inclined to think they’re great for that post disco, Boogie type of R and B.

Im often sceptical about comparison videos as a lot depends on the interface used, the way the basses are set up in terms of EQ etc and of course the player. 

In terms of the OP, I think the Stingray can be made to sound incredibly aggressive - a Wal also. The Thumb is generally a more woody sound - however I haven’t spent enough time with either a Wal or a Thumb to get the most out of them.

Also, the correct comparison should involve an HH Stingray and an HH Wal. 

On 02/01/2022 at 18:26, Ricky 4000 said:

No. It's Gary Tibbs outta Adam And The Ants, and Roxy Music. 👍

I had heard he played a played a Wal when with Roxymusic, as did Alan Spenner. 

On 03/01/2022 at 20:37, iconic said:

I had my Stingray bubble burst this week.

 

Niles been saying that a lot of the Chic et al recordings, were actually done on a Fender P but, Bernie used Stingray and BC Rich on stage as they looked cooler. 

You should re-inflate it!! If you hear the isolated bass tracks (a number shown in threads last year on Basschat), you can hear exactly which ones are on a Stingray (which is most of the 1978-80 tracks). The sound is unmistakable (whilst noting that Bernard’s strings were probably the GHS flatwounds it came with). 
 

I’ve heard Nile say various things on this when interviewed over the years - including that Bernard ALWAYS played a Jazz bass (which is clearly incorrect). 

2 hours ago, EssentialTension said:

 

Yes, and by '78, as well as the solo album, there were three Weather Report albums with Pastorius appearing on at least some tracks.

 

Many of the musos I knew were listening especially to Weather Report, in particular Heavy Weather.

 

The idea that Pastorius wasn't influential (in listening and playing) by 1978 is ridiculous. It has its limits but its there.

You have to go back to my post about three strands of people being turned on to jazz/funk. Not only did he heavily influence me, I was in a cover band in the late 70s, mostly doing prog (Camel and the like) but we also did Birdland and some Tom Scott stuff - probably 77/78 right after Heavy Weather was available. I quite sure the underground dance and DJ scene was not interested in this.

I do accord with @Bean9seventy ‘s issue with colleges and the like and the distorted view sometimes projected - I actually discovered Jaco’s first solo album in around 2000 following an article on him in a bass magazine - and I was heavily into jazz/funk and a bass player when it came out. The idea it was universally heralded by bass players in the U.K. is ridiculous - I would also say I was far more influenced by Pino’s fretless work with Paul Young than Jaco back then - it was far more accessible - in fact on every juke box in a way Jaco never was. However possession of a couple of Weather Report albums in the late 70s/early 80s did result in ‘lifting’ some of his licks, though it would be about 2006, and in possession of a Hal Leonard book, that I learned some of his be bop stuff - and particularly Teen Town (always one of my favourite bass parts), and Portrait of Tracy. However I still have his second solo album on vinyl, which I’ve had since new - and I learned The Chicken from. IIRC I had it off our drummer, who was the source of many obscure jazz funk, disco and R and B albums - he didn’t like the Jaco album much and I would confess that much of it didn’t appeal to me until about 15 yrs ago, discovering some of his more obscure stuff!! 
 

Im sure my experience is not the same as everyone else but similarly I don’t think it was by any means unique or unusual at the time. You were more likely to be exchanging Louis Johnson or Larry Graham licks with other players than Jaco or Stanley Clarke’s. 
 

I would emphasise that this was the U.K. - in the US there were even some people using Precisions with flatwound strings at the end of the 70s - however not all - even Jaco used Rotosound roundwounds on his fretless by the mid 70s!!! Flatwounds (as with guitar) we’re very much a 60s throw back 😏

2 hours ago, Bean9seventy said:

However the Brit funk thing was based firmly in the south east and grew out of the dance scene - that was part of the initial audience for bands like Freeze / stop,, True ,

 

level 42 was a "few years later ,, anyway,

 

Freeze ,, the bass player (from memory) used a Fender & was one of the 1st Down Thumb players in the UK ,,, we had a different name for down thumb slap in the 70s

 

as part of that core Brit Funk scene, the manifesto included playing up to this new status of UK / Brit funk to the fans ,, so 

 

The Southern Freeze , song is based on a UK dance move that was Real

 

dancers would stop/ freeze like a video player tight on the beat,,,    & start again aka The Southern Freeze 

 

 

He’s using an Ibanez Musician I think (could be an Aria) 1981. 

12 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

Funny, I managed to get past just about every audition in the early 80s (and since then) without playing slap. Any that I didn't get past weren't because I didn't play slap.

I was really referring to contemporary (then) pop and dance/R and B.

It was not necessary for reggae, ska, rock etc etc 

Interesting - I have 14 of them including Let It Be, Instant Karma, Black Knight, Sweet Dream, Love Like a Man, Let’s Work Together, both Chicago. The accent is very much towards the ‘progressive’ music as it was called then. I’m afraid the reggae and soul was very much the preserve (for white youths) of the skinheads and their nearer relatives (latter day mods). There was some total dross in the list, as you can see. 
 

1970 was my first rock concert - Canned Heat supported by The Groundhogs - Birmingham Town Hall - the Groundhogs were excruciatingly loud - I don’t think I’ve encountered a louder gig since!! 

On 31/12/2021 at 09:32, Happy Jack said:

I was 13 so this was pretty much my last year of preferring singles (we called them '45s') to albums (we called them 'LPs').

 

Arrival - Friends - 01-70
Badfinger - Come And Get It - 01-70
Shirley Bassey - Something - 07-70
The Beach Boys - Cottonfields - 06-70
The Beatles - Let It Be - 03-70
Black Sabbath - Paranoid - 10-70
Bobby Bloom - Montego Bay - 09-70
Blue Mink - Good Morning Freedom - 04-70
Blue Mink - Our World - 09-70   
Bob & Marcia - Young Gifted And Black - 03-70
Bread - Make It With You - 09-70
The Brotherhood Of Man - United We Stand - 02-70
Butterscotch - Don't You Know (She said Hello) - 05-70 
Glen Campbell - Honey Come Back - 05-70
Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe - 12-70
Canned Heat - Let's Work Together - 02-70
The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You - 10-70
Clarence Carter - Patches - 10-70
The Chairmen Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time - 09-70
The Chairmen Of The Board - You've Got Me Dangling On A String - 12-70
Chicago - I'm A Man - 02-70
Chicago - 25 Or 6 To 4 - 08-70
Christie - Yellow River - 05-70
Christie - San Bernadino - 11-70
Jimmy Cliff - Wild World - 09-70
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travelin' Band - 05-70
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around The Bend - 07-70
The Cuff Links - When Julie Comes Around - 04-70
Dana - All Kinds Of Everything - 04-70
The Dave Clark Five - Good Old Rock 'n' Roll - 01-70
The Dave Clark Five - Everybody Get Together - 03-70
Deep Purple - Black Night - 09-70
Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want - 09-70
Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie - 11-70
Sacha Distel - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - 03-70
Joe Dolan - You're Such A Good Looking Woman - 04-70
Clive Dunn - Grandad - 12-70
Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - 01-70
Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking - 11-70
The England World Cup Squad - Back Home - 05-70
Fair Weather - Natural Sinner - 08-70
Horace Faith - Black Pearl - 10-70
Family - Strange Band - 10-70
Don Fardon - Indian Reservation - 11-70
Fleetwood Mac - The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) - 06-70
The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself - 04-70
The Four Tops - It's All In The Game - 06-70
The Four Tops - Still Water (Love) - 10-70
Aretha Franklin - Don't Play That Song - 09-70
Free - All Right Now - 06-70
Frijid Pink - House Of The Rising Sun - 05-70
Marvin Gaye - Abraham Martin & John - 06-70
Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky - 04-70
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile - 11-70
Herman's Hermits - Years May Come, Years May Go - 02-70
Herman's Hermits - Lady Barbara - 12-70
The Hollies - I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top - 05-70
The Hollies - Gasoline Alley Bred - 10-70
Mary Hopkin - Temma Harbour - 02-70
Mary Hopkin - Knock Knock Who's There - 03-70
Mary Hopkin - Think About Your Children - 10-70 
Hot Chocolate - Love Is Life - 09-70
Hotlegs - Neanderthal Man - 07-70
The Jackson Five - I Want You Back - 02-70
The Jackson Five - ABC - 06-70
The Jackson Five - The Love You Save - 08-70
The Jackson Five - I'll Be There - 12-70
Jethro Tull - The Witch's Promise / Teacher - 02-70
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile - 11-70
Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon - Sweet Inspiration - 08-70
Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon - Blame It On The Pony Express - 12-70
Tom Jones - Daughter Of Darkness - 05-70
The Kinks - Lola - 07-70
John Lennon, Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band - Instant Karma - 02-70
Marmalade - Reflections Of My Life - 01-70
Marmalade - Rainbow - 08-70
Lee Marvin - Wand'rin' Star - 02-70
Matthews Southern Comfort - Woodstock - 10-70
McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone - 12-70
Melanie - Ruby Tuesday - 11-70
Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi - 08-70
Gerry Monroe - Sally - 06-70
Gerry Monroe - My Prayer - 12-70
The Moody Blues - Question - 05-70
The Move - Brontosaurus - 05-70
Mr. Bloe - Groovin' With Mr. Bloe - 06-70
Mungo Jerry - In The Summertime - 06-70
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing Rhymed - 12-70
Freda Payne - Band Of Gold - 09-70
Peter, Paul & Mary - Leavin' On A Jet Plane - 01-70
Pickettywitch - That Same Old Feeling - 03-70
The Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding - 04-70
The Poppy Family - Which Way You Goin' Billy - 09-70
Elvis Presley - Don't Cry Daddy - 03-70
Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You - 07-70
Elvis Presley - I've Lost You - 11-70
The Rattles - The Witch - 11-70
Cliff Richard - Goodbye Sam Hello Samantha - 06-70
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tears Of A Clown - 08-70
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition - Something's Burning - 03-70
Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough - 10-70
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Someday We'll Be Together - 01-70
Jimmy Ruffin - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound - 04-70
Jimmy Ruffin - I'll Say Forever My Love - 08-70
Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful - 11-70
Shocking Blue - Venus - 02-70
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water - 03-70
Edwin Starr - War - 11-70
Status Quo - Down The Dustpipe - 06-70
Steam - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - 03-70
Cat Stevens - Lady D'Arbanville - 07-70
Ray Stevens - Everything Is Beautiful - 06-70
The Supremes - Up The Ladder To The Roof - 05-70
The Temptations - I Can't Get Next To You - 02-70
The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion - 10-70
Ten Years After - Love Like A Man - 07-70
T. Rex - Ride A White Swan - 11-70
Nicky Thomas - Love Of The Common People - 07-70
Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me Not To Come  - 09-70
The Tremeloes - Me And My Life - 10-70
White Plains - My Baby Loves Lovin' - 02-70
White Plains - Julie, Do Ya Love Me - 11-70
Roger Whittaker - I Don't Believe In If Anymore - 05-70
Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling In Love - 03-70
Andy Williams - It's So Easy - 09-70
Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man - 12-70
Stevie Wonder - Never Had A Dream Come True - 04-70
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - 08-70

If this was your budget for singles at age 13 in 1970, I’m starting to wonder whether you had ‘independent’ means @Happy Jack 😂😂

You've reminded of several long forgotten singles here - I probably have about 5% of these still in 45 rpm form. I reckon my vinyl album collection also is heavily skewed to 1969-71 or so.