Cairobill

and it’s gone!

PM'd

Just now, Misdee said:

The thing is, I think we are both being slightly disingenuous when claim to wonder why EBMM don't make them like this

 Yup - I actually went back to Stingrays via a very nice ivory white Classic 'Ray from 2010 or so. And soon discovered that you can pick up a late 80s Ray for a lot less. And in a number of ways the older bass is a better instrument for me (although I really like the Classics).

11 hours ago, Misdee said:

EBMM basses of this era always make me wonder "why don't they make them like that anymore?"

I'm with you on that. Mid 80s and earlier are too big a spend for me. But the late 80s are really cheap for what they are and, most importantly, they have a beautiful, narrowish neck profile. Both of mine are from 1989 and this red one is a hair over 9lbs. Plus the 2 bands just sound fantastic.

18 hours ago, gareth said:

I understand @Cairobillgot Martin to instal an ebony Fretless board on his stingray and couldn’t be more pleased with the result

Indeed - I'm absolutely over the moon with the work they did. Extraordinary job. Looks incredible, feels like a veeery expensive bass and sounds wonderful. 

They even managed to preserve the tricky little plastic sleeve on the truss and the dot locations at the interface between the board and the neck (now replaced with luminlay...a very nice touch). In addition you can't feel the join. An impressive achievement given that the original gloss finish on the neck is untouched....luthier witchcraft if you ask me!

10 minutes ago, BassAgent said:

Pwoah, that's absolutely gorgeous. Love the colour, too. I have considered having the same thing done to a Ray34 or old SUB before I found my current fretless Sterling (with a fretless Status neck). But this is something else, beautywise. Terrific.

Yup, it's a beauty. One benefit of going a bit further back with Musicman basses is the quality of the maple on even a standard Stingray. Flamed Birdseye no less!

Yup, fretless Stingrays are rare birds and factory fitted ebony boarded ones even rarer. So I took matters into my own hands so to speak. Fingerboard wood choice is central to the sound a fretless makes of course (unless you cover the wood with epoxy).

And indeed, this is one of those alder trans red Rays. Sounds fabulous and, compared to my Ash/maple (that's only 6 months away from it on the production line), it has an audible low-mid bump which is also visible in the frequency spectrum. 

A NBD of a sort. After searching high and low for a decent late eighties fretless ray and failing miserably in my quest, I've had the fretboard replaced on one my late eighties Stingrays.

A fretless ray (in my head at least) isn't rosewood or pao ferro, it's ebony; so I went for a dark (old stock) ebony with partial lines on the edge. 

It's been 100% successful; this is easily the perfect fretless for me and a staggeringly good bass.

The ebony and the two band gives you that Levin 'ping' with the treble up, and crafty tweaking of the bass vs treble on the 2 band EQ brings out the bark in the ebony to give a passable Karn-esque honk. It also does that languorous mwah like no other fretless I've owned. That singing, Pino style is there on tap.

Playability is 10/10 with the late 80s ray neck profile and world class, exquisite work from the Bass Gallery, who are the best.

And it weighs 9lbs! Ahhhhh...

Quick pics!




 

Dingwall AB1 six string. Under 8lbs in weight with the best punch, playability and growl I’ve experienced in a bass. Astonishing instrument!

I have to say this looks the bee knees. Combo of the interesting vintage, fantastic condition and good weight alongside a very fair price makes this deal of the month in my opinion. 

Bass now traded

Needs must bump for this formidable sixer!

Very nice to see a player and his bass re-united! 

The Knoxville sticker is worth the price of entry alone!

8 minutes ago, binky_bass said:

I have maybe 10 straps I use on and off depending of how I feel, the bass I'm playing and if I'm seated or not. All basses have Dunlop locking pins on them and all straps have Dunlop strap locks, so any bass can be used with any strap. Surely problem solved?? 

Yes - I've always used the same approach but with Schallers. 3 good straps of differing lengths with Schaller clips and Schaller buttons on all my basses. I even drilled my 1978 Rickenbacker to take the Schallers....bwa ha ha ha

13 minutes ago, chris_b said:

 

Yes. All Parts strap locks are made under licence from Dunlop at half the price. They don't fail either. 

Do you mean Schaller? I've seen some of the Schaller clones on all parts but none in stock over here. Might try some no names off Ebay!

I'm definitely a Schaller man. If my straplocks don't squeak like a mouse something's wrong!

I've used Schallers since the 90s. Never had any problem (heavy touring/ jumping around etc). My brother bought a new pair of the S locks and the 1-piece pin/button thing made them useless. 

Anyone tried and tested a '3rd party' manufacturer of the original design that is of good enough quality? I'm in need of a few pairs of the old version

1 hour ago, therealting said:

Glad to see you’ve come to your senses!

Yes - I have a different plan... And it's the best thing...irreplaceable really!

AND GONE


Up for sale or trade is my excellent condition Yamaha TRB6P.

This is the legendary six string bass adopted by John Patitucci when he made the move from Ken Smith basses to Yamaha. This is an unusual one in that it is unmodded, in virtually new condition (except for the covering on one of the tuners, see pics. Totally cosmetic and the tuner works fine) and it comes in a very unusual factory sunburst that was only featured on the later models. The maple wings are irridescent and very tiger striped (see pics). It's a beautiful bass.

Specs are

Maple neck with mahogany stringers/ neck through construction
Flame maple wings
Ebony fretboard 33 7/8" scale length 24frets (in very good condition)
"Tequila sunrise" finish

Yamaha 2 band active EQ

Piezo sensors in bridge and piezo balance in the preamp (heaps of dub bass or top end sheen etc)

Removable ramp

Wide fingerboard and 19mm spacing at bridge

Rosewood facing on headstock

It's an utterly fantastic bass that I would love to keep (I'm always bringing a great six string into the fold and then moving it on as I don't play in bands that need them...a familiar tale). Right now though, I need a different flavour in the band to the Stingrays I tend to use....all my other basses are 4 string Stingrays ;)...something 'Fendery' or a variation on that theme with 4 or 5 strings...possibly passive? Hence the quite broad trade list above...

Balance is excellent and the construction is rigid and resonant. It sustains forever. It weighs in the region of 10 1/2 pounds and is not a bass for those who like a light bass. It's the most responsive, stable bass I've ever owned due to the maple/ebony etc but that feel comes with a bit of  heft. Comes with original case. Not so keen on shipping so would prefer a meet up...

I've had two near misses with Nirvana...

1) I had a ticket for the London show in 1994 and was disappointed to hear that Kurt had a Rohypnol issue in Rome and wasn't making it to London (rescheduled). Needless to say the ticket for the reschedule was eventually refunded.

2) The second (in '89) was a friend at university exhorting me to go and see Tad with a little known band called Nirvana touring their new album, Bleach. Couldn't be bothered, mainly because I thought Tad were awful and wasn't really switched on to Nirvana at that point. Said friend ended up on the town with the little known support band who slept on his floor after a very jolly night out. He thought Nirvana were 'very nice and were definitely ones to watch' Aha ha ha...

Just have to say, these basses are so, so, so good! I've been around the block with a few different (some MUCH more expensive) Sixers and the TRB6P blows them all away.

Very nice indeed. I tend to think Spectors should be all white or all black. 

Ah that's sad news...RIP Martin aka MB1

This is quite a niche sale!

I have a pretty much unused new strap extension for a Gruvgear Gear Solo (or Duo ) strap that I don't need. It came with a Patitucci strap but is a bit short so I'm replacing it with the longer extension.

It's the one with 12 holes. I've put a strap lock on to test the length but that will come off.

So if you need something this obscure I can pack it up and send it your way

 

Gallup is great and so central to their sound...which is great too 👍

Shame if he left on bad terms...