Greggo

I always find this kind of topic fascinating! I would like to believe that it's more about the electronics than specifically about the wood but then I do own a tele copy made of plywood. That said the pickups in it originally made it sound crap, but the upgraded pickups I've installed have made a massive difference in tone, and they were only inexpensive Wilkinson alnico tele set as used in the vintage v52 - improving the pickups does help a great deal in improving the sound that comes out. I just can't help thinking that it's more about the quality of the 'things' the string is attached to (bridge all the way to the tuning pegs) that is more influential on the tone of strings relative to the magnets that pick up the vibrations (if that makes any sense) Eg if my cheap tele copy, (providing all measurements were correct in terms of scale length, pickup position of a real tele) had the same bridge, pickups, nut and tuners as a real tele there's no reason why through amp it wouldn't sound any different? I may be wrong and I have no scientific backing but it seems more logical to me personally.

It is really confusing the line up - musicman subs, sterling subs, sterling ray 34s etc.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1380029144' post='2219750'] Mine says "Made in Indonesia." : / [/quote] Is that not the newer sterling SUB ?

BTW - I love the teal coloured SUB, just seen an image on google images.. if I could get hold of one of them i would be a happy chap...

Might see if i can have a test drive of it.. The guy selling the S.U.B referred to it as an ugly stingray.. Does S.U.B stand for Stringrays Ugly Brother...?

Getting some serious GAS for one of these now there is one crept up pretty nearby...

I like slab body for some reason!

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1379947703' post='2218566'] Edit- there's no cutaway on the top off the body either, wouldn't bother me at all but could be a crux for some. [/quote] Like a slab body?

Yeah the colour is a bit depressing but it's the sound I'm after!

As above, can anybody tell me about them? I've seen one locally and am very interested and doing a seach on here all i can see is that were a limited run for 3 years. Do they have the same electronics but cheaper components? Do they sound more or less the same? Cheers!

Do all models have the stingray vibe? There's a variety of models on used market

Just realised there is another thread open about the ATKs, I should have posted in that one..

Do all Ibanez ATKs have the stingray like sound or is it higher end versions that nail it better? There seems to be a wide variety of models available on the used market.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1379251572' post='2210308'] To the OP. You should appreciate it. : ) Ode To The Five String Bass (My apologies in advance to my 5 string loving brothers) There once was a time, when 4 strings were fine, and an E was as low as you’d go. But the desire to go deeper, turned out to be a “keeper” and they added a B – as you know. I too joined the crowd, the mantra was so loud “The five is the one that will last.” But after many a gig, trying vainly to go big, my love of the B was soon past. The notes didn’t speak with the clarity that I‘d seek. And I found that I’d use it less and less. It just got in the way, I keep thinking an E was an A, Till finally asking… is this for the best? It wasn’t for James or Jaco or Chris. Victor Wooton and Steve Harris never fell. Jeff Berlin said “Nay” and hoped it’d just go away and Sir Paul would eschew it as well. The Ox took a stand, amid the demands – an did John Paul Jones and Flea. Rocco didn’t veer and Sting just sneered -- unimpressed -- as was Pino and Lee Claypool went back, and accepted the fact -- it was good enough for Bootsy and Clarke As did Osborne and Kaye, heading the way, and forever making their mark. Then again, there was Anthony, who played mighty fancifully -- with even more strings than six! Yet there are those, who still propose...he should stick to a four and a pick. Of course there’s a case, within the right space, to add some well placed low “D’s” But these days if that’s needed, I’ve finally conceded – I’ll just play it on the god damn keys. [/quote] That's is incredible! And yes I guess question was rhetorical, I play my 4 and find it easy to play then play my 5 and realise the tight spacing has been holding me back for years. I know I could go with a wider spacing 5 but I honestly don't think anything beyond D is needed by me anymore. Also, I get the impression that more inexpensive basses don't do the low B justice compared to something more expensive whereas 4 string as a design is more forgiving.. I may be wrong there though.

IMO there really is no need for 6 strings on a bass (for most regular types of music). I do understand the need for a low B but a high C is encroaching on the realms of the regular six string guitar surely...

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1379170499' post='2209449'] Get a 5-string with 19mm spacing. You can use the low B as a thumb-rest until you need it ... [/quote] That's mainly what the low B gets used for these days to be honest. When I used to record more down-tuned stuff it was useful, but I've got a good pitch shifter built into guitar amp FX with no latency should I ever be that way inclined again!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1379166760' post='2209370'] Five strings basses are immoral, unholy and the work of the devil! Welcome back to the natural light and love of God's own four-stringers. *Ponces about* Hello clouds! Hello sky! La-la-la! La-la! [/quote] I do feel like a proper bass player again now I did once get heckled by my guitarists uncle for being a cheat having a 5er..

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1379166427' post='2209362'] Play a 6 for a while; you'll appreciate the 5 after that... [/quote] Haha, 6 would be overkill for the stuff I play.

I recently after exclusively owning and playing 5ers for years swapped one for a 4 string and quite frankly I much prefer them. I worked out I don't go much beyond D anyway and prefer the string spacing of a 4, especially on the yamaha BB414 which has a fairly slim neck anyway (but not too thin). I have a Vintage EST96 stingray clone in 5 string form which I used to love playing but since having a 4 again I just think I would like it more if it had one string less! Bit of a quandary because I would love to just do a straight swap for a 4. I don't know whether to keep it in case I get the urge for 5 strings again or just change it so I have two basses I'm happier with. Anyone gone through this conundrum before?

This forum certainly has made me come get a lot of GAS! I gassed for an orange BB414 and within a week I got one. My latest gas that is fairly unwaning is a sterling SUB series - particularly the honey burst one. Although a new gas that may be starting to overpower that one is the USA made Musicman SUB... I've also been gassing for a g****r too, a butterscotch Vintage v52 telecaster copy or the Squier VV tele in same scheme. Unfortunately I also only have trades and little cash. Luckily my gas is at the lower end of the price spectrum!