martthebass

[quote name='witterth' post='855780' date='Jun 3 2010, 10:25 AM']gotta give this a bump,
I've got one and its one of the things I'd go back in for if there was a fire!
ABSOLUTE steal of a price!! if I had the "spare" I'd have another (this one).....dont know why but I would!!
good luck M.
watching with interest
W[/quote]

Cheers W,

there doesn't seem to be much of a market at the moment. Still, no worries, I only need it for the odd number so it's no hardship to hang onto.

[quote name='martthebass' post='854471' date='Jun 2 2010, 09:09 AM']Hi W. As you probably know modern Rays have an oiled natural finish to the back of the neck. To make this one a little smoother it's been rubbed down with plastic wool and treated with TruOil (as recommended by EB). Doesn't look any different to before - just feels a little less dry.[/quote]

If this worries a prospective 'buyer' just pm me - happy to provide photos, but really doesn't look any different to before. Feels pretty much like my old 2005 fretted Ray felt now, just finding that for fretless I prefer a satin/gloss neck. Any concerns - always happy for a visit and play. Might even throw in a cup o (Yorkshire) tea.

Hi W. As you probably know modern Rays have an oiled natural finish to the back of the neck. To make this one a little smoother it's been rubbed down with plastic wool and treated with TruOil (as recommended by EB). Doesn't look any different to before - just feels a little less dry.

I owned a 57RI JV - 1982, bought from new. Sold it like a pillock. However would I accord it massive status over say a standard US 2008+ model - well no. It was nicely made, good attention to detail but the sound it made didn't make me have an epiphany. Would I like it back - yes. Would I pay £750 for it - probably not.

[quote name='Beedster' post='852905' date='May 31 2010, 08:14 PM']And if not, and if it's as good as you say, stick with it if only for the financial investment, it is not a good time to sell.[/quote]

I'll certainly agree with this Chris. Think I'd have to drop the price of my Fretless Ray to £500 before it went.....ain't gonna happen.

Clarky, glad you've decided to give it another go mate.

Well I've had this back for a couple of days. The ding has been touched up, not perfect but much better (no pictures - sorry). The neck has been rubbed down and re-oiled and feels better but unfortunately it's still not doing it for me (think I'm happier with Jazz/Sterling profile necks on Fretless - strangely I'm the opposite with fretted) so I'm putting this back up for the last price I quoted - £650.

Still interested in trade options (4 string fretless only). I'm having a couple of days at the seaside so it may take me a day or two to respond to pms - but I will respond, honest...

It's all a matter of opinion really - the usual comment of 'try before you buy applies'.

From a purely personal point of view I would sell the Jazz and free up £800 to buy the Jazz fretless or Ray fretless you are considering. I've had both MIA Jazz and Ray fretless - at the moment I prefer and own the latter. I sometimes use the Ray fretless as a back up bass to my fretted Ray (or Streamline) - I find the 2eq model can give a good punch (compared with a Jazz fretless) and can be used to play anything in the band's set (ie. it doesn't have to sound too 'fretless' if I don't want it to).

I'm sure this will polarise views but I generally have found that the amount of money you spend makes more difference with a Fretless than a fretted. I've found some unplayable examples even at £4-500 which I haven't found to be the case on fretted - just my £0.02. I'm sure VMJ owners will disagree but if money were no object would you have a VMJ or an S2 fretless?

If there's room for a Graphite necked bass in your collection then have one. Out of the 3 basses I own, if I could only keep one it would be the all graphite one. Why? Because it's amazingly stable, takes string guage changes (to a point) without re-setting up and sounds just like a wooden necked bass if I want it to. Conversely it sounds like a graphite necked bass if I want it to. That's what eqs and pre-amps are for.

As I am 'allowed' to have more than 1 bass, I'm more than happy to own basses made out of wood and enjoy them fully and without prejudice .

[quote name='tayste_2000' post='846665' date='May 24 2010, 05:11 PM']Inside the control cavity, well on the plastic that covers the control cavity[/quote]

+1, should give you info on the woods, model and date of birth.

Does look good whether it's 19 or 9 years old and £600 is a very good price - I thought I'd sold my Perception deluxe Fretless cheap a few weeks back and it was a bit more than this.

Good luck with the sale BB

Reminds me that I forgot to leave feedback for Jim when we did a trade deal for each others respective Stingrays a couple of months back. Echoing the sentiments of those above, a thoroughly great guy to deal with - he was even happy to spend umpteen hours on a train on a cold Sunday morning to complete the deal. Top bloke.

Nick.........I feel your pain (again).

OHM's 2010 Gameplan:

Keep a nice MIA P bass.

Source a nice MIA J bass

Buy a Status - covers all the basses.

Job done. Simples.

[quote name='garethox' post='845114' date='May 22 2010, 02:42 PM']I'd disagree myself.... especially in todays financial climate. Ollie B was selling a mint one with flightcase for less than that (about £1.3K) and couldn't shift it - in fact he still hasn't after many many months.
Personally I think for it to sell it'd have to be around £900 - £1K. Probably not what it is worth - but then again it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. A start price of £1.5K may put a lot of people off and for that price they may expect better condition and a flightcase?
For instance £1.5K + £195 for a new flightcase = £1.695K.... very nearly the price of a new one at £2039 which includes the case....

Just an opinion as asked for above!

Good luck with the sale though and I hope it sells for what you'd like Jimmi.[/quote]

You surprise me there G. A standard used Streamline still seems to fetch about £1K and these are a good £500 cheaper (forgetting LEDs) and just as Marmite on looks. I agree with you that the bass has exactly the same value as that amount someone is prepared to pay. One of the reasons I suggested Statii for the sale is that there is more liklihood that the seller will find an enthusiast for a Status B2 on that site.

[quote name='Toasted' post='844363' date='May 21 2010, 04:47 PM']Friendly tip: you're expecting someone to part with £1200+ for this bass, get some better pictures on your ebay auction. They don't have to be works of art but should be at least in focus / decent light [/quote]

Good advice.

You don't want to short changed on such a nice bass just for the sake of some decent piccies. If you are determined to sell this, firstly I'd pull the ebay auction. Secondly I'd take some decent high res piccies and thridly I'd post a FS on Statii.com after taking some advice (via pm) from someone knowledgeable on here regarding a sensible valuation.

[quote name='Schnozzalee' post='844390' date='May 21 2010, 05:07 PM']Wasn't me either! I dithered too much about the looks. I need to try a couple o status' not sure whether all graphite or an S2 would be good for me[/quote]

All graphite - all the way S.....they're the dogs.

[quote name='owen' post='844088' date='May 21 2010, 01:10 PM']I am in Bangor, North Wales.

Mark I or II? I'm afraid that I have no idea. How would I tell?

No trades I'm afraid.

Need it you know you do.[/quote]

Could be wrong but I think all of the 5 stringers are the mark 1.

[quote name='BarnacleBob' post='844004' date='May 21 2010, 12:09 PM']Well i will buy this then swap you for ur 4

BB[/quote]

You've got a deal

[quote name='jimijimmi' post='843915' date='May 21 2010, 10:41 AM']im a huge fan of the bass and honestly dont want it to go, but my pay isnt great at the moment and something must go [/quote]

This will only increase in value, let something else go?

I would so love this to go with my 4 stringer.

Superb basses - can't praise them enough. £1100 is a cracking price too.

This would be a crime against graphite if it went as low as £1200.

Where's Rich.............

The bass is now with the Tech will be getting a neck scrub and re-oil, new strap locks fitted and even the ding on the lower edge filled/smoothed and re-touched. So for the moment this bass is withdrawn. If It doesn't feel right when it comes back then it may go back up for trade/sale......but hopefully it won't be.

That's pretty much where I am Nick but I'm trying to stop the cycle before I bankrupt meself

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='840801' date='May 18 2010, 01:16 PM']+1

I share your pain Mart [/quote]

One day I'll have my 3 bass 'set' that I'm completely happy with. On that day; hell will freeze over, pigs will fly and the Conservatives will form a coalition government with the Lib-Dems (oh...scrub that last one).

Fortunately Mrs MTB never quizzes me too much, she just rolls her eyes when she sees one leave/enter the building.

Are you sorted now Nick?

Cheers Jim. Good to hear from yer. Oh and happy birthday!

[quote name='thebuckets' post='840127' date='May 17 2010, 08:12 PM']this is painfull! how can i be really happy with the one ive just bought (identical but in 3eq) and still want this?
this is as good as it gets for me
someone buy it you will be very happy i promise[/quote]

Cheers tB.

I can understand how you would still want it. The 2EQ sounds a lot different to the 3EQ on my other Ray, seems to suit fretless somehow.....never really found as much difference as some find between 2 and 3EQ on fretted. The thing I'm struggling with is the natural (oil) finished neck, I prefer the gloss on my other Ray and Status. I'd prefer to sell this and get something that suits better but if necessary I'll pay some cash to get this one sorted to my liking.

A few more images (all courtesy of the Wife's Lumix G1 - just goes to show with this picture quality it certainly isn't idiot proof) to show the excellent condition this bass is in........go on you know you want it