martthebass

[quote name='lapolpora' post='1042423' date='Nov 30 2010, 02:41 PM']As above! And if the circuit board problem cannot be rectified I'd recommend one of John East's replacement preamps. Stick with it. There's probably a great bass in there once it's sorted out properly.[/quote] +1 Sorry you're having problems, I've always found EBMMs to be pretty reliable for a mass produced bass. Regarding the neck, I think it's that time of year. My SR5 neck is moving around as well and has needed 2 tweaks in the last 2 weeks, my SR4 is ok at the moment but that's fully laquered. The only way to solve that one completely on a Ray is to add a replacement Status neck - expensive unfortunately.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='1042297' date='Nov 30 2010, 01:08 PM']I would love a SLO SR4. i couldn't find one when i was in a position t afford one. Spent all my money then found the perfect one and couldn't afford it :-( Im hoping to get a SB14 next year though. I wouldn't hesitate getting a SBMM again.[/quote] Know how you feel, I ended up buying a used SR5 fretless after waiting 3 months to pick up a fretless SR4 I could afford on BC. If SBMM's had been available fretless a lot of pain would have been spared.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='1041969' date='Nov 30 2010, 09:02 AM']Give it a few hours and this thread will be full of "buy the real thing second hand" posts [/quote] Only got SLO made MM's meself, but I would have been all over a Sterling MM if I could have got hold of a fretless Ray34 recently. Nicely made - definitely give a US one a run for it's money.

[quote name='Oldman' post='1038821' date='Nov 27 2010, 02:30 PM']Got this 5 weeks ago waited 4 months, worth it. lousy snap does'nt do it justice[/quote] Nice, I'm starting to think about adding a 5 string Streamline to go with my 4................need to sell some stuff

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1033556' date='Nov 23 2010, 09:27 AM']Its only been a few weeks since the OP could of picked up a very very nice 30th LE Ray for £950 Has that avenue been firmly closed?[/quote] It was always >/=£1000 Pete - Be a fool to myself otherwise and in answer yes I've closed that door for the moment. I foolishly did a band practice with it last week and was completely bowled over by how well it sounded - much punchier and less toppy than a standard 3eq Ray. If I get a pre-EB I'll have to sell something else or change my mind next year!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1032775' date='Nov 22 2010, 03:55 PM']No thats fair comment mart, You can say the same about anything a vintage P through my genz rig compared to someone else playing a really nice MIJ through an Ashdown is worlds apart yet still going to sound similar to most yet the MIJ could be worth £500 and the vinatge one £5000. The only thing is if the MIJ doubles in value as we could be predicting long term on these early EB's compared to something like my 2002 where will the Vinatge P or in this case the pre EB Rays value have gone £10000-£15000? I know Im playing devils advocate there but you see what Im saying.[/quote] Strangely enough, having been unsuccesful in acquiring a decent 70's Fender I'm starting to seriously think about a pre-EB purely for the combination of playability and investment. Trouble is I'm already above my '3 bass limit' and can't decide what to sell to fund one... Rasta's pre-EB tempted me despite its non-originality - could be a nice restoration project. The OP could do worse than that one given his budget?

[quote name='NJE' post='1032431' date='Nov 22 2010, 11:50 AM']Cheers for the comments, I am going to have a look at this 87 again this afternoon and see if a deal could possibly be struck. £1300 seems high as i have also seen similar era basses go for less on eBay and on here. It is mint and even the string mutes are immaculate but still its a lot of money. I love Rays but the problem for me is that I really dislike the non finished necks, I LOVE gloss necks, which is why I refinished the neck on my old Ray (which I believe Ou7shined now owns). This ultimately restricts me with Stingrays which is why I have also been looking at the new classic series. They have everything I want in bass pretty much, birdseye maple, gloss and the funky bridge. The only thing I am not too sure about is the slab body, oh and the price of £1350 for one on here. I am ultimately looking for something that wont takle too much of a hit price wise if I have it for a few years and sell. Maybe these 80s Stingrays will be the future collectables as they will be approaching 'vintage' age at 30 years soon. Maybe best to try and pick up a bargain 80s after all.[/quote] TBH (I'm sure Pete will shout at me for this), in a live situation (and even in a darkened quiet room for that matter) I've personally not found much difference between pre-EB and 2EQ EBMM. To my mind tho if you subscribe to the vintage phenomenum then a collectors grade pre-EB is a worthwhile proposition as an investment. In terms of late 80's early 90's Rays, well my departed 1990 Ray sounded exactly the same as a 2005 one that I had, the only difference was the mutes (which I never used), the screw on battery cover (which was a pain if you'd forgotten a screwdriver in a gig), the satin varnish to the neck (which I liked - they were not gloss but they do go glossy after a few years use) and a bit of birdseye figure (pretty but not essential). So do I think there is £600 difference between this used 1987 and a used 00's Ray (av. £700 used).....well no. Thinking about it, a used 30th Anni has birdseye, throughbody stringing, gloss neck and should come in below your £1300 - hunt one down.

[quote name='TommyK' post='1021818' date='Nov 12 2010, 07:00 PM']+ 1 to this...sadly... I had one...... for about a week. Thought it sounded good at home, build quality and finish was breathtakingly good. You would think with the MM pup it would cut through really well but not in my experience, probably the worst sounding bass i have played in a band situation. There......that should help... [/quote] I had a Ken Taylor Basic 5 (the 2 MM pickup version). Like you I found it suprisingly 'dark'. Couldn't fault the build quality and playability but somehow struggled with it in a band situation - tho I considered that to be mainly due to my use of a 15" cab. I'd definitely try another Sandy but I'd probably look at something that had a single coil somewhere on the body.

Last time I looked it didn't cost anything to sell anything on BC - in effect it's a 'discretionary' free service. It's a bit churlish to criticise for that reason alone. Half the basses in my current 4 came as a result of BC and I usually use it as my first port of call when I'm on the lookout for something. I didn't sell the last couple of basses I was 'hawking' on here in recent months, s'not a problem, no point in crying into the milk, there's always a reason; lack of money, lack of buyers, 'it's a Musicman (or a SCHECTER)'...........deal with it and move on

You're not alone HJ, I'd love to try a Streamline 5 and maybe a Streamline or Stealth Fretless. If I liked these as much as my standard Streamline 4 I'd be tempted to sell up my 'wood' collection and go all carbon...

[quote name='icastle' post='1026214' date='Nov 16 2010, 06:53 PM']They will - as long as you don't try and sell it until 2050... [/quote] That will make me 87..................not sure if it's worth the wait

I was recently looking at buying into a 70s Fender (thanks again for the help Chris and WoT). Do I believe they sound better or play better than a modern one.............no. The only reason I considered it was because I could pick up something with a few dings/player rash, gig it for a few years and if I came to sell it it would go for the same cash/more in all likelihood. If I could play a 2008 Jazz or Ray and achieve the same I would never look at a 70s Fender-period

[quote name='obbm' post='1026164' date='Nov 16 2010, 06:15 PM']The black tip of the coil selector switch is a push fit. Just pull it off, then when you are ready push it on. If you wreck it or lose it I have a few spares.[/quote] Thanks a lot obbm, time to start 'prying'

Looks to me (from your sig) that you've got the Precision bit covered with your JV 57 reissue so if you're looking for a 5er that offers a different sound pallet to your SR5 then go for it

The matt black scratchplate on my SR5 is tired and worn - enter the WD replacement So I need to remove the little black tip thingy off the pickup switch to remove the old one. Is this just a tug and hope for the best or...... Cheers, Mart

Picked up a bit this year with about 20 by the time I hit year end (only played 6 last year - verrrrry quiet). That's only because I've done more depping and decided to play in 2 bands 'full time' rather than one. Can't see me gettng back to the 40-50 of a few years back anytime soon.

Was looking at changing the pup cover on my 1998 Ray5 (fancied white for some reason....yeah I know). Contacted EBMM - very helpful, gave me the direct contact at Strings and Things. S&T equally helpful and more than happy to send me a cover but said that replacement was verrrry difficult on a MM5 pup (unlike the MM4) as it's epoxied in and removal can result in damage/destruction of the windings. Anybody any experience? Thanks, MTB

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1021100' date='Nov 12 2010, 10:27 AM']Strangely, 2010 has seen a gradual return to more basses For Sale only, and there seems to have been a bit more cash about, but the Government Spending Review has been a real wake-up call that the worst is yet to come, and the For Sale section has now stalled again.[/quote] Inclined to agree with you HJ. Recently I sold a MM Fretless and ended up at a price a good deal less than what I'd consider average. But I was being lazy and rationaled that with paypal yadda yadda I was probably only £50 off the best I could get at the time and I consider the (relatively) painless selling on BC to be worth it. More recently I decided to do the FS/FT type route on a +£1000 bass but that didn't come off. In the end you have to decide the lowest you'll accept for a bass (laziness or not) and stick to it. I think there's lean times for a while so you're in the best place if you're happy with your current collection of gear.