martthebass

[quote name='Shockwave' post='815032' date='Apr 22 2010, 02:53 PM']Ahh but now its the question, do i get a purple mirror scratchplate for it? (Or anodised gold)[/quote] Very Prince.....

Very very very pretty CDD. I would love to be posting a picture of the nice black piezo fretless Ray I DIDNT win from ebay lastnight

I had one of these back in the day. Bought new (from a small shop in Brum) for £270 IIRC. Build quality was exquisite - just as good as a Aria SB1000 that I would have really liked to have. I also bought it on the basis of Henry and Rockschool....sad but true. I never really got on with it unfortunately, pre-amp was a bit excessive (and hissy), ate batterys like a mutha and was a bit neck heavy (small body syndrome I guess), however it didn't deserve its fate of being px'd against an Ibanez Guitar in 1988. We live and learn....

I always seem to be changing my Basses MM20, don't know why as my Amp rule is normally 'one rig and it lasts 5 years' (unless demands change significantly of course . I stick to the 3 bass rule agreed with (imposed by) 'er indoors and at the mo I seem to have stuck to that. The current 2 are spot on, in fact as Ive had my Status for more than a year it's testimony to how good it is. I always like to have an MM in the collection and that's nicely filled with the 30th Ray that I've had for a couple of months and looks like it's staying for the long haul (the only problem I have wit it is it's so damn pretty that I'm scared of dinging it!). The 3rd bass spot is currently unoccupied and is usually a fiver or a Fretless. I guess this 3rd spot is kept in flux so that I can try a few basses out from time to time.....hence the want ad on the forum for a nice fretless at the mo.

Does this mean your brief 'fraternisation' with Musicman is over Rich? Might be interested in this one when you come to sell it Rich ;-)

All the ones Ive had have been LOUD (2 and 3 eq). None have worked without a bettery - but they give you fair warning (distorted output) before they die. I think Rich (OTPJ) my have hit the nail on the head with the PUP height - check that first, if its hight drop it to 3-4mm. If no joy have the bass checked over for electrics.

So nice these 2 Steve. Playing Rio on my Status just doesn't sound the same! I really wanted an SB900 when I was a lad studying in Brum at a time when the bass of the moment was THE Aria SB. I had to contend myself with my relatively cheap Fender JV........

Thanks for some of the positive comments guys. I think this is the first time I've had a 'crisis' of this type for a long time. I don't think it's so much packing in playing bass as packing in playing bass semi-pro. I still don't think I could go more than a few days without picking a bass up and having a noddle. At the moment I still have another (5 piece band) project at an early stage and am still active on the jam night circuit; I guess it's just the demise of my long term staple 'comfy slipper' that has knocked my confidence/enthusiasm a bit. Time to buy the Ray fretless I've always wanted to inject a bit of life back into me - could even get into Jazz (naaaaahhhh)

I've owned a couple of Lakky Skylines (a BG and a DJ5). Both were nicely put together basses, the DJ5 particularly so but I wouldn't have rated the fit finish as good as MM or for that matter better than current US Fender. Both were heavy and I've noticed significant variability in this respect on Skylines (once found a DJ4 with a very nice tone that can't have been more than 8lbs - I should have bought that one) - far more so than MM or Fender. At the end of the day only the buyer can decide at what point a supplier prices themselves out of the market, but for my 2p I would not pay more for a DJ4/JO4 than I would for a US Jazz. Also, out of all the afforementioned, a US Ray or Sterling is the only ones I would happily buy 'blind'.

Well, it's Thursday evening and I find myself sat in front of the computer (again), on Basschat (again) and for the first time in about 15 years I'm pretty much bandless and without a gig. The trio I was in has just folded after about 10 years, there's been good times and (in the last 2 years) less good times, mainly due to the general demise of the pub entertainment industry around these parts. I think the main thing I'll miss is the general banter and cameraderie associated with going out, getting gigs and talking bandy stuff. I suppose I could audition for something but the last time I did that I was the better side of 40 and....well y'know. So I find myself thinking is it time to call it a day and revert back to hobbies I've neglected for some while. Thanks for listening.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='806350' date='Apr 14 2010, 06:18 PM']Cheers Anyone know what the Warwick 5s are at the nut? Again, im hoping the Ray 5s have more space.[/quote] MM20......the Ray5 spacing is perfect, trust me I'm a doctor.............buy one.

[quote name='alanbass1' post='801843' date='Apr 10 2010, 03:04 PM']I have had a number of quests for a five string and recently concluded it was not a case of 'need' but more one of 'want'. I prefer playing 4 string but have a 5'er as well and it's one of those things that every so often I take out to a gig for a change.[/quote] I've had 4, 5 string basses go through the MTB household. As with you I think it was a case of want not need. The only other reason I had was to get familiar with a 5 because on occassion that's all that might be on offer at an open mic night. Now exclusively on 4s (and can't say I miss the 'B') but might consider a fretless 5 in the future...... To the OP tho, I've had an L2500, a DJ5, a Sandberg Basic 5 and a Ray5, to me from a sound and playability point of view the Ray5 was my definite favourite. It took the offer of a Status Streamline to tempt it from my hands.