martthebass

Some nice blues licks there mi friend.....was searching for some inspiration.

On the headed vs headless front. Pro's: Balance is excellent, less likely to hit cymbols/mike stands/guitarists on stage, tuning is quicker and easier (and more stable?), string changes are much quicker Cons: More hassle if you don't use double ball strings (?), that 80's look. OTPJ's suggestion of an S2 as a great all rounder is on the money, but if you are looking more Eagles/Jazz then I wouldn't rule out a good Sandberg/Lakland (Skyline)/Fender Jazz bass, you'll get a used one at the bottom end of your budget and a new one at the top end. Regarding Musicman - I love em, but I'd try before you buy, not everyone likes the sound of a single H Ray4 or Ray5.

My first MIA Jazz was one of these with the one piece white scratch plate - I bought it used in about 1986/7 so it was probably a 1983/4ish? It was in a nice sienna burst IIRC. It was nothing special but other than being cosmetically challenged (IMHO) vs a 2 piece MIA I'd say the quality was about the same. The tuners on mine were open backed like yours.

Think I'm better on lined and prefer it that way but currently have unlined with side dots because the deal was good.

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='647133' date='Nov 6 2009, 12:16 PM']In anticipation of this arriving, I found myself drawn to listen to old Level 42 tracks. But now it's here, I don't feel the need to be a slapper; it's got a great fingerstyle tone.[/quote] Yup, I always feel guilty because I own a Status but can't slap for toffee, having said that, slap impresses me for about 2 minutes then I get bored with it. Agree the fingerstyle tone is great tho on these 2 band Statii.

I'm nowhere near as big a bass whore as you Rich, but I daren't post someting similar to this in cse the Missus saw it..

[quote name='Toasted' post='644345' date='Nov 3 2009, 01:07 PM']Certainly have. I assume Dan Lakin has too. Like anywhere it depends where you choose to buy from. There are dodgy factories and great factories. Much like every other country.[/quote] Can't work out whether we agree or differ? My experience isn't musical instrument manufacture but my observations have noted that the best production units are those that are primarily non-Chinese management, working with US/European/Japanese equipment (and product designs) and non-Chinese QA systems. So, how much of the talent is Chinese? Getting back to the OP's point, considering the lower labour costs, incentives, lack of R&D and mass-production techniques, why would I pay >£1000 for a Far East produced copy of a copy (albeit a well built one) when I could have a non mass produced UK built bass of equivalent or better quality for not much more? I find it a bit sad that US (and some European) manufacturers haven't revisited cost reduction and innovation to compete with the Far East and have just taken the easy route to make their products accessible to the lower pricing point buyer. Just the opinion of someone who's industry has 'relocated' to the Far East and now spends his time making Far East production 'fit for purpose' .

[quote name='cheddatom' post='643488' date='Nov 2 2009, 03:40 PM']I often think the way people go on about quality and quality control in china and taiwan etc is pretty racist - as though "they" aren't capable of creating something that's just as good or better than a UK or US factory or something. I'm not saying that's happened in this thread, but I see it a lot on this board.[/quote] If you had spent any time out in China doing production quality audits you might have a different view on this.

Once had someone at a jam night criticise me for playing TL's 'Dancing in the Moonlight' with open strings. Just replied 'why not?'

+1 to not being either a borrower or a lender. Sad, but best to try and chalk it down to experience and not let it cut you up too much. I'm even careful about letting someone use one of my basses at Jam Nights these days because I know how I feel if it comes back with a new assortment of scratches/dings. If I go to a Jam Night (or a gig!) and intend to play, I take a bass, I don't expect one to be provided for me unless I'm told in advance that I don't need to take gear. It's bad enough if you damage a bass yourself but giving someone else the priviledge.....

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='632705' date='Oct 21 2009, 07:29 PM']I'm not sure. I recall Ed Friedland saying that they were the same MM preamp, identical to the American series basses for the Sterling by MM basses. It sounds just like a Ray with all the snarling top end you expect and now I've got the new DR fatbeam strings on it's immense. Obviously it's never going to have the power of a Status or Sadowsky preamp, but it sounds really nice all the same.[/quote] We'll have to do a comparison when you're in the area with your Ray 34 Rich. I'll have to get up to Electro and try one out. I was never a fan of the Subs - purely cosmetic of course but if these are up to G&L Tribby standard.......

Cheers Rich, I think it would take something special to make me swap out the Streamline - maybe a Stealth? I have thought of moving the MM out but it'd probably be for another MM - I don't feel comfortable unless I've got one to fall back on. The Overwater is still being 'bedded in'. Having never played one before I took the EBay risk I've been pleasantly surprised. Reminds me a bit of a Shuker for some reason. For me the positives are playability, sounds, weight (about the same as the Streamline) and construction. If I was being niggly I don't like the satin finish much - a nice Status type poly gloss would look better with these nicely figured woods.

Well, it's probably about a year since I posted my 3. Due to the long standing agreement with 'er indoors I stick to 3 basses and 3 basses only. Sadly this means my peferred line up of 1 fretted 4, 1 fretted 4 spare, a fretless 4 and a 5er can't be achieved. Consequently I tend to swap about a bit - also this tends to accelerate if gigs are low in frequency and this year has been a POOR year in that respect. So the current set: Up first is my trusty Ray 4H, a 2005 jobbie with a maple FB, nice bit of flame in the neck and still in good nick. This doesn't get used as much as I'd like but I've had a Musicman in the fold for all but 1 year in the last 20 so she gets to stay. One of the reasons it doesn't get used so much is a bloody recurrent neck problem which seems to be sensitive to basses more than about 8.5lb so I limit its use to shorter gigs and jam nights. Because of this problem I started the hunt for something a bit lighter early this year and Rich (Out to Play J) was parting with his Status Streamline so in it came. It saddened me to have to part with a pristine Ray5 to get this but I haven't regretted it. This bass basically plays itself and it's never hard to get the right sound for any musical setting. I can even put up with the strange looks at jam nights. Last up is my latest acquisition, a 2008 Overwater Perception Deluxe Fretless. I'd been on the look out for a Jazz type fretless for a month or so on BC (but nothing came up) when I saw this on EBay. I don't usually do the bay but I took a punt on this and so far haven't been disappointed. It still needs a bit of a tweak to be set up to my liking but the sound is very natural and the pre has plenty of sounds in it without getting too complicated. Anyway I'm hoping these 3 are going to hang around for a while because I've run out of ideas for new stuff, tho a Streamline 5 would be nice and maybe a nicely aged Fender Jazz (preferably early 70's) and a................