Stingray5

I usually take at least a couple of basses (in rotation) if only to give them an airing! They start sulking otherwise! That said, it depends which band I'm going out with. My function/covers band - I usually take my Stingray 5 and Fender Jazz and will normally play a set with each. For further sets, I'll pick either depending what's being played, though if I were to pick just one bass to go out with it would be the Stingray 5 for the low B - and because it's simply a brilliant 'all-rounder' bass!! I also play in a Prog rock band and usually take three basses for specific numbers - Stingray 5, Tune TWB-6 and Stingray 4 fretless.

Westone is not far off but in fact I believe originally it was a [b]Vantage[/b] bass - at least the body looks like it. Along with Westone, Aria and a number of other brands, Vantage basses/guitars also came out of the famous Matsumoku factory in Japan. The headstock leads me to believe the neck may possibly have been replaced at some point, though I'd have to ask, "why bother!?!" Check out this pic by way of (body) comparison: [url="http://imagestore.ccn-irc.com/images/66-1131493614-IMG_0725.jpg"]http://imagestore.ccn-irc.com/images/66-11...14-IMG_0725.jpg[/url]

Dings in the body are fine by me; I don't mind that 'lived-in' look. I'm not saying a ding the size of the Mariana Trench is ok, but I don't lose sleep if the bodywork has seen better days. (Talking about the bass - not me!! )

It's not the norm. Shops don't usually 'hire' gear out, especially the stuff they're trying to sell. Maybe some do with s/h stock and even then it would have to be on the basis of how well they know the customer. If they were to hire/loan out gear, I guess it would be under contract along with a deposit of some sort for security/damage etc.

[quote name='phil_the_bassist' post='249771' date='Jul 28 2008, 04:50 PM']echoing his comments, if you want a black pickguard (check my profile for pics) I'd happy do a swap/loan type thing! I suppose same with you Stingray5![/quote] To be honest, I'd still have my white pearl and probably swap out the two every 6 months or so, for a change of look. That said, [i]IF[/i] the guard was up for grabs and [i]IF[/i] it was something you'd like as a permanent replacement, I wouldn't stand in your way... Of course, shockwave may have other thoughts now...........

[quote name='BassManKev' post='249674' date='Jul 28 2008, 03:43 PM']no no no, black is just classy [/quote] As I say, that's just me. The black knobs are cool too, to be fair.

Hubba hubba! That's great that you got it so quick, too. I'll have to keep Bill's Music in mind for future reference. The bass looks very cool. And to echo phil_the_bassists sentiments, the new pup will really do the trick. As it 'appens, I was also wondering about your guard. It looks nice on the bass but if you did want to sell, I'd be interested. I love my white pearl on the white body (see pic) but I have previously thought of a black pearl guard as a nice alternative (6 months each! hehe). [attachment=11318:mm_stingray5.jpg] Only other thing I might think about would be chrome knobs. But that's me....!

Tasty, tasty, very very tasty..... it's very tasty!!

Now there's a funny thing.......... just saw this on ebay: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290248055273&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...ME:B:SS:GB:1123[/url]

I'd go for the reddest tort or pearl guard I could find to match the body colour. I dunno, I just like the matching thing. How does the Bart sound?

One of my guitar students went along and says he will be reporting back to me next lesson. grrr! Might just have to de-tune his axe while he's not looking.... :brow: Good to know the RTF chemistry is still there.

[quote name='The Funk' post='244531' date='Jul 21 2008, 04:20 PM']I'm going to see Return To Forever tonight at the Indig02. I can't bloody wait![/quote] I soooo wanted to go to this, but can't make it. I saw them originally in 1977 at Hammersmith Odeon and I still have great memories of that gig. Enjoy! p.s. - as it 'appens, around the same time in '77, I also saw the likes of Weather Report and The Crusaders among many others. Great stuff!

Nice looking bass. Nice contrast of the maple neck against the black body & head.

Sounds very similar in style to George Duke's classic 'Brazilian Love Affair' album (which featured Stanley Clarke on bass).

Depending on how 'jazz' you want/need it to be.... My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone I Just Want To Make Love To You - Etta James Mack The Knife - various (incl. Bobby Darin) Fly Me To The Moon - various (incl. Ella Fitzgerald) On the Latin side -- and as long as you're including Santana -- Smooth - Santana Girl From Ipanema - Antonio Carlos Jobim w/ Astrud Gilberto ...or others by A C Jobim - Masquenada, Wave, Corcovado Cool stuff if you have time to learn them. The Jazz Cafe's a nice gig. Have a good one!

Forgot to add.... [b]Cinema Paradiso - Ennio Morricone[/b] (surely the most-mentioned movie composer so far!) [b]Koyaanisqatsi - Philip Glass Powaqqatsi - Philip Glass Escape From New York - John Carpenter[/b]

'My Head Hurts, My feet Stink And I Don't Love Jesus' by Jimmy Buffett Also - At their wedding, for their 'special first song', a couple asked my function band to play 'Hillbilly Rock, Hillbilly Roll' by The Woolpackers (apparently they were big fans of 'Emmerdale'...!!!)

[quote name='tauzero' post='237435' date='Jul 11 2008, 04:40 PM']Not a film, a TV series - "Edge of Darkness" by Kamen and Clapton.[/quote] Definitely! Great piece of music and some nice playing from EC.

Ah, this is a subject after my own heart. I second many of the previously mentioned titles especially [i]Lord Of The Rings[/i] and [i]Blade Runner[/i]. Here are a few more personal faves to recommend (in no particular order): [b]Ennio Morricone - Once Upon A Time In America[/b] [b]Ennio Morricone - The Mission[/b] [b]Chinatown - Jerry Goldsmith[/b] [b]Band Of Brothers - Michael Kamen[/b] (though a series and not a movie soundtrack as such but brilliant composition by the late Michael Kamen). [b]Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Ryuichi Sakamoto[/b] [b]The Falcon And The Snowman - Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays[/b] (s/t does include hit single 'This Is Not America', Pat Metheny with David Bowie) [b]To Live And Die In L.A. - Wang Chung[/b] [b]Dune - Toto & Marty Paich[/b] [b]On Golden Pond - Dave Grusin[/b] [b]The Thomas Crown Affair (orig.) - Michel Legrand[/b] [b]Bullitt - Lalo Schifrin[/b]

From memory, the TB I tried years ago certainly didn't feel as though there was any presence of lacquer. It actually felt almost 'rough' to the touch; maybe it was a Friday afternoon job! Aside from that, it was a nice bass though I must admit I fell out of love with the Kramer for lack of the bottom end and not wanting to bother to upgrade the electrics etc.

If you have a tuner already, you might want to also consider something like this. Just plug into your existing tuner and clip the mic to your bass headstock. (certainly the cheapest solution!): [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GUITAR-CONTACT-TUNER-MIC-BONUS-Harrier-Music_W0QQitemZ250191800450QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GUITAR-CONTACT-TUNER...p3286.m20.l1116[/url]

Seeing some of the older basses on Basschat is bringing back quite a few memories and your 450B is no exception as I had one for a couple of years around 1980-82. Yours looks in great condition and I would have even sworn it was my old bass - til I saw the back. I've not seen the string holes before as on the back of your bass. I checked out the page on the VintageKramer website but they only have 'front' shots. So I'm wondering if this was a retro-fit thing? Either way - nice! p.s. - I almost bought a Travis Bean ali neck bass guitar back in '80, instead of the 450B, though I heard that the all-aluminium rear of the neck was a bit of a sod to play in colder conditions when your hand would stick to the neck! (I think it was Mick Khan from the band Japan who spoke about this in an interview in one of the old bass mags).

I guess it's a case of "one mans meat...etc", but among other things I've had my Trace Elliot GP12SMX combo (1x15) for about the last 12 years and it handles my 4, 5 & 6-stringers just fine. Fretless too. The 12-band graphic is certainly better than the 7-band if you're using a 6-string - it has the low 30hz band for that B string (assuming you're tuning to low B?). xgsjx is correct, though, when he says earlier models are better. Good luck and hope you find the right one!

Yowzah! Very nice! Is the MM an '08 too? Steve

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