Musicman20

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1357166325' post='1918667'] 'Scooped' is not a word I'd use to describe my Streamliner. Maybe using it through the BF cabs makes the difference. [/quote] Me neither. A lot of classic tube amps have a slight mid dip...and it can be rectified by moving two knobs ever so slightly on the Streamliner.

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1357160208' post='1918498'] Music man don't make it easy for us do they the sterling bass in the first video....... Is it basically like a standard 4 string stingray but with an extra B string ? [/quote] Well, shape wise, SORT of. It's smaller. The pickguard is different...sort of. There is no chrome plate for the controls. The headstock is smaller than a Ray 5. The neck joint is a brilliant piece of engineering. The pups are ceramic, and its all in series on a HH/HS.

Great news! Can't beat that. I'm glad they are also better value than the La Bella's.

[u][b]Stingray 5 HS again:[/b][/u] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Ef2CQZxXo

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1357158997' post='1918463'] Thank you , That is a really helpful post I think I would like to take a closer look at the sterling 5 HS at some point. Do you know if you can get a classic 5 sterling with the HS pups ? Or is the classic 5 a different beast altogether ? [/quote] Unfortunately not, however, the Sterling 5 LOOKS like a normal Ray, (as in not the extended normal Ray 5 pickguard) albet a bit smaller and with a BEAUTIFUL neck joint! The pickguard is very similar to a Ray 4...slightly different. For me, its good to have the 3EQ with a HS as the mids gives you a LOT of flexibility. [b][u]Sterling 5 HS:[/u][/b] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJ7_OLqMu8 [u][b]Stingray 5 HS[/b][/u] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rp45IKy48U Note - not my demos and not my basses!

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1357153641' post='1918318'] Oh no !!! Don't get me started !! I have had some really bad trapped GAS for a stingray 5 with the HS configuration for nearly 2 years now !! How do the Sterling HS & Stingray HS compare tonally? [/quote] Easy to put into words, for once! Sterling - HS and HH versions ALL in series mode. Pickups are ceramic. Both these elements mean the Sterling is one aggressive bass! Very middy and bitey, with the classic Musicman bottom end and treble snap. The pups seem hotter to me compared to a Ray 5 (the CURRENT Ray 5's) and the EQ seems to have more effect. Stingray - HS and HH versions ALL in parallel. Pickups are alnico. Classic Stingray tone. The HS is now the ONLY Ray 5 you can get that will allow you to solo the single coil in the bridge pup.

No real explanation needed. More speakers = louder. A very high wattage amp just gives you a lot of headroom. Fantastic if you ever need it. But, ultimately, it should come down to tone. When using my Orange AD200b, it creates a huge wall of sound even at low volumes with the right cabinet. More watts than I need. Sounds lovely as well!

In other news, I've been practicing solo with my Ray 5 HS for a long time. I've come to love the ergonomics. Usually, its very clean and pristine through a Genz SMax 9.2...so barely any colour. I used the same amp, flat EQ on the bass, with a VT Bass V2 pedal. Yowza. That pedal is something else. Instant Ampeg fat warm tones, or very grindy aggressive Flea tones, all the way to all out distortion. My favourite setting was the bridge single coil solo'd with some grit. Very middy and aggressive!

The Sterling 5 SHOULD be lighter overall...on average, but my Ray 5 HS and Sterling 5 HS are both stunningly light. I'm guessing the Ray 5 is less than 9lbs.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1357142536' post='1918044'] I think ( well actually I know for a fact ) that Fender are careful to keep the best colours for the more expensive guitars . They could easily offer Fiesta Red , Dakota Red , Sonic Blue ect but they don't on purpose , so they can keep these very attractive classic custom colours for the more upmarket Custom Shop and Vintage Reissue instruments . From a marketing point of view , you can see why they would do so- if you want a premium colour you have to buy a premium guitar .. [/quote] Aye, I thought they might have a reason behind it. The Charcoal Frost is actually very pretty up close. Almost like BMW type metallic grey.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1357140522' post='1917987'] Just had a look at the Mystic Red . What's mystical about it ? Personally I didn't like Candy Cola , but I cannot see why Fender would discontinue it to replace it with such a similar colour . Someone such as myself who wouldn't have bought Candy Cola will now be able to not buy Mystic Red . Mystifying . [/quote] Haha! Sometimes Fender really don't get it. Why not introduce something more interesting colour wise?!

God I love a good speaker tech chat

I spent 15 minutes with one of the Charcoal Frost Pz above during my lunch today. It’s safe to say I won’t be going ahead. Heavy, lots of swirling in the paint and a few minor scratches, a tiny crack in the paint near the neck joint, and a pretty ugly piece of wood for the neck itself. I also found it very uncomfortable to play. That is probably a setup issue though. The neck joint was good quality, and the pickup placement/string alignment was perfect. As it should be. I’m not sold on the new pups yet....but again I was probably too quiet on the amp to hear what it has to offer. I’m also confused as to what they coat the back of the neck with now. It doesn’t seem as easy to play as my 2009 version of the same bass. It seems to stick a little. Hmm. It just seemed very dry, but unlike the dryness of a Musicman neck, it wasn’t smooth and fast. I sometimes feel like the P and J I currently have are the cream of the crop. I’ve played loads of shoddy American Standards since. I’m probably spoilt by Musicman’s QC and attention to detail as well. Finding another P has been a long journey that still hasn’t ended. Its worth bearing in mind that as of Jan 2013, the Charcoal Frost Metallic and Candy Cola have been discontinued, so shortly all stock will go down to around £899 in the stores, (for a 2012 Fender....I presume the 2011’s will be even cheaper soon). Oh, and the new colours are.....de dahhhh! Mystic Red and Mystic Blue. Take a look on fender.co.uk. AWFUL. They look like the low end Squier colours. C’mon Fender, bring back the pastels!

If it was the P I'd have it!

Bongo 5 will get close to a Ray 5 tone and be cleaner and more modern. But, I agree, I love the Ray 5.

[quote name='nottswarwick' timestamp='1357071350' post='1917203'] Yes, he said on Facebook that it is ticking al the boxes for him at the moment, it's a regularly USA standard P5 [/quote] Interesting...considering he could use a £2.5k Dingwall or Fender for about £1.1k, the normal passive Fender holds its own.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1357070002' post='1917165'] I think mine was broken as it never sounded the same as Dave Swift's ;-). I do hanker after another, I've settled on P basses now. [/quote] New Year's GAS!

...and yeah, The Hives brought the energy.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1357065131' post='1917072'] Yeah, same as my old Fender P5. God, i wish i still had that lol. [/quote] Yours was one of the first on here! Loved it. I played one recently and was thoroughly impressed.

P bass or Ray. Love the Jazz tone but I think it's harder to stand out in the mix with both pups on full.

You should all try some of the Ernie Ball Flats. I use Group IIIs and they are medium tension, quite bright at first but that fades into that wonderful thuddy flat tone. I've use TIs and they are great...low tension. La Bella's would be you stiff for me as I like to be able to play very fast... On the demo the Rotos are my least favourite.

Was Jools bassist using a Fender P5 instead of the Dingwall Super P?

I've an idea. Start your own band with a cracking drummer and do the same to the guitarist on audition.

I'd stick with an 8x10 if I could fit one in a car.

Lots of gigs going on! Wish I was playing...