Musicman20

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1345910969' post='1783056'] I used to break E strings regularly and it was always Rotosounds. No trouble when I changed to Elites. [/quote] Plus one re: the Rotos. I was always breaking the Es when I played with a plectrum.

I've seen these basses get more and more popular over the past year or so. They are clearly the market leaders in absolute top of the line quality and attention to detail, there is no doubt about that. I do actually like some of their body designs, and the dovetail neck joint is stunning and that's only in pictures. Would I buy one? Even if I had the money right now? Seriously doubt it. I haven't heard them 'live' but the demo's (and this includes their recent experiment between the neck joints on three identical basses) leave me a little 'bored' with the tone. It doesn't stand out. It doesn't sound unique to me. The other thing I cannot get on with, aesthetically, is a Ying Yang used on a bass. It just looks tacky.

The MB800 is very cheap at Thomann.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1345648117' post='1779988'] When i tried to break away from MarkBass i got a GK 1001-RBII. I hated it. I felt compared to the SA450 it sounded thin, lacked the punch i was used to and seemed to need pushing to get the volume i was used to (and the GK is rated slightly higher). This obviously has nothing to do with class D amps as neither have them, its just down to different tones for whatever reason. If you like the GK tone then the cleaner, more polite GB tone is the issue, not the power stage IMO. [/quote] Agreed!

Now I really want a VT4 or 5 (the older name was PM). Do the basses come with series/parallel switches? A few reviews say they do...but a mod?

To be honest, I've never heard a Stingray not sound like a Stingray, no matter what amp!

Sounds virtually the same as all the new heavy hardcore...and probably a glimpse into how they record haha. That sounds so much like a guitar!

[quote name='classrock' timestamp='1345317818' post='1776296'] All I can say is that nothing on this planet sounds like one of these. I am no historian but I know Leo Fender 'over-egged' the top end of the Stingray because of his hearing. Something changed when EB took over, they just mellowed the sound. [/quote] The treble will still slice your head off, but the bass isn't set at the sub end of the bass freq. like they used to be.

LM3, Genz Shuttlemax on the FET channel, one of the EA amps. Plenty more.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1345304199' post='1776113'] Great demonstation of one of the best sounding and best designed basses of all time, in my opinion. I know Bongos tend to polarise opinion , but have loved them from the first moment I saw them when they came out, which must be nearly ten years ago now. I am genuinely mystified when some people say they look ugly- anyone who has seen one in the flesh must surely be won over by their mixture of angles and curves and the 3-d chamfering of the body . For my money, this is still the best bass EB make and one of the best basses on the market full stop , and I mean even compared to sky-is-the-limit boutique basses. They tend to be fairly light in weight , feel great and sound as punchy as a kangaroo in boxing gloves.. That four band preamp is brilliant too. That Buttercream and tort. special edition . is the nicest colour scheme I have ever seen for a Bongo . [/quote] I totally agree. Nothing, not even a Ray, sounds like the Bongo. Its clearly a Musicman tone but it just sounds so powerful...hard to explain. They do polarise opinion. I didn't gel with the bodyshape aesthetically when I first saw the inital pictures, but now, I love em. It's a bit like beer/ale, when I was 15, I wasn't keen on even a sip. Now i'm 31, its great haha! I have a Tangerine Pearl 5HH on order and I cannot wait!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLyV5JLvxM0

[quote name='spike' timestamp='1345300889' post='1776066'] All the pub gigs I've done over the last 20 years have been with a Trace Elliot AH100 amp and a single 15" cab and I've never had either of those problems. Never run out of headroom either. [/quote] Exactly where I was coming from. I don't ever use thunderous huge amounts of low end anyway. It just isn't my sound.

Y'know what. I was looking into getting a P bass with maple board to match my rosewood version, but the more I hear Rays, I just think 'nah, get another Musicman'. Despite the fact I had those problems with the HH Ray (which were nothing to do with the factory, and the one I actually ordered and received eventually is stunning) I still think you can't beat Musicman for tone/aesthetics/quality/hardware at the price point. The new price points are a bit crazy, but I suppose it was going to happen The P bass/J bass I have sound great. Play well, look great, lightweight, etc. Plug in a Ray, and the core tone just stamps all over everything. I love it!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1345279770' post='1775756'] My pre EB had flats on when I bought it (it was Nicks from Nicks guitars gigging bass at the time and he is a flats man), the thump was second to none! Do you have any Rays with mutes fitted Gareth? They do get you very close [/quote] Unfortunately not. Perhaps one day!

Its crazy listening to the normal Stingray tone, because my current goto Ray is strung with EB Flats, and not only is it harder to play (but good for buliding my finger strength) but the tone is changed a lot. Its still a Ray, but you lose the clank, the fret buzz and rattle, the aggressive bite, etc. I need to get my Ray HH out, which hasn't been unpacked from its shipping box since we moved out! A comparison vid would be great to show the flats/rounds crowd just how much difference it makes on a Ray.

[quote name='woolf' timestamp='1345227817' post='1775353'] Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the current price of new German-made models excludes alot of people (including myself) however that does not make them less desirable... Or cool. I want an Audi R8 but won't be getting one for a long, long time, same for the new Warwicks, I guess. [/quote] Problem is, until a year ago or less they were in the reach, unlike the Audi. I don't see what Warwick have done to warrant the increase apart from reduce their carbon footprint, which they should foot the bill for.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1345233803' post='1775466'] Yeah there is, you wont be able to hear yourself against a drummer, and your tone will be a pile of doodoo due to having no headroom for the bass end [/quote] That isn't always the way though is it? There are many players using high end low wattage tube amps (eg 50W) through whatever cab, enjoying enough volume and great tone.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1345232357' post='1775434'] Just to contradict myself European and tasty, Mayones Jabba 5 Classic [/quote] Yep, I'm interested in those!

Some guys/girls gig with seriously low wattage amps. There is no reason why you can't.

Prices seem to be excellent due to the Euro situation. This make the Sandbergs that are normally £1400 about £1100 or less! I've just realised that Sandberg make a P/J bass. The Sandberg California VT. Apparently these are quite new. Has anyone seen or played one? http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calv-series/calvt

We are all individuals, and I don't own one black bass anymore, and I doubt I ever will. To me, its the most boring colour on an instrument possible, UNLESS its something like black sparkle or the Musicman Sapphire Black. I actually avoid black basses now. Weird. I used to like it. White looks much nicer IMO.

[quote name='kingysilvers' timestamp='1345212399' post='1775065'] This always is the first thing to spring to mind when I think of 'rays: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGJFWirQ3ks[/media] [/quote] I was just thinking that the other day and watch the same video!

Unfortunately to me it didn't look like shipping or player damage. It looked more like a paint flaw, and there was issues on 3-4 I looked at. The bridge misalignment has been mentioned for a few years, as has the pups, yet even the brand new re-issued DJ5's have them, and the 55-60. Not all of them obviously, but the stock I looked and tried was not a good advert for Lakland.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1345072226' post='1773356'] what you mean when the company went back to making more boutique instruments and also spending time and effort on PR and communicating well with guys like us on the forum? yeah, makes sense. Hopefully I'll track down a JD thumb before the price skyrockets! [/quote] Yep having people talk about them on forums gets the sales flowing...