Musicman20

...and what powered cabs are recommended? Obviously Berg IPs are no longer made.

IMO, the Fender will have that 'full on' jazz tone. It can be very upfront and aggressive! I've yet to hear a Sadowsky match that grunt and aggression. No doubt the quality of the Sadowsky is at least a touch higher.

Few days in. This bass is excellent and very light

White/Tort/Rosewood Thats my favourite!

Overwater.

I think Id like to see Markbass compete with the modern incarnations and make an amp with a proper mute, LM2/3 EQ section with para-mids, just a little bit smaller than the LM2/3, aux in, 800 watts but still the LM2/3 tone, headphone in, and the same weight. The Streamliner and RH amps are pretty much spot on at the moment. I still think TC are ahead though. There isnt much you can add to the RH750.

All I know is for the price I paid, (ok Im still waiting, but hey ho) I think its a very cool, individual instrument with a DNA thats still Musicman. Its like a P VS J VS Ray VS Sterling. I love the tone of the pickups just by themselves, just in passive. I was looking for something different, versatile, and well made. I could have gone custom but I know they wouldnt have the same 'feel' as something made by a company I know, plus it would lose more should I ever sell it on. It is yet another instrument with mixed reviews, like the Bongo. If I compare it to a guitar, especially in the sunburst colour, its like the Fender Jazzmaster in terms of 'woah, whats going on here?!'. Retro, but modern.

Im surprised he doesnt use something uber-high end just for the hell of it, considering how much they cost.

Two RS210s, stacked. Done.

Any player can play any spacing with time. If you like the Ray, stick with it. After a/bing 2-3 Laklands and a Ray 5, the Ray 5 quality and punch won hands down. For me, tone/asthetics first, then spacing. Test what you can

[quote name='gafbass02' post='1256789' date='Jun 4 2011, 08:30 PM']That's great news after your recent luck![/quote] I cant say anything too soon. Great bass, bad news for my 2nd RH750. The fan is making a weird noise, sounds like its vibrating something or catching something. Its going back on Monday.

[quote name='gafbass02' post='1256789' date='Jun 4 2011, 08:30 PM']That's great news after your recent luck! Nice one, enjoy it:) Pics? ;-)[/quote] Soon!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1256780' date='Jun 4 2011, 08:15 PM']Great news, EBMM gear and Genz gear does appear to work very well Gareth. I didn't know the retail prices had gone up either, List must be getting near 2 big ones now for fives then is it?[/quote] Yep, RRP is over 2K for a Sterling/Stingray/Bongo 5 with multiple pups...only £75-100 or so less for a single H. I think the UK stores prices are about £1750-£1800 for this model now. Thomann have one up here: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/music_man_sterling_5_hs_pbb.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/music_man_sterling_5_hs_pbb.htm[/url] This one is Tobacco Burst/Black Plate/Rosewood - It looks classic, but it sounds monstrous! Here is Ed F's review, same bass but mine is rosewood: [url="http://www.bassemporium.com/newsletters/0908newsletter.html"]http://www.bassemporium.com/newsletters/0908newsletter.html[/url] Scroll down a little. Mine has a much nicer grain than that as well. When EBMM/S&T/Bass Merchant said they would make sure its a very good example, they werent kidding.

After my last Sterling 5 turned up in March, (which turned up with shipping damage and was incredibly heavy) another was placed on order. Now, I did lose a bit on confidence in buying gear after the recent stint of bad luck. I was half tempted to give up and just get something cheaper. Yesterday, the replacement turned up from the Bass Merchant. I was given full confidence this was MUCH better in terms of weight and obviously it had been checked over for any possible problems. I also had a P bass delivered, because I was tempted to take a P bass instead. Well, initially the P bass was in front. I played the P bass for a while and yep, it was another pretty damn nice P bass, although I must admit Im not really into black basses/guitars. After a while, I started playing the Sterling. MUCH lighter, literally lighter than most Ray 4s Ive played. Great news. Great build, much higher quality paint than anything Fender do. Brand new bass, only finished a month or so back. I think its actually a 1 piece body, because normally I can spot a join on these finishes, (Tobacco Burst) but there is not one join line. I still opted for the P. After half an hour, the 5 string once again became comfortable. Then, I fiddled with my Streamliner, set the input gain properly, and turned the volume up a little. NOW we are talking, this is why I wanted another Musicman. Very very 'Ray' esque tone, but on the smaller body than a Ray 5. The single coil at the bridge is wonderful for that burpy type Jazz tone, but you have the onboard EQ...so nudge the bass up, nudge the mids up, cut the highs, BOOM, perfect. Back into classic bridge humbucker, sounds huge. Lots of clarity and warmth. Ive no idea why people shy from the ceramic magnets. I know I used to, but to be honest these pickups are great. they are smidge more middy and aggressive than Ray alnico pups. It looks like ill be sticking with the Sterling 5. Ive also learnt the retail prices have shot right up, so this was in fact quite a bargain. Its also quite a rare bass, which is nice! Picture from the Bass Merchant (I havent had time to take one yet): [attachment=82068:photo5hs.JPG]

I still want one. They are insanely addictive to look at. Very pretty!

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1255358' date='Jun 3 2011, 12:42 PM']Ah, cool. It sounded like you'd had loads of live and studio experience with it, and I was wondering how you found it.[/quote] I'm still waiting for mine to arrive believe it or not. Been a long wait. I only had a demo of one for a weekend but it's much more in Fender-land when it comes to blending and providing support to a band rather than the full on snarl of the modern Stingray/Sterling/Bongo tone.

Haha!

I think a Dingwall might be something next for me. Long way off though.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1255033' date='Jun 3 2011, 08:37 AM']Did you get to try one at a gig?[/quote] I had a rehearsal (low volume) with my drummer/guitarist/vocalist about 10 months back...bear in mind we did this where I lived so it wasn't that loud! The single middle pup nailed the P tone...and the front pup sounded woody warm and weirdly articulate considering it's location. I had a good few hours through the headphones along to as many different styles as I could try out, fiddled with the pup settings and it worked really well

Only cool people think they look good, fact. Actually I'm quite conservative with colours and bodyshape but I tested one of these for a full weekend and ordered on e straight away. People expect it to be like a Ray, but it's more like a quirky P/J active/passive monster. It sounds wonderful in a mix, believe me. Yes, simple is great, and I have my simple passive p's n j's for those days. Before judging it, try it, that's what I did

[quote name='JTUK' post='1254549' date='Jun 2 2011, 08:30 PM']GS and DB 112 type cabs are around 40lbs so not a factor weight-wise to many...IME.[/quote] Yep, saving 10lbs isnt a massive deal to most. The DBs and GS cabs have been popular for a good few years now. PS - Pic of mine: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=49475"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=attach...st&id=49475[/url]

PS - Both options are great. I havent found a cab I prefer to the DB212....it literally is exactly what I want. Personally, I love the whole aesthetics/quality/tone of the Aguilar gear.