Musicman20

Purple is a great colour.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1382712310' post='2255809'] G&L JB-2 Sorted. [/quote] Yeah they are nice. Not enough around.

Had it on a new bass before. I thought it might be the bass/nut, changed the strings about a year later (it didn't really bother me) and it had gone.

I used Rotosound Swing Bass Roundwounds for YEARS. I then realised I didn't really like them as they went dull very quickly and seemed to be quite harsh on frets. I'm currently using EB nickel roundwounds/EB flats, TI flats, and I have some DR's as well. I keep going back to EB strings, and the flats are really nice. When the new Fender AS's came out in 2008, the strings were great! Now, they are awful. They have changed the strings and packaging and they feel very cheap.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1382697067' post='2255507'] the volume knob works both ways [/quote] Yes, as I pointed out. But that is apparently a cab for pretty big gigs...pubs don't tend to like extremely loud bands.

There is little point worrying about 'saving' the stores. No one owes anyone a living in this world, especially in our current climate. If someone decides music retail is a career for them, then good luck! Stores like BD will continue, as they have good websites, lots of updates, and do both online/in store. It is the way of the world I am afraid. It will continue down this path, and the stores will have to have an excellent online presence. I also think customers have stronger 'rights' with regards to returns often leads to people just using online stores. Why? Because if you find fault/don't like it, you have a legal right to have a refund. If you buy in store, it is less clear, and you have had chance to inspect it.

I think what the OP is saying is that he may have TOO much rig for the gig. A Streamliner 900 and a high end 2x12 is a LOT of rig for small pubs. Depends on what you want. I could get away with a decent 1x12, and a nice sounding amp (doesn't have to be high wattage, just get what sounds nice!). Or sell the cab and buy something smaller, and be careful with the master volume on your current amp. You could always pickup a combo, like a TC BG250 (they've recently expanded this line) or a Markbass. The Markbass combo's are still, IMO, too expensive and in this market, they need to either make some improvements or drop the price.

With regards to Fodera, they are like a very expensive watch. You probably won't lose money. You will however pay a lot for the bass as it is, I guess, their business model to take no compromise. This includes having a place in New York which must be very expensive. I guess this attracts custom, not just from people in the area and people gigging, but its a hot spot for tourists who want to take a detour. Same with Sadowsky, although the USA Sadowsky basses seem quite value for money when you compare! Unless I was incredibly well off, I would not risk £10k on one bass. I would rather have 6-7 high end basses. That is because I wouldn't dare touch it! You often hear of these session musicians buying these, so the whole 'woe is me I am a musician and I don't earn very much' doesn't wash with me Plus they never really have a true 'working' week of 50 hours in a very busy office, with incredibly early mornings! PS - I would never turn down testing or potentially buying a Fodera if I was in the right circs!

[quote name='Ziphoblat' timestamp='1382330838' post='2250632'] So how about a Lakland? Mass produced in Asia instead of the USA, shoved in a sh*t gig-bag with nothing in it, same price. But I suppose it isn't as cool to bash a bass that isn't made by Fender. Not to single Lakland out, there are plenty of other companies that are the same, the mind just boggles at how regularly Fender get singled out for their prices when you look at the number of companies selling Asian made products in crap cases for the same price, if not more at times. [/quote] I do agree, and this 'cheap bag' also applies to high end basses and guitars as well. I agree with Dingus though that the earlier Skyline basses made Fender 'up' their QC (and recently I've seen that it is back down again!). I've played one of the new MP Made in China Fender Starcasters and the QC was perfect....mental. I personally think the latest Warwick's (German manufactured) are overpriced. They were £1500 or so a year or two back, now they are about £1000-1500 more!

It would be fantastic if they released a non-plate Jazz, with an option of the control plate, in some awesome colours, and not charge custom prices. Mind you, we all wanted a USA P/J, and they have answered this, in a very expensive way!

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1382544520' post='2253487'] Oops. Wrong small company. [/quote] HAHAH! To be fair, Mesa have always been super expensive...but they are a pretty major player in terms of guitar tube amps now. It's great that they still build their amps and haven't outsourced, but their UK pricing needs to be sorted out....they would sell more if they were a little cheaper!

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1382470486' post='2252625'] I was looking at their website yesterday... bit of a lack of info for me to make a plunge... -10dB at 33Hz - I would be interested how quickly that rolled off... but converting the price into GBP and it's pretty much the same price as a barefaced BB2 which is lighter. Having done a tiny bit of PA stuff... [/quote] I wasn't sure how I would like the 12/6, but its fantastic. Not only that, but the build quality and finish is on par with Bergantino and Aguilar. I'd like to see the new BF range in the flesh but purely on a aesthetical design point of view I prefer the TKS cabs. That is without seeing the BF Gen 3 in the flesh. I just don't like the coating idea very much...unless its like the Berg AE range, Silly, but you pay the price so may as well have something that looks good at the same time, (to whoever is buying it). I've only briefly looked into PA desks....they bore me to tears to be honest. I love playing with bass/guitar amps, but PA's seem rather boring to me. I'd always leave it to the soundman, who probably hasn't got clue and has no real qualifications in most situations. Pre/post? A P bass plugged straight into the DI box to the PA sounds pretty limp...I've tried it many times. A Stingray...not so much, the active EQ gives more control. Still, a decent pre-amp like a Tech 21 or Aguilar pedal and you are again colouring the tone. But colour can be great. Nothing wrong with having a defined and coloured sound. Most the players I like have a coloured tone.

Surely any decent soundman can use post EQ as its the sound you desire, and he can tweak to the room?

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1382443806' post='2252150'] Thanks for all that, much appreciated... A Ray I heard someone playing the other day was a 3EQ model, is the sound of the 2EQ radically different? Think I'm going to get one, there is a nice looking black one on the marketplace for what looks like a fair price... Rob [/quote] Not massively different. The low and highs are less 'extreme' on the 3EQ...I think the bass is set at a lower frequency on the 2 EQ, and the 2 EQ's just seem to sizzle more, but also have this organic inherent fatness that is just brilliant to hear. The 3EQ is the same tone; only Ray enthusiasts could tell the difference! What I like on the 3EQ is obviously the mids, which with say a dual pickup bass like a HH or HS, leads to many many different tones as well as the classic Ray tone. As we all know, every bass will sound different due to wood/strings/pickup winding etc...none are identical. The last HH I sold (to get a 5HH) had such a wonderful bridge humbucker....it was one of those moments when I first heard it of 'that's THE tone'....plus it had 4 other pickup positions! If you opt for a 3EQ, try a dual pup bass as well! Then try a Bongo...totally odd instrument but boutique quality and stunning electronics/ergonomics. I sound like a fanboy, and I guess I am, and I have not always had 100% smooth runnings with EBMM's (probably because I have had a LOT) but it never ever stops me realising they are my favourite bass guitars... The last two I bought were just absolutely perfect. In fact, this makes me want a single H Bongo now....ARGHHHH!

Try the TKS 12/6....and you can add a horn...(there is one on demo in Newcastle if you pass!) Very 'PA' like full range quality. Ridiculous amount of clear bottom end, very 'flat' and quite dry sounding, excellent if you want that kind of tone. The mids are super clear with the 6. I would personally want the horn...just to add the extra treble bite. For a small cabinet...it really is shockingly good. It also looks stunning and weighs hardly anything.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1382440605' post='2252095'] the ones i owned were,had one with 2 band eq & one with 3 band eq,i even put a Nordstrand pickup in one which helped a bit but not much. No amount of adjustment on either the bass or amp sorted the problem out,i couldn't hear it,my band couldn't hear it & the audience couldn't hear it either. I think they look gorgeous but i wouldn't buy another. [/quote] I hear this quite a lot (not the G string issue, the actual complaint about it). I haven't experienced it, but apparently its down to EQ and the natural sound of the electronics. Different technique, strings, setups etc will make a difference, eg some hear it, some don't. This is one of the reasons the Bongo is so popular, and part of the reason the electronics were created. It's EQ/electronics refuses to allow anything like this! Also, the Ray 5 does not have a weak G!

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1382439326' post='2252081'] Which Stingrays are the ones with the figured maple necks? are they the new classics? [/quote] Yep...they are usually highly figured and come with the following: Birdseye or flame highly figured neck (therefore opt for maple fretboard!) Vintage tint/lacquer on the neck and fretboard Chrome truss rod wheel Standard nut Chrome battery cover Vintage logo 2 band EQ single H Through body stringing Mutes on the bridge (very cool!) with adjustable screws For the first time EVER, a 2 EQ 5 string with a normal Ray scratchplate

[quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1382433153' post='2251967'] My copy should be arriving from Amazon any day now. I'm looking forward to reading it. [/quote] Same here! £4.50. Bargain. Why is the Kindle version more expensive? I love technology but I don't use a Kindle....(probably because I don't read books that much due to constantly reading/training at work). I find him a fascinating person. I realise he really gets on people's nerves, but I quite like the way he just does not care. I am a huge Smiths/Morrissey/Marr fan anyway....so I guess I just get sucked in to anything! Off topic, I recently went to see Marr play and he was fantastic. Such a clever guitarist, and very modest.

I usually don't sell much now, but the last Ray I sold to Ean on here was shipped through interparcel.com. Ean arranged it, and put insurance on it. Luckily, I had the original box which also obviously fitted the original case perfectly. It arrived safely. I think in future, if I sell, I will ask for the buyer to pickup/meet when I'm close (if possible) or again arrange through interparcel.com. Buying from a store isn't as bad. If it arrives damaged, just report and you'll get a replacement/refund. A few months back I bought £450 worth of boutique pedals that all arrived scratched and damaged/dinted. They were just in the retail display box they come in, shoved in one of those document bags. They were sent out late, and then I wasn't available on the day they arrived. AFter the weekend, they showed up, whilst I wasn't available to check them for a week (away on business). Luckily I informed the retailer I couldn't check them. When I did, 5 days later, I found the damage. It could have all been much easier if they shipped it on the day they said they would AND actually USED PACKAGING! Eg, put £450 worth of pedals in a proper box, in their individual boxes, with plenty of padding. Luckily I got a full refund. I then went to Bass Direct and bought from them. No issues whatsoever.

[quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1382430136' post='2251915'] I have just been informed by a third party that [b]SGD pickups are now insolvent,[/b] the owner refuses to admit it and no longer responds to Emails. So I am now out $470 and I do not have the money to purchase suitable pickups and they wouldn't be the RD clones that I wanted. Right now my custom bass will just not be finished. (I am accepting part exchanges on my Barefaced cab to raise the cash though ) I and many other people were constantly lied to by David who told us to trust him even though he broke his word many times. Well this is the ultimate proof and I am ultimately the one to pay the price, I just feel really dejected. [/quote] Awful state of affairs. Sorry to hear this. I know most the custom builders are totally trustworthy, but its little snippits of info like this that put me off. If it was a case of 'put down 20% then an extra 30% when its half done, then the rest on pickup' I would go for it, but after almost losing a fair whack with a shop some years back, I'm very cautious. I hope you get it sorted. Sometimes, when I see low custom prices, I think 'there must be something not quite right here'. With regards to Fodera, they are indeed extremely professional. One could say its expected at that price point, and it is. I would expect the very very best service. However, shouldn't ALL retailers/musical instrument manufacturers/custom builders act like this? It not only attracts customers, it gives you an excellent edge over the market (maybe not so much if they all do it!). The one thing I dislike about buying expensive instruments/amps/cabs etc is that sometimes, the professsional manner is lower than somewhere like ASOS when I buy a £40 Fred Perry item of clothing in the sale! All customers, no matter what, should be treated properly. It DOES attract future customers and it retains customers!

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1382134710' post='2248656'] Haha, mine were always waiting for me for years before I even wanted them! What is the waiting time for a specially ordered Stingray? I thought 5-6 months. [/quote] Roughly 4 months. Bongo/Big Al/Reflex etc seem to take a little longer as they make them in batches. I'd say max of 5 months.

Interested to see what the controls/panel look like!