HeadlessBassist

Thanks Mike I was just going on the fact that both of the natural rays I've owned over the years have had satin necks. I have a vague recollection that my Piezo model may have been changed from a Gunstock Oil finish. Maybe my current 95 model did, as it was the 'Velvet Satin' model. Either that, or it's been worn flat over the intervening 30 years!

I'm inclined to second that. 🤔

I always wondered about this, but I think I've got it now. The necks/headstocks on the SoundGear models are so incredibly narrow that they couldn't fit the IBANEZ logo at the top.

I know what you mean. He's a bit of a blunt instrument, as it were. He does seem to have an irrational hatred of wearing shirts, though.

As an added comparison, here's the 2018 American Original Jazz playing the same passage from 'Dean Town'... 2018 American Original Jazz w/Fender PV64's American Original Jazz (copy).m4a RW Flea Signature Jazz w/Fender PV64's Jazz Bass 2.m4a Mr.Grey Nitro Daphne Blue Jazz w/Fender PV66's Jazz Bass 1 (copy).m4a

That's really nice. Definitely worthy of a road trip for collection.

Sod the tone wood police, LOL! I can say from experience that the woods, or at least the density of them does make a difference. Rob Green told me long ago that yes, most of the sound is from the pickups/strings/the percussive hardness of the fingerboard, but you can definitely colour the tone with a walnut tone block, etc. I've always noticed a difference when I've played a nitro bass. They definitely have their own voicings.

You've got me wondering now... I'd say "Mr.Grey's" is marginally heavier, but there's not a lot in it. It has an Okoume body as opposed to the Flea's Alder. Apart from that, the only real difference is the roasted maple neck vs the slab rosewood neck. Given a moment tomorrow, I might record the same passage on the 2019 American Original and see how that comes out in comparison.

The neck profile is one of the more comfortable around. It's quite wide at the nut, but the necks are always quite thin (fingers to thumb) and are more of a shallow 'D' shape. As DoctorJ pointed out, most of the 2eq models are boost only, whereas the 3eq instruments are cut/boost with a centre detent on the controls. I'm personally not a fan of the maple fingerboards, as they always seem to look mucky. I'd be going for a late 80's - 90's 2eq with the satin finished neck, as opposed to the oil finish which always feels rough to the touch to me. I'm not into all that gunstock oil and sanding of necks nonsense. Others have mentioned the uneven output of the MM humbucker when comparing strings. That's a very common thing. Many have come up with solutions, but just about the best [and most even] MM sound I've heard to date is my 1995 natural ash Stingray 2eq with Aguilar's OBP-2 preamp, and the Aguilar AG-4M pickup. Oh, and it only weighs 8.7lbs. The mid-2000s onwards Stingray Classic is an excellent 2eq bass as well.

You're absolutely right, @Silky999... I think the difference you can hear is the maple/rosewood fingerboards. Bass 1 is your build. Bass 2 is the Flea Signature.

It's a tough one, isn't it? They really do sound very similar, even though one was built by FMIC and the other was constructed from imported bits in a bloke's living room & painted in his garden.

Sweltering afternoon, SSG's! I've just got @Silky999's Nitro Jazz Bass back from my Tech, who's very kindly replaced the Wilkinson pickups with a set of Fender Pure Vintage 66s (from the current American Vintage II), as well as an upgrade to the tone capacitor from 0.022uF to a more standard genuine Fender 0.050uF. So here's the challenge - I've made two recordings on the same iPhone, playing the same piece with two Jazz basses (hopefully with some consistency!) Both into the same rig, with the same string set (Elixir 40-95). The contenders are; Fender Road Worn Flea '61 Jazz Bass (with standard OEM Fender Pure Vintage 64 pickups.) Our very own @Silky999's "Mr.Grey's" Daphne Blue Nitro Jazz Bass (with Fender Pure Vintage 66 pickups.) Can you tell which is which..? Jazz Bass 1 Jazz Bass 1 (copy).m4a Jazz Bass 2 Jazz Bass 2.m4a

Graphite Addicts of BC unite in anticipation...

Agreed. Especially the current cost cutting models like the Ultra II's with their skunk stripe and top mounted truss rod adjuster, the same as a Mexican bass or Squier.

All American OEM basses use imperial Alun Keys. You can get an imperial set from B&Q for relatively few pennies. The one you really wanted there was probably the 0.05" one.

I've recently changed my main Status S2 from Bass Centre Elites to GHS Stainless Steels. The bass sounds very good on these, but there's more tension than the previous Elites nickels. They've only done one gig so far, so longevity is yet to be seen. The nickel Elites usually only do 3-4 gigs before needing to be changed. I wish Elixir did a 30-90 DBE set - I usually get 30-40 gigs out of the 40-95 gauge Elixirs on my Jazz.

I took one of those HILS Next Bass 5-strings as a part exchange a few weeks ago. Mine had a non standard preamp, but it definitely had a serious punch. Another highly recommended bass for the money. Not quite as compact and svelte as the Space 4/5, though.

@police squad You did exactly the right thing there by walking off. I do wonder why some bands have three 'guitards' and that wall of hateful guitar noise. It really is just a row. We often ask audiences near the start of the gig if it's too loud for them and jokingly suggest that anyone that finds it too loud should write us a note on a £20 note. But joking aside, we do genuinely ask the question. We want to keep things down to acceptable levels and make it comfortable for everyone. When you get to the point where everyone is having to turn up to be able to hear themselves, that's the time to have a serious conversation. I've seen plenty of amateur bands where even I had to leave the building because I couldn't stand the noise levels.

The Joe Dart budget model effect is like the "Access" Trim level Dacia Duster with the steelies and zero equipment. We've mostly all got a modern car with literally everything in it, but that stripped out, bare bones approach is somehow inviting and cool.

Thanks Frank. It continues to impress me...

I seem to have an odd relationship with Sire. I had one of the original early model V7 ash bodied models in trans white, followed by a couple of second generation V7/P7/V7 Vintage models and finally a V10 which was a cracking bass. But I ended up selling them all on. Seems I prefer a Pure Vintage pickup equipped passive real Fender Jazz. (I have two, both with the Pure Vintage 64s and nitro finishes.) I also have a recently acquired 2016 American Elite Jazz which is utterly phenomenal. I found with the Sire preamp that the sound was too deeply scooped (even for me!), and I had to boost the low mids in order to get to the sound I really liked. I've really been fancying a Z3, but I've held off, having recently bought a '95 2eq Stingray with an Aguilar pickup. Maybe I'm just in a lucky position where I can own great examples of the real thing. Let's hope Sire don't bring out a Status alternative. Then I'll be in real trouble. Oh no, there's one coming out, isn't there? 🤔

Very nice E Sharp, [or should we call you Mr.F..?) It's amazing how we all notice that missing 1mm in the string spacing, isn't it?

Agreed - my 2-band 1995 Stingray is a monster. I guess that's really the proper original Stingray sound.

Drum roll, please... 🥁

True, but often the 2-band instruments sound better than the 3/4 band ones. Definitely worth a look, I'd say.