moley6knipe

Parallel.

My Ray is an H and my Dimension is HH so not a direct comparison (and I’ve never played an HH Ray sadly) but nah, the bridge pickups don’t sound alike to me  you can get near to a Ray sound but not identical.

A Ray sounds like a ray.... and other basses don’t sound like a Ray. 

13 hours ago, bloke_zero said:

Care to elaborate?  I'm intrigued 🤔

Well. I’m hopeless at describing sounds and YMMV but... As a generalisation it’s a more “modern” take on Fender sounds to my ears. Position 5 is “sort of a precision”. It’s driving and thick but not as midrange focused - more of an even push across the spectrum.  Posn 4 and 2 are kinda like both J pickups together... but the very subtle diff between 60s and 70s spacing. Posn 3 is Jazz on steroids. Posn 1 is ballpark Stingray... but not quite as hi-mid burpy - I prefer this to my ACTUAL Ray tbh.

Personally, I love the 5 way blade switching - much ‘simpler’ than a pot blend and nails the fundamental tones quicker than panning for me.  The 3 band EQ works beautifully with the selector - for example Posn 1 with bass rolled up gives enough of the classic bridge pickup honk but with proper balls behind it.

What I do know for certain is that I love the Dimension so very, very much 😍

For me, they have their own sound which is what I prefer to P or J so that’s why I play them. Granted, the audience don’t care I guess!

MM humbucker is massively distinct. Nothing sounds like one to my ears. The BTB here has USA Barts which are as good as humbuckers get IMHO. The Fender Dimension sounds like a Dimension.... not P or J, it’s own thing. But, also gives you single coil options too. Best bass I’ve ever owned by far. 

It weighed 

I have a spreadsheet of basses past and present. I know, I know. 

On 07/07/2020 at 15:10, pn_day said:

I've been enjoying a pre-loved Yamaha BB 425. The only thing I didn't like about it was it was a bit weighty, and had a slight tendency to neck-dive.

Ah! That’s my old BB, which I bought off @KotorTom.... and I *think* @Al Krow was the previous owner. Wonder how many of us have owned that one? They are great. Soooo much bass for the money but had to recoup funds from my dream bass purchase (Fender Dimension USA Deluxe HH Natural/Maple board since you didn’t ask 😃)

Good call on the tuner replacement - if I’d kept it for sure I’d have done the same. Like it! Hope it’s serving you well. One day a full fat Jap BB 5 string WILL be mine. 

Ridiculously good basses, I’ve got that exact model. Best bass I’ve ever owned... love everything about it. GLWTS!

For sure the 12” drivers don’t colour the sound (in as far as my ruined ears can tell).... for me that’s 100% what I wanted. Humbuckers into a GK is sonic perfection in my world so that’s what I wanted to hear through a cab, and that’s what I got. I think nowadays there’s a Barefaced cab for every application though: and the build quality, size and weight of all of them makes them worth a look for any player, I reckon.

Ah - IMHO everyone should just buy a BB2. It doesn’t care what you do to it. Pub gig? Yep. Local beer festival, massive tent? Yep. At home practice cab? Yep. Stupid amounts of sub bass from your octave / synth etc pedal? Yep. GK amp at full bore with a low B hammering away incessantly? Yep.

I’m quite a fan. My only problem with the BB2 is that I didn’t buy one years ago. It just puts out what you put in, at the volume you want. It still makes me and the band stand around it between sets and in rehearsal breaks saying things like: “I’m sorry, but how does a box that size do all that bassing?”

18 minutes ago, bloke_zero said:

Got to love that! Nice bass!

I’ll take a slice of that pie... That’s a great look!!

Underrated is right.... by rights Fender should have sold 1000s of these. Great bass, great price!

I didn’t find big singles noisy. Sure, they hum a little bit but nothing you’ll notice unless it’s between songs and everyone in the pub has stopped talking. Very minor. 

Another vote for ACS - great plugs. Sure a little pricier than off the shelf but I wish I’d got them years ago. My left ear is toast after years of crash cymbals and Mesa Boogie guitar amps at ear height. 

I’ve got an Ibby fretless with the MK1’s and agree - pretty lifeless. Personally I’d replace with Nordstrand Big Singles - The best pickups I’ve ever heard or owned. Had a set in an Ibby SR - awesome pups but the bass had to go due to one in one out. One day, I’ll have me a custom with a set of those in for sure. Plenty of YouTube clips to listen to....

Ooh, I’m in! Love a good GAS thread.

1. Done: got it. USA Dimension Deluxe HH in Natural

2. Stingray Special 5 HH in Natural with maple board. Only possible s/h now which seems unlikely

3. BTB in Deep Twilight Flat with the Nordy big singles. Weren’t made for very long so again seems unlikely

100%. Alex Is one of my faves ever. Under-rated. So much good stuff to dig through.... There’s No Other Way. Oily Water. Tracy Jacks. Great player. The four of them together were a perfect compliment 

Actually, sorry - I’m going to withdraw this from sale. I no longer need the space or the cash, the sale price is a LOT lower than I paid for it, and despite not using it I know I’ll end up wanting another fretless if I get rid of it.

I’m not an expert, but I bought on iTrack Solo for my son. Works great on iPhone, and can also be used on a laptop. Sounds fine to me, good set of features for the money. Bear in mind if used with iPhone or iPad then it needs external power from a USB charger - it takes its power from the laptop though if you’re using it that way. 

Sold!

Hi!! So sorry, missed your post somehow.... still available. I’ll PM you!

This board continues to be the most mind bending thing I’ve seen on here. I can’t get my head around building one effect, let alone all of these! My hat is off. Give us a rundown on the home builds?!

Ah man.... yeah that’s the exact one on my wish list... but no-one has them for sale any more!

2 hours ago, Paulhauser said:

As I already have a Stingray 5 I'd either source a SR5 30th anniversary

or a new Special SR5 HH 

(would probalby change the pg to pearl white)

Now that I think of it I might just do it as well 🙂

Good calls there. The 30th is Soooooo pretty it’s silly. And as soon as funds permit I *will* own an HH Special 5. Really want natural / maple but they’re a thing of the past (unless one comes up s/hand I guess - not seen any Special 5s yet).

Would have to be maple board and a finish that lets me see the grain - which limits choices now they’re not using ash for the bodies.

But let’s be right - most ‘Rays of most flavours, brands, number of strings and pickups are lovely. Great basses. 

I only have experience of Nordy Big Singles which are of course soap bar size. But man alive they’re awesome sounding things. Granted not classic P or classic J but really versatile. With a good EQ like East I think you’d be able to shape them to do most things: I think the Ibanez EQ they were running through on my bass could have been better. Also: try emailing Nordstrand and asking them - I hear they’re really good at helping folks choose. They really do make a pickup style, spacing and voicing for everything!

Go pro: physiotherapist well worth a trip here. I had some serious pains in my plucking / mouse hand. Physio did assessment, some ultrasound (I think!) and some stretching exercises with weights. Really, really helped me!