
biro
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A Tragic Tale of Love and Loss: In a bittersweet twist of fate, as I bravely leap onto the treacherous housing ladder (pray for me), I must bid adieu to this wonderful specimen. Great conditions in general, and even better for an instrument made in 2006. Aged like fine wine, it has indeed. It's a humanitarian purchase: I have major difficulties getting along with Rays, but this is the one I would have kept: by far the best one I've played, and I think Ernie Ball should make them like this in the factory.If it does not sell, I will not be heartbroken. But then, ladies, gentlemen, I put to you the following proposition: imagine, if you will, a world where this majestic bass gathers dust. The minds reject the notion, as shivers run through the spine. Save it—I beg of you—from a life of solitude and give it the love it deserves. It will feel neglected if you don't. It's a humanitarian act, really. This is the Ray that other Rays tell legends about. It's the Ray that outplays all other Rays. It has a ceramic magnet, but I find that with the right EQ it does the Vintage Ray thing quite well—perfect if you want to channel your inner Donny Benét. Comes with the original OHSC. Comes with the original OHSC, which could not be nicer even if it had been lined with gold. May be tried in North London, in which case tea and biscuits will be provided (though the kettle so long as the kettle still works. For the handover, I work in central London and I have shipped instruments as far as Australia, so shipping far isn't a problem (but Pitcairn I won't do). Please don't tempt me with trades. I have the resistance of a cat to a laser pointer. I want to say no, but I'll probably end up saying yes. I include a couple of cheeky pictures. Also, @lowregisterhead's video below—with the hope that he will not mind me sharing!
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I have used credit card shims in several instruments. Bear in mind that the alternative is generally sandpaper. What should worry you is not the loss of sustain (I'd be surprised if this could be a factor), but rather the potential for the neck to develop a ski jump. See here: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/getting-the-facts-about-ski-jumps.1111265/ The short answer is that if your neck is made decently, there should be no risks. That said, I would recommend that you cut the credit card properly and you fit it more or less precisely at the bottom of the neck pocket, so as to make sure that it won't shift if you have to remove the neck and so on.
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So, in the end this bass is quite something. It's a thing of beauty and it really makes me think that it was so simple all along: just make a passive 5 string jazz bass with 24 frets, that's really it.
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I'd say the quality is really the same. The pick up must be somewhat different on paper, but in practice I they struck me as essentially the same.
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If it's of any help, I did not find the tonal difference in slapping on a 24 fret rather than on a 20 fret to be nearly as marked as I had expected. I owned two V7s (first generation and second generation) and they were both very nice, the second being spectacular with an almost birdseye maple fretboard. Quality-wise, I think we're the V5 is up there.
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Ok, so: I am still a bit on the fence as to whether or not I am going to keep it, but I am leaning towards the affirmative. Overall, it plays wonderfully—it is just a question of whether or not I can get on with the concept of a 24 fret jazz bass, which I love in principle and feel weird about in practice. Fit and finish is great—not entirely flawless, but great. Fretwork is stellar, except perhaps the 24th fret is slightly higher than I'd like it to be. But I play with a ridiculously low action (just a hair over 1mm on the G at the 24th fret), so I would be surprised if this was an issue for anybody else. Nut a bit high (again, ridiculous action for me), and the truss rod works like a charm. The metal pickguard is a nice addition and feels nice to the touch. Tonally, it is definitely a Jazz Bass, very close to my Jazz bass with CS pick ups. This feels a little less airy and perhaps more organic. It feels as if there are more mids and bass. Judging by some lazy playing over backing tracks, it sits in a mix beautifully and has a nice woody, throaty tone on the bridge pick up soloed. The neck pick up soloed is nice and creamy with the tone rolled off, nice and gritty when you open it up and summon your inner Geddy. The tone control is not as continuous as that in my Fender US Pro, but does the job nicely. The B string sounds great. No complaints whatsoever. As to the bass itself, it appears to me to have been built very well. It is ever so slightly neck-heavy, but no more than most other 5 string Js I have tried. With a leather strap, I did not feel that at all. For me, it sits in a territory between my Soundgears and my Fenders. I like to think that I am a Jazz Bass kind of person, and to see the Soundgear as the evolution of that philosophy. This is much more traditional and closer to the inspiration, and works extremely well for whatever situation may call for 24 frets and a 5 string.
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Not quite on / off, but definitely less taper than my Am Pro I. BTW, I think if I keep it I might drop a stingray pick up between the J pick ups and get myself a poor man's Atelier Z.
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So, it's here and it is truly excellent. I have to say I am impressed. Save for the nut, which is a tad higher than I'd like to be, I really can't see how this could be beat for the price. Excellent jazz tone. Having had an American Deluxe Fender, I'd say that this sounds as good or better. Will record something later.
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Yeah, to be honest I am quite curious. A 24 jazz bass is essentially my idea of a perfect bass, so it might be a blessing in disguise!
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I ordered one by mistake, meaning that I regretted ordering one and tried to cancel. Alas, I was too late, so I guess I may as well try it out. Will update soon.
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It does not look quite right to me because of the 3+1 headstock, which for some reason is a bit strange to me on a Jazz. But it certainly does not look wrong.
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On the one hand, it is quite lovely. On the other hand, it doesn't quite look right to me. On the third hand...
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I honestly think there are lots of necks today that can easily compete with graphite necks, which may not have bee the case some time back. I have a couple of Ibanez SRs (Prestige and Premium) with an extraordinarily stiff and consistent neck, for example. It is true that they are not as stiff and consistent as a graphite neck, but, really, thereabouts. (To clarify, I had Status and Modulus necks in the past.) There are also other options now: for example, I have a friend who uses and Aluminati neck and he couldn't be happier. That said, I did buy a Stingray with a Status neck from Basschat recently, and it is by far my favourite Stingray of all time, so there's that too.
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Honestly wondering if this is my old bass. If so, it's a killer instrument. EDIT: Just read the post more carefully and yes, confirmed via serial, it is my old bass. Just a fantastic instrument. I had the fret ends finished by a luthier so I can confirm that too. I don't think I tinkered with the mid frequency switch though. It is possible, but unlikely, that the truss rod cover stayed with me, so if I find it the new owner can have that too. Sample here:
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Just bought a GK-3B from Alex, super smooth transaction. Highly recommended!
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NBD Sire V5R 24 fret - pick up / bridge/ tuners recommendations
biro replied to Duroc17's topic in Bass Guitars
Stunning! I'd go with some EMG Js or JVX—they should be a nice fit! -
Good lord, that's so true. You try actual Barts and you're immediately like 'oh, there you have it, that's that 90s fusion tone'. It's quite an uncanny feeling.
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