gazhowe

I’ve got a 2005 3EQ, a Classic and one of the new Stingray Specials. All are great basses and build quality is top notch on each one. I tend to use them all without boosting or cutting the on board EQ but occasionally slightly boost the bass and/or treble on the Classic and Special. I haven’t had an issue with G string volume and think that’s probably due to not excessively boosting bass and treble. I agree with previous comments that the Low end is very focussed (in a good way). If you are able to I suggest trying both a Classic and Stingray Special, particularly if you are considering buying new. They are both great but different in many ways (eq, neck profile, body shape, weight). I’m gigging with both and at the moment am using the Special more.

The LEDJ Q Colour is a good light if you just want one per side to provide a stage wash. They are too heavy to velcro to PA cabs but you could get a bracket to fix them to PA speaker stands/poles.

I’ve just received a 25ft Ernie Ball cable too following registration of my new Stingray Special. Even though I don’t need another cable and the cost to Strings and Things is probably very little it’s a really nice touch and I really appreciate the gesture.

Pretty much like for like replacement for me: Aguilar AG700 amp, Bergantino 410 cab. I'd replace my Stingray's (Special and Classic) but would consider upgrading my Status S2 Classic to an S3.

My Charcoal Sparkle 4H is very comfortable with a very smooth and fast neck. Build quality is excellent as you would expect for a bass costing £2k+. I've just done the first two gigs with mine this weekend and it just sounded fabulous. So far, and probably with a bit of bias because its new, I prefer the sound of this to my other Ray's (a 3EQ and a Classic). The bass control isn't at all boomy when boosted and it is easy to dial in a variety of great tones. The biggest difference IMO is that it doesn't have the top end raspy quality of the 3EQ which was a planned approach according to the Musicman promo video. I've been using my Ray's as backups to my Status S2 for years but this is so good I think I'll be using this as my main bass for a while. 😎

The last item that made a real positive difference to my sound was the Aguilar AG700 I bought last year. The last item I bought was a Stingray Special in Charcoal Sparkle on Saturday. I’m gigging with it this weekend so don’t know yet if it will make a positive difference to my sound but it will make me look more sparkly. 😎

My Charcoal Sparkle 4H arrived today and...wow! The neck is fantastic and the bass looks and feels great overall. When I first lifted it out of the case I was very (pleasantly) surprised at how light it felt. I've just weighed this in at 8.2lbs, against 9.6lbs for my Classic Ray. 😎

Likewise, I’ve just ordered the same from Andertons. My need for shiny and sparkly new things is killing my wallet. Damn you Basschat! 😂

Thanks for the clarification.

I’ve got two MoMark modular Markbass amps (500w and 800w). I’d always thought that the 500w was Class A/B and the 800w was Class D. I recently took the 500w to an amp tech to have it checked over and was surprised when he told me it was also a Class D. 😳 Both amps sound great, as does my Class D Aguilar AG700. If you try an amp and it sounds good to you then I don’t think it matters what’s under the bonnet. 😎

I've got an AG700 plus 2 Markbass Momark amps (500w and 800w). The Momark is a modular design and I've used these with a tube and solid state pre-amp. There's plenty of headroom in the above for pub and larger gigs and they've worked well for me doing rock and pop covers paired with a Berg AE410. Both the AG700 and Momarks are clean sounding amps and I've spent a bit of time trying different dirt pedals to provide drive (eventually settling on a Darkglass VMT). The tone controls are intuitive and make it easy to dial in a good sound with either amp. As with anything, it's your ears and opinion that count so I would try them all before deciding if possible. Alternatively you could possibly look for a used one that you can move on without losing much if you need to.

I’ve been using their double ball roundwounds (40-100) for years and can’t fault them. Good value too, especially if you go for the bulk buying option.

I think these are all reasonable points to consider, and I'm sure that a gigging band would be asking themselves some of these questions about any potential new member. While there are no guarantees, asking these questions could potentially save both sides unwanted hassle, frustration and wasted effort. I've always found that a degree of compromise is needed on all sides as it's not often that everyone in the band is doing it to earn a living, or purely as a hobby. Not everyone will contribute in the same way but as long as everyone is contributing something and can play the material to a decent enough standard I'm happy. If I'd joined the band and then discovered that other members can't be bothered to learn the material or are unreliable then I wouldn't hang around for long. "You decide what's important to you" is key IMHO.

That is tremendous!

Best purchase: Darkglass Vintage Microtubes Best purchase runner up: Stingray Classic Worst purchase: EHX Neo Clone (bought 2nd hand). I gave it away soon after rather than bother trying to sell it.

Check out the Transcension Commander 384 DMX controller. It's not expensive (£140) and allows you to operate LED fixed and moving head lights of different makes. I've been using one to operate the following and it's very good. LEDJ Q Colour x 2 LEDJ 7Q5 x 7 ADJ Inno Pocket spots x 2 Equinox Slender Beam Bar Quad

Still a work in progress, but currently: Bass > Darkglass Vintage Microtubes > MoMark (slight lo-mid boost on EQ) > Bergantino AE410. Gaz

I occasionally use a Mono M80 to transport my headless S2 to rehearsals and it's absolutely fine. Although there is a large space where the headstock would be the bass doesn't slip.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1499411453' post='3331344'] Why the Q on kids living at home? [/quote] I suspect it's on the theory this would likely reduce the disposable income you may have to spend on new gear!

Done.

I'm fortunate to own a Status S2 and a couple of Stingrays. They are all wonderful to play, sound great and look fantastic (IMO) - so much so that I'm playing both the S2 and a Stingray at gigs even though my band set list doesn't mean that I have to change basses. I do prefer my S2 over my Stingrays however it's a very close call and both makes are top quality instruments that are very special in their own way. If you're thinking of buying new then both makes are a significant investment. I traded in a Stingray and a Jazz to help pay for a new S2 but I've never had any regrets. I would suggest you go for a S2 if that's what your heart is set on rather than buy a different model Status with a view to trading up later, otherwise you would just be delaying getting what you really want. I appreciate the risk involved if you don't like it so buying 2nd hand may be the way to go but I doubt you would regret it regardless of whether buying new or 2nd hand. Let us know what you decide to do please. Regards Gaz