4 Strings

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1414135632' post='2586174'] I haven't gigged as a bassist yet, so nothing on that front, although back when I was a guitarist my amp cut out completely at a part of the song where all the instruments were supposed to drop out and leave the guitar playing a neat accompaniment to the singer. Cue me playing and kicking my amp, and hoping for the best. It came back on about three seconds after my part stopped. That was my first ever gig, too. On my fourth gig, the strap lock broke on my Strat. My mate was taking his first live guitar solo when his amp fell off the beer crates it was stacked on. But nothing tops Guthrie Govan, who developed a faulty lead/jack situation during a gig and used a hairband just over the nut, and played the whole gig on left-hand strength alone because he used his right hand to hold his lead in place.... [/quote] I love watching Guthrie (and his brother) and, being a tad flash, no doubt took a little pleasure in coping with that burden! (I'm sure another response would be that 'John Suhr doesn't make the jack sockets'!)

[quote name='mxm' timestamp='1413902908' post='2583360'] [font=georgia,serif]The never ending quest for tone, headroom, reliability and happiness has finally brought me here...[/font] [attachment=174404:zillshallbc.jpg] [font=georgia,serif]All the work of craftsmen: Gartone '68 Superbass 100w clone in a Zilla replica head, into 2 2x12 Zilla's. All 'Marshallisation' by myself (for aesthetic effect).[/font] [/quote] Looks great, but isn't the Marshallisation like putting Nissan badges on a Jag?

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1414117689' post='2586106'] I have this Sterling Ray34CAFL on order. It should be in on Oct. 30th. [/quote] That'll do!

If the 20th anniversary versions have bling, then they're not for me. I love the utility of a Stingray and it's brutish qualities. Gold plating, fancy tops, binding or any other sort of niceness seems to detract.

I listened to a radio programme on Gerry Rafferty a while back and he said that line was originally for guitar. Someone had the idea for it to be sax and, perhaps because Raphael played it so beautifully (timing is excellent!), it stuck. It's certainly the stand out of that track and has made it the most famous of Rafferty's work.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1413921856' post='2583714'] Thank you! Ordered! [/quote] Must have had the last one!

[quote name='Gaslion' timestamp='1412983846' post='2573972'] IMHO As builder i tap every piece of wood before buying( tuning fork is really useful too!) you have to spend some time listening the different resonance between each blank. The best sounding is the one i take to my workshop. Pickups are a big part of the instrument but not the most important. [/quote] Then why to these spoof Teles, with bodies of concrete, plastic, steel etc sound like Teles?

The Classics sound great, and if all Pre-EBs were used up then they would be ideal. Not sure why a one piece neck seems better, but I like that, shame they didn't keep that feature (with the rear mounted truss rod and skunk stripe). But, I do prefer the 'unfinished' neck for feel and playing to the old varnished finish and I think this has been a progressive step. Nothing wrong with the varnish, just prefer the slick, woody feel (for my Ruach custom, where more than a nod is made to Stingrays, the unfinished neck being one). I ought to try a Classic, you're right but, tbh, I'd like to get through a few G&Ls as well. I envy those old, '80s era G&Ls. Love the brutal simplicity of them.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1412114261' post='2565915'] Hi 4strings, I used the 'pre EB guys' moniker to avoid using the nasty 'f' word ....... I think you'll find the EB Classic Rays have the neck feature you describe (theyre 7.5 in radius compared to the regular 11 in radius), and the 2 band should give that shimmering treble sound. I used to own a pre EB (from new)and one in decent condition is a great instrument - indeed I wish I'd bought the inca silver mentioned above, a few years back. Love my Classic Ray though. [/quote] Not played a 'Classic', if I was buying a new 'Ray and had enough money I'd be looking at those first (although if I had that sort of money I'm sure I'd be looking for another Pre-EB!). I don't think they have any magic, they just suit me perfectly. The neck is quite wide (top to bottom) but also fabulously slim (front to back). Not sure I'd notice the board radius but I'm sure that adds to the feel. Do the maple Classic 'Rays have one piece necks (i.e. no separate fingerboard)?

'Pre-EB Guys'? As an owner of a Pre-EB Stingray, I can report certain factual things about my bass. The neck is very slim (to my taste), the treble control adds a very high frequency fizz to the sound (fab for slap and general livening the sound if needed) it's not unduly heavy and plays like butter. I've had some EB Stingrays and liked the mid control, but the necks have not been the same and they don't give that very high frequency with the treble control. These don't make it worth £8k, nor are these features to everyones taste. At the moment (while my custom bass on on long term being looked at) my 'Ray is in every day use and I'm loving it!

I think it's looking great. I wondered about London Plane for the Ruach bass I had made last year, seeing as I'm from London etc, looking t yours, wish I'd stuck with it!

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1409826906' post='2543640'] If anyone is not sure about flatwounds then just listen to the bass on anything recorded before the mid 1960s as there's a good possibility that's what you're listening to. [/quote] Or by Sting

Why not skim off the back, rout it out and then put a plate on that, wouldn't it be easier?

Hang on, you've got mono-rails. Not using a 'proper' bridge?

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1411406770' post='2559229'] Was it a cover version of this? [media]http://youtu.be/WxY47jh9owA[/media] [/quote] Yep, the song was written for Lori, but, I have to say, I prefer the cover! I really like Roberta's voice and phrasing anyway but I also I like the arrangement more. I think this is an amazing song, words and music.

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1410288025' post='2547906'] I was into Rock back in the day, and Kiss were the biggest disappointment ever. I saw pictures of them before I heard anything by them, and my imagination went wild thinking about how evil and extreme they would sound. My benchmark was (and largely remains) Motorhead - i.e. bands were either more or less loud/fast/aggressive than them. I thought Kiss must be off the scale. So imagine my surprise when I did finally get to hear them - boring MOR rock of the tamest kind. Things are much better now - kids now have bands that do sound like Kiss should have done. My own personal favourite in this vein is Nails. Note how they reverse the Kiss appearance/reality disjunction altogether - totally unassuming-looking, but proper scary music: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg5K42gfbh8[/media] [/quote] hmmph, can't hear the words.

Brave post! Sharay's become a bit of a legend on Youtube, he's great. That song gets played tens of thousands of times a week in churches but no doubt not with bass playing like that, but certainly with at least as many covered mistakes!

[quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1411126179' post='2556697'] Alternatively get a USA made SUB. They're usually around half the price, sound and feel like a Ray if you don't mind the rather industrial paint. [/quote] Do this.

Sounds like they have fitted an ebony fretboard over the original. One of the nice things about the earlier maple fingerboard 'Rays (and Fenders come to that) was the one piece neck, i.e. no separate fingerboard, the frets set directly into the maple neck. Clearly someone preferred ebony and liked the bass enough to carry out the work! Nothing wrong with that, it's what they do in the factory anyway when they put on a fingerboard, but makes for an interesting bass. ps, mine has the extra dot too!

[quote name='witterth' timestamp='1411307982' post='2558275'] thanks for posting that never seen it before and totally made my day/month just what the Dr ordered!! [/quote] Great example of a Stingray sound!

[quote name='Stance' timestamp='1411270800' post='2558019'] Like Blur say "There´s no other way" - just the dots on one side (I think I understood your question right) [/quote] No. Here's the reason for the question. I have a Sabre with an ebony fingerboard. The dots on the side coincide precisely with the position of the frets (not the gaps between them) as it used to be a fretless. Someone put frets on it and, at the same time, put dots on the front. Of course the dots on the front go in between the fret positions and so are in a different position to those on the side. I wondered yours had come a similar journey.

[quote name='Stance' timestamp='1411208071' post='2557486'] Thanks! The side dots are sandwiched between the neck and the fretboard [/quote] Ok, thanks, and going the other way, do they line up with the frets or are they halfway in the gap between frets (like on the front)?

[quote name='wwcringe' timestamp='1410620567' post='2551342'] This is a wicked looking bass!! Please can we see the tuner? [/quote] Thanks, wwcringe! Yes, although the bass is away at the moment having that MM pup looked at. As soon as it's back I'll do some more pics of details etc. Hopefully will have something to say about the sound too.

[quote name='Stance' timestamp='1410737254' post='2552668'] Here´s mine 83 Trans Red with Ebony Fretboard (also notice the extra dot) -the battery compartment is also flushed - I guess it´s the correct term) Came with the original case - I bought it like this - the original owner was a famous Portuguese luthier, so that´s why the bass has these small chages - at least he kept the color [url="http://s163.photobucket.com/user/cacem/media/IMG_20140915_002345_zps03d4734c.jpg.html"][/url] The other one I got is the black one that´s on my Avatar [/quote] Very nice! Are the side dots on the frets or in the gaps?