Minininjarob

I wouldn’t accept an instrument with battery acid leaked all over to be honest, that’s terrible. I would want a new battery compartment on that at the very least. 
I think I’ll wait a while until these issues are sorted. 

45 minutes ago, Twigman said:

My #1 bass is my EBMM USA Sterling 4HH.

I was lucky insofar as I managed to order mine new via The Bass Gallery in 2016, delivered 2017, back when they were an EBMM dealer and just before a major price hike.

My favourite setting is position 2 (of5 ) on the switch which uses the outer coils of each pickup. Sometimes I'll go for pos3 ( all coils).

I absloutely adore mine.

I have found that some think it isn't what it is as MM having now their budget line named 'Sterling by Musicman' some think mine is a budget model. It isn't, far from it. The oiled neck is the best I've ever played.

Wow that looks amazing! 

1 hour ago, Ander87 said:

So I am auditioning for a punk rock ska type of band and my 37” multiscale Ibanez 5er is overkill and too big dimensions for it. 
 

I’ve got a z7 mint on the way from Anderson’s I should receive tomorrow… hopefully the QC is spot on and comes just right!

 

tempted to buy a couple more and return the worst two reading what I’ve read 😅 how was the returns process everyone?

 

Ander. 

Please share when you get it, I love that colour. 

This is not helping my want for a MM Sterling at all! Such a shame they don’t do them new.

2 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

The sound is something else. Proper deep bass. I’m going to see if I can get the frets sorted if it doesn’t sell this week and maybe it’ll become a keeper.

As much as I would like this bass (not quite got the cash) I reckon you’ll kick yourself later if you don’t get those frets sorted and keep it. 
It’s gonna keep its value and always sound amazing. 

Really interested in this. PM on its way. 

48 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

Demo's up:

 

My issues still stand, but I can't deny it sounds rather splendid. 

Does sounds rather nice. To my ears not much different from the original. 

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

The more I think about this, the angrier I get.  If Epiphone was a mate, you'd take them aside and try to talk some sense into them.

 

£929, what the hell are they thinking?  How much does it cost to produce a bolt on, single pickup bass these days?  Different body shape - big whoop, it's CNC, just get 'em made - it's absolutely no different to any of your other models.  I'd go so far as to say the different shaped headstock is the same deal - change the CNC program, how effing hard is that?  They have seriously misread the room and are attempting to take people for mugs IMO.

 

When you have market disruptors like Sire going about, producing instruments which I'm quite sure would kick this Grabber's arris in terms of fit, finish and features, at half the price - it's absolutely suicidal pricing.  People aren't stupid - they're going to compare and contrast and if they've got half a brain will realise they're being taken for a ride.

 

The Gibsonification of Epiphone is in full swing - I had hoped it wouldn't happen, but it looks like an unwise, premature, and very ham fisted attempt to move Epiphone "upmarket" is happening.  It makes me sad.  Angry, but ultimately, sad.

 

There's no way in hell I'm buying this Grabber at £929, and because it's a signature bass, the G-3 will be more like £1200.  I was so excited by this development when news first broke but Epiphone, you've broken me instead.  I'm out.

I have to agree with you there, even Fender can do a Dirnt signature model for £1450 (it was less recently) and didn’t overprice the squire version when that came out. 

On 29/09/2024 at 08:10, NancyJohnson said:

 

The business might have a stance of just producing set necks/neck-through instruments, but I'd take this comment by Dirnt with a pinch of salt.

 

They're more than capable of producing bolt on instruments, they probably just choose not to.

To be fair it’s probably just repeating what he’s been told, he won’t have been to do an inspection of the factory’s manufacturing capabilities. 

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

 

You would have thought Gibson would insert wholly sensible course of action.  Should be their motto.

I’ve heard they are a bit weird but don’t know the specifics. 

3 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Yeah I saw that and thought it was weird that Gibson can’t make bolt on necks anymore. 

You would have thought they’d be chomping at the bit to get a Mike Dirnt signature model. 

Nice Matt Freeman interview of Mike Dirnt where he shows his original Gibson G3 and his new Epiphone version. Both really nice guys. 
Takeaways - wow that Gibson is the definition of road worn, that new Epiphone could be really good, and can Gibson really not make bolt on necks, seems weird. 
https://youtu.be/VZU1hoTYipY?si=TxtjrN1EGwhcXIMg

So I’m looking for my 2nd bass and found out my favourite bass player actually has an EBMM Sterling bass - not a Stingray. They are a bit smaller (not short scale) than a Ray and have a 9v preamp as far as I can tell. 
Anyway does anyone sell one new? Not that I can see. I don’t even know if EB make them any more as the colours they have on their website both say discontinued and “new ones coming soon!”

And of course searching for EBMM Stingray brings up the whole myriad of confusing names of Rays and Sterlings they have made over the years so it’s stupidly confusing. 
OI ERNIE BALL!! You make great instruments but you don’t make them easy to buy!!!

if anyone is even slightly interested in my rant here is the bass I want. https://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/sterling

On 17/09/2024 at 09:34, warwickhunt said:

I 'think' you and I @NancyJohnson are possibly trying to achieve the same sonic goal/tone re a sound and I'm following this as I'm struggling to achieve it as well, hence I've read and I'm following this thread.  I'm going to use such vague terms that I'll be laughed at but here goes... I want a sound that is slightly aggressive, a bit of grit/drive but not overdrive; almost a good valve amp just starting to break up that is also maybe fattening up as you get speaker compression.  Like you I have good amps (Thunderfunk, Tech Soundsystems Blackcat, EBS HD350) and some decent cabs (TC RS210 x2 and a TKS 115) and I have a few preamp pedals (Fishman Plat Pro, Sansamp, BBE Acoustimax, Radial Bassbone) but I can't quite achieve that tone in a package that can (easily) go with me to a range of gigs.  I also have an MXR OD (too much drive even when dialled to minimum) and a TC booster (adds a nicer break up but it is still really 'distortion').  The Sansamp drive is an easy fix but it is too global on it's application; I almost want drive but just on the top end.

 

I know some folks achieve their goals through modelling but I just can't, I've honestly tried and I end up spending 5 times as long messing about to achieve the same result as I'd get from my Sansamp or Radial pedals.  I have tried Helix, I owned a Kemper (Toaster) and the Nux MLD through FRFR and through IEM; as a result I'm actually more comfortable using IEM and going through the PA with no backline but I can't find the pedal(s) that will get me the tone I want.  

 

Any way, I'll see if you manage to find something and I'll see if it works for me!    

I reckon you and the OP need to go to the masters - Mr Gallien and Mr Krueger. 

1 hour ago, bremen said:

Yes you will be good enough for a band. You don't need to be [famous bass player] to make a wonderful noise and have a great time with like minded people.

 

 

Couldn’t agree more!!

3 hours ago, The Attic Man said:

 

 

Thanks so much for your input, really appreciate it.

Yeah don't think I can afford a 100W unless I buy 2nd hand or save for ages 🤣 very good point about the Studio 40 and i.e. more to go wrong, I may go down the route of Blackstar/Fender/Orange with no modelling. I definitely need to actually try some out, I'm in no rush so will wont buy on the impulse unless i see an absolute bargain 2nd hand

. Cant ever see me being good enough for a band (although i would love it) once again thanks so much for your words of wisdom / experience.

I didn’t think I’d be in a band but I made it something I would try and I love it, we haven’t played a gig yet and the guitarist is as new as me so it’s been a voyage of discovery for me too. 
The studio 40 rumble with the effects is more expensive than the standard 100w version so it’s a no brainer to get the 100w version if you can. 

20 hours ago, The Attic Man said:

Hi all,

sorry I don't post very often but I know when needed you wonderful bass heads have the expertise, wisdom and know how.

 

Basically I'm a old (53) newbie been attempting to learn since last October, I was gifted a bass (a early 90's Encore) and a small peavey amp. I've purchased a Blackstar headphone amp that I like. But I think the speaker is going in the peavey amp.

 

I'm thinking of possibly purchasing a amp and would appreciate your imput.

 

In no particular order I'm thinking of  . Blackstar Unity

                                                              . Fender Rumble Studio 40

                                                              . Orange Crush Bass 50 Combo

                                                              . Positive Grid Spark Black

 

I'm considering to go down the used route to try and save a few quid hopefully, I'm not in desperate need of it but i want to get some gear  🤣.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Dave

Welcome aboard - I’m a relative newbie and of more advanced too. When I started I was looking for an amp and I was so glad I made the time to go and try some out. I could barely fret a note but the guys in PMT and Richtone were so helpful and nice even though it was clear I couldn’t play. 
I wasn’t expecting the amps to sound so different to be honest, so I am glad I tried them out. 
One warning - don’t try amps you can’t afford it’s infuriating!!

I tried Ampeg combos and thought they were ok but a bit “meh”, I tried Ashdown, again I thought they sounded a bit boring. I didn’t try an Orange because no one had them in stock but wasn’t bothered as I don’t like the look of them. 
Then I tried a Fender Rumble - wow! So clear but punchy, just plucking one note I was like “yes that’s the sound I want”. I could turn up the drive if I wanted to to make it sound more gritty and there was a few buttons I could press to make it sound different (I didn’t know what they did at the time but they were a scoop option, vintage option etc). 
Couple of things to think about - I had briefly borrowed a small practice amp and hated it as there was barely any bass in it. When I tried the Rumble 40 then the 100 there was so much difference. I could hear what I was playing with the 40 but the 100 sounded like a PROPER amp. I figured that the extra money on the 100 would be well spent as I could feel like a real bassist (and to a beginner that means a lot!) and I thought it would do me for home practice as well as maybe my first band playing too. The 40 would not have worked in a full band. 
Also, as an electronics sort of guy I didn’t want the built in effects like the Studio version has. I figured that there is more to go wrong, and I might be paying more for something I don’t need or want and I could always buy a pedal or two later if I needed them once I knew a bit more about playing bass. 
I was going to buy new as I wanted the guarantee from a shop. In the end I got a 2nd hand GK amp but I was literally on the way to buy the Rumble 100 new when the GK was offered to me. If anything happended to my GK I’d be buying a Rumble 100%. 
 

Hope that helps!

14 minutes ago, Misdee said:

 Your clutching at straws now, aren't you?

 

 I'll spell  her name how I like.

I could spell your name “nasty old bitter jealous man trying to defend his misogynistic opinions”. Cos that’s how I like to spell it. 

I’m a middle aged man just starting out on bass and I’m frankly appalled by some of the comments on here about Blu and whether she deserves a signature bass. No wonder young people - especially females - aren’t picking up basses any more if these sorts of attitudes are around in the bass playing world. 
 

Do the people who have tried out the z7 think it’s worth having the extra jazz pickup? I’m not fussed about the sweeping mid control and I love the glitter black finish which only comes with a z3. 

On 18/09/2024 at 09:15, Craig Robinson said:

For sale, 

 

GK 2x10 combo, a workhorse with a belting sound and lots of tone shaping. Tilt back design for better monitoring on stage and a lift up handle to roll away after the gig/rehearsal. A heavy amp but quality and oomph guaranteed. In 6/10 cosmetic condition but no scratchy pots or electrical issues to report.  Collection or meet up preferred for the bulk reasons, can drive a reasonable distance for meet up. 

 

Cheers 

 

Craig.

 

 

i would love this please, I’m on holiday until the weekend. Will send you a DM. 

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

Cheap solution that has worked for players of PBasses with flats from 1951 to 2024. A pic 👍

Yes yes a thousand times yes!

31 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Yup, saving up (or selling of other things) will be required.

At least I have a PMT near me that I can order it to and try it out. Might be very heavy which isn’t a problem if it sounds good but if I hate the feel of it then it’s game over. 

16 hours ago, Fil1ip said:

This is great news, what's your expectations on price 

3 hours ago, MichaelDean said:

The grabbers are coming in at £929, I wouldn't be surprised at £1200+ for a signature G3 based on their recent prices. 

 

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/epiphone-grabber-bass-natural

Hmmm very spendy. The G3 might be worth it if it sounds like the original and I do prefer the silver burst finish. 
Might need to save harder. 

13 hours ago, Fil1ip said:

This is great news, what's your expectations on price 

I expect it’ll be more than I can afford. 😭