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iconic

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Posts posted by iconic

    Can you get a Fake Stingray?

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    OK, this will throw the cat amoung the pigeons. 

     

    I had a 2000 4H Stingray....for me, it was a case of don't meet your hero's. 

     

    Quiet G string, no matter how high the pup on that side went, I wasn't entirely satisfied, then discover it's not that uncommon....s'wot compressors are for....

     

    The neck wasn't the most stable, but easy to adjust but still disappointing... 

     

    And, as much as I liked the humbucker near the bridge sound and bass boost/treble, I really didn't take to active controls faffing about, never have truth to be told, and had many active basses.

    She found a new home to a session player in the Netherlands who told me it was the best bass he'd ever owned....go figure. 

     

    But, I do like a humbucker by the bridge as it's where I always play and I like the beefy yet bright sound...

     

    Years later I bought a Harley Benton MB4 SnideRay on a whim....best bass purchase I've ever made, and I've had them all. 

     

    Simply excellent fit, finish and build quality.

    Lovely, stable neck too. 

     

    But, the sound wasn't all that, very dull indeed, and the original strings were rough as a badgers backside feel wise. No idea what they are but woeful things. 

     

    Slapped on (!) a set of Harley Benton Value strings and wooooow it sang beautifully, totally different bass. 

    Even though it's passive (good) it very nearly nails the Stingray sound, sure a bass anorak may notice the subtle differences but, a punter in the audience wouldn't.

     

    Oddly you can split the splt humbucker as it has a separate volume for both coils, so one can play bridge coil, or neck coil for glassier sound, or both coils in humbucker mode. 

     

    How they do it for the money is beyond me, even taking into account no middle man. 

    For the money it's a no brainier 😎

    • Like 1

    Vintage Fenders

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Entwistle 'could of played' my Westfield, but Elvis was possibly using it at the time.

     

    I don't believe either have, but 'could' of given the chance. 

     

    This sort of smoke and mirrors boils my fosters, but auctions are very much buyer beware, retail not so, a very big difference when standing up in court. 

    Squier Sonic Series P Bass

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by iconic

    I've had two Sonics come to me...a third was returned to vendor before it got to me. 

     

    Now, I'm absolutely a Squier fan boy, still have a first gen' VMJ, owned oodles, rarely get a bad ern. 

     

    Sadly, both the Sonics I've worked on have been poor value to me. 

     

    As soon as I picked the first up it felt cheap, built to a very low budget, lowest bidder, it's an intangible feeling, but you know it when touch it. 

     

    I was chasing both necks for a consistent action, it's as if the wood selection is poor, controls felt a bit rough. Both didn't hold tune very well, may get better with age, or worse🙂

     

    They were not up to Affinity build, more like an Ebay cheapy, in a bad way. They certainly don't feel like a Cor-Tek, Samic? 

     

    Just my experience, maybe three rogues?

    Now NBD Harley Benton PB50 info please

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted · Edited by iconic

    I've just sold my PB50....nothing wrong with it, just having a cull and getting down to two, well, three, maybe four...

     

    ....to me it's a very traditional sunburst, in a good way. I should add that from what I've seen of Mr Stings single coil bass it's very much on the darker side, those 50s Sunbursts are quite variable ....no scratch plate, yet the Signatures have a white pick guard...?

    Don't dismiss the red though, the car based De Pont red was the first Custom Colour that Fender did, but not very Stingy😉

     

    Mine was exceptionally well finished, not just for the money, I mean exceptional.

     

    I just couldn't find any flaws in it. Neck had zero sprout, no high frets, no rough frets.

     

    Neck feels super smooth, unfinished as in not varnished, I like this. Will attain an old played in look if you do the front pads on the car, and then have a noodle... 

     

    Played out the box fine, but I always set my bass up to my taste. 

     

    Took a nice low action, saddles almost on the floor on flats. 😎

     

    Yes, it's a large 50s style neck as they were, but plays like it has a flat radius, I'm a jazz bass man by choice, but had no problem getting around it on the faster funk n disco I play. 

     

    Ditch the OE strings, fit some Harley Benton Value flats for the proper sound. Those Budget Harley Benton strings are brilliant, again, not just good for the, money, both flats and rounds. 

     

    Mine had the later Roswell pick up.

     

    Tuners were unremarkable....which means they were fine, I only ever notice a bad tuner. 

     

    Bass held tune, very stable neck. 

     

    Nice pots, good trim slope on the tone control. 

     

    Unremarkable bridge....

     

    Tone wise, well it's a 4 pole single coil and quite middy/trebly (may surprise a few, thats 50s style single coils) nothing like a Precision, much thinner sound than a P bass split, and thinner than an 8 pole jazz on the neck pup too, not a bad sound, just different, woody even. It needs those flats to get the best from it....did/does Sting use flats? 

     

    For the money it's a no brainer, buy one, if you don't like it, loose a few quid, ain't like dropping a couple of grand on a Fender😉

     

    ....mine flew away at £80 on Marketplace to a guy in a 50s/60s band....years of fun, cost me about 1 sheet per month. 

     

     

    This guy does a great review, Spanish but subtitles. 

     

    Buy one and enjoy.

     

    😎

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Aria STB for a tenner!

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    I had a new one of these new in sunburst, tremendous thing, super loud pups, great build fit n finish, ooh back in 2012. 

     

    But this bass made me realise that not all jazzes had jazz necks, was a very P profile, didn't think to check😀

    Wouldn't both me now.

     

    Enjoy😎

    • Like 2

    High tension strings

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    It needs a fret dressing even from those pics. 🤔

     

    Sometimes though, the best is what we know. I bought a BB414 a year ago as I had an orange one back in the day......fine bass but, didn't gel as I found I didn't like the neck afterall,. I'd moved on, being more a racy jazz neck man now. 

    • Thanks 1

    Dodgy Ernie Ball Strings

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by iconic

    Not just strings, huge market for snide car parts, and always has been.

    A naughty string isn't going to hurt you...unless it breaks and whips back, but I've seen some proper moody and scary automotive stuff...suspension and brake components notably. 

     

     

    A company in India were making awful 'copies' of Lucas CAV fuel filters back in the early 70s. 

    Maple Fretboard vs Pau Ferro

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    On 14/05/2023 at 12:19, soulstar89 said:

    I've a question for you. When did fender start putting lacquer on maple fretboards? I ask as if it was during the 70's, then this could be a factor among other's how the sound of P basses got brighter. 

     

    I presume all 57 and 70 reissue maple models are lacquered. 

    Or that the pups were brighter due to less windings....?

    • Like 1

    All the gear and no idea....

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by iconic

    I quite like paintings but I can't paint. 

     

    I'm an engineer by trade and for me a big part of a basses attraction is the build, fit, finish and looks....I also prefer to hang them off my walls instead of paintings.😉

     

    But, if you buy wisely they don't loose value, so, are in fact, free😎

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
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