Bassnut62

just realised that back in the dim darkness of 84 when i bought this 79 Ray in almost unused condition, i have just rememberd that i did have to sdjut the pup height quite a lot. I lowered the magnet under the E sting. Anyway as you can see this is a well-used Ray run-in almost entirely by yours truly. It has had a few pro set-ups over the years too. It sounds/plays spot on in every respect. So maybe a sign of a genuine under-used early Ray could be that it may well be in need of some pup adjustment to balance the signals across the pup.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='915211' date='Aug 4 2010, 05:58 PM']Yep looks pukka from here! Nice. +1 on the missing fret dot (was it me that pointed that out on the other thread?)[/quote] yup, think it was you seems like this old Ray must be a well preserved and under-used treasure. good luck to the OP - hope he'll let us know how this story turns out and that this Ray's G string rings out deep and crisp and even

yup, available direct from maker i think he's called skullytonefx out of California i think he has a spot on My Space

[quote name='bh2' post='914567' date='Aug 4 2010, 08:25 AM']Hmmm... are you sure? Here's a pic of my old 78...[/quote] I'm sowwy......I was verwy...verwy...drunk! also going blind and can't count!

[quote name='Sibob' post='914407' date='Aug 3 2010, 10:48 PM']A picture of the back I do have....I'm just waiting for various closeups [url="http://img15.imageshack.us/i/stingrayback.jpg/"][/url] Cheers Si[/quote] i learnt recently that a genuine pre-EB does not have a dot marker at the 21st fret. I checked my own '79 and it's true. This one appears to have a dot-marker there - so I suggest tread very carefully indeed. It almost looks too good to be true this one. Most of them should have a lot more wear than that. Pirce asked may give you a clue as to whether it's too good to be true. Also, the bauckle rash on the back looks a bit too clean to me and if it had that much rash, I would expect a lot more wear on the front.

[quote name='Stu-khag' post='914437' date='Aug 3 2010, 11:21 PM']looks great, is it some sort of fuzz type thing? and what are the switches for?[/quote] Hi yes it's basically an EHX Russian Green Muff clone with mods to select between different resistors and to add Gain and bypass the tone control that has a big mid hump.

this baby is winging it's way over to me now can't wait to restart the cold war - watch out all you guitards!

rig ahoy......eyes left!

well that's tough; i would have to say this Sandberg California JM4 Deluxe is as close to perfect as you can get; but I keep finding myself playing the '89 G&L Asat to your left. Both basses are so nice to play, so flexible for sounds and they both always sound good in any situation. what elser do you need?....oh yes enough toys to satisfy my addiction to FX pedals

tobacco burst sounds smokin' I have to say I am only really thinking of these fine instruments as classics in terms of quality and class, not ugly pounds. anyway scalps, sounds like you've got a great instrument there.

[quote name='Prime_BASS' post='911333' date='Jul 31 2010, 04:22 PM']This made me laugh, stupid pirates. What shop was it btw ? I know Leo Fender is quoted to be saying "best intruments I have ever made" but to me he never really made/anything different. I know they do telecaster shaped body basses (ASAT), and basically teles with split coil pickups now, but there isn't much to my eyes that's different.[/quote] Fat Cat in Mansfield - if you go there, you better know how to deal or you may well lose out. Every musician I know here in Notts has a story about how they got the sh1tty end of the stick there. It's almost a right of passage as a Notts musician! Most will never go back! Having said that he does sometimes have some nice used gear.

[quote name='scalpy' post='911277' date='Jul 31 2010, 02:46 PM']How do I find out if Leo signed mine under the varnish?! I found out recently my ASAT is an early-ish one (at least pre'98, I know they went back much further) but you can only find out the exact date by taking the neck off to read the full serial number. I don't think they'll ever hit the heights of early Fenders and Stingrays due to the lack of high profile players. This always leaves me in two minds, on one hand it's staggering that these things aren't more popular, they look great, play great and sound miles better than 95% of basses. But I also love the fact so few people know about them or won't take the plunge if they do. The "hit record" pedigree of these things will always limit their resale value. In the meantime I'll keep picking up work for the good sound I get and hope the bubble doesn't burst![/quote] nice one scalpy - i agree, totally frightening bass and so versatile. I recently played a party with some mates where we ended up as a live karaoke band for anyone that wanted to sing; the range of requests ranged through rock, funk, soul, pop, reggae, disco, punk. No worries for the amazing array of sounds from an Asat tho. It covered the lot with ease. as for the Leo signature. It's in some kind of white pen right in the middle of the top right of the body, where the pick-up selector of a Les Paul would be. You can see it easily, it's above the paint, but below the varnish or lacquer. I've been told these signed ones are worth £3k; but I've seen them for around £750 on evilbay, so i don't really believe that value. Also, I'm not 100% convinced it really is signed by Leo's own hand rather than a transfer. But I do believe that this was only done while Leo was alive.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='911145' date='Jul 31 2010, 12:34 PM'].This came up the other day,Musical exchanges in Brum used to have a tunnel full of old stuff and anything other than fender went in there,It would be like finding a shop in 20 years time with Allevas,Sadowskys,Overwaters and GB's etc all for a quater of what they cost new.Fender is just a massive household name and shows no sign of slowing which will drag the associated guitars/basses with it.I have seen people walk out with a Xmas bass package for £200 thats fit for the bonfire and walk past spectors and stuff in the tunnel because its secondhand and at the same time drool at a horid relic Fender that played like sh*t warmed up for £3000 just because its on a seperate peg with a spotlight on it? £500 signed is always going to be a bargain! well done.[/quote] spookily I got my 63 Precision from that very same tunnel at MusEx in Brum in around 96 for £1250. The only thing that is not 100% original is that it was refinned, probably 20 years ago. what a great shop it used to be. They even let me strip the entire bass down to check every detail and they gave me a new Fender hard case for it. Class act, thanks MusEx

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='910971' date='Jul 31 2010, 09:51 AM'][attachment=55381:pair_of_...s__again.jpg] I love the missing fret marker on the 21st and its a quick pre or EB at a distance confirmation,I wonder why this has not been done on the Classic Rays? A nod to the original maybe,Yet another feature that sways the Classic towards the EB rather than Pre for me.[/quote] never noticed that before or at least never really thought about that

G&L stands for George & Leo. George was Leo Fender's right hand man back when Leo still owned Fender. George & Leo set G&L up together after Leo left Music Man I think; so that must've been in the early 80s. Leo died in about 93 I think. In terms of touched by the man, some of the Asats were actually signed by Leo under the varnish, including mine! Not bad for £500 from a dusty music shop in Notts run by a dodgy pirate. As for the pre bit, I've seen some peops refer to pre-BBE G&Ls; maybe some company called BBE bought G&L off Leo's estate.

I believe there really is something magical about instruments designed by Leo Fender that were made when he was still personally involved in the company. As evidence of this I submit to the court pre-CBS Fenders and pre-EB Music Mans. So I wonder if anyone reckons there is anything magical about G&Ls that were made before Leo died in the early 90s, i.e. when he was still personally involved in the design and manufacture of these fine instruments. What does this UK bass jury reckon? and Does anyone else reckon early G&L basses are sleeping classics that will in future enter the legendary realms of a pre-CBS Fender and a pre-EB Music Man? If so, why? Think I might post this over on Talk Bass too for a bit of US comment, seeing as G&Ls are more readily available over there....

[quote name='Beedster' post='910538' date='Jul 30 2010, 07:03 PM']Pre EB 'ray is to my mind not far off a pre-CBS Precision, i.e., magical. Go for it C[/quote] I completely agree with this. I reckon there is something magical about instruments designed by Leo Fender that were made when he owned the company. In fact I've been building a small collection: 63 Precision, 79 Stingray and 89 G&L Asat. I reckon the G&L is a sleeping classic that is very affordable at moment. In fact I'm gonna start a thread about G&Ls.....

[quote name='Sibob' post='910875' date='Jul 31 2010, 01:43 AM']What are the three on eBay?, my very brief search only came up with a black '78 at £1800 (too much), and a natural one in America with bidding around £500 Cheers Si[/quote] There's a thread running in this same forum titled - who's gonna buy this. Someone posted links to the 3 pre-EB Rays in this thread

+1 with Gnasher - you can't polish a turd, I'm afraid...no offence intended. bet to clean up signal - get high quality cables (I use George Ls) and go for qulaity over quantity when it comes to choosing pedals. IME most chepaer pedals just don't stand up to close aural scrutiny.

my 79 Ray sounds perfect, balanced and effin' awesome! my friend's 77 Ray does all of that; but the G string is weak. the pup pole under my G string is a long way off-centre; not sure about his.

[quote name='Prime_BASS' post='907808' date='Jul 28 2010, 07:28 AM']The classics have string mutes.- If everyone thought like that there would be no basses already run in - At the minute it's a buyers Market, I wouldn't buy a new bass right now unless it was amazing and I planned on keeping it a few years.- Fender are doing alright, EBMM are doing alright. No experience of G&L so can't comment.[/quote] someone earlier was saying about the new classics having string mutes - it sounded like maybe people thought the originals didn't. you're right there would'nt be any run-in basses for the likes of me; so I'm glad we all have different tastes and that there are new quality Rays out there for people to enjoy and buy. having said that I did recently buy a brand-new Sandberg California, cos it is that good an instrument that I want it for a good long while.

seems like quite a few might buy that then! at £1580 it does sound a bit more reasonable; but.......... - the originals have string mutes - I personally like my instruments run in - I don't want the depreciation - IMO nothing ever sounds/plays as good as the real deal, especially with Leo's designs - they all seem better when he owned the company, ref Fender, MM and G&L. Anyway, I expect these'll be good instruments and worth the £700-900 that they'll be worth in a couple of years when they're a bit run in!

I just read review of EB MM Stingray Classic for £2k. Looks nice, but who's gonna buy it? If you had £2k for an original Ray you could get a real one for less than that, rather than a more expensive repro version. Am I missing something here?