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How many basses do you own? (Currently) Part 2
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
So far, so good. I also have a Ray5HH as well but thought a single p'up MM would be nice too, a more Ernie Ball MM vintage tone. The 5HH has quite a bit more bottom end on the B string probably because of the location of the neck p'up. I do want to put a push/pull switch in eventually so it will be series or parallel. I need to order the switched pot first though.
Both, but largely as a result of playing more in the past couple of years since I joined the band.
Most recent update:
- Aria Pro II IGB-805
- JP Custom Electric Upright
- Yamaha BB1024x
- Eastwood Airline Map Bass
- Tobias Toby Pro 4 NT
- Epiphone Jack Casady
- Yamaha BB735A
- Ibanez Roadster Fretless RS-840BK
- Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro
- Fender American Original 60's
- JMS Custom Precision 51
- Fender Mustang Justin Meldal-Johnsen
- Ibanez ATK300 NT
- Ibanez SHR505F
- SX Precision bass
- Cordoba Mini II Bass MH-E
- Hagstrom H8-II
Roma upright
SX P/J
Guild Newark St Starfire
And one more as of today. Vintera 60s Jazz. A month or so ago I did some studio work for a singer songwriter and played his Jazz. It made me want one again. I havnt owned a J bass since the mid 90s. I put a Yamaha 505 5 string and a Am Pro Strat on consignment and took this home. I tried out a couple of Player series(thought the fretwork was subpar, felt cheap), an Am Pro II(nice but in no way 2x nicer than this). This one is pretty light for a J, and I really like the 7.25" radius neck. Fretwork is excellent, sounds like a J bass.
SX P/J
Guild Newark St Starfire
And one more as of today. Vintera 60s Jazz. A month or so ago I did some studio work for a singer songwriter and played his Jazz. It made me want one again. I havnt owned a J bass since the mid 90s. I put a Yamaha 505 5 string and a Am Pro Strat on consignment and took this home. I tried out a couple of Player series(thought the fretwork was subpar, felt cheap), an Am Pro II(nice but in no way 2x nicer than this). This one is pretty light for a J, and I really like the 7.25" radius neck. Fretwork is excellent, sounds like a J bass.
I own these 5 but there are 6 in the house. The Sire will be soon departed.
I'm mainly a guitar player, but I have to have at least one bass. Used to own a Sterling Stingray Ray4 but couldn't really bond with it. I have a new Fender American Professional II Precision on layaway after testing it out. Huge jump in price but it's worth it. This bass is the most comfortable, resonant, well-balanced bass I've played yet.
I had the misfortune of comparing to a "real" MM and I found he tone a bit harsh in comparison. It's roughly a quarter the cost, probably not a fair comparison. For the price it is a great bass. I just never got comfortable with it.
I see. That's kind of a bummer. I think I read that the Ray 4's pickup uses different magnets than the EBMMs and the more expensive Sterlings. Maybe that's why it wasn't to your liking?
While on the subject of Ray4's, I just got my fourth bass this last week. A Sterling Stingray Ray4 in Vintage Sunburst Satin.
My initial impressions fit my expectations. The body and neck are really good. It's a solid foundation for my future mods. So far the hardware is acceptable. I will probably upgrade them in the future.
As I expected, the pickup is HOT! That will be the first thing I upgrade. My primary candidate is the Aguilar AG-4M. With the results of what @LowEndLobster got with just the AG-4M in a stock Ray4 and the tones I've heard in other reviews, this pup comes across tonally as to what I like.
I'm still researching which preamp I want to go with. Budget will be weighing in on this part heavily.
I've been playing around with it and now I'm about to go peel the plastic off the pickguard and pickup, which means it's a keeper for me.
The obligatory couch shot!
My initial impressions fit my expectations. The body and neck are really good. It's a solid foundation for my future mods. So far the hardware is acceptable. I will probably upgrade them in the future.
As I expected, the pickup is HOT! That will be the first thing I upgrade. My primary candidate is the Aguilar AG-4M. With the results of what @LowEndLobster got with just the AG-4M in a stock Ray4 and the tones I've heard in other reviews, this pup comes across tonally as to what I like.
I'm still researching which preamp I want to go with. Budget will be weighing in on this part heavily.
I've been playing around with it and now I'm about to go peel the plastic off the pickguard and pickup, which means it's a keeper for me.
The obligatory couch shot!
First time I've ever had them all out like this . . .
Been trying to get the wife to read this thread . . . Proof I'm not that crazy!
Left to Right
Thrown together parts 50's P Bass knock off (I hand made the pickguard)
Takamine Acoustic
Fender MIM Jazz Bass Squier Series (Check the headstock & pickguard - I still don't quite know what this is)
Fender MIM Jazz V 5 String
Mini I don't know P Bass knockoff - 5 bucks at a pawn shop
Fender MIA Jazz (used to be my favorite to play)
Fender MIJ '62 Reissue - My current favorite
Fender MIM Jazz with some cool upgraded pickups
Squier Bronco Bass - $15 at a yard sale . . .
Been trying to get the wife to read this thread . . . Proof I'm not that crazy!
Left to Right
Thrown together parts 50's P Bass knock off (I hand made the pickguard)
Takamine Acoustic
Fender MIM Jazz Bass Squier Series (Check the headstock & pickguard - I still don't quite know what this is)
Fender MIM Jazz V 5 String
Mini I don't know P Bass knockoff - 5 bucks at a pawn shop
Fender MIA Jazz (used to be my favorite to play)
Fender MIJ '62 Reissue - My current favorite
Fender MIM Jazz with some cool upgraded pickups
Squier Bronco Bass - $15 at a yard sale . . .
Before you swap pickups......
I seem to recall the ones in these being wired in series, rather than the typical parallel found in SRs.
You could try rewiring it to parallel first, to see how it works for you.
Yes, they are using four wire pickups, wired in series. I had been looking into this before I decided to swap the pickup.
I just rewired them in parallel, and it is an improvement. Not quite where I want it to go but much better, but that was just a quick run through, ensuring the mod worked.
For those who want to do this mod just follow these instructions:
- Remove the control panel (8 screws), flip it over to view the components.
- Remove the heat shrink wrap from the end of the pickup lead. You'll find the red and green leads twisted together. Un-twist them.
- Solder the green lead to the same point as the black lead.
- Solder the red lead to the same point as the white lead.
- Reinstall the control panel and enjoy!
While I was performing this mod, I did find the ground that was supposed to be attaching the pickup shielding and bridge ground was disconnected. It had a cold solder on the pot and it popped off. I figured something like this was the cause of the buzz when I touched the strings or bridge.
I have a Sterling Ray5 single p'up (actually what they call the "25CA" classic). I know there is a mod kicking around to use a switched pot (pull type) to switch between series and parallel but I haven't searched that hard for it. I don't think it would be all that difficult to suss it out.
Ok, so at my house there's an Epi Thunderbird Classic Pro, a *very modded* Hamer Cruisebass (upsetting amount of woodwork, Ric p'ups and guts), and an Ibanez SR505.
All quite different, I like the feel and sound of all of them. The Ibanez might get new p'ups, maybe I'll replace the Bart Mk1 set with real Barts... And I'm slowly converting back to Rotosound SM66 strings all around.
The Ibanez is new to me, it feels really nice to play. Visually it's pretty generic-modern, but that's ok. Sounds-wise I'd like to bring it up a notch... although I understand that the lack of distinctive character is kind of functional. It just isn't my kind of function.
All quite different, I like the feel and sound of all of them. The Ibanez might get new p'ups, maybe I'll replace the Bart Mk1 set with real Barts... And I'm slowly converting back to Rotosound SM66 strings all around.
The Ibanez is new to me, it feels really nice to play. Visually it's pretty generic-modern, but that's ok. Sounds-wise I'd like to bring it up a notch... although I understand that the lack of distinctive character is kind of functional. It just isn't my kind of function.
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Just 9? Tell your wife there's nothing to worry about
Just 9? Tell your wife there's nothing to worry about
up to 11 now. Back row left to right, project bass, Krappy Guitars 2 string, MIM Jazz (modified). Front row,Rickenbacker 4003, Reverend Decision, Fender Pro II Precision, Fender USA Jazz Deluxe, Fender Professional Jazz V (Sadowsky pre), Frankenjazz fretless, German Warwick Corvette Standard V., & Warwick Bleached Blonde Thumb.
