hypothetical question

[Ian_Flash]

I agree with the guy who said you should go with something entirely different, like a stingray. There's an incredibly huge palette of sounds in a stingray h/s, and if ya really wanna go for broke I'd check out a big al. 3 pickups, 4 band eq, active passive option with an additional tone control for passive, plus the ability to throw the pickups into series or parallel make that bass hard to beat in terms of ground covered. And it's the same price as jazz. Much better quality control with MM too, but I say that in hopes of not opening that can 'o worms.

And for the record, I currently own 4 MMs, 4 Fenders, the custom made monster in the vid below, and 2 warwicks. Have owned 3 other MMs, about 10 other Fenders (MIA and MIM), and 3 other warwicks. Not to mention lots of other basses. None of my other basses came anywhere near the 2 musicians above in terms of versatility.

In an earlier post, I also suggested something like a Stingray, as you also advised, or possibly an MTD. It would give additional option of tones not found in Fender J/P style basses. Shookie, you mentioned that Stingrays are not for you but you should try them again. They are great basses, excellent materials and have their own classic sound. They're not MY style, but I cannot fault them for any reason... especially the 5-strings.

 

[Ian_Flash]

thanks joe. i am looking at some warwicks, those are pretty cool. stingrays though are just not for me.

Warwicks are mainly what I use for Jazz Fusion and Classic Rock. They fit my hand very well and, like the EB Stingray, have a distinctive sound. I know that the German ones skyrocketed in price after 2009, but there are always good used ones around. WHat models are you thinking?

 

[shookiedookiema]

Warwicks are mainly what I use for Jazz Fusion and Classic Rock. They fit my hand very well and, like the EB Stingray, have a distinctive sound. I know that the German ones skyrocketed in price after 2009, but there are always good used ones around. WHat models are you thinking?

I am currently looking at a warwick star 2 and a warwick 5 string streamer. currently i am not intrerested in the 2k ones.

 

[shookiedookiema]

In an earlier post, I also suggested something like a Stingray, as you also advised, or possibly an MTD. It would give additional option of tones not found in Fender J/P style basses. Shookie, you mentioned that Stingrays are not for you but you should try them again. They are great basses, excellent materials and have their own classic sound. They're not MY style, but I cannot fault them for any reason... especially the 5-strings.

I never said they weren't good basses, i just said that their trebiliness and lack of versality at such a high price does not suit me. Are stingrays active basses, bcause i can get a similar sound to ones when i use the jazz pickup in my fender deluxe mim p bass special?

 

[Ian_Flash]

I never said they weren't good basses, i just said that their trebiliness and lack of versality at such a high price does not suit me. Are stingrays active basses, bcause i can get a similar sound to ones when i use the jazz pickup in my fender deluxe mim p bass special?

Contemporary Stingrays are active and have a Piezo bridge as an option as well. They are tonally limited and do have a "Barky" tone that some active J's CAN come close to. They are not known for low-end Boom... that's not what they're designed for. (I'm sure I'll get a lot EB enthusiasts who will beat me up on this). Check out You Tube, and listen to some demos of the MTD Kingston "CRB" if you want something with low end beyond a J-bass. I played one earlier this year and I must say, the Low-end kick on this bass scared me! I haven't been that scared since the Cuban Missile Crisis!

 

[Joe Nerve]

Contemporary Stingrays are active and have a Piezo bridge as an option as well. They are tonally limited and do have a "Barky" tone that some active J's CAN come close to. They are not known for low-end Boom... that's not what they're designed for. (I'm sure I'll get a lot EB enthusiasts who will beat me up on this). Check out You Tube, and listen to some demos of the MTD Kingston "CRB" if you want something with low end beyond a J-bass. I played one earlier this year and I must say, the Low-end kick on this bass scared me! I haven't been that scared since the Cuban Missile Crisis!

An HS Stingray can get a HUGE palette of sounds not available in the single H. I keep wanting to make a video showing just how much the bass is capable of, but I always have way too much going on. And I don't like making videos.

The 2 things I was always searching most for in a bass were a punchy full bodied sound that cut through when EQed flat, and lots of versatility. The first bass that I thought would give me that was an American P deluxe. Wrong. On more counts than I can begin to list... I've ragged about that bass too many time on TB already.

I also thought that nothing in existence could beat a Streamer jazzman. Wrong again. Warwicks have a characteristic sound, and even with the options available on that bass, it didn't vary all that much from the sound of my other warwicks. What I found too was that the tone controls didn't offer a whole lot of difference btwn the 0 and full marks. Felt as though the pots went from 0-3 on the jazzman, yet go from from 0 to 11 on the Stingray. Switching pickups also makes for an entirely different bass on the Stingray, the jazzman... I don't know. There was a difference, but it just didn't compare. If yer ever in a musicstore that has both, A/B them. And remember I'm talking about an H/S stingray. An H/H will do similar stuff but I found more sounds with a single coil in the neck position.

Last note... the Big Al suggestion seems to have gotten blown off in this thread. That even outdoes the Stingray, but I'm not talking about it because I get the sense the OP is totally disinterested. Definitely worth taking a look though. I actually think that has everything being looked for.

Last last note... I hate having posted that I endorse Musicman because I think that makes my posts like this seem insincere. At the time I got the endorsement with them I was in a position where I pretty much could have gotten an endorsement with any company I wanted. I didn't become an official endorser(ee?) for free or discounted gear (I alread owned 2 musicmans), I worked with them because I believe they're they create completely awesome products, and they're the coolest bass manufacturers I ever dealt with. What other big bass corporation can you go to the forum of, and have conversations with the owner of every day. Not Fender. Try to even get into Fender at NAMM. Fender cares about making money. MM cares about musicians. I believe that with all my heart.

 

[JoeWPgh]

I think the Deluxe is by far the nicest and most versatile bass on your list. I'd drop a bunch of those other basses for a post 2010+ Deluxe Jazz. I bought mine sight unseen as a 'blemish', figuring to get an average Jazz bass. I was stunned by how how nice it played and sounded. It's more inline with a crafted boutique bass than a Fender. I can set the action crazy low, and it still plays perfectly. The 'blemish' turned out to be a $10 pot. I could have had it fixed for free under warranty, but it was faster and easier to spend the $10 and do it myself.

 

[shookiedookiema]

I think the Deluxe is by far the nicest and most versatile bass on your list. I'd drop a bunch of those other basses for a post 2010+ Deluxe Jazz. I bought mine sight unseen as a 'blemish', figuring to get an average Jazz bass. I was stunned by how how nice it played and sounded. It's more inline with a crafted boutique bass than a Fender. I can set the action crazy low, and it still plays perfectly. The 'blemish' turned out to be a $10 pot. I could have had it fixed for free under warranty, but it was faster and easier to spend the $10 and do it myself.

Today i did get to try out a 2012 american deluxe jazz, even though it sounded good, it sounded it alittle to rounded and mellow for my tastes (the select jazz which i tried also was slightly better in my opinion). i'm gonna see if i can find a used 2010 american deluxe jazz someday.

 

[Ian_Flash]

An HS Stingray can get a HUGE palette of sounds not available in the single H. I keep wanting to make a video showing just how much the bass is capable of, but I always have way too much going on. And I don't like making videos.

The 2 things I was always searching most for in a bass were a punchy full bodied sound that cut through when EQed flat, and lots of versatility. The first bass that I thought would give me that was an American P deluxe. Wrong. On more counts than I can begin to list... I've ragged about that bass too many time on TB already.

I also thought that nothing in existence could beat a Streamer jazzman. Wrong again. Warwicks have a characteristic sound, and even with the options available on that bass, it didn't vary all that much from the sound of my other warwicks. What I found too was that the tone controls didn't offer a whole lot of difference btwn the 0 and full marks. Felt as though the pots went from 0-3 on the jazzman, yet go from from 0 to 11 on the Stingray. Switching pickups also makes for an entirely different bass on the Stingray, the jazzman... I don't know. There was a difference, but it just didn't compare. If yer ever in a musicstore that has both, A/B them. And remember I'm talking about an H/S stingray. An H/H will do similar stuff but I found more sounds with a single coil in the neck position.

Last note... the Big Al suggestion seems to have gotten blown off in this thread. That even outdoes the Stingray, but I'm not talking about it because I get the sense the OP is totally disinterested. Definitely worth taking a look though. I actually think that has everything being looked for.

Last last note... I hate having posted that I endorse Musicman because I think that makes my posts like this seem insincere. At the time I got the endorsement with them I was in a position where I pretty much could have gotten an endorsement with any company I wanted. I didn't become an official endorser(ee?) for free or discounted gear (I alread owned 2 musicmans), I worked with them because I believe they're they create completely awesome products, and they're the coolest bass manufacturers I ever dealt with. What other big bass corporation can you go to the forum of, and have conversations with the owner of every day. Not Fender. Try to even get into Fender at NAMM. Fender cares about making money. MM cares about musicians. I believe that with all my heart.

As I said... others will disagree! I like my Warwick Jazzman, but I rarely use it in the Active mode. It's a different vibe than my Dolphin, yet both have a distinctive voice an a wide range of tones. The newer Stingrays, especially 2-P/U models, are capable of a good range of tones, but they still maintain a distinctive voice. Even the best J-basses I've ever heard only have a few "distinctive" tones that most J Players fall back to.

 

[Joe Nerve]

The newer Stingrays, especially 2-P/U models, are capable of a good range of tones, but they still maintain a distinctive voice.

Now I have to make a video!

I know, to each hizz own... but I have to just respectfully disagree on what I quoted above. It's the one thing I really love about my Stingray. When I'm soloing the H on that bass it's a completely different animal than any of the other pickup settings, ESPECIALLY the neck pickup soloed. It's what sets the Stingray apart from the others for me. It really takes on the character of an entirely different bass.

Not callin you a liar, we may just for whatever reasons have different experiences with the same gear. I always urge people to listen for themselves and make their own decisions anyway.

 

[hsech]

IMO the only thing on your list that you need is the Am Std Jazz bass.

 

[Ian_Flash]

Now I have to make a video!

I know, to each hizz own... but I have to just respectfully disagree on what I quoted above. It's the one thing I really love about my Stingray. When I'm soloing the H on that bass it's a completely different animal than any of the other pickup settings, ESPECIALLY the neck pickup soloed. It's what sets the Stingray apart from the others for me. It really takes on the character of an entirely different bass.

Not callin you a liar, we may just for whatever reasons have different experiences with the same gear. I always urge people to listen for themselves and make their own decisions anyway.

What you're saying is exactly what I mean when I used the term "Distinctive Voice". Many players consider them a One Trick Pony and I don't agree with that. This is the reason why I think Shookie should consider them. As I've said before, just because they're not for me does not mean they aren't exceptional basses.