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Rickenbacker or Musicman Stingray?

#22
Richenbacher said:
I really love the Yamaha, but I would really love to get an epic bass for gigging and keep the Yamaha for my grades. :D
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If you love the Yamaha's sound, have you also considered a nice looking Fender Precision? Just throwing it out there - the Mexican-made standards are usually in the lower $500s. I just got one in the limited edition White Chrome Pearl color. It's a beast, great player, and quite a beauty. :bassist:

Many places will ship it to you worldwide. Consider the Ray34 I sent you too.
 
#23
DogBone said:
My experience, once I started giggling I started looking for cheaper beater basses to keep beer, drunks, and flying drumsticks away from my good basses.

No lie, my drummer let a stick go and it popped right into the face of my Jet-glo Rickenbacker. :rolleyes:
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That's a good point. One of the drummers I know would be like that :rolls eyes: was it badly chipped?
My Yamaha is pretty, let's say "well used." during a school concert, my strap snapped during me tuning up and there's a few dents from being carried in a cheap gig bag that clearly wasn't up to scratch. Needless to say, my last savings were used to buy a proper hard case (Stagg) :D well worth it. Of course, the "worn looking" bass is part of the character, right? ;)
 
#24
Richenbacher said:
I'm seriously stumped. I'm a high school student, but I'm starting to get involved in bands who are playing gigs and would like me to play bass. I'm nearly grade 7 and I'm playing on my first ever bass, a Yamaha ERB070, so I plan to save up money for a new, professional bass and get proper gear, amps etc.
I absolutely love the look of a Ric 4003 but have no idea what one sounds like.
But I also like the look of a stingray, and my bass tutor told me it's "twice the bass"
(his words, not mine.)
Any advice? Reviews on gig performance? Any response would be helpful :) thanks
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Rickenbackers are awesome. I haven't played them or ever been anywhere near them, but they sound and look awesome. I'd recommend trying one out before buying one.

There are some good Rickenbacker demos on YouTube.

I saw a bunch of MusicMan Stringrays at a music store once and heard someone playing them. They sound good too. I didn't have the money to buy them, so I didn't try them. I think I've read that they're a bit heavy. If you want to buy them, you should definitely try them first.

Personally, I think the Rickenbacker has the coolest look and tone, but you should try both first and see which one you like the most.
 
#26
Richenbacher said:
I live in Northern Ireland. Most of the music shops don't really "embrace the bass" and only have like 5, all makes that I've never heard of like cheetah. A few fenders here and there :D honestly, I've seen one fiver in all my time looking. :(
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Imagine if your Drummer kicked over your new ric and broke a tuner by accident and you have a gig the next day. Just saying. It might be hard to get parts for some of these. My personal dream bass is a Ric but for now I play Fenders and its because I know I can get parts anywhere and they sound good. Getting a Ric is like getting a Lotus, they are sweet but hard to find parts or anyone to work on them that know much about them and they have a die hard following that some just don't understand. A Fender J or P is like a Ford Mustang, not to rare and you can get parts at any garage and everyone likes them. Now change my car example to what ever is not common and really common in Ireland. LOL
 
#27
Broadstbully22 said:
Imagine if your Drummer kicked over your new ric and broke a tuner by accident and you have a gig the next day. Just saying. It might be hard to get parts for some of these. My personal dream bass is a Ric but for now I play Fenders and its because I know I can get parts anywhere and they sound good. Getting a Ric is like getting a Lotus, they are sweet but hard to find parts or anyone to work on them that know much about them and they have a die hard following that some just don't understand. A Fender J or P is like a Ford Mustang, not to rare and you can get parts at any garage and everyone likes them. Now change my car example to what ever is not common and really common in Ireland. LOL
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I guess you're right :D LOVE the analogy btw ;) I'm gonna have a lot to think about. Now it's between a rick 4003, a Musicman/Stirling stingray and a fender P :P I have seen fenders in Ireland, but I can't help dreaming over the lotus ;)
 
#29
Richenbacher said:
I guess you're right :D LOVE the analogy btw ;) I'm gonna have a lot to think about. Now it's between a rick 4003, a Musicman/Stirling stingray and a fender P :P I have seen fenders in Ireland, but I can't help dreaming over the lotus ;)
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Me to, Me to. Can't wait till I finally get mine. There is a guy on here that converts them to 5 strings and does amazing work. When I finally am able I will be calling him.
 
#31
Richenbacher said:
It looks great :) have you much experience with this particular bass?
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I tried it at a Guitar Center by me. Pretty cool, powerful bass. You can get some good tones out of it. Didn't try it pick style, though.

Check out the review I put in my first post. Ed Friedland goes more in-depth and will give you a really good summary of it. The Ray34 is in the 2nd half of the review. The honeyburst model he plays is beautiful as well. If it's your type of sound, go for it - I know it sounds goods me. Just make sure you're ready to step up, and you believe it's for you.
 
#32
+1 on a Fender Precision. Check out the thread asking how many famous bass players haven't played a P bass at one point or another. For such a simple instrument its an incredibly versatile piece of gear. Mine's built like a tank too. Or a Fender Jazz if you want two pickups and a slimmer neck; lots of great tones on a Jazz bass.
 
#33
DogBone said:
Well, now it's not a contest. Fender Precision, no question. :cool:


:hiding:
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Don't you hide. I agree - Precision for me as well, as it's just one of my all time favorite basses.

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Standa...V4II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326227567&sr=8-1

Got this White Chrome baby when it was US$530. Free shipping, no tax, from 8th street music thru amazon. A DNBD will be up this week with my 1993 MB-5 as well.

The Ray34 is really cool though, so if you really want it, go for it.

I just really hope I'm not giving this poor kid too much GAS.
 
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#34
JMimbs said:
+1 on a Fender Precision. Check out the thread asking how many famous bass players haven't played a P bass at one point or another. For such a simple instrument its an incredibly versatile piece of gear. Mine's built like a tank too. Or a Fender Jazz if you want two pickups and a slimmer neck; lots of great tones on a Jazz bass.
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Awful heavy though. My friend let me play his squier jazz and it weighed a ton! Mind you, I'm sure both the rick and sting are pretty heavy too. My Yamaha is so light cause its head stock is really small. That and there's not much on it. Just the two pickups, two knobs and input jack. I can play for hours with it. Although the machine heads are terrible- goes out of tune with the slightest touch. Should get them replaced too... :S
 
#35
ggvicviper said:
Don't you hide. I agree - Precision for me as well, as it's just one of my all time favorite basses.

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Standard-Precision-Guitar-Fretboard/dp/B005DQV4II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326227567&sr=8-1

Got this White Chrome baby when it was US$530. Free shipping, no tax, from 8th street music thru amazon. A DNBD will be up this week with my 1993 MB-5 as well.

The Ray34 is really cool though, so if you really want it, go for it.

I just really hope I'm not giving this poor kid too much GAS.
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That looks great! If I was to get a fender p I'd get white with a mahogany pickguard myself, but that still looks terrific.
Don't worry about GAS lol I really want to check with other bassists first to see their opinions, so any input is helpful :) I appreciate everyone's help :D
 
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#37
Richenbacher said:
Awful heavy though. My friend let me play his squier jazz and it weighed a ton! Mind you, I'm sure both the rick and sting are pretty heavy too. My Yamaha is so light cause its head stock is really small. That and there's not much on it. Just the two pickups, two knobs and input jack. I can play for hours with it. Although the machine heads are terrible- goes out of tune with the slightest touch. Should get them replaced too... :S
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I guarantee that you will get used to the weight.
 
#39
Richenbacher said:
Awful heavy though. My friend let me play his squier jazz and it weighed a ton! Mind you, I'm sure both the rick and sting are pretty heavy too. My Yamaha is so light cause its head stock is really small. That and there's not much on it. Just the two pickups, two knobs and input jack. I can play for hours with it. Although the machine heads are terrible- goes out of tune with the slightest touch. Should get them replaced too... :S
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I have a Fender Jazz bass and I use it with a leather strap. If you can get a good, wide leather strap, the weight is not a problem.
 

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