Piezo?

Zapp Brannigan

At the moment I'm drooling over buying a Stingray. A 5 string, natural with a maple neck and matching headstock. All that's grand as I know what I'm buying.
But whats this Piezo pick up? Its available as an extra and seeing as how this bass will be mucho expensive, should I bother in getting it as in extra? Odds are seeing as how I dont know what it is I don't need it, but you never know...

Doctor J

It's the same type of pickup used in acoustic guitars, it sits in the saddle and pickups up the vibrations of the string that way, rather than using a magenetic field. Quite nice on fretless, not really worth the effort on fretted. If you're going for a Stingray, get one second hand from the classifieds on Talkbass, rather than buy one from a shop or from EB, you'll save about half the price of a new one.

Zapp Brannigan

Cool so the Piezo is useless really on a fretted. Wish I had've known that when I bought my fretless!!
As for 2nd hand, I dunno? This Stingray will be my baby and I'd love a brand new one for me to caress and drool upon.

Doctor J

Yeah, but you could get two used fror the price of a new one and a lot of the guys on talkbass are anal about their gear and sell it mint.

Karl Hungus

Slurms wrote:

Cool so the Piezo is useless really on a fretted. Wish I had've known that when I bought my fretless!!
As for 2nd hand, I dunno? This Stingray will be my baby and I'd love a brand new one for me to caress and drool upon.

Don't knock 2nd hand gear, man. I've got myself a few immaculate items on the used market, practically good as new.

Zapp Brannigan

Karl Hungus wrote:

Don't knock 2nd hand gear, man. I've got myself a few immaculate items on the used market, practically good as new.

Not knocking it in anyway. If I see what I'm looking for 2nd hand I'd prolly go for it but haven't seen the exact model. (I've looked on eBay and TalkBass)

This is a pic of my future baby:

Doctor J

Just bide your time... and buy two

bombidol

magic! but secondhand is the way to go for these

jellikit

I picked up a musicman sterling in New York last year, its dated 2003 and is in mint condition with original hard case. It cost about a quarter of what youd pay for one here. Check out craigslist.org/newyork . Its handy if you know someone out there as they can send it back to themselves and thus avoid the dreaded import tax !

Doctor J

Another thing to bear in mind with EB 5ers is the fairly narrow string spacing, about 17mm at the bridge which may be of concern if you're a finger player who likes to dive in.

Zapp Brannigan

Doctor J wrote:

Another thing to bear in mind with EB 5ers is the fairly narrow string spacing, about 17mm at the bridge which may be of concern if you're a finger player who likes to dive in.

Yeah I've played a few in my time. I'm actually a fan of the string spacing.

Patricide

hey slurms some guy on boards **** ill get his name in a bit was trying to sell his music man which was pretty damm similar to your dream one but it had a solid black pickguard instead of tolex.

he wanted to sell it to get a warwick once upon a time, i was gonna trade him mine but many ****ups on my trip to dublin prevented my from inspecting it and i never got a chance to check it out, and that was the end of that chapter.

Edit, after some searching through my pm's it was fuse that had it. Id recomend pming him and asking if he still has it and if he still wants to get rid of it.

Zapp Brannigan

Cheers dude, pmed him. The ball is in his court now!!

Zapp Brannigan

No reply from fuse but that isn't a problem.

I went into town today hoping to try out a Stingray for myself so I wandered into Musician Inc. Got talking to one of the dudes (really nice guy by the name of Roger) and got to play a lovely Stingray. Twas nice but then he suggested that I try a G&L L-2000. Wow!

It's cheaper and the electronics are incredible, blew the Stingray away for me! So now I'm after one of these beauties. Anywhere stock them online or will I be giving Musician Inc my money?

EDIT: Now with pic (not the actual model I'll be getting a proper G&L not a Tribute)

Patricide

Yup G&L basses are friggen UNBELIEVEABLE. After all its leo funders company and he did make the stingrey originally if im not mistaken. How much were musicians inc charging outta curiosity?

Zapp Brannigan

They were charging 1900 euro, bit steep considering the list price is $1200. Might import it from America but I need the cash first

The bass is so versatile, the dude there owned one so he showed me the bucketload of tones you can achieve from it. Even a Stingray like tone thats boosted from the class electronics. Also the Highs are the clearest I've ever heard on any bass while still keeping the lows growly, fantastic!

Doctor J

The L2000s are sweet but they depreciate even more than a Stingray. Average price for a L2500 (5 string) is about $800 second hand. If you're not set on the Stingray after all you should consider a Lakland 55-02 also. They've got a MM pickup in the bridge, so you've got your EB tone, plus the J in the neck to really add a whole load of tonal variety. I've got one myself, really very nice instrument indeed.

feylya

Is that a new one?

Doctor J

Nope, I only have one, I just don't have a picture of mine

feylya

Ah, that'd explain why "Doug" is written on the wall

Zapp Brannigan

Not too worried bout the bass losing value as it's gonna be mine, I have no intention of selling it on. That Lakland looks nice but I'd really have to play it, but the G&L really blew me away.

Doctor J

I'm not talking about selling it on, I mean why spend more than you need to? As second hand instruments go, G&L have as big a drop from their retail price as any so take advantage of it.

Zapp Brannigan

Doctor J wrote:

I'm not talking about selling it on, I mean why spend more than you need to? As second hand instruments go, G&L have as big a drop from their retail price as any so take advantage of it.

Ah right completely misunderstood you! I'll have a look round for one then.

Doctor J

Head to talkbass classifieds, so many of them seem to buy and sell with alarming regularity. There's many a bargain to be had. Just beware, the L2500 has the ugliest headstock known to man.

At this point I should also say get a Bacchus, it'll blow the bejesus out of any G&L, Stingray or pretty much anything else I've ever played, but I know you want to try before you buy... which is a shame, you're really missing out on probably the greatest instrument manufacturer I've ever played.

http://www.digimart.net/gk_detail.do?instrument_id=DS00249476

I put it to ya

Zapp Brannigan

Seen a beauty on Talkbass, just gotta hope the guy will ship it here!

Oh and I'm going for a 4-string now. I usually always buy 5 strings but I never use the extra string so I'm giving it up!!

Doctor J

Fair enough, no point in it being in the way going unused. What are you getting? The L2000?

Edit -> Ah I see, the honeyburst one. Very nice, but it's got a Precision sized neck on it, just FYI

Zapp Brannigan

Oh I haven't decided on the finish yet, that was just so ye'd see what I was on about!

Doctor J

Ah a mate of mine had a L2000, I know them well.

Zapp Brannigan

I now have the agonising wait of saving up for one! And it ain't gonna be quick with work cutting down my hours!! Here's hoping for a cheap 2nd hand bargain!

Doctor J

They go for stupid prices on there, even vintage ones. It shouldn't cost you more than about €750 all in, even if you get hit for taxes.

I'd still say get a Bacchus though

Zapp Brannigan

Doc I really hate you. I'm kinda gassing over a Lakland right now!

Doctor J

At least you've good taste so don't feel too bad

I picked up a 55-02 last year off ebay, twas going at a stupid price, didn't even want it but put a low bit on and, much to my horror, actually won. If you do go for one, the 55-02 with Lakland electronics is a joy to behold. Very, very comfy bass, great neck and built like the proverbial tank. The old ones had Bartolini pickups and electronics, but Lakland have started making their own stuff now and very, very nice it is too. Just a bit more aggressive than the Bart sound, by all accounts.

Looks like this, just without the maple top.

Zapp Brannigan

Stop!! You're making me want one worse! Ive also been looking at Bacchus This is gonna be my last bass for awhile so I want it to last!

EDIT: Mother of God!

Sofaspud

Slurms wrote:

EDIT: Mother of God!

Why must you make me Gas for a bass? I don't want a bass!

That finish is just . . . . wow

Zapp Brannigan

Sofaspud wrote:

Why must you make me Gas for a bass? I don't want a bass!

That finish is just . . . . wow

I know! Just get rid of that tacky pickguard, slap a maple fingerboard on it and you got yourself a keeper!

Doctor J

Bacchus are the greatest, magic, magic bleedin basses.

I will always be on the lookout for one of these, the most beautiful bass in the world




But until then, the twins will keep me warm

Zapp Brannigan

Whats up with the horrible pickguards though? Oh and how does one go about buying from that digimart place?

Doctor J

Horrible? The clear guards are fantastic looking! :eek:

Digimart is kinda like gbase, I think. It's just the inventory of loads of different shops. There should be an email link to the shop in question on the page of whatever instrument you're looking at.

Zapp Brannigan

Nah the clear pickguards aren't my bag baby /austinpowers

That natural white one is something else isnt it? It's a bass you'd kill for.

feylya

The clear plastic guards are great. Really suits the bass. Looks wrong without them

Doctor J

Agreed. They add enough to give the bass a look that's better than plain, but not so much that they take away from the wood. Poifect!

Zapp Brannigan

e-mail sent, hope the shop will ship to Ireland! damn you Doc!

I have a thing for red basses (out of 5 basses 3 of mine are red!)

Doctor J

That's nice. A 24 is on my list ha ha ha just don't tell my missus. There was one I saw a while back with was absurdly flamed, maple fretboard... just mental.

Edit -> ahhh here's one like it. Wow.



You have chosen well though, this is damn nice

Zapp Brannigan

No dice! They won't ship to Ireland

So now gotta choose between the G&L (2,000) or the Lakland from Thomann (1500). Doc gonna need your help. What's the tonal range like on the Lakland? Is it extremely versatile like the G&L? I know there's no active w/ treble boost so how does the G string sound? Is it as loud as the others and clear? Sorry for all the questions but I'm realy struggling to make a decision.

Doctor J

The Lakland has volume, pickup blend, bass, mid and treble cut and boost. There are four dip switches on the circuit board so you can change the centre frequency of the mid pot. There's also a three way mini switch for the humbucker. You can select the full humbucker or either coil (ie 60's and 70's Jazz bass bridge pickup positions), so yeah, it's pretty versatile. Oh yeah, the volume is push/pull so you can go passive.

I tell you what, leave it with me and I'll record something.

Doctor J

Actually, Lakland have already done it.

http://www.lakland.com/multimedia/ac_5502.htm

Doctor J

I still say go for a Bacchus though, take your time and find one, perhaps VoodooChild could chip in with some of the other Japanese sites he's dealt with. The ones I have are definitely better than the Lakland and the G&Ls I've played, really, they're just the cream of the crop tbh.

Zapp Brannigan

Some of them sound pretty sweet. Can it get the MM growl though?

The_g-man

It may be worth e-mailing ishibashi to see if they could get a new Bacchus or Lakland in for you if that's what you really want. That's how I got my Edwards guitar before they started stocking them.;)

Zapp Brannigan

Mother of God! Ishibashi's U-Box is full of L2000 in natural finish. Shot them off an e-mail. Fingers crossed!