I just bought a bass.......

[TheJerkyBoys]

A couple of days ago, I went to Guitar Center to pick out a new 4 string bass. A lot of people have recommended me a Fender Standard American jazz bass. I thought it would fit me perfectly as I was always a fan of Fender (have played a Fender P bass for a while and been using a Fender Rumble 100Watt amp ever since I started playing).

While at the store, my first objective was to try out every Fender bass they had. I picked up the Fender American jazz bass first. I was amazed at how heavy it was compared to other basses at the store. After playing most of the basses there, the Fender American jazz was the heaviest of them all, except for the Warwick basses. Out of all Fender basses, I liked Marcus Miller jazz bass the most. I also liked the Geddy Lee signature, but hated the thin neck that it had. I was never really a big fan of Ibanez basses for the same reason -- most of those basses have thin necks. I really liked the Schecter basses that they had; Schecter Custom 4 and Schecter Elite 4 in particular. I then picked up a Music Man Stingray. The tone was sublime. I was amazed at the slap tone that was possible to get out it. A Music Man Sterling bass was also nice, but there was something about the Stingray.

I spent about 3 hours in the store just trying out all the basses, but I glad I went with the Stingray 4. They didn't have any new Stingrays in stock, so I placed a special order for a black Stingray with a maple fingerboard. I wanted a maple fingerboard and thought that black finish looked best with it. The store gave me a used Stingray to play around with while the special order arrives.

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh245/ReverendHortonHeat11/?action=view&current=IMG_4501.jpg

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh245/ReverendHortonHeat11/?action=view&current=IMG_4500.jpg

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh245/ReverendHortonHeat11/?action=view&current=IMG_4499.jpg

[lemoley]

since when do guitar shops give you a bass to play until yours arrives - thats crazy

congrats anyways man :)

[TheJerkyBoys]

since when do guitar shops give you a bass to play until yours arrives - thats crazy

congrats anyways man :)

Thanks.

I was surprised myself. They told me that they do that all the time -- give you a used one until the order arrives.

[BassFish]

thats awesome, a stingray is my dream bass

[Radiobass81]

That makes two that came in a store looking for Fender, and came out with 'Rays :thumb:.

[TheJerkyBoys]

That makes two that came in a store looking for Fender, and came out with 'Rays :thumb:.

That's awesome. What color is yours?

[Killer Fridge]

Stingrays ftw. Should be getting a Status Graphite neck for mine someday soon :thumb:

[British Kid]

since when do guitar shops give you a bass to play until yours arrives - thats crazy

congrats anyways man :)
Guitar Center does it pretty regularly from what i hear.

if it helps make a sale that day, they're down for it. i've never done it though, for fear they'd do something to screw me over if something happened to the one you took home.

[MyFriendOfMisery]

Well the Ray he got was in mediocre shape, so he shouldn't worry too much.

[Az_Holl]

Take the plastic off the scratchplate and take some photos outside.

Other than that: awesome. I'd love to own a stingray someday.

[Mr. Pickle]

Looks like every other Stingray.

[Soulfly666]

:confused: Why didn't you just buy the used one, since it already sounds and feels the way you like?

[MyFriendOfMisery]

Opps, I should have looked a little closer. Other than the plastic, it just needs cleaning. Yeah, I might have gotten that one if it was for sale.

[TheJerkyBoys]

:confused: Why didn't you just buy the used one, since it already sounds and feels the way you like?

Why settle on a used one if I can mess around on it for 90 days and then just pick up a brand new one?

[TheJerkyBoys]

The good thing is I know the guy who works there; he knocked $200 off, so I only paid around $1100.

[Radiobass81]

That's awesome. What color is yours?

Natural. I had never seen it in that 'finish' before (you usually only find that fake yellow natural).

[Soulfly666]

Why settle on a used one if I can mess around on it for 90 days and then just pick up a brand new one?

Good point, but what if you hate how the new one feels and sounds? I've played a lot of Stingrays and every single one has felt different. Sometimes they were one of the best basses I've ever played, and other times they were complete garbage. If it was already set up the way I liked and sounded sweet, I would have tried to get the salesman to knock off 200$ off the used one. :p

Whatever though, I'm still jealous. Congrats!:thumb:

[Radiobass81]

Good point, but what if you hate how the new one feels and sounds? I've played a lot of Stingrays and every single one has felt different. Sometimes they were one of the best basses I've ever played, and other times they were complete garbage. If it was already set up the way I liked and sounded sweet, I would have tried to get the salesman to knock off 200$ off the used one. :p

Whatever though, I'm still jealous. Congrats!:thumb:

Could be the strings.

[TheJerkyBoys]

Could be the strings.

The Sterling that I tried in the store had dull strings on it, maybe that's why I didn't like it as much. But yeah, strings play a very important role when trying out basses.

[Chilifanthatsme]

Thats cool they lent you one, never heard of that before.

You should slap a white pearloid pickguard on it IMO.

[hazletbassist89]

Yeah that's pretty damn sweet, grats on that.

[Polyamarous]

No one seems to buy new stingrays with the 2 pick-up option!

It seems such an obvious decision!


Otherwise very nice!

[Akira]

I've heard complaints that at least on the HH 'Ray, the bridge pickup isn't it the same sweet spot as on single p'up ones.

[Polyamarous]

Well I'm wrong then1
That seems like a fundamentally retarded problem.

[Akira]

I don't know if it's true or not, I've just heard it from people. Never really played an HH.

[TheJerkyBoys]

No one seems to buy new stingrays with the 2 pick-up option!

It seems such an obvious decision!


Otherwise very nice!

I wanted to make sure that there is a lot of room for slapping and double thumping, so I went with one pickup.

[Mr. Pickle]

Why settle on a used one if I can mess around on it for 90 days and then just pick up a brand new one?

From the standpoint of someone who only buys used instruments, I think new instruments are a waste of money. That is my answer to your question.

[Akira]

From the standpoint of someone who only buys used instruments, I think new instruments are a waste of money. That is my answer to your question.

Used instruments are definitely the way to go.

[Sablate McNuff]

^Tru Dat.

Less expensive. Broken in. And generally set up very well (although I usually would recommend having it set up again).

[Akira]

I don't know if you can trust the set up, but just the price is reason enough.

[TheJerkyBoys]

IMO, used instruments are like girlfriends; you don't know where they've been.

[TheJerkyBoys]

From the standpoint of someone who only buys used instruments, I think new instruments are a waste of money. That is my answer to your question.

The used one in the store would've been the same price as the new one....

[Mr. Pickle]

clever...


It isn't like it was up someone's *** or something. If its a bad instrument, you'll know it when you play it. It isn't like you buy it, and then a few weeks later some problems will suddenly arise because of something that happened to it in its past. (you should be aware of them the first time you see/use/play the instrument) There aren't any bass herpes.

[TheJerkyBoys]

clever...


It isn't like it was up someone's *** or something. If its a bad instrument, you'll know it when you play it. It isn't like you buy it, and then a few weeks later some problems will suddenly arise because of something that happened to it in its past. (you should be aware of them the first time you see/use/play the instrument) There aren't any bass herpes.

I agree, but given that I only paid $1100 for a new stingray, IMO this makes it a very good deal. So, I basically got a new bass for the price of a used one.

[Mr. Pickle]

I'm glad I don't live in an area where used Stingrays go for $1,100.

[TheJerkyBoys]

I'm glad I don't live in an area where used Stingrays go for $1,100.

Whatever, dude.
You knew what I was talking about.

[Soulfly666]

IMO, used instruments are like girlfriends; you don't know where they've been.

A used Stingray for $1,100? Ouch. I probably would have done the same thing as you and gone with the new one.

[Mr. Pickle]

Whatever, dude.
You knew what I was talking about.

No, no I don't. You said $1,100 is about the same you'd pay for a used one. Are you now saying that isn't true?

[TheJerkyBoys]

No, no I don't. You said $1,100 is about the same you'd pay for a used one. Are you now saying that isn't true?

Well, I don't go for used basses, so I don't really know how much a used Stingray would cost. It could go for $1100 if it's in excellent condition.

[Mr. Pickle]

Well, then I stand by what I said before. I'm glad I don't live in an area where used Stingrays go for $1,100.

Really nice Stingrays usually go for around $900 here. Those are the ones that are in really good condition.

[Jody LeCompte]

My boy Code has an HH stingray, but he won't let me play it.

Asshole....