Mike Hererra's (MxPx) custom Stingrays

[xcental34x]

Jon, anything special you can tell me about Mike Hererra's Stingrays that you guys have made for him? Do y'all make the pickguard for it, or does he have someone else that makes them?

[jongitarz]

community.webshots.com/user/jongitarz We send the pickguards out to be engraved. (I have one that is engraved, but they used a lefty pickguard, and it is now a light switch cover in my shop at home.)

Some of the basses are stock and some have the pickup wired directly to the jack...No volume or eq's. Mike has a TON of our basses, and is a really nice guy as is the rest of the band.

[skabassist13]

what is the benefit of the pickup wired strait to the jack?

[xcental34x]

I'm watching the MxPx DVD right now. I just noticed he only uses 2 band EQ. Any estimate of how many Stingrays he actually has? Or how many you've built for him?

His main red sparkle Stingray is the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen. There is a reason I love sparkles so much

[xcental34x]

JON. I'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT LIGHTSWITCH! But I doubt there'd be any way I could get one....

[jongitarz]

I don't really know why people would like that set up, but we have done it for several artists. My guess would be that there is a more raw sound, because nothing is going through the preamp, it's just strings, wood, and pickup.

[xcental34x]

He's got one of the best tones I've ever heard, so it must work for him.

[jongitarz]

JON. I'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT LIGHTSWITCH! But I doubt there'd be any way I could get one....

It is pretty cool, but I don't know how you could get one unless you had it custom made. I just got lucky..It was about to be trashed because it was a lefty.

[skabassist13]

i see. well i guess if it works for him then hes gonna keep doing it then isnt he?

[jongitarz]

He's got one of the best tones I've ever heard, so it must work for him.

He is a really good bass player. Do you know how the band got its name?

They used to be called Magnified Plaid, and sometimes just M.P. but instead of using periods, they used x's....MxPx.

[skabassist13]

mr. jon that is right on the money. unless your asking how they got the name magnified plaid. that i do not know. but the abbreviation thing is right.

[jongitarz]

mr. jon that is right on the money. unless your asking how they got the name magnified plaid. that i do not know. but the abbreviation thing is right.

We have already established that I am always right I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken

[xcental34x]

Very talented player. Probably the biggest influence on my playing. Nothing fancy, but just catchy lines that fit the music so well. I'm still trying to figure out the bassline to PxPX.

Yeah, I know the story. They made an early shirt with MP and the x's as periods, and it just stuck.

Bonus question: What does PxPx stand for?

[jongitarz]

That, I don't know.

[xcental34x]

Pokinatcha Punks.

I win.