bovinehost
Administrator
I discovered some stuff last weekend when coWpilot met to explore new sonic possibilities. While there are certain shared qualities, which makes sense due to the pedigree, a Stingray is not a Bongo and vice versa. And Old Smoothie is not a regular Stingray. (I need a name for this bass. I can't keep typing out 'Old Smoothie' even if that's what Leo Fender called it, I just can't. How about 'Oscar'?) This thing is way less treble-forward. I put flats on it (natch) and it's like fine Scotch. I might have to try some of those new-fangled flats that Brian Ball came up with, really, or learn to love the warm, earthy, non-aggressive tone I'm getting now. No one complained, to be sure, and there were even some happy campers in the band because the Bongo has always worried them. It sure plays like a right fancy bastard! I'm THIS close to putting strap locks on it so I don't have to hunt down an unaltered strap, of which I have one, somewhere. I must have run out of Ernie Ball straplocks somehow.
Now, after nearly ten straight years of playing almost nothing but five string basses, the switch back to four was interesting. We were mostly playing new songs, which was much easier than the live song list we generally pull from. Those are all muscle memory and will be, I'm convinced, a more difficult transition. But I'm convinced now that I need to revisit where I came from, and that it can be done without screwing up terribly. After two days of work, I actually began to have FUN playing a four banger.
So anyway, if you're looking for a four string bass that incorporates the best of all worlds - Leo's design, really, with all the modern Music Man appointments (screw that micro-tilt and bullet truss adjustment on the headstock, really) and the added cool factor of bridge mutes (no, I'm not that brave just yet, but it's coming), get one of these will you still can. The window is closing. You know you want to be like me. I know I do.
cross-posted from FB because I'm basically not that ambitious.......Jackie
Now, after nearly ten straight years of playing almost nothing but five string basses, the switch back to four was interesting. We were mostly playing new songs, which was much easier than the live song list we generally pull from. Those are all muscle memory and will be, I'm convinced, a more difficult transition. But I'm convinced now that I need to revisit where I came from, and that it can be done without screwing up terribly. After two days of work, I actually began to have FUN playing a four banger.
So anyway, if you're looking for a four string bass that incorporates the best of all worlds - Leo's design, really, with all the modern Music Man appointments (screw that micro-tilt and bullet truss adjustment on the headstock, really) and the added cool factor of bridge mutes (no, I'm not that brave just yet, but it's coming), get one of these will you still can. The window is closing. You know you want to be like me. I know I do.
cross-posted from FB because I'm basically not that ambitious.......Jackie