jaylegroove
Well-known member
Hi folks,
I just got my new (to me) SR5. That's not the first time I get MM's, and since I was fed up with having to change my gear every 4 or 5 months, I decided to get back to "the one" that "does it all". While being a pro player, I can't afford a dozen basses, and I often had to switch from bass to bass depending on the projects I used to get involved in.
Now a bit of a very personal story.
I got my first MM, a black StingRay w/maple board, in 1980, when they were not EB yet. I kept it for about 2 years then traded it in for some pseudo boutique bass that would be worth almost nothing.
Then I got an SR5 in 2002, a brand new one. Honeyburst w/rosewood board. I kept it for six months, then sold it, thinking (stupidly) I absolutely need a Rickenbacker for the project I was involved in then.
Later, I got a SUB5 (active) in textured blue. I did a whole gigging summer with it with no problem. It sounded and played great, and as I often said, I found the SUB to have the "vintage Ray" vibe (with an extra string when we talk about the SUB5, of course).
Several months later, I had a chance to get an SR5, honeyburst w/maple board, in worn condition but playing nice, for the price I could sell the SUB5. So I did.
Unfortunately, a few months later, the worn SR5 showed some big issues, including tuning pegs coming loose, electronics with bad contacts etc. I sold it "as is" at a ridiculous price.
Last year, while I was convinced (according to a long term project I had been recruited in) I needed no more 5-string, so I got an SR4 (natual, rosewood). Unfortunately, the project failed. And yes, the next project I got required a 5-string.
Now I have this used SR5 (2003, honey burst, rosewood, near mint condition), and I guess it took all these stupid experiences for me to understand how versatile they are, and actually how much I love them.
Between all these gear changes, many other brands played a part in my gear history. But everytime I needed a workhorse, then StingRay first came to my mind. All this finally cost me a lot of money, but at least now I know.
This story may seem stupid, but I did was I thought was best even when I was wrong, and once again money wouldn't allow me to own many basses.
Thanks for reading,
Jay
I just got my new (to me) SR5. That's not the first time I get MM's, and since I was fed up with having to change my gear every 4 or 5 months, I decided to get back to "the one" that "does it all". While being a pro player, I can't afford a dozen basses, and I often had to switch from bass to bass depending on the projects I used to get involved in.
Now a bit of a very personal story.
I got my first MM, a black StingRay w/maple board, in 1980, when they were not EB yet. I kept it for about 2 years then traded it in for some pseudo boutique bass that would be worth almost nothing.
Then I got an SR5 in 2002, a brand new one. Honeyburst w/rosewood board. I kept it for six months, then sold it, thinking (stupidly) I absolutely need a Rickenbacker for the project I was involved in then.
Later, I got a SUB5 (active) in textured blue. I did a whole gigging summer with it with no problem. It sounded and played great, and as I often said, I found the SUB to have the "vintage Ray" vibe (with an extra string when we talk about the SUB5, of course).
Several months later, I had a chance to get an SR5, honeyburst w/maple board, in worn condition but playing nice, for the price I could sell the SUB5. So I did.
Unfortunately, a few months later, the worn SR5 showed some big issues, including tuning pegs coming loose, electronics with bad contacts etc. I sold it "as is" at a ridiculous price.
Last year, while I was convinced (according to a long term project I had been recruited in) I needed no more 5-string, so I got an SR4 (natual, rosewood). Unfortunately, the project failed. And yes, the next project I got required a 5-string.
Now I have this used SR5 (2003, honey burst, rosewood, near mint condition), and I guess it took all these stupid experiences for me to understand how versatile they are, and actually how much I love them.
Between all these gear changes, many other brands played a part in my gear history. But everytime I needed a workhorse, then StingRay first came to my mind. All this finally cost me a lot of money, but at least now I know.
This story may seem stupid, but I did was I thought was best even when I was wrong, and once again money wouldn't allow me to own many basses.
Thanks for reading,
Jay
