Chickenbacker Bass: To buy or not to buy?

[Del_Duio]

Okay, at long last here it is!

 

I didn't end up getting it in favor of the one below..

 

http://dxfgames.com/Chickenbacker.jpg

 

This thing is SICK, holy shit guys it weighs like 15 pounds too :)

 

http://dxfgames.com/DD_Ray34.jpg

[Babycat]

Okay, at long last here it is!

 

I didn't end up getting it in favor of the one below..

 

http://dxfgames.com/Chickenbacker.jpg

 

This thing is SICK, holy shit guys it weighs like 15 pounds too :)

 

http://dxfgames.com/DD_Ray34.jpg

 

MusicMan?

[Babycat]

That double purple one's stunning! :D

It looks crooked. And the truss rod cover on the 12 string is hanging over into the tuning machine cavity. :)

Have just noticed that. Seeing as they're thin-necked, I've heard that you have to be careful how you store them as the neck(s) can bend. :)

Any wooden guitar neck is subject to the elements. These are basic construction issues. Rickenbacker necks are anything but thin.

Okay - fair point. :)

[Del_Duio]

Okay, at long last here it is!

 

I didn't end up getting it in favor of the one below..

 

http://dxfgames.com/Chickenbacker.jpg

 

This thing is SICK, holy shit guys it weighs like 15 pounds too :)

 

http://dxfgames.com/DD_Ray34.jpg

 

MusicMan?

 

Yep! Weird, I've never been a big fan of these before but upon playing this one wow it's amazing I gotta' say. This is their Sterling Ray 34 model SBK (stands for "stealth black"). They make 5 finishes but this is my favorite, the matte black w/ black hardware. There's also a gloss black one with chrome that looks good too.

 

Think of these as the Stingray you can afford when you can't afford a 'real' Stingray. I'm no expert but honestly I can't tell the difference, it's that close. And it's much less money but still a quality instrument. I guess they use American parts but manufacture them in Indonesia to avoid taxes or something. Even pro players who've played them say there's not much difference between the Ray 34 and the Stingray from what I've read. The only thing about it is that it's got less frets than my Ibanez soundgear (24) but that shouldn't take too long to get used to.

 

It has this great distinct sound, not quite the Geddy growl from the late 70's I love but there's some bite to it. It also sounds like it's in the toilet lol. I know that sounds like a terrible thing but I don't know how else to describe it. This deep, echo-y sound. And it's heavy. It probably weighs a bit more than my 6 string but the notes seem to have more sustain to them because of it. I've already used it on one song and am working on another one now with it. The tone is giving me new ideas for new stuff and getting me creative again :)

[CygnusX-1Bk2]

Who needs 24 frets on a bass? My Ric and Fenders have 20 and I never run out. The highest note would be equivalent to an open G on a guitar, i.e. and guitar's 3rd string. Not exactly a bass note. :)

[CygnusX-1Bk2]

Oh and that is a smarter buy indeed. You can get really round tones with that.

[Babycat]

Okay, at long last here it is!

 

I didn't end up getting it in favor of the one below..

 

http://dxfgames.com/Chickenbacker.jpg

 

This thing is SICK, holy shit guys it weighs like 15 pounds too :)

 

http://dxfgames.com/DD_Ray34.jpg

 

MusicMan?

 

Yep! Weird, I've never been a big fan of these before but upon playing this one wow it's amazing I gotta' say. This is their Sterling Ray 34 model SBK (stands for "stealth black"). They make 5 finishes but this is my favorite, the matte black w/ black hardware. There's also a gloss black one with chrome that looks good too.

 

Think of these as the Stingray you can afford when you can't afford a 'real' Stingray. I'm no expert but honestly I can't tell the difference, it's that close. And it's much less money but still a quality instrument. I guess they use American parts but manufacture them in Indonesia to avoid taxes or something. Even pro players who've played them say there's not much difference between the Ray 34 and the Stingray from what I've read. The only thing about it is that it's got less frets than my Ibanez soundgear (24) but that shouldn't take too long to get used to.

 

It has this great distinct sound, not quite the Geddy growl from the late 70's I love but there's some bite to it. It also sounds like it's in the toilet lol. I know that sounds like a terrible thing but I don't know how else to describe it. This deep, echo-y sound. And it's heavy. It probably weighs a bit more than my 6 string but the notes seem to have more sustain to them because of it. I've already used it on one song and am working on another one now with it. The tone is giving me new ideas for new stuff and getting me creative again :)

 

So the one pictured is not the Stingray?

[Turbine Freight]

Okay, at long last here it is!

 

I didn't end up getting it in favor of the one below..

 

http://dxfgames.com/Chickenbacker.jpg

 

This thing is SICK, holy shit guys it weighs like 15 pounds too :)

 

http://dxfgames.com/DD_Ray34.jpg

 

Cool as f**k.

[Del_Duio]

Who needs 24 frets on a bass? My Ric and Fenders have 20 and I never run out. The highest note would be equivalent to an open G on a guitar, i.e. and guitar's 3rd string. Not exactly a bass note. :)

 

If there's one thing I know for sure way up the high end of the neck is octaves though lol.

[Del_Duio]

Okay, at long last here it is!

 

I didn't end up getting it in favor of the one below..

 

http://dxfgames.com/Chickenbacker.jpg

 

This thing is SICK, holy shit guys it weighs like 15 pounds too :)

 

http://dxfgames.com/DD_Ray34.jpg

 

MusicMan?

 

Yep! Weird, I've never been a big fan of these before but upon playing this one wow it's amazing I gotta' say. This is their Sterling Ray 34 model SBK (stands for "stealth black"). They make 5 finishes but this is my favorite, the matte black w/ black hardware. There's also a gloss black one with chrome that looks good too.

 

Think of these as the Stingray you can afford when you can't afford a 'real' Stingray. I'm no expert but honestly I can't tell the difference, it's that close. And it's much less money but still a quality instrument. I guess they use American parts but manufacture them in Indonesia to avoid taxes or something. Even pro players who've played them say there's not much difference between the Ray 34 and the Stingray from what I've read. The only thing about it is that it's got less frets than my Ibanez soundgear (24) but that shouldn't take too long to get used to.

 

It has this great distinct sound, not quite the Geddy growl from the late 70's I love but there's some bite to it. It also sounds like it's in the toilet lol. I know that sounds like a terrible thing but I don't know how else to describe it. This deep, echo-y sound. And it's heavy. It probably weighs a bit more than my 6 string but the notes seem to have more sustain to them because of it. I've already used it on one song and am working on another one now with it. The tone is giving me new ideas for new stuff and getting me creative again :)

 

So the one pictured is not the Stingray?

 

No, that's the Ray 34. If I was ever pictured outside with a real Stingray there'd be cop cars and stuff coming at me in the background I assure you.

[andreww]

The knockoffs that are coming out of China these days aren't exactly terrible. I bought a Chinese EDS1275 a couple of years ago simply because Epiphone stopped making double necks and used ones were about a grand. Rediculous considering the Epis ar made of plywood. The guitar I got is a 3 piece mahogany body, veneered front and back with maple necks. Its well put together and finished nicely but the electronics were absolute garbage and there was no way to shut off the unused neck without using the volume knob (useless for quick switching). The machine heads were terrible as were the plastic nuts. Intonation was off, and there were a couple of high frets. All this stuff has been replaced and its a nice guitar now. So just keep in mind that with knockoff guitars you are just basically buying a shell to build on.

[CygnusX-1Bk2]

So you are saying they aren't exactly good either. :codger:

[EagleMoon]

So you are saying they aren't exactly good either. :codger:

 

I was going to say, if you have to replace most of it, then it can't be very good.

[andreww]

I replace just about everything on all my guitars. Why? because what they put in mass produced guitars is junk for the most part. A really good set of pickups in not that expensive, vintage wiring, Tusq nut, and high end tuners make a huge difference.

[CygnusX-1Bk2]

Cheap mass produced guitars yeah. But even Squires are good off the rack. It's why one should play before buying. If you're going to replace everything you might as build from scratch or Warmoth or Mighty Mite.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for projects. I've rewired my Les Paul and swapped pups mostly because I wanted to make it more versatile not because it needed to be done. But changing stuff just to change it translates to a bad purchase in the first place. If the perception that machines are bad or pickups are bad then buy another guitar with better machines and pickups. If one makes the right purchase there is no real reason to modify it other than personal taste. If a stock guitar does not suit one's purposes then it's the wrong guitar to buy.