2026-- Boy, Where Does the Time Go?!

 Yes, here we are entering Fall 2026... 

I'm still here, and updates are incoming soon~  

Stay tuned & in tune!

2024 "Times Makin' Changes In My Life..."

Tesla Changes

 "...Time's rearranging, changing you and me~"

~Frank Hannon, Jeff Keith, Tom Skeoch, Troy Luccketta, Brian Wheat... i.e. Tesla!!

That song rings as true today as it did in 1986.  So what's that got to do with this blog?

Well dear friends, I've been keeping this blog for 10 years this June!  And boy how things have changed since that summer day nearly a decade ago.

Current Bass status

Due to a significant change in my musical status, I have downsized the bass collection to the essentials:

2018 Stingray Special

2020 Fender American Pro II Precision

Frankly, I could go down to just the Stingray and be completely satisfied.  However, keeping the Fender affords the luxury of having a back up instrument which of course is a responsible thing to do for any musician.  

Reason for the purge

Two situations converged early last year:  

First my wife & I moved to a church closer to home.  The new church is lead by an old friend with whom I served on a worship team he lead.  Back then I was playing 6-string guitars as my primary instrument, so he asked if I'd play both bass and guitar at the new church.  

Second, all my old guitar gear was sold off to fund my bass guitar adventures... So, being on a tight budget these days, it was time to let go of any bass stuff that wasn't being used.  Doing so freed up enough money to fund some new guitar stuff, but with a different perspective. 

Unlike years ago, I decided to get simply two guitars inspired by the Mike Campbell theory that he can get everything done on just one Gibson, and one Fender style guitar.  My choice was a PRS David Grissom model, and a PRS CE24 bolt-on neck; both filling the Mike Campbell requirements perfectly.

Most of 2023 was spent brushing up my guitar chops, securing the necessary gear and selling that which wasn't.  

The other half of 2023 was spent trying to recover from a lower back issue that I've dealt with for 20-years.  A LOT of physical therapy has helped me avoid surgery, so to all my readers out there-- take care of your back!  We all age, and our bodies are temporary, so be smart and look after yourselves.  Lift with your legs, not your back LOL!

My wife & I have also spent the last year working with our newly adopted rescue dog.  A three-year old husky/Shepard/boxer mix with A LOT of energy had six homes before we found her.  She had a difficult time finding a family who had the patience and knowhow to take care of her, but now she's home.

What's Next?

With our band I'll be playing guitar on the weeks I'm not playing bass, which means swapping instruments each week.  Adding guitar to my bass playing has been a great way to stretch my ability, and a deeper understanding of music in general.  

Adding guitar to my arsenal has also reinvigorated my excitement for music, making it more fun and helping me out of the rut I didn't realize I had dug so deep.  

Another fun aspect this year will be adventures with digital modeling and recording... both things I've been avoiding LOL!  Stepping outside our comfort zone is a great way to improve your musicianship-- which is another thing I'll be focusing on this year-- improving my craft instead of chasing gear.  Of course I'll take y'all along for the ride too~

"Nothing ever stays the same

It's always gonna change

I'm on my way... Yeah, Yeah!!

...Stay tuned & in tune!

2023 New Year Update

 Happy New Year!!

Yeah, it's already February-- and it's been nearly a year since my last post, so here we go~

What happened to 2022?

Last year went by in a flash for us here at Bass Adventures HQ, and was full of adventure. We had planned on moving, but HOLY COW!! Costs for moving had gone through the roof, and crazy high housing prices, insured all the plans we made went out the window... 

Despite all the craziness of 2022, I still managed to spend a good amount of time in my bass dojo.  Decided to thin my bass collection to just a few core instruments, explored several different string types by various manufactures, and dabbled with as many effects as possible.  

Now it's 2023! 

This year I'm going to focus improving my skill on the bass, and with music in general, and find a way to include that here on the blog.

Work-shop & music dojo overlap

A lot of reviews are on the way too, fear not!  Keep in mind that all gear featured here I've paid for myself-- so there's no "paid influence" to be found-- for better or worse.

One of the things I was most looking forward to posting was a desk/guitar work station I built the year before.  Not only will I post about that this year, but also how it's worked out after a few years of use.

What's next?

Ooooh that tasty tone!

Have you ever owned a car that you loved, but later sold because it was a too impractical for you at the time, only later to end up regretting letting it go?  Me too! And in the case of a bass I loved then let go-- well, recently I searched, saved and secured one of those lost instruments(!)  What bass am I referring to you ask...?

...Stay tuned & in tune!

Gear Review: Music Man Bongo 4H

It's Christmas Eve 2020; my wife and I are relaxing in front of the TV.  Surfing the web on my iPad, I'm exploring the world of Music Man's Bongo; a bass that grabs the attention of players & non-players alike.  

Well, it's different than... any other!

Sitting next to each other, she watches me scroll through the photos and surprisingly began asking questions about the strange looking bass.  Stumbling upon a used Firmest-Purple 4-string, single pickup model for sale, and seeing its low price she says to me, "Merry Christmas!  Click on the By Now button before someone else does."  Truly a Christmas miracle!  

Ever since the Bongo's introduction in 2003, I was intrigued by the futuristic looking instrument.  It's design was so different than anything else, that it created a lot of waves in the music community; for better or worse.  Among the popular criticisms:  "It looks like a toilet seat..." "It's Qbert with strings!"  For those unencumbered by traditional design, and open to something new, this bass was a breath of fresh air.  After all, why does every bass have to be a Fender Shaped Object?  While I really liked the Bongo design, I knew my bandmates would chase me out the door-- swiftly!  That was then...

...Now, almost two decades later and with a new band, I was excited to take the Bongo out for a spin.  

A rare-bird today; unofficially discontinued 4H

Details:

Under the hood, a 3-band 18v preamp powering a single neodymium magnet humbucker (opposed to the traditional ceramic, or alnico). That combo was very unique at the time.  Now, 18V preamps are common, and even the new StingRay Special features an 18v preamp (different design in the 'Ray), and neodymium pickups.

It's important to note that there are two different versions of the Bongo: 

- 4H (single pickup) has a three-band preamp. 

- 4HH (2-pickup) has a four-band with a stacked high/low mid control.  

Additionally, an important feature that flys under the radar, is that the 4H model positions its pickup further from the bridge than that of the 4HH model. This unique feature further makes the 4H tone distinct. 

Fit & Finish

My Bongo finally arrived in early Jan 2021.  Being played for two years by the original owner, the bass proudly boasts a few battle scares.  Most require a second look to find.  

A few scars, yes-- but check out that paint! 

The knobs breeze past their indents, but again it's nothing to be concerned about as everything works wonderfully.  Finished in a glossy, slightly metallic purple which covers the bass top to bottom, the neck is satin for comfortable playing.  Fingerboard is rosewood, and the frets surprisingly don't show any wear(!)  A five-bolt cutaway neck heel keeps everything stable.  Everything from the tuning keys to the bridge saddles have a high quality feel.  Like most all Music Man instruments, the truss-rod adjustment is the easiest of any other manufacturer.  

That long, deep bevel-- serious comfort 

Feel & Sound:

Tone is subjective, but most will agree that the Bongo sounds great!  It's tough to get a bad sound from it-- in fact, I haven't found one! Strung with stainless steel strings of an unknown origin, setting the cut/boost tone controls on center with volume on full, the Bongo has a full and aggressive tone.  

Adjusting the preamp controls easily tames the aggressiveness, while further tweaking the tone controls give the tone even more bite and punch.  Headroom is seriously impacted with the 18v system; returning to a 9v, or passive bass after playing the Bongo for a few hours makes the others feel quite... lacking.  The trick here is to play those basses first-- then reach for the Bongo.  Up, up and away!

Living with it:

Since the Bongo arrived in the middle of our state's Covid-Lockdown, I had a lot of time during the past 13-months to seriously play and discover what it has to offer.  Soon after it's arrival I changed the strings to DR Pure Blues to tame the neutral setting a bit.  It also sweetened up the tone.  

3-Band Pre with 18v of Power!  

Such a noticeable difference after the string change, along with such an interactive preamp, makes me believe these basses were designed to be sensitive to the player's input.  That sensitivity makes for a great instrument to explore, with so many more tones available compared to other single-pickup basses.

Playing for a few hours with a normal guitar strap gets uncomfortable, as the bass weighs just under 10 pounds.  After installing a set of Dunlop Straplcoks I was able to use my favorite wide strap which eliminated the discomfort.  Speaking of comfort, the body is contoured along the full upper edge with a deep bevel allowing the players arm to rest comfortably when playing.  

 

Having a few nice basses to play, I find myself reaching for the Bongo when at home practicing for the weekend service.  There's something about the Bongo that allows me to simply plug & play, without having to think much about the preamp settings.  Everything about the bass is just comfortable-- especially during those long rehearsals, or practice sessions.  

"Samurai Bassist." It is the way

On stage, it's always easy to dial in a tone that cuts through while remaining full bodied.  No matter the complement of instruments on stage; keyboards, a pair of electric guitars, heavy playing drummer, acoustic guitars, violin, male & female singers-- the Bongo can fit into any combination.  Lately our typical band has been simply an acoustic guitarist, a male and female vocalist and occasionally a keyboardist.  In this setting, the Bongo easily fills the bottom end with clarity.  

Since we don't have a drummer, I try to enhance the bottom end as much as possible without being boomy.  With that goal in mind, I recently installed a set of D'Addario Chromes flat-wound strings.

A match made in Heaven

Doing so enhanced the fullness of the tone, and fattened up the D and G strings.  Remember, this bass is sensitive to minor changes, so going from rounds to flats-- even though they are modern flats-- took this bass to another level of goodness.  It's tough to accurately describe how full, clear and punchy this combination of a Bongo wearing Chromes can be.  While the flats do take away some of the high end in the neutral setting, the preamp has such a wide range that I can regain those lost highs and still retain that full, fundamental of the flats.  It's a wonderful thing!

It's design having been around for nearly 20-years now, the Bongo has settled in as an accepted instrument, ridiculed only by the hardest-hearted bassists who simply can't let go of the past.  My current bandmates think the Bongo looks great and often complement me on its sound.  Kids often approach the stage when we are packing up to ask questions about it, and express their desire to learn to play-- because the look of the bass!  Every time that happens I'm transported back to my first time seeing Geddy Lee playing his Rickenbacker 4001, and being struck by such a cool looking guitar-- and that sound(!).  

Geddy Lee "Exit Stage Left"

It was Geddy and his bass that stoked that flame of desire within me to take up music. The thought that my Bongo might inspire the next generation is worth more than I can put into words.

Should you find yourself considering a Bongo of your own, but still have questions, feel free to ask away!  Until next time...

...Stay tuned & in tune!

UPDATED for 2022!

Blog Updates!

Spent the afternoon on blog maintenance, and added quite a few goodies.  Here are a few highlights & quick links to a few of the more popular pages:

Clatter rocking the stage

"Reviews"

- Page has been updated and organized for easier access

"Rigs & Tips" 

- Page updated & dead links removed.  

- Added a rig-rundown for Amy Humphrey of Clatter 
(Don't miss this one!) 

- Added a rig-rundown for Tim Starace of the YYNOT; "We're an original progressive rock band, with a penchant for vintage RUSH."  

Original music with a touch of RUSH

"Links"

- Page updated & dead links removed.  

- Goodies added to videos, gear, and shops.  

Be sure to let me know if you have any suggestions for additions-- I've been thinking about creating a "reader's corner" to collect & share.

As always, keep checking back for updates, new material and more bass adventures...

                ...Stay tuned & in tune!

A Little Catching Up

It's been a while since we've last talked, eh?!

A lot has happened during the last few years, while at the same time very little has happened-- thanks to COVID.  Let's do a little catching up:

Downsizing

A collection of redundancy

Previously, my collection of basses hovered around 10 or 12.  In the insane summer of 2020 (Covid, riots, elections, fires, etc.) I reevaluated-- among other things-- my bass collection, and decided to make some changes.  

During that year I realized I was playing only a few, while the others hung on the wall collecting dust.  Also, my preference to have two examples of each bass was unnecessary.  We're not dealing with Jaguars here, where it's wise to have two; one to drive while the other is in the shop.  Yes, it was nice to have two of each, but I would actually only play my favorite of the two.  

Two of these would be wise, and fun!

So, I began selling a few basses.  Psychologically, it was not an easy thing to do; each bass had a sentimental attachment to one degree or another.  Most of the people I met along the way were super excited to become the new owner of my once cherished instrument.  Meeting these people, visiting with them, handing off my old bass to them... helped me stay positive during those tough times and was a reminder of the importance of human interaction.  While the internet, Zoom, and online forums have their place, nothing can replace in-person interactions.            

String Theory

Just a few string changes...

Last year I spent quite a bit of time (and money) experimenting with different strings.  New basses almost always ship with round-wound strings.  Over the years I developed a preference for a certain type & gauge that instantly replaced whatever the bass came with.  Having an abundance of time on my hands, and a little extra money from downsizing my bass collection, it was time to embark on a string adventure.

Round-wounds from DR, Ernie Ball, and others, soon branched out to flat-wound strings.  Only once before had I even held a bass with flats.  One of our local music stores had an early model G&L L-1000 strung equally old flat-wounds.  About 15-seconds after freeing the bass from its wall hanger, realizing it was wearing flats-- then reading it's freakishly high price, I returned it to the wall.  Fast forward to 2021 and my sting adventure entered the world of flat-wounds.  What a ride, I must say!

Building, Standing, Maintaining   

As with many things in life, interests overlap.  Part of my reevaluation mentioned above, was my practice space.  Previously, the heart of my music room was an old office desk.  It was cluttered with practice materials, notebooks, and a variety of tools used for string changes and such.  Sitting at that desk was always a pain-- literally a pain!  Long periods of sitting is terrible for those of us with back problems.  Add playing a bass to the mix only exaggerated the problem.  So, the problem solver in me went to work.

No use sitting around!

Identifying the problems, I used my woodworking skills to build a desk capable of serving multiple needs.  Sitting is a problem, so it should be a desk tall enough for me to stand at.  Clutter is a problem, so it should be capable of storing practice materials, and maintenance tools, yet retain quick & easy access to both.  Oh, and it will live upstairs, so I need to be able to transport such a thing without much trouble.  No problem!  I've got the time, tools, and know-how to make it happen.

A Gift And Inspiration

Downsizing the collection created a nice music-gear fund.  In the evenings while watching TV with my wife, I sometimes 

Review on the way!

surf the net, reading about the latest preamps and effects units.  No matter how much I tried, just couldn't bring myself to buy anything new with my extra cash-- I'm happy with what I have. Quite happy indeed!

Meanwhile, my wife wanted to do something special for me; something I wouldn't do for myself.  Gotta say, am I glad she did!  So it happened that I went out on a limb and took a chance on a used example of a bass I've long admired, but never was adventurous enough to even test drive...

2022 & Beyond...

With a new year underway, I'll be writing more about the adventures mentioned above, along with gear reviews, gig notes, and a few surprises.  There is a special planned adventure that will take us across the country-- twice!

...Stay tuned & in tune!

Gear Review: Three Flavors of Stingray Basses

Since the last entry, I've streamlined my bass collection down to the bare essentials while in the process covering several sonic and intangible desires. 

Sonically, the traditional core vintage tones are covered via my G&L L2000 with its "K-wiring" which turns the humbuckers into single coils and provides me with the classic Fender tones of the mighty P and J basses. Those MFD pickups are monsters themselves; that one bass could honesty be all a person needs.  More on that in a future post.

With the traditional vintage tones covered, I focused on my favorite tones-- those of the Stingray Bass. Along with the sonic characteristics, the Stingray also satisfies many intangibles.

So what's the deal with Stingray Basses and intangibles? 

Every player searches for an instrument capable of expressing the music they hear within themselves.  --Yes, I know that sounds corny, but it is what it is.--  The Stingray Bass is that instrument for me.  Concerning the intangibles.

A Short History:
First, a little context.  History of the Stingray Bass can be generalized in three eras: 
1. Pre-Ernie Ball era 
2. Ernie Ball 1985 --> (2 & 3 band EQ models) 2017ish
3. 2018 Stingray Special 

L-R: Pre-Ernie Ball/  EB 1985-2000s/  2018 Stingray Special

A little further into the historical weeds, Leo Fender (under the "CLF" moniker) created the Stingray for Music Man in the mid/late 1970s, until there was a falling out between the two companies.  Leo went his way and opened G&L with his old buddy George Fullerton.  Shortly thereafter Ernie Ball purchased Music Man and continued Stingray production which evolved mildly over the next several decades.  

In 2018 Ernie Ball heavily redesigned Stingray, calling it the Special (which I wrote about here).  Sonically the new Special is capable of capturing all eras of Stingray tone.  The feel however, is different. It feels modern, more comfortable and refined.  And that is what makes the other models equally important, and why they remain in the Music Man catalog.  

Pre-Ernie Ball: "Old Smoothie"

 In a way, the Stingray began with Old Smoothie in the mid/late 1970s before Ernie Ball purchased Music Man. Old Smoothie was a prototype Leo built, then given to Sterling Ball for field testing.  Sterling's bass was a funky chocolate sunburst, as was the first release of the 40th anniversary model. Subsequently Old Smoothie was only available in butterscotch and mint green. 

A special pickup makes the 40th anniversary "Old Smoothie" unique because the strings to pass between pole pieces as did Fender's Precision & Jazz basses.  A logical layout considering Old Smoothie was one prototype of the then soon to be released Stingray; an evolution of Leo Fender's earlier creations.  

The unique pickup layout does produce a smoother tone. It's still a Stingray, just smoother sounding.  The powered two-band EQ spices the flavor with volume/bass/treble, yet still has the warmth of a passive bass.

What stands out to me with Old Smoothie is the way the feel influences how I play it.  The shape of its glossy neck, the small fret wire, its slab body... all contribute to how I interact with the instrument.  And this is what I mean about intangible-- it has a personality and a vibe unique from other basses, even from other Stingrays.  Smoothie didn't make it to production, but that which did-- the more aggressive sounding one-- was a big success for the small company.   

Stingray in the Ball's court

"Stingray Classic" models were introduced in 2010. While similar to Smoothie in construction, the Classic represents later models produced under the Ernie Ball banner.  With a slightly different 2-band EQ and period correct headstock logo, the main difference between the two is the pickups.  Classic models come loaded with the traditional EB humbucker which is more aggressive than Smoothie and represents the sound most of us know as the Stingray.  

This particular example from 2011 is a rare bird with a rosewood fingerboard and a chocolate sunburst finish Music Man called "retro-burst;" a finish very reminiscent to the first Old Smoothie, and available for only two years.  Both models sport the classic slab body, figured maple necks, vintage type frets and most importantly from a players perspective-- modern appointments such as the wheel-type trussrod adjustment. 

Intangible defined:

Something "unable to be touched or grasped; not having physical presence."  While we are talking about basses that do have a physical presence, intangibles become subjective-- to the person playing the instrument.  For me, these two basses feel like vintage models without having to fuss with the questionable dependability inherent with vintage instruments.  

Having played many vintage instruments back when they were simply called "used" and "old," these new models actually do feel like the old ones and sound different than the modern basses.  These weigh a bit more, are a little less comfortable as they don't have the belly & arm reliefs and surprisingly I do find myself wanting the third part of modern EQs-- the mid control- gasp!!.  Those differences change the way I interact with the instrument compared to modern design basses.  As such they force me to play differently that also reminds me of the old basses.  

As I mentioned, intangibles will differ with each player who picks up the instrument.  For me, these feel vintage; a younger player may not make those connections.  Younger players lacking a life history with the original instruments should also still enjoy these modern classics as the fit and finish are top notch! It seems the attention to detail are a little more apparent than the standard basses leaving the factory.  

A brave new world:

In 2018 Music Man released its updated flagship bass, the Stingray Special.  In essence, the new Specials' are Stingrays for the modern day.  For me, two updates stand above the rest: 1. The harshness of the Stingray's tone was tamed, 2. the bass is far more comfortable to play.

However, the Special is not the only Stingray to address that first point.  For those who want a less-harsh sounding Ray, but prefer the classic styling and appointments of older models, Old Smoothie may be the answer.  

Originally released wearing a two-tone sunburst finish in 2016 as its 40th anniversary model, Music Man decided to continue offering the model in subsequent years with two additional colors mentioned above.  Aside from the color change and lack of the "40th" logo on the back of the headstock, it is the same bass.  

What makes the new Stingray Special unique is the list of changes:

- New body contours 

- 18V electronics 

- Lightweight hardware

- Neodymium pickups

- Stainless steel frets

- Roasted maple neck

- Lightweight body woods

If I was limited to just one bass for the rest of my days, the Stingray Special is the one for me.  It nails all the classic tones of the old models and thanks to the double humbuckers I can get a lot of additional great tones from the bass.  Even though it lacks the intangibles associated with the other two models, this one has a vibe all its own-- and that aqua sparkle finish just slays me every time(!)

Including each of these models in the Music Man catalog provides us all with three fantastic flavors of Stingray tones-- more than enough to appeal to nearly every player considering a new instrument.  Even more when you consider all the 5-string variants and recently a pair of short-scale Stingrays.  Has there ever been a better time to be a bassist?

...Stay tuned & in tune!