Hi Jonathan! Been watching this series as someone looking into getting a bass for the first time. I've been researching which bass to get and I think the modifications and upgrade possibilities for this bass are a huge selling point for me as a beginner. I would only have to do some of these mods as an upgrade instead of getting a whole new bass. Thanks for this series and I hope to see more from it. I probably wouldn't upgrade any time soon but the possibilities are a great option to have. Some of the upgrades are truly inexpensive too so adding that to the total cost of the guitar is great. This series has really solidified my decision into getting one to start out with.
Thanks so much for watching and for commenting! For the asking price, the sonic bronco as a package is pretty solid. Definitely get the sonic series model over the older ones though!
Thank you for this demo! You are absolutely correct, that J pickup made a huge difference. I think that plus the choosing the right strings would be the way to go for those of us who venture down to drop D. My search is on for a mid level shortie with a bridge pickup - Squier Mustang, Sire U5, Sterling Stingray SS, etc... Many many many thanks again!
Thanks for the video idea! Of the models you mentioned, I think the Stingray lends itself well for drop D or downtuned tunings. The p/u and placement has the midrange bark to make it effective. I found the Sire's body to be a bit uncomfortable where it contacts my arm and the bridge p/u to be a smidge too close to the bridge. Otherwise, it's a solid contender too! Thanks for watching!
@@jonathanwong458music Stingrays - used to have long scale, they belong in the "Sounds good only when other people play it" category. I could never get it to work for me. But from what I know, the SS are passive so maybe that would work for me? Thank you for mentioning the U5 discomfort thing, that's something I'd have to keep in mind. Keep up the good work Jonathan, love your channel!
Here's a link for a video I made on the shorty Stingray: th-cam.com/video/hnAInSNBM0E/w-d-xo.html The Sire U5 doesn't have a fender style forearm contour. It has a rather sharp corner/edge where your arm rests. It's less of an issue if the body is relatively small and narrow (eg Mustang bass). But the U5 is on the wider side. It is a good sounding bass though, but the one I briefly had went back to the store for the comfort reason. That was before I started this TH-cam thing, which is why I don't have a video on it! Thanks for the encouragement and for supporting my little channel!
@@jonathanwong458musicOver the past month, I tried different strings on my Squier Musicmaster. 1) Elixir Nickel 45-100 that came with the bass; 2) GHS Boomers 45-105; 3) EB Slinky (Pink packet) 45-100; 4) DR DDT 50-110; 5) EB 45-100 flatwounds. I would rank the DDT and Boomers as top 2, the others... don't bother. I think the gauge made a huge difference.
@@cici4753 Cool observations. Thanks for sharing! I went through an Ernie Ball phase. They sounded great out of the package but I found they died really quickly and when they did, all the midrange disappeared. I have always liked GHS boomers. They feel stiffer than D'addario XLs. I was a long time user of XL nickels. Tried everything else. Some were slightly better, most of those were significantly more expensive and harder to find. I really liked how DR High beams sounded. But they shredded apart my finger tips and these days....just no way I could play them. Was a great sound though.
That Atelier sounds really well! I have never considered a Drop-D before, maybe I gonna try it on my regular longscale Fender Jazz. And to my great relief, if it doesn't sound well, it can be fixed easily by tuning back to E! (Otherwise I wouldn't dare to try at all) ;-) Thanks for this inspiration.
Right on! There are lots of modern songs that require drop D tuning, otherwise it just sounds wrong without the low open D! For the artist I play with/for, the open D works better on a few songs and it saves me bringing a 5 string for 1 or 2 songs. If I may suggest, depending on how your bass is currently setup, drop D tuning often benefits from slightly higher action on the low E string, otherwise, the slacker/looser tension (in drop D) can result in fret buzz or the string grounding out and not sounding as open and big. Good luck. Thanks for watching!!
@@jonathanwong458music Yes, that is an important advice about the action of the E-string. Thats why I consider testing it an my Fender, because right now I do nit have it much in use... because I have a brandnew Kala Solid Body with 23.5" scale since lat week and have to get aquainted with this tiny comrade now! I will not spoil that new critter with experiments, until I have not gotten accustomed enough.
Hi Jonathan! Been watching this series as someone looking into getting a bass for the first time. I've been researching which bass to get and I think the modifications and upgrade possibilities for this bass are a huge selling point for me as a beginner. I would only have to do some of these mods as an upgrade instead of getting a whole new bass. Thanks for this series and I hope to see more from it. I probably wouldn't upgrade any time soon but the possibilities are a great option to have. Some of the upgrades are truly inexpensive too so adding that to the total cost of the guitar is great. This series has really solidified my decision into getting one to start out with.
Thanks so much for watching and for commenting! For the asking price, the sonic bronco as a package is pretty solid. Definitely get the sonic series model over the older ones though!
Thank you for this demo! You are absolutely correct, that J pickup made a huge difference. I think that plus the choosing the right strings would be the way to go for those of us who venture down to drop D. My search is on for a mid level shortie with a bridge pickup - Squier Mustang, Sire U5, Sterling Stingray SS, etc... Many many many thanks again!
Thanks for the video idea! Of the models you mentioned, I think the Stingray lends itself well for drop D or downtuned tunings. The p/u and placement has the midrange bark to make it effective. I found the Sire's body to be a bit uncomfortable where it contacts my arm and the bridge p/u to be a smidge too close to the bridge. Otherwise, it's a solid contender too!
Thanks for watching!
@@jonathanwong458music Stingrays - used to have long scale, they belong in the "Sounds good only when other people play it" category. I could never get it to work for me. But from what I know, the SS are passive so maybe that would work for me? Thank you for mentioning the U5 discomfort thing, that's something I'd have to keep in mind. Keep up the good work Jonathan, love your channel!
Here's a link for a video I made on the shorty Stingray:
th-cam.com/video/hnAInSNBM0E/w-d-xo.html
The Sire U5 doesn't have a fender style forearm contour. It has a rather sharp corner/edge where your arm rests. It's less of an issue if the body is relatively small and narrow (eg Mustang bass). But the U5 is on the wider side. It is a good sounding bass though, but the one I briefly had went back to the store for the comfort reason. That was before I started this TH-cam thing, which is why I don't have a video on it!
Thanks for the encouragement and for supporting my little channel!
@@jonathanwong458musicOver the past month, I tried different strings on my Squier Musicmaster. 1) Elixir Nickel 45-100 that came with the bass; 2) GHS Boomers 45-105; 3) EB Slinky (Pink packet) 45-100; 4) DR DDT 50-110; 5) EB 45-100 flatwounds. I would rank the DDT and Boomers as top 2, the others... don't bother. I think the gauge made a huge difference.
@@cici4753 Cool observations. Thanks for sharing! I went through an Ernie Ball phase. They sounded great out of the package but I found they died really quickly and when they did, all the midrange disappeared. I have always liked GHS boomers. They feel stiffer than D'addario XLs. I was a long time user of XL nickels. Tried everything else. Some were slightly better, most of those were significantly more expensive and harder to find. I really liked how DR High beams sounded. But they shredded apart my finger tips and these days....just no way I could play them. Was a great sound though.
That Atelier sounds really well! I have never considered a Drop-D before, maybe I gonna try it on my regular longscale Fender Jazz. And to my great relief, if it doesn't sound well, it can be fixed easily by tuning back to E! (Otherwise I wouldn't dare to try at all) ;-)
Thanks for this inspiration.
Right on! There are lots of modern songs that require drop D tuning, otherwise it just sounds wrong without the low open D! For the artist I play with/for, the open D works better on a few songs and it saves me bringing a 5 string for 1 or 2 songs. If I may suggest, depending on how your bass is currently setup, drop D tuning often benefits from slightly higher action on the low E string, otherwise, the slacker/looser tension (in drop D) can result in fret buzz or the string grounding out and not sounding as open and big. Good luck.
Thanks for watching!!
@@jonathanwong458music Yes, that is an important advice about the action of the E-string. Thats why I consider testing it an my Fender, because right now I do nit have it much in use... because I have a brandnew Kala Solid Body with 23.5" scale since lat week and have to get aquainted with this tiny comrade now! I will not spoil that new critter with experiments, until I have not gotten accustomed enough.
The new solid Kala looks fun!