BOC: Various

[Mark Stears]

  Hey  John and Theo...
                            I have owned 2 Modulus 6 str. basses, and used
them religiously for the last 7 years. I converted to composite necks in 1984
with a Music Man Cutlass bass....Have never really wanted a wooden necked
inst. since!I Own a Warwick thumb 6 str., which I literally hate! It is for
sale "cheap" if anyone is interested.......             Just last week I
purchased a new Status Graphite Empathy 6 bass. It is the finest inst. I've
ever owned( With the possible exception of my old Alembic I sold years ago).
As sacred as my fave Modulus is, it is finally going to get a break in the
studio and onstage. It will always have a place in my heart, but ......
Another recent acquisition is a Music Man Stingray 5 str. which I've
customized with a Moses Graphite neck. Another great bass!
    Don't get me wrong, I still love old Fenders and such, and have owned
about  15 Fenders over the years, but for my money I'll save up a little
longer and stick with composite neck insts. They are an acquired taste, but I
prefer them to all of the eccentricities of wooden necks- Graphite doesn't
warp, etc. and the sustain and High end response is incomparable . The lack
of dead spots common to wooden necks is a plus. Also, my strings last upwards
of A YEAR PER SET regardless of near constant use without a significant loss
of High end. I use Trace Elliot and SWR amps, so a lack of highs would be
very apparent.  (and irritating!  LOL)    -Mark