Musicman "History Lesson" Please advise!

Well, Musicman makes many different basses, which one are you talking about? Stingray, Sterling, Sabre, Big Al, Bongo?

The StingRay is a longstanding classic bass. It seems to span a lot of music genres. From funk to hard rock to pop used by players that could choose to play any bass available.

Of course the true classic 'ray is the Pre-EBMM with the 2-band preamp. The 2-band is probably my favorite since it seems a bit thicker and ballsier. The value/price of the Pre-EBMM have gone up substantially in the past 5 years. And some are definely better basses within those years. Toward the end of the "Leo era" there were some issues with the necks but I think that most of those issues were resolved by Ernie Ball.

I have two mid '90s stingrays that are just killer basses. Both have crazy birdseye necks. I have them both with very LOW action and they play like a dream. The fit and finish were as good as it comes. The Ball family really had their act together IMHO. Check out this video of a mid 90's Stingray in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-aQSTvULPs

Early on in the EBMM basses the necks were unfinished. They have an oil finish which some love and some HATE. I myself really like that feel of the unfinished neck. You might want to try both out and see what you think.

Now as far as whether the HH is better...well you do have a ton more tonal options. But I really appreciate the more simpler single H myself.

I've played a few of the new "Classic" basses and I thought that they were really really sweet basses.

It might be worthwhile to go to the EBMM site and read through some of the posts on that board.

Not silly questions at all.

I've never played a Classic, but they definitely look sweet. They differ from the regular Stingrays in that they have a 2-band EQ vs a 3-band. I've played other basses with 2-band and I personally prefer the tonal variety with the added mid control of a 3-band.

As for year, I don't suspect it matters much until you get into the older Stingrays... 70's-ish era (?). From what I've heard, it's similar to Fenders, the older ones were built just a bit differently and have a slightly different sound.

Personally, I'll vote for the HH Stingray for a very simple reason... The back pickup is in the same place as the single H's, but you get an extra pickup to play with.

5sg.

Some good info here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

This is a simple one.

1. Have Quarter Pounders installed in your Deluxe Jazz bass. It will become a monster! You will be thrilled, but If you still want to experiment, proceed to step #2.

2. Try as many Stingray basses as you can. New & used. You will eventually find one that is what you are looking for.

essentre said:

Hey guys,
I've recently been toying with idea of picking up a musicman STINGRAY. To date I've been playing Fender USA Jazz Deluxes but I'm looking for something with a little bit more punch to it. I tried a musicman HH yesterday and i really liked it. I really have no experience with EBMM's so I apologize if some of what I ask sounds silly.
So here's my question(s)...

Is there a particular model or type that is better than another? I've seen Classics and none Classics....
Is there a year/years that are better than others?
Other than the obvious difference is there a big difference between a single and double humbucker? I've got to think the double gives a world more of variety in tone.

This and any other info you could pass along would be GREATLY appreciated. Even if you think its trivial or common knowledge, please share!

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There are no good or bad years with EBMM. The quality is always high.

Jerry J said:

The StingRay is a longstanding classic bass...Toward the end of the "Leo era" there were some issues with the necks but I think that most of those issues were resolved by Ernie Ball...

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Can anyone add to the pre-EB neck topic?

Some were shipped with straight truss rods. I doubt there were more than a few, but yeah, that's an issue.

fivestringgecko said:

Not silly questions at all.

I've never played a Classic, but they definitely look sweet. They differ from the regular Stingrays in that they have a 2-band EQ vs a 3-band. I've played other basses with 2-band and I personally prefer the tonal variety with the added mid control of a 3-band.

**snip**5sg.

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also I believe the Classics are string through body, have the original string mutes in place, glossy finish and older neck radius

Great history on pre and current EB info on Whikki - search by Musicman
I have an 1983 which is the last year of Leo basses; neck is a bit tweeked but OK
The majority of the reviews I've read favor the 2-band EQ although the 3 band is not bad
The only gripe I have with any of the Stingrays is weight; most are in the 10lb+ range although there is an ocasional 8 lb and some low 9's

This is the only vendor on the web that actualy weighs each bass and lists the info (that I can find)
http://www.theperfectbass.com/explo...&W=STORE&P=N&S=1001081&U=1&SS=1&CR=N&modify=0

Have seen Rays for as low as $750-850 on TB classifieds
They also offer a Ray34 which is built overseas that sells for about $650 new; the ones I played were very nice
I think the classic reissues look really nice but can't justify the $1,800 price tag

Hey Jim, I think Leo Fender quit making Musicman basses in late 79. Also, I think there are many more three band Stingrays out there than two band models, and even though the two band model has become fashionable here on TB over the last few months since the Classics were released, I think it's quite an exaggeration to say that most reviews favor the two band over the three.

Jim C said:

Great history on pre and current EB info on Whikki - search by Musicman
I have an 1983 which is the last year of Leo basses; neck is a bit tweeked but OK
The majority of the reviews I've read favor the 2-band EQ although the 3 band is not bad
The only gripe I have with any of the Stingrays is weight; most are in the 10lb+ range although there is an ocasional 8 lb and some low 9's

This is the only vendor on the web that actualy weighs each bass and lists the info (that I can find)
http://www.theperfectbass.com/explo...&W=STORE&P=N&S=1001081&U=1&SS=1&CR=N&modify=0

Have seen Rays for as low as $750-850 on TB classifieds
They also offer a Ray34 which is built overseas that sells for about $650 new; the ones I played were very nice
I think the classic reissues look really nice but can't justify the $1,800 price tag

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Gosh Jim, even the new, regular SRs are in the $1400-1800 range. Just checked the Perfect Bass site. So the Classic seems right in the ballpark.

I have a catalog that came with my '97 SR5 that spec'd the SR4 at 9.5-10 pounds. So I'm betting that EB specified body blank in a range that would meet that criteria. But my '83 SR4, '95 SR4 and my '97 SR5 hover right around 9 pounds. And they are all very well balanced.

king_biscuit said:

Hey Jim, I think Leo Fender quit making Musicman basses in late 79. Also, I think there are many more three band Stingrays out there than two band models, and even though the two band model has become fashionable here on TB over the last few months since the Classics were released, I think it's quite an exaggeration to say that most reviews favor the two band over the three.

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Forgot to give the ultimate link for Pre EB Musicman
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MM was sold to EB in 1984
In reality, these later year basses were assembled by Grover Jackson due to a variety of issues as noted here (really good history the pre EB IMO:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed])

Short version; Leo owned a company called CLF research that made the parts; Leo and others owned MM that QC'd the parts and assembled the instruments; there were problems between the companies; MM was nearly bankrupt and Jackson assembled some basses; EB bout them in March of 1984 and continued making the Stingray

Not 100% sure about this detail, but EB continued down this road for many years and introduced their first original design bass (Bongo) in 2004

You could be entriely correct about 2-band vs. 3.
I base my statement purely on reading threads on these instruments here and on the MM forum; and maybe just the diehard 2-band guys post the most?

OTOH, there was enough interest for them to start building the classic series which aren't very different than the standard Rays (no offset body and addition of string mutes); pretty sure you could have always ordered a single pup 2-band Ray although stores around me seem to stock the 3-band.
I think both are great, but given the choice I prefer the 2-band.

Jerry J said:

Gosh Jim, even the new, regular SRs are in the $1400-1800 range. Just checked the Perfect Bass site. So the Classic seems right in the ballpark.

I have a catalog that came with my '97 SR5 that spec'd the SR4 at 9.5-10 pounds. So I'm betting that EB specified body blank in a range that would meet that criteria. But my '83 SR4, '95 SR4 and my '97 SR5 hover right around 9 pounds. And they are all very well balanced.

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Hey Jerry,
Congrats on having a flock of feather weight Rays!
According to Gavin's site listed above, there are some extremely heavy SR's out there (12 lbs and up) and I believe the majority are around 10 1/2 lbs (like mine).
Next time you get a minute, check the weights of all the SR's on the Perfect Bass site; last time I checked the low was right around 8.5 and the high was over 10.5.
Just really hard to buy a used one site unseen and every time I ask for a seller here to weigh theirs, the number is high
Do other manufacturers have a 20% weight differential in the same model year with the exact same set up?

king_biscuit said:

Hey Jim, I think Leo Fender quit making Musicman basses in late 79. Also, I think there are many more three band Stingrays out there than two band models, and even though the two band model has become fashionable here on TB over the last few months since the Classics were released, I think it's quite an exaggeration to say that most reviews favor the two band over the three.

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Nope. He started to build MM basses at least in 1977. I have had a 1978 StingRay. Nice bass. Still my brand new Warmoth played and sounded better when I built it. Really, no offense, MM basses are great basses, hope you can can find one that makes you happy. For me it was a bit muddy sounding and as all the single pickup basses - a bit like a one sound bass. Lately I tried my friend's Stingray5 from 90s and it was really a monster. Better than my 78.

If I weren't primarily doing looper work, I'd be grabbing a new 'Ray Classic. The single 'buck in the sweet spot with the 2 band EQ would be a lean and mean tone machine. In fact, it crossed my mind to trade my 'Ray 5H for one, but again, because of my gigging situation, I'm leaning towards the Big Al 5 SSS.
Bear in mind- you can get a standard U S built 'Ray with 2 band EQ as well. Another thought is a piezo bridge if you want maximum flexibility. My 'Ray 4HP is like 2 instruments in one with the piezo option. I find it quite useful.

Margus Alviste said:

Nope. He started to build MM basses at least in 1977. I have had a 1978 StingRay. Nice bass. Still my brand new Warmoth played and sounded better when I built it. Really, no offense, MM basses are great basses, hope you can can find one that makes you happy. For me it was a bit muddy sounding and as all the single pickup basses - a bit like a one sound bass. Lately I tried my friend's Stingray5 from 90s and it was really a monster. Better than my 78.

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Leo fender built Musicman basses from 1976 to late 1979. My statement that Leo quit building Musicmans in late 79 is absolutely correct. btw, the Leo Era was from 76-79. Everything after that is not the Leo era -- 80-84 may be pre-EB, but it is not Leo era.