All New Redesigned 2018 Music Man Stingray!

[rogerbmiller]

Apparently an all new and reimagined Music Man Stingray that was debuted at NAMM 2018!



As a stingray player and fan, I met this news with both excitement and skepticism but as I consider the many small but not insignificant changes, I am actually excited to test one out.

According to what I have gleaned from videos online, it looks like the following changes have been made:

1) Bridge size reduced and now made of aluminum for weight reduction

2) Tuners now aluminum for weight reduction

3) Crescent shaped cavity plate and knobs made of aluminum for weight reduction

4) Re-voiced preamp to eliminate the harsh and tunny treble MM was known for. I wonder if this is the same revoicing featured in the NY Stingray and the 30th anniversary Stingray

5) 18 V electronics for more headroom

6) Neo pickups now an option

7) Contoured body where the arm rests for added comfort

8) New and really cool metallic finishes

<>Edit for more feaures:

9) redesigned tuners akin to hip shot ultra lites

10) 22 fret neck

11) ebony fingerboards available with certain finishes.

<> end edit

One of the videos I watched intimated that these changes will also feature in the HH and HS stringrays. Not sure about the SR5 though.

In one video they claimed that between the beveling and aluminum parts they have reduced the typical weight by about 1.5 lbs. Personally, I am more excited about the neo PU option and the new 3B preamp.

But more than anything, I hope they fixed the quiet G string problem once and for all!

Let's discuss.


Roger

 

[Herrick]

I thought they said they shaved almost 1 pound with the hardware changes.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I thought they said they shaved almost 1 pound with the hardware changes.

A couple of interviews I have seen with with EBMM staff and the EBMM forums are saying 1.5 lbs. According to the EBMM forums the weight reduction is "very very noticable."

 

[two fingers]

If these changes make their way to a SR5 Classic they will have my attention for sure. If I were king they would be on an SR5 Classic with 19mm spacing.

 

[Herrick]

A couple of interviews I have seen with with EBMM staff and the EBMM forums are saying 1.5 lbs. According to the EBMM forums the weight reduction is "very very noticable."

That's cool. I'll have to keep an eye on this and see if the 5-strings get the same treatment. Even better for Herrick would be if the MM Sterling gets that treatment as I like the look of those smaller bodies.

 

[rogerbmiller]

If these changes make their way to a SR5 Classic they will have my attention for sure. If I were king they would be on an SR5 Classic with 19mm spacing.

Years ago Serling Ball offered to make a 19MM SR5 if a certain number of folks committed to buy them and put down a deposit. In the end he never got the numbers he wanted (which were reasonable) and he put the notion to rest by stating that 17.5 seems to be the sweet spot for 5ers and especially the SR5.

That said, I too would love to have a 19mm spacing SR classic 5!

 

[Joe Nerve]

I'm real interested. I heard a rumor in another thread that the bass weighs like 7 lbs, but I have a rough time believing that. If anyone ever finds out an actual weight, please do tell.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I’m not a fan of these “upgrades”. IMO, they have “Sterling-ized” the Stingray by making it lighter and sleeker...
I fell in love with the ‘90’s 3-band Ray’s. I recently played a 3-band 2016 model, and my reaction was “meh...” (and I did a quick setup on it, too).
Looks like if I want what I like, it won’t be anything new from EB...maybe a Classic, but they seem very few and far in between...

 

[rogerbmiller]

I'm real interested. I heard a rumor in another thread that the bass weighs like 7 lbs, but I have a rough time believing that. If anyone ever finds out an actual weight, please do tell.

EBMM forums speculate it will be under 9 lbs which makes sense given many a Ray is 10+ and shaving 1.5 lbs gets you to 8.5 from 10. I am curious though!

 

[rogerbmiller]

I’m not a fan of these “upgrades”. IMO, they have “Sterling-ized” the Stingray by making it lighter and sleeker...
I fell in love with the ‘90’s 3-band Ray’s. I recently played a 3-band 2016 model, and my reaction was “meh...” (and I did a quick setup on it, too).
Looks like if I want what I like, it won’t be anything new from EB...maybe a Classic, but they seem very few and far in between...

With something as trusty and familiar as an SR it is hard to welcome change. I admit I was skeptical at first too but there are enough new features they are offering that I am at least excited to try one. And I also realized that EBMM has a way of bringing back old old designs. I mean look at the classic series right?! And there is Old Smoothie too.

Like you, my favorite era is the early to mid 90s when they used oiled Birdseye Maple necks, oversized bridges with string mutes and 3B preamps. So given the company's recent strategy of re-introducing older designs, in my dream scenario they would bring those 90s beauties back as the Classic Series II and we could go form there!

 

[selowitch]

No Classic Sabre 5-string. No Cutlass 5-string. No Caprice 5-string. Those were my three wishes!

 

[Slater]

Years ago Serling Ball offered to make a 19MM SR5 if a certain number of folks committed to buy them and put down a deposit. In the end he never got the numbers he wanted (which were reasonable) and he put the notion to rest by stating that 17.5 seems to be the sweet spot for 5ers and especially the SR5.

That said, I too would love to have a 19mm spacing SR classic 5!

I remember that. Sterling Ball would only make them in black, so a lot of people cried about color choice, and the deal died. I guess color turned out to be more important than 19mm spacing and playability.

 

[wizard65]

So high mass bridges are out of fashion, now it’s low mass bridges!

 

[MD Stingray]

Very interesting.

Curious if prices will increase.. i guess I know the answer..

 

[mouthmw]

I’m not a fan of these “upgrades”. IMO, they have “Sterling-ized” the Stingray by making it lighter and sleeker...
I fell in love with the ‘90’s 3-band Ray’s. I recently played a 3-band 2016 model, and my reaction was “meh...” (and I did a quick setup on it, too).
Looks like if I want what I like, it won’t be anything new from EB...maybe a Classic, but they seem very few and far in between...

Yeah, not sure how I feel about those upgrades. Oh well, at least I scored a nice 3 bander last year. That said, I'm still curious and would love to try one of the new ones.

Why didn't you like the 2016 3 band Ray? It's pretty much the same as the 90s 3 banders, it's the same pickup and preamp. Was it the feel or the tone thing?

 

[Joe Kyle]

Mehhhh, and this is coming from a dude who loves Rays and their distant cousins the ASATS.

I would've liked to try a neck through ray, but IDK about this. The colors look nothing like the more adventurous EB ones of yesteryear, the preamp is different, and apparently everyone gets a toasted neck?

Think I'll shop used if I want another one.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Very interesting.

Curious if prices will increase.. i guess I know the answer..

It is my understanding that these will start at $1999 which is a notable price increase.

 

[MD Stingray]

It is my understanding that these will start at $1999 which is a notable price increase.

O' dear , this will mean due to taxes/import/etc a 3K Euro price tag in Europe (3600 USD). That is Fender team built Custom Shop territory.

 

[Stevorebob]

The 5HH felt great, not 7lbs great, but certainly lighter than my 10.5lb 5HHs. The roasted neck was flawless. Couldn’t really get a sense of the aluminum bridge, 18v pre and neo p’up tone on the NAMM floor.

 

[Stevorebob]

I’ll add, they did sound great under the fingers of Tony Levin.