DarkRay or Stingray Special?

[micguy]

Maybe three or four of my basses, I've put shims in the neck pocket to get them set up just right.
I feel insecure that a neck-through would be/stay perfect.

You shouldn't need a shim to make a bass that will set up well. I've build a couple dozen basses that use Fender neck and neck pocket specs, and that set up beautifully, without ever needing a shim - there is plenty of room for adjustment in the parts that go into a Fender-ish design. Of course, the wood parts in the basses I build come from Warmoth. Fender may not be able to make parts that good, but it's not the specs they work to, it's their execution that is lacking.

A well executed bass, whether it be bolt on, neck through , or set neck, should be flexible enough to be set up as you like it - you just need a competent builder to do that. If there is an advantage in any build strategy, a neck through has the advantage that you only have to mill one piece of wood correctly - you don't have the tolerance stack up that comes from a 2 piece construction and the neck/neck pocket interface, so it should be a bit easier to guarantee things are good.

 

[Cory rich40]

So I’m guessing the consensus here is that if you already had a stingray special, and that was your only stingray, you definitely wouldn’t trade it in for a darkray.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Being in possession of both a Darkray and a couple SR specials... I have to say that I LOVE the Darkray. I don't feel like you're really losing out on anything (mid control be damned!), still get the regular Stingray special character, and then get the really fun Darkglass settings. The controls when the Alpha/Omega circuits engaged allow you really fine tune your tone in a meaningful way. Without the circuits engaged, the two band does a great job (and I personally dig the 2 band more than the 3... my SR classic is probably my favorite Stingray). I don't think you can lose with either Ray, though the Darkray is really effin neat and doesn't really feel like a gimmick (and I am not afraid of calling out EBMM when they make a gimmick).

 

[jd50]

I should add, the white sparkle DarkRay 5 looks amazing in person. Honestly that's one of the big things that sold me on it.

 

[metron]

I have a special and a darkglass AO and I dont really like them together. Not sure what it is. Too fizzy maybe? If I did like the pair, I still can’t imagine buying a bass with built in distortion even if it’s not a gimmick. Just my personal thought.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Being in possession of both a Darkray and a couple SR specials... I have to say that I LOVE the Darkray. I don't feel like you're really losing out on anything (mid control be damned!), still get the regular Stingray special character, and then get the really fun Darkglass settings. The controls when the Alpha/Omega circuits engaged allow you really fine tune your tone in a meaningful way. Without the circuits engaged, the two band does a great job (and I personally dig the 2 band more than the 3... my SR classic is probably my favorite Stingray). I don't think you can lose with either Ray, though the Darkray is really effin neat and doesn't really feel like a gimmick (and I am not afraid of calling out EBMM when they make a gimmick).

I would go DarkRay [and may in near future]

May not ever use full spectrum of Alpha/Omega Live at Gig but I can see using a little here and a little there would be helpful. From what I have heard so far the Clean Tone is exceptional.

But at home I would let it rip for my own entertainment

 

[VitoMB]

I have a special and a darkglass AO and I dont really like them together. Not sure what it is. Too fizzy maybe? If I did like the pair, I still can’t imagine buying a bass with built in distortion even if it’s not a gimmick. Just my personal thought.

The Darkray has a Darkglass preamp 2EQ so it is not the same than having the Special EBMM preamp 3EQ + Darkglass pedal. There is no fizzy sound there because the preamp electronics integration is very well done. IMHO.

 

[metron]

The Darkray has a Darkglass preamp 2EQ so it is not the same than having the Special EBMM preamp 3EQ + Darkglass pedal. There is no fizzy sound there because the preamp electronics integration is very well done. IMHO.

I understand. Do you think there is a very different vibe with the DR compared to the Special plus pedal? Demos sound very similar to my experience.

Regardless, it’s just my opinion. Plenty of folks like them even if I’m not interested.

 

[VitoMB]

I understand. Do you think there is a very different vibe with the DR compared to the Special plus pedal? Demos sound very similar to my experience.

I haven’t found any comparison on the web. Do you have a link ? IMO if the electronics staging is different it should sound different in any case.

 

[JC Wood]

So I've just recently bought a DarkRay, and I'm enjoying it, but going back and forth about returning it. To start, I sat in the store for about three hours going back and forth between a MM SR5HH special and the DarkRay. The sound clean is very different, but similar at the same time. The DarkRay seems to have a treble chug going, even when you turn the treble all the way out. The special had a lot more low-end on tap, but not in a good way, unless you're utilizing that regea sub sound. The darkray seems to only give you what you would need in bass, and never really provide that womph sound. I went with the darkray for a few reasons.
1. I never used the mid control on my previous sr5 special, except to pull some out to smile the eq. Knowing this I didn't really beg for a mid control. My ultra jazzV will give me that on the bridge pup when I need it.
2. I wanted my switch to do something. My last MM i never used the switch, just left it in parallel. The darkray stays in parallel, so its a go there for me. I would rather have a switch blade that serves me a purpose then not at all.
3. I love drives!! The EQ on the Darkray is not the same as the MM special, but it gets the original EBMM sound very close and very well for a clean into the mix. Where this eq shines is with the drive. The EQ response wonderfully with either the alpha or omega engaged. It really gives that cutting heavy (usable) distorted rock/metal sound that you hear in modern rock/metal.
4. Its one of the last EBMM that come with a hard case!! Not sure about anyone else here, but when they did the switch to the soft mono case, I swore never to buy a new EB. I'm not gonna spend that kind of money and get a soft case. I know this is a dumb thing, but that case kinda sealed the purchase for me.
5. Most importantly, it severed what I wanted. I was looking for something to cut in a metal band. Yes my Jazz could do it no problem, but this just added the EBMM tone and a darkglass sound all at the same time. It fits what I want. If I need to get a different tone, I have my Swiss army knife jazz bass for that.

All and all play it before you pay it. Like I started with, it took me three hours to make this choice, and I'm still thinking about returning it. The more I play it the more I like it. I had a EBMM SR5H special before, and I was horribly disappointed in it. I think it was just a factory dud, but I haven't looked at a stingray in a long time. This has open a door of awesome for me. I'm weird and perfer the clean tone out of this over a h special. This is all on the one willing to shout that cash out. If you want it go for it, but get it from a place that has returns. This way if you get it and try it in your mix, you can return it if it doesn't sit right.

 

[JC Wood]

Being in possession of both a Darkray and a couple SR specials... I have to say that I LOVE the Darkray. I don't feel like you're really losing out on anything (mid control be damned!), still get the regular Stingray special character, and then get the really fun Darkglass settings. The controls when the Alpha/Omega circuits engaged allow you really fine tune your tone in a meaningful way. Without the circuits engaged, the two band does a great job (and I personally dig the 2 band more than the 3... my SR classic is probably my favorite Stingray). I don't think you can lose with either Ray, though the Darkray is really effin neat and doesn't really feel like a gimmick (and I am not afraid of calling out EBMM when they make a gimmick).

Would live to see you do a review on it and get your impressions. Loved the the diy build when you did that

 

[craigmack1979]

I think it will depend rather on what you think is most important, a 3-band equalizer or the added overdrive and distortion effects.
Both are great basses nonetheless

Darkray is 2band

 

[craigmack1979]

So I've just recently bought a DarkRay, and I'm enjoying it, but going back and forth about returning it. To start, I sat in the store for about three hours going back and forth between a MM SR5HH special and the DarkRay. The sound clean is very different, but similar at the same time. The DarkRay seems to have a treble chug going, even when you turn the treble all the way out. The special had a lot more low-end on tap, but not in a good way, unless you're utilizing that regea sub sound. The darkray seems to only give you what you would need in bass, and never really provide that womph sound. I went with the darkray for a few reasons.
1. I never used the mid control on my previous sr5 special, except to pull some out to smile the eq. Knowing this I didn't really beg for a mid control. My ultra jazzV will give me that on the bridge pup when I need it.
2. I wanted my switch to do something. My last MM i never used the switch, just left it in parallel. The darkray stays in parallel, so its a go there for me. I would rather have a switch blade that serves me a purpose then not at all.
3. I love drives!! The EQ on the Darkray is not the same as the MM special, but it gets the original EBMM sound very close and very well for a clean into the mix. Where this eq shines is with the drive. The EQ response wonderfully with either the alpha or omega engaged. It really gives that cutting heavy (usable) distorted rock/metal sound that you hear in modern rock/metal.
4. Its one of the last EBMM that come with a hard case!! Not sure about anyone else here, but when they did the switch to the soft mono case, I swore never to buy a new EB. I'm not gonna spend that kind of money and get a soft case. I know this is a dumb thing, but that case kinda sealed the purchase for me.
5. Most importantly, it severed what I wanted. I was looking for something to cut in a metal band. Yes my Jazz could do it no problem, but this just added the EBMM tone and a darkglass sound all at the same time. It fits what I want. If I need to get a different tone, I have my Swiss army knife jazz bass for that.

All and all play it before you pay it. Like I started with, it took me three hours to make this choice, and I'm still thinking about returning it. The more I play it the more I like it. I had a EBMM SR5H special before, and I was horribly disappointed in it. I think it was just a factory dud, but I haven't looked at a stingray in a long time. This has open a door of awesome for me. I'm weird and perfer the clean tone out of this over a h special. This is all on the one willing to shout that cash out. If you want it go for it, but get it from a place that has returns. This way if you get it and try it in your mix, you can return it if it doesn't sit right.

Do you still have darkray ?

 

[JC Wood]

Do you still have darkray ?

Nah, sold it awhile back. I'm rocking a ebmm 4hh special now. Started playing in a blues group, and it really didn't serve a purpose. Will say though, the dark ray held its value, and I didn't lose out mush on the sale.

 

[73_Blazer]

Here is a quick video of the clean tone of the DarkRay. I don’t know what the Stingray Special sounds like, but I did have an older Stingray, and the DarkRay is not as bright when set flat. You can make it sound more like an older Stingray if you turn the treble all the way.

It’s the Genz Benz, GBE 600 set flat and the darkray preamp is set flat

I’m just noodling around not trying to impress anybody. It was my first take and not warmed up or anything.