Does anyone make a boutique StingRay "copy"?

[humpy thumb]

Wow, bringing up an old thread!

Warwick FNA may have a MM style pickup, but nothing else is close to a Stingray.

Still looking for a boutique Stingray... maybe I should go into business for myself!

You titled this thread is,"boutique Stingray copy",which is why I suggested the FNA.
If it were titled,"Stingray copy",I wouldnt have.
See,that one word,"boutique"makes all the difference,dontcha think?
I tried to think of a bass,with what could be considered boutique options,with a single MM alnico pickup,in the same position as a Stingray.A custom shop FNA could faeture practically any option you'd like.
Good luck Andrew.
It sounds like ya know what ya want,just not how to ask for it.

 

[bovinehost]

Try the Stingray SLO Special.

It's a Stingray with a Sterling-sized neck.

Or one of the Classic Series, which very closely duplicates the pre-EB Stingrays.

Or hell, buy a Warwick!

 

[Sten]

Warwicks sound completely different from the Stingrays. They have a lot of lower mids for a very nasal sound vs Stingrays bright and agressive high mids.

The Dragster has some very nice body finishes.

 

[humpy thumb]

Warwicks sound completely different from the Stingrays. They have a lot of lower mids for a very nasal sound vs Stingrays bright and agressive high mids.

The Dragster has some very nice body finishes.

That may be the case for a stock Stingray,but again,this is about a boutique,or custom Stingray type bass.
I think I'll just bail on this whole subject.Seems to me nobody reads what's actually being asked.
Adios.

 

[JPaulGeddy]

I concur with the other poster, grab a EBMM Sterling, similar body profile, slimmer neck, close all around sound.

+1

 

[Sten]

Seems to me nobody reads what's actually being asked.

OP wanted a Stingray sound and look with a different neck. I really don't see how a Warwick can help out here.

 

[trunkshope6]

and id consider ebmm to be boutique already

 

[humpy thumb]

OP wanted a Stingray sound and look with a different neck. I really don't see how a Warwick can help out here.

Ever heard of a "custom shop"?
That's kinda like "boutique".
Now pass the cucumber sandwiches.This high tea's a bit estrogen rich.

 

[boomtisk]

Invalid Link Removed in Germany will make you one, apparently (scroll all the way down to the bottom). That model even has a 3+1 headstock so either Hotwire aren't big enough for EB to care about suing them or they let it slide because it's a custom model.

 

[Bocete]

3rd vote for the Dingwall Z2.

 

[roigmarole]

Invalid Link Removed

boerjes, a german luthier, has a boutique ray called bassinger.
you can check out that video to see that bass:

 

[air_leech]

why do you need a custom shop Stingray? if it's the neck than either order an SLO Special (Stingray with the Jazz bass style neck of a Sterling) or get a pre-2000 EBMM/Pre-EB.
my '95 fretless has a way thinner neck than my fretted pre-EB.
there are plenty of 90s Rays poping on the FS section or on Ebay for very reasonable prices.

if it's the quality then IMO you must be beyond anal as EBMM makes the highest quality production basses I've seen or played, their fit and finish is unsurpassed in my book. if a luthier can come up with a better bass I doubt the price difference would be relative to the improvement in build quality.

 

[chux]

Why not buy yourself a Stingray...then replace the neck with a Status or Moses graphite neck? Both come with the 3+1 headstock.

 

[BadB]

Wow, bringing up an old thread!

Warwick FNA may have a MM style pickup, but nothing else is close to a Stingray.

Still looking for a boutique Stingray... maybe I should go into business for myself!

As previously mentioned, just get a 'Ray with the SLO neck profile...and maybe a 2 band eq...in a multitude of colors...

 

[air_leech]

Why not buy yourself a Stingray...then replace the neck with a Status or Moses graphite neck? Both come with the 3+1 headstock.

I'm pretty sure Moses necks don't come with the 3+1 headstock for quite some time now.

 

[matthew.murray]

I didn't expect so much criticism, especially after almost a year of inactivity! Maybe I should have titled the thread "Why do Low End/AC/Lakland/Sadowsky/a million others copy every detail of the J bass including pick guard, control plate, and headstock (as much as legally possible) but not offer a Stingray version." I love my Low End ... it allowed me to be as custom as I wanted to be and still have a bass that looks classic(ish) on stage. I was hoping for the same with the 'Ray body style.

But, apparently courtesy and respect are in short order down under. You are right Humpy, I should check with Warwick to see if they will change their headstock to a 3+1, add an oval pickgaurd and chrome control plate, and put on a one piece bridge. Forgive me for assuming that they won't do this. I played a Warwick for most of my bass career, BTW, great bass!

Thanks for all of the other suggestions. Even though it has been a while since the original post, I am still looking for a four. I will have to track down some of these smaller builders. Maybe they will be present at NAMM this year.

 

[danomite64]

I wonder hotw Musicman got a patent (or trademark) on the 3+1 headstock. I could have sworn that Tiesco had a bass with that configuration way before Musicman was in business.

 

[matthew.murray]

I would like to know as well... I think that someone said earlier in this threat that only the name "3+1" is protected. I can't imagine that making a headstock with a different shape and three tuners on the bass and one on the treble would violate anything. Who knows?

 

[Headless Llama]

maybe they beat them to the patent office

I was this thread and I thought it was a build thread in the wrong place!

 

[boomtisk]

I'm fairly sure they patented the 3+1 configuration itself, same with the 4+2 configuration on their guitars. Maybe they patented the headstock shape as well, perhaps someone more knowledgeable than me knows.