EBMM no longer makes "The StingRay"?

[dkelley]

Hm. That hasn't been my experience at all. Could be that my all-Markbass rig has something to do with it, but I run the bass knob on my 2-band Ray at max and the treble at 75% and I don't feel that there's any lack of midrange at all. If there was the bass wouldn't have lasted long for me since I'm very big on midrange and can't enjoy playing with a noticeably scooped or undefined tone. The sound that I get is articulate and it'll do that bridge pickup thing.

I enjoy the 2 band preamp because I do feel it sounds better. The bass and treble frequencies are both more pleasing to the ear. The treble has a nice sparkle that's above the high mids so it avoids that harshness. And the bass is deeper sounding. Plus it's nice the interaction between the bass, treble, and volume. I agree that the bass control is boost only, except that I believe when it's completely off it's a slight cut. Like it's flat at about 5% of the way up or something. I think I heard that somewhere and it's been my personal impression as well. The treble seems pretty clearly boost/cut in a more traditional sense. But I do like that you're not quite sure exactly what it's doing and you have to just use your ears. It's a fun preamp without the center detents.

The 2 band is overall a more subtle tone shaping tool and feels more incorporated into the instrument as a whole. It feels more like a passive bass to play in a lot of ways. I think a lot of people write it off as just a 3 band without the mids control but that's not it at all. The preamps that have followed it have different frequencies and feel a lot more "active". Basically the 2 band gives a sense of being inseparable from the design, where the 3 and 4 bands seem like they were added on and could be swapped out at will. Along that train of thought, I wonder if EBMM are going to start putting Darkglass preamps in their basses given the apparent collaboration they're about to announce. It would be odd to me since EBMM are themselves the ultimate preamp maker and made the best one ever - the 2 band. Really I'm a huge fan of them I just want their classic tones to remain obtainable for everyone. I have mine so I'm all set.

agreed on the benefits of the 2 band and it's tone. completely disagree on the 2 band and midrange level. Depends on your goals though of course. Take a jazz bass with the level of either volume knob a bit higher than the other, take a precision bass, ..... far more mids as you play up the neck some for soloing, and so forth. It's really quite dramatic.

They are still one of the greatest basses in existence imho. But on the single pickup 2 band versions, it was a magical sound, but not a sound that let me dial in anything that would let me cut through a band when playing up the neck.

Just my findings, but it was real findings from a lot of serious use in various situations including studio and live. I ADORED the recorded tone of the instrument.... just perfect without touching it, and something that is quite a unique tone in the world and very distinctive, in a good way. But I need versatility in my midrange settings etc, and it wasn't possible in the way I needed it to be, and in the way that I can get it from other basses.

Hence why I would only ever have the 2 band again if it had the john east preamp - which is literally the same 2 band preamp with a very flexible and powerful mid control added to it... exactly what the doctor ordered (and why it's such a popular, although very expensive, preamp).

I am not in any way dissing anyone's love of the tone of them. I loved mine and swore by them, but by the end I was swearing at them for this particular reason.

It's a choice thing - for me, 3 band eq (although the 3 band isn't as nice sounding in the high end to me), or as noted, the john east preamp which is the best of all worlds. Another drawback that grew tiresome for me was that mine were slab bodies.... which I grew to dislike... very uncomfortable with extended playing for me on my right arm... the only good thing about the slab body being increased surface area on your leg when sitting down, which spreads the weight around better, but that's a moot point compared to the disadvantages of the slab body. And it just makes the body heavier without any advantage to it other than being easier to manufacture back in the days when it was all done more hands on.

anyway, the whole point is that we have choices, and choices are a great thing! I think the 2 band ray is one of the single greatest instruments in the world! if I only played bass in the traditional (in a group as a normal bass player) kinda role, they'd still be in my arsenal, because I think I like the tone better than most other basses for that situation.

 

[Killing Floor]

3EQ is better. Is that what you mean?

I’m still broken up that they discontinued the Sabre.

 

[beaglesandbass]

lack of body contours are things that belong in the past.

I absolutely love playing my classic ray, at home…. sitting down. it’s just not a comfortable bass to be playing for hours at a gig.

 

[Bonafide]

I love the tone of a vintage Ray. And...I sure like the current Stingray Specials. I think EB does a valiant job of balancing and answering the musicians call of 'we want improvements but please don't change anything much'. Tradition has its place and value and any tonal preferences or opinions aside, I feel we often get caught up in perceiving what came first as 'best or most classic' simply because we have a relevant body of work, familiarity or history with it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If EBMM stops making certain basses, then there is always Lakland.

Unless you are about the 55-76, which I think can still be specially ordered, Lakland doesn’t produce a bass that captures the Stingray sound. The 55-94/55-02 humbucker is too close to the bridge to really get the Stingray tone.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

To my ears, the man playing this Stingray Special is doing a good job getting Louis Johnson’s Stingray tone.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Unless you are about the 55-76, which I think can still be specially ordered, Lakland doesn’t produce a bass that captures the Stingray sound. The 55-94/55-02 humbucker is too close to the bridge to really get the Stingray tone.

I never heard of the 55-76, just looked it up. WOW. there’s a blue quilted maple one in the classifieds now that I am considering selling a kidney for.

 

[Dluxe]

They need to make a Bernard Edwards signature bass.

 

[Hounddog409]

Yeah, I'd like to see EB come out with 73 variations, along with an additional 92 signature models...

Don't forget the yearly Anniversary model.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I never heard of the 55-76, just looked it up. WOW. there’s a blue quilted maple one in the classifieds now that I am considering selling a kidney for.

If you are healthy, you do have two good kidneys.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

They need to make a Bernard Edwards signature bass.

View attachment 4306826

I suspect those of you who read my posts, know I am a huge Bernard Edwards fan. He deserves a signature bass for his memory. For Louis Johnson, Music Man could make a signature Stingray or Sabre.

 

[Killing Floor]

By the same token Fender doesn’t make the Precision Bass. But you can get an Am Pro.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

EBMM needs to continue the Stingray because it is the cause of the company's success,
just as Fender needs to always have a P in the lineup.
Even if you end up playing something else, you will likely base your choice, at least in part on how it compares to the classics.

 

[bigswifty1]

I absolutely love playing my classic ray, at home…. sitting down. it’s just not a comfortable bass to be playing for hours at a gig.

I'm exactly the same. 3 hours with that plank body is not much fun to me. I'm now gigging a standard 3-band body but with a 2-band preamp.

 

[OnederTone]

They've publicly stated that the StingRay Classic had not been discontinued, they've just had to put production on hold due to the pandemic.

this. And if Sterling is anything he’s a marketing genius and someone that knows how to turn lemons into the sweetest lemonade you’d ever taste. My bet is they recognized the issues presented by the pandemic, and decided to pull a “New Coke” move by restricting production to just the Specials until production could ramp back up, build up stock of Classic Stingrays and Sterlings and come time for NAMM 22 go full court press on the return of the original (and I personally hope US Sterlings in some extra special way)

 

[OnederTone]

What company intentionally produces basses no one wants?

Gibson?
1/2 of what Ibanez puts out?
Did you see the Riccisionazz Jackson thing???

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Gibson?
1/2 of what Ibanez puts out?
Did you see the Riccisionazz Jackson thing???

Last I heard, Ibanez sells more basses than any other company. Much of their high end stuff is limited production. How Many times do you see a Thundercat or Adam Nitti bass at a local store? Gibson has classics that sell steadily, most of their newer models don’t last. As for Jackson, the jury is out.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Boom chaka laka boom boom. Doc Cheese is completely right!

 

[58kites]

I absolutely love playing my classic ray, at home…. sitting down. it’s just not a comfortable bass to be playing for hours at a gig.

Another drawback that grew tiresome for me was that mine were slab bodies.... which I grew to dislike... very uncomfortable with extended playing for me on my right arm... the only good thing about the slab body being increased surface area on your leg when sitting down, which spreads the weight around better, but that's a moot point compared to the disadvantages of the slab body. And it just makes the body heavier without any advantage to it other than being easier to manufacture back in the days when it was all done more hands on.

I'm exactly the same. 3 hours with that plank body is not much fun to me. I'm now gigging a standard 3-band body but with a 2-band preamp.

You can turn a slab body bass into a bass with a forearm and/or a belly cut pretty quickly at home.

 

[dkelley]

You can turn a slab body bass into a bass with a forearm and/or a belly cut pretty quickly at home.

Hahahahaha

No, no, I can't actually. That's a good one.

I apologize for criticizing slab body basses everyone. I stand corrected.

Everyone here can just add any belly and forarm cuts pretty quickly at home.

We all have the skills, tools, experience, and the ability to refinish those parts to match the areas we "cut".

Sorry for the sarcasm 58kites..... but you have to understand... the majority of people don't have the ability, skill, tools, and experience to do that.