Thank you, and I’m totally in the same camp. 2 band with alnico pickups and flats is just a sublime combo!
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EBMM Retro 70's Stingray Club
- Thread starter ics1974
- Start date
I found this video, and I do think the newer specials sound the best on my speaker system at least...
I recently bought a Sunset Retro 70s, and honestly, it’s one of the most love–hate instruments I’ve ever owned.
I love it because the idea of owning a brand-new “old-school” StingRay is undeniably cool. I’ve never played a pre-Ernie Ball StingRay, but the tone and resonance of this bass are fantastic—easily the reason I’m still holding on to it.
What really frustrates me is that at a $3,300 price point, this bass feels like a downgrade compared to my 2016 StingRay Classic. There are no longer options for highly figured flame or birdseye maple fretboards, and more importantly, the quality control is clearly worse. Both basses have transparent burst finishes, yet on the Retro 70s I can see several tiny dust particles trapped under the clear coat. They’re small, but they shouldn’t be there on a bass in this price range. My Classic is almost flawless in this regard.
This is extremely disappointing, especially considering that this is supposed to be a premium, USA-made instrument. I honestly expected much better. Has anyone else who bought this color noticed similar issues?
In short, it’s a bass I love for its sound but hate for its execution, and it seriously makes me question whether it’s even worth keeping my Classic. If the Retro 70s had tighter QC, it could easily be a truly top-tier bass—but in its current state, it falls short of what the price suggests.
I love it because the idea of owning a brand-new “old-school” StingRay is undeniably cool. I’ve never played a pre-Ernie Ball StingRay, but the tone and resonance of this bass are fantastic—easily the reason I’m still holding on to it.
What really frustrates me is that at a $3,300 price point, this bass feels like a downgrade compared to my 2016 StingRay Classic. There are no longer options for highly figured flame or birdseye maple fretboards, and more importantly, the quality control is clearly worse. Both basses have transparent burst finishes, yet on the Retro 70s I can see several tiny dust particles trapped under the clear coat. They’re small, but they shouldn’t be there on a bass in this price range. My Classic is almost flawless in this regard.
This is extremely disappointing, especially considering that this is supposed to be a premium, USA-made instrument. I honestly expected much better. Has anyone else who bought this color noticed similar issues?
In short, it’s a bass I love for its sound but hate for its execution, and it seriously makes me question whether it’s even worth keeping my Classic. If the Retro 70s had tighter QC, it could easily be a truly top-tier bass—but in its current state, it falls short of what the price suggests.
Recently purchased the retro model that Funkhead was selling. This is my third Stingray and it’s the first one that sounds good to me. I was never able to bond with the prior two that I had.
Well, the black one i bought shown at the beginning of these pages I stupidly sold. Yearned for another and bought the sunburst. Loved it so much I bought a white one… These are in joint 1st with the g&l l-2000 as my favourite ever basses…
So pretty! May I ask whether your sunburst one has any dust trapped under the clear coat? My sunburst one has several spots like that.
Well, I guess my fretless Pino would count too?
It being a retro of his '79 Stingray.
It being a retro of his '79 Stingray.
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No there’s nothing, they’re absolutely perfect. I have tried 2 others that both had finish flaws in the neck pocket area. The black one I owned before was also perfect.
I would love to have a classic 4-string 'Ray in my collection and have had half an eye on the Retro 70s since they first appeared. I love the look of the 3tsb, but it's not worth $3300 to me.
If this’ll help, but you might be able to twist MF’s arm to give 15% off . I think they have a coupon still happening. But I don’t know the sales tax from where you’re at.
Excellent idea of course and probably the way I'll go when/if I ever get one. The main reason I want one is really just to see how close the 5-string I built comes to capturing that classic sound. I got recommendations here for the electronics that would work best in that regard and I definitely think it sounds 'Ray-ish, but having never really played one can't say with any degree of certainty. Of course, that also means I'm not going to know if any current EBMM offering nails that classic sound either. Just a curiosity thing really, and might even be an exercise in futility, but I'm retired, so...
Maybe takes your down to a store that has one and do a comparison?Excellent idea of course and probably the way I'll go when/if I ever get one. The main reason I want one is really just to see how close the 5-string I built comes to capturing that classic sound. I got recommendations here for the electronics that would work best in that regard and I definitely think it sounds 'Ray-ish, but having never really played one can't say with any degree of certainty. Of course, that also means I'm not going to know if any current EBMM offering nails that classic sound either. Just a curiosity thing really, and might even be an exercise in futility, but I'm retired, so...
Another solid idea, but I'm not going to know if the one in the store has the classic sound or not.
Plus, that would require both driving into Las Vegas and going into a Guitar Center, which are two of my least favorite things to do.
I feel like the advice on pickups (Nordstrand) and preamps (John East) that I got here was likely spot-on.
I have some interest in confirming that, but both a Guitar Center and Vegas? I don't have THAT much interest.
One of the three that I built is going to a friend who will know, and if he doesn't, his wife surely will. I'll probably just wait for them to come pick it up.
Passively waiting for that to happen is just right up my alley.
I don’t blame you one bit.Another solid idea, but I'm not going to know if the one in the store has the classic sound or not.
Plus, that would require both driving into Las Vegas and going into a Guitar Center, which are two of my least favorite things to do.
I feel like the advice on pickups (Nordstrand) and preamps (John East) that I got here was likely spot-on.
I have some interest in confirming that, but both a Guitar Center and Vegas? I don't have THAT much interest.
One of the three that I built is going to a friend who will know, and if he doesn't, his wife surely will. I'll probably just wait for them to come pick it up.
Passively waiting for that to happen is just right up my alley.
Maybe you could fly out and play it??? I'd trust your judgment on it 100%.I don’t blame you one bit.
Just an early morning space thought and my last weeks journey I thought I might relate to you all.
I briefly fell out of love with my Pino fretless Thinking I'd made a mistake because I couldn't initially deal with the right arm rest not being as comfortable as a Jazz bass. It spent about a week on the sale block. Yes, I may have overreacted.
Dang, but it sounded so good and I really dug the neck. Compliments from all my players when getting together and when I recorded it as well on playing online, it was perfect. Hmm, I thought, ok....this can be dealt with. It's always mind over matter, right? So what am I doing wrong and how can I make it right. LOL. I explained this to one of my more industrious and do it yourself guitar players. He suggested I take it to a luthier to sand it down ala Jazz bass style to fit my needs.
I said noooooo waaaayyyy. A big negatory there!!
Ok, how can this be done? I really like it so what the hell am I doing?
After a some thought, I changed my arm pads, adjusted my strap height, arcing the neck more upward, a straighter chair to sit in, (no problems on me standing) and where I place my hands. In other words, quit trying to play it like a Jazz bass. That last part about my mindset was the most important.
It is now very comfortable and OFF the sales block.
I briefly fell out of love with my Pino fretless Thinking I'd made a mistake because I couldn't initially deal with the right arm rest not being as comfortable as a Jazz bass. It spent about a week on the sale block. Yes, I may have overreacted.
Dang, but it sounded so good and I really dug the neck. Compliments from all my players when getting together and when I recorded it as well on playing online, it was perfect. Hmm, I thought, ok....this can be dealt with. It's always mind over matter, right? So what am I doing wrong and how can I make it right. LOL. I explained this to one of my more industrious and do it yourself guitar players. He suggested I take it to a luthier to sand it down ala Jazz bass style to fit my needs.
I said noooooo waaaayyyy. A big negatory there!!Ok, how can this be done? I really like it so what the hell am I doing?
After a some thought, I changed my arm pads, adjusted my strap height, arcing the neck more upward, a straighter chair to sit in, (no problems on me standing) and where I place my hands. In other words, quit trying to play it like a Jazz bass. That last part about my mindset was the most important.
It is now very comfortable and OFF the sales block.
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A jazz bass has very different ergonomics than a precision or stingray. In my opinion, the jazz bass is much worse. It feels like the neck is sticking out like 2 feet more than a P. I had the opposite experience where I had to really get used to my jazz bass, but it only took about two months and now I love it as wellJust an early morning space thought and my last weeks journey I thought I might relate to you all.
I briefly fell out of love with my Pino fretless Thinking I'd made a mistake because I couldn't initially deal with the right arm rest not being as comfortable as a Jazz bass. It spent about a week on the sale block. Yes, I may have overreacted.
Dang, but it sounded so good and I really dug the neck. Compliments from all my players when getting together and when I recorded it as well on playing online, it was perfect. Hmm, I thought, ok....this can be dealt with. It's always mind over matter, right? So what am I doing wrong and how can I make it right. LOL. I explained this to one of my more industrious and do it yourself guitar players. He suggested I take it to a luthier to sand it down ala Jazz bass style to fit my needs.
Ok, how can this be done? I really like it so what the hell am I doing?
After a some thought, I changed my arm pads, adjusted my strap height, arcing the neck more upward, a straighter chair to sit in, (no problems on me standing) and where I place my hands. In other words, quit trying to play it like a Jazz bass. That last part about my mindset was the most important.
It is now very comfortable and OFF the sales block.
