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EBMM StingRay Special Club

#1,983
twc1313 said:
So, I kill uncoated strings quickly and playing my new Special for the entire last week rendered the strings dead.

I had a new set of DR Black Beauties and a set of Super Slinkies. The DRs went on and lasted about 30mins
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I used to/still do have a similar problem, yours may well be worse. The reason I say used to is that I now wash my hands religiously before I pickup my Special which has rounds on, and again mid way through if I’m really getting into it. It’s helped me a lot to keep my strings lasting longer. If I’m feeling lazy, I just pick up my Smoothie with flats :D

I used to work with a guitar tech who had an apprentice who’s sweat could kill new strings before he’d finished setting up the guitar. He altered his diet and apparently it really helped. Now that’s dedication...:roflmao:
 
#1,984
Stevorebob said:
I enjoy my Special’s light weight and I certainly notice the near 30% increased heft of my older StingRays, but their heavier weights just don’t bother me. (And I am no strong man, my friends.) I simply don’t see the issue with a Special that’s on the heavier end of the spectrum.
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Not a Special owner here, but I own a Classic 4H that is 10 lbs and some number of ounces. I find it to be my most comfortable bass because it is the most balanced. If I let it hang, it has 0 tendency to lean to the left.

I have a Jazz that is 9-some pounds, but is not as well balanced, so it pulls more on my shoulder. Two hours of standing and playing with that bass, and my left shoulder is pretty sore. That doesn’t happen with the heavier but better balanced Stingray.

That said, I did get a chance to briefly try out a Special 4H at GC. I found it to be light and comfortable to play, although I didn’t play it for more than a minute or two.
 
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#1,985
twc1313 said:
Ya, I just have something in my body chemistry that does it. I used Elixirs for the longest time and was fine, but still prefer the tone of uncoated strings. It's a lose/lose.

I honestly think part of my GAS is string related; I like new strings. I've considered selling basses in the past, then put new strings on them and fall back in love. OCD at its finest.
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I also kill strings alarmingly fast and have been using Elixirs for years now. Here and there, I'll get the notion to try some uncoated strings, but I know it'll be wasted money as they'd be dead quick. So other than briefly playing the EB strings on my 30th SR5 and Special when they arrived, I've stayed with Elixir for awhile now.

My last Elixir order, I got some of the stainless steel strings (I had tried them when first released, too) and while they're definitely brighter, their nickel version lasts longer for me. It's weird, the nickels can maintain a nice sounds for seemingly ever and I'll normally keep them on the bass around four to six months, but the stainless start sounding a bit too worn after about two months.

BassGuyFL said:
Slightly OT how does your 30th compare to the special?
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I have a 30th SR5 and a Special 5H (Aqua/Ebony). The Special is definitely rounder and more organic sounding with the preamp having far greater reach and control than the 30th. With both preamps set flat, the Special definitely sounds fatter and can get closer to the 2-band pre sound of the Classic 5 that I previously owned. The 30th has more grit and grind, but doesn't get as snarling as my '88 SR5 though. The revised pre in the 30th keeps it from getting too much out of hand to me; same with the Specials, though with the 30th you can still dial in a bit more of that clanky treble that I don't think most of us MM players ever use/desire (I use both set flat 99.9% of the time). I got lucky with the 30th as it weighs in at 8.75ish pounds. Since getting the Special, the 30th has been making gigs, but as only as an unused backup.
 
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#1,986
3wavylines said:
Not a Special owner here, but I own a Classic 4H that is 10 lbs and some number of ounces. I find it to be my most comfortable bass because it is the most balanced. If I let it hang, it has 0 tendency to lean to the left.

I have a Jazz that is 9-some pounds, but is not as well balanced, so it pulls more on my shoulder. Two hours of standing and playing with that bass, and my left shoulder is pretty sore. That doesn’t happen with the heavier but better balanced Stingray.

That said, I did get a chance to briefly try out a Special 4H at GC. I found it to be light and comfortable to play, although I didn’t play it for more than a minute or two.
Click to expand...
EBMM does a really good job with balance. I’d guess that they actually think about matching necks and bodies for that very purpose. That doesn’t happen at FMIC. If you get a well balanced Fender then it’s luck of the draw.
 
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#1,987
Quick update on my new 5HH Special: today I got to spend some quality time puzzling out the extra string.

I REALLY, REALLY like this! (The bass may feel like Sally Fields for those of you old enough to remember.)

Btw it came with Duracells installed so that wasn’t the initial problem. So far the glitch hasn’t returned. Hoping batteries were just loosened during shipping.

Thanks 5 stringers for helping me appreciate what these things do.
 
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#1,988
HD007 said:
Quick update on my new 5HH Special: today I got to spend some quality time puzzling out the extra string.

I REALLY, REALLY like this! (The bass may feel like Sally Fields for those of you old enough to remember.)

Btw it came with Duracells installed so that wasn’t the initial problem. So far the glitch hasn’t returned. Hoping batteries were just loosened during shipping.

Thanks 5 stringers for helping me appreciate what these things do.
Click to expand...
So glad to hear this.
That’s one fine looking bass . I’m sure you will enjoy it even more as you spend more time getting to know it. Oh how I would have liked to have my Special 5HH be my first 5 string. You’ve made an excellent choice . :thumbsup:
 
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#1,989
Just scored a used Cruz Teal 4 H for a good price.

I have been GASing and debating real hard between 4H vs 4HH as I loved playing them both at GC.
I was actually leaning towards a HH more, but a good priced 4H came up with the color I wanted so I went for it.
I will probably add a 4HH or 5HH later on when a good deal pops up. Pretty excited about my first stingray!
 
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#1,990
C5242228-751D-4AE9-8C59-FED5FFBFFDC2.png
New Stingray Special BFR in Dargie Delight. EBMM wants all my money
 
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#1,996
KaseOfBass said:
I also kill strings alarmingly fast and have been using Elixirs for years now. Here and there, I'll get the notion to try some uncoated strings, but I know it'll be wasted money as they'd be dead quick. So other than briefly playing the EB strings on my 30th SR5 and Special when they arrived, I've stayed with Elixir for awhile now.

My last Elixir order, I got some of the stainless steel strings (I had tried them when first released, too) and while they're definitely brighter, their nickel version lasts longer for me. It's weird, the nickels can maintain a nice sounds for seemingly ever and I'll normally keep them on the bass around four to six months, but the stainless start sounding a bit too worn after about two months.



I have a 30th SR5 and a Special 5H (Aqua/Ebony). The Special is definitely rounder and more organic sounding with the preamp having far greater reach and control than the 30th. With both preamps set flat, the Special definitely sounds fatter and can get closer to the 2-band pre sound of the Classic 5 that I previously owned. The 30th has more grit and grind, but doesn't get as snarling as my '88 SR5 though. The revised pre in the 30th keeps it from getting too much out of hand to me; same with the Specials, though with the 30th you can still dial in a bit more of that clanky treble that I don't think most of us MM players ever use/desire (I use both set flat 99.9% of the time). I got lucky with the 30th as it weighs in at 8.75ish pounds. Since getting the Special, the 30th has been making gigs, but as only as an unused backup.
Click to expand...


I totally agree in regards to the Elixirs. I probably will go with some nickle 100-45 on the Special next. I don't like Stainless on a Ray, only Jazz basses.

In regards to the Special vs Older SR I also agree. This is the first bass (other than my Sire on some songs) where I have turned the treble knob up; all other active and passive basses I've owned I would only take the treble back. The Special can get close to the old 3-band Ray territory with bass 25% past the middle boosted, treble up full blast. The great thing is that even with that boost, it doesn't get into the annoying grindy territory of the older versions.
 
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#1,997
KaseOfBass said:
I have a 30th SR5 and a Special 5H (Aqua/Ebony). The Special is definitely rounder and more organic sounding with the preamp having far greater reach and control than the 30th. With both preamps set flat, the Special definitely sounds fatter and can get closer to the 2-band pre sound of the Classic 5 that I previously owned. The 30th has more grit and grind, but doesn't get as snarling as my '88 SR5 though. The revised pre in the 30th keeps it from getting too much out of hand to me; same with the Specials, though with the 30th you can still dial in a bit more of that clanky treble that I don't think most of us MM players ever use/desire (I use both set flat 99.9% of the time). I got lucky with the 30th as it weighs in at 8.75ish pounds. Since getting the Special, the 30th has been making gigs, but as only as an unused backup.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I've been considering getting one in addition to my Special but I haven't had a chance to play one. I was a bit iffy of it being too harsh like my Sterling 5 is because of the ceramic pickup. A bass friend here has one and wants to check out my Special I might take him up on it.
 
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