• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

EBMM StingRay Special Club

E48AF831-C6D3-460C-ADD0-64ABB0589B60.jpeg
I sold my Fender Elite Precision after I had my Stingray for a while. Now I’m down to just my American Original P bass and the Stingray Special. They are completely different animals and I like being able to change it up depending on my mood. I love them both though.
 
View attachment 3370573 I sold my Fender Elite Precision after I had my Stingray for a while. Now I’m down to just my American Original P bass and the Stingray Special. They are completely different animals and I like being able to change it up depending on my mood. I love them both though.
That’s a very nice setup
 
There is far more tonal difference between my early 90s 3band 4H stingray and my 2000s 3band 4H Stingray than the 2000s Ray and any 4HH I've had and ALL of them are ernie ball designs off of the original Leo design. I've experienced no tonal differences between the bridge pickups of each. Again, it's the same pickup in the same place thru the same preamp. The same would apply with Specials. The guy in the video is holding a modern 3band import 4H stingray and calling it a fender design as if it's a 70s stingray. Also the guy in the video is talking about and using a 3band 4H, not a 2 band. Yes, I understand the difference and have used both, but I'm not talking about 2band stingrays.
Please be up to speed on both what I actually said and what we are actually discussing before saying I'm spreading 'misinformation'. Thanks.

But you just stated that you have owned a ton of Stingrays and HH Stingrays. You need to be more precise when you mentioned Stingrays as you could be referring to 2 bands or 3 bands. You didn't make that clear and that is why I had to correct you.
 
So now that we have our Stingray Specials, has anyone decided to part with any of your other basses because they aren’t getting played ?

I gotta say... since I got my Special, my 4H Stealth Black Stingray, which I absolutely love and was my favorite bass, has not been played at all.
I guess it is relegated to back up. Can’t ever see me selling it.
I did sell my Fender Professional Series P Bass to get the Special...no regrets there !!
 
So, I am geeking out a bit. :woot:

My SR Special came yesterday. So, here is the scoop.

I usually avoid "the bass room," at my favorite music store (they were having a big sale) but went anyway (the Friday before last). They had a SR Special 4 HH with gray sparkle, so I asked to play it. I was impressed with the sound and the lightness, but I didn't love the finish (I really didn't like the back hardware). I wanted it anyway. So, I didn't get it but became a little obsessed going back and forth... "but I don't need it.... yeah, but I really want it.... repeat for eternity, well at least for the next week. So, last Wednesday I went home and found an Burnt Candy Apple finish on one (just about killed me.... now that's what I'm talkin' about) online. I called them and ask if they were negotiable on the price and they knocked some bucks off so the price so it was about the same as my local store. Anyway, within about 20 minutes of finding the bass, I had purchased it.

First impressions - for a negative, the action is really low and the E and A string are buzzing (not hitting the PUs). I called for advice and they told me to use the allen wrench and to turn the trussrod 1/8 of a turn counterclockwise. Problem was, they sent me 2 small allen wrenches that were the wrong size. I am going to a friend's house tonight- he has a complete set of wrenches, so hopefully I can get it fixed.

Now for the good stuff. The finish is just beautiful (see pics). The neck is as well and I love the look of the burnt maple. This is my first bass with at maple neck so I am glad it isn't real light (I prefer dark necks). The neck is very accurate and feels great. I am, however, used to jazz necks (or jazz style necks), so the chunkiness of the neck is taking some getting used to. Things I can pull off with my jazz necks are a bit more challenging. One the upside that will make me a better player if I need to struggle a little.

The bass sounds great through my amp (Eden RoadRunner 600 watts + 2/2 ten cabinets: Eden and and Agulair). The pickup selector allows you to choose from traditional SR to more interesting combinations (like both PUs together). The pre-amp is a bit crazy and the way I have my amp EQ'd forced me to really use it sparingly. Talk about headroom! It could be dangerous in the wrong hands as you can really over do it if you aren't careful. The tonal variety is overall, very impressive.

I have to say that it's the nicest bass I have every owned [and I have had a few over the years.... about 4 Fenders, a Gibson Ripper, 2 G&L L1000s, a Sire P/J, a Fenderstein P/J, a fretless parts bass, a MM Cutlass (1983) and an EBMM Sterling (2004)]. With topnotch construction, aesthetics and versatility, I understand why they call it a "Special."













 
Last edited:
So, I am geeking out a bit. :woot:

My SR Special came yesterday. So, here is the scoop.

I usually avoid "the bass room," at my favorite music store (they were having a big sale) but went anyway (the Friday before last). They had a SR Special 4 HH with gray sparkle, so I asked to play it. I was impressed with the sound and the lightness, but I didn't love the finish (I really didn't like the back hardware). I wanted it anyway. So, I didn't get it but became a little obsessed going back and forth... "but I don't need it.... yeah, but I really want it.... repeat for eternity, well at least for the next week. So, last Wednesday I went home and found an Burnt Candy Apple finish on one (just about killed me.... now that's what I'm talkin' about) online. I called them and ask if they were negotiable on the price and they knocked some bucks off so the price so it was about the same as my local store. Anyway, within about 20 minutes of finding the bass, I had purchased it.

First impressions - for a negative, the action is really low and the E and A string are buzzing (not hitting the PUs). I called for advice and they told me to use the allen wrench and to turn the trussrod 1/8 of a turn counterclockwise. Problem was, they sent me 2 small allen wrenches that were the wrong size. I am going to a friend's house tonight- he has a complete set of wrenches, so hopefully I can get it fixed.

Now for the good stuff. The finish is just beautiful (see pics). The neck is as well and I love the look of the burnt maple. This is my first bass with at maple neck so I am glad it isn't real light (I prefer dark necks). The neck is very accurate and feels great. I am, however, used to jazz necks (or jazz style necks), so the chunkiness of the neck is taking some getting used to. Things I can pull off with my jazz necks are a bit more challenging. One the upside that will make me a better player if I need to struggle a little.

The bass sounds great through my amp (Eden RoadRunner 600 watts + 2/2 ten cabinets: and Eden and and Agulair). The pickup selector allows you to choose from traditional SR to more interesting combinations (like both PUs together). The pre-amp is a bit crazy and the way I have my amp EQ'd forced me to really use it sparingly. Talk about headroom! It could be dangerous in the wrong hands as you can really over do it if you aren't careful. The tonal variety is overall, very impressive.

I have to say that it's the nicest bass I have every owned [and I have had a few over the years.... about 4 Fenders, a Gibson Ripper, 2 G&L L1000s, a Sire P/J, a Fenderstein P/J, a fretless parts bass, a MM Cutlass (1983) and an EBMM Sterling (2004)]. With topnotch construction, aesthetics and versatility, I understand why they call it a "Special."















You scored! That color is to drool for!

Truss rod access is super easy- no Allen wrench required. As mentioned above just a screwdriver will do. Also as mentioned, don’t overdo it.

Enjoy that beauty and give us an update when you get her set up to your liking.
 
So, I am geeking out a bit. :woot:

My SR Special came yesterday. So, here is the scoop.

I usually avoid "the bass room," at my favorite music store (they were having a big sale) but went anyway (the Friday before last). They had a SR Special 4 HH with gray sparkle, so I asked to play it. I was impressed with the sound and the lightness, but I didn't love the finish (I really didn't like the back hardware). I wanted it anyway. So, I didn't get it but became a little obsessed going back and forth... "but I don't need it.... yeah, but I really want it.... repeat for eternity, well at least for the next week. So, last Wednesday I went home and found an Burnt Candy Apple finish on one (just about killed me.... now that's what I'm talkin' about) online. I called them and ask if they were negotiable on the price and they knocked some bucks off so the price so it was about the same as my local store. Anyway, within about 20 minutes of finding the bass, I had purchased it.

First impressions - for a negative, the action is really low and the E and A string are buzzing (not hitting the PUs). I called for advice and they told me to use the allen wrench and to turn the trussrod 1/8 of a turn counterclockwise. Problem was, they sent me 2 small allen wrenches that were the wrong size. I am going to a friend's house tonight- he has a complete set of wrenches, so hopefully I can get it fixed.

Nice bass.

Adjusting the truss rod is not the correct first choice to raise or lower the action.

If you're not sure how to set up your bass, best to have someone experienced show you how or check the many threads here on the topic.
 
Thanks all for your comments. StayLow, I’ll check before doing anything (love your avatar BTW Sabbath was why I started playing bass).

Sorry that I am so “technically challenged.” (thinking of another word for it....).

I did figure out that the tool was in the Ernieballsack included with my bass (sorry, couldn’t resist!). I asked the guy at the guitar store what the “screwdriver thing” was and he didn’t know what I meant! I later figured out that what it was. I’ll post after any adjustments.

Cheers!
 
  • Like
Reactions: GRoberts and scottm
Just pulled the trigger on a Burnt Apple StingRay Special 4H. The seller is shipping tomorrow, so I have to patiently wait. That's always the easy part. Ugh. I never bought an instrument without playing before buying, but I'm fairly confident in the quality from everything I read. Nothing to worry about ... right? I have played a few here and there and never met a StingRay I didn't enjoy.

So, is there some sort of initiation to join this group?
 
Hello to everyone. I had a four different StingRays during past 15 years, and with last two of them I have a problem with ''weak'' G string. It become a real pain in the ass in the last few months. After reading a lot of forums with similar topic, I realized I was not the only one with the same problem.
Can someone with same experience tell me is there a problem with weak G string on new Special series, or EB solved it with new pickup, preamp and other settings ?
Thanks for answers.
 
Hello to everyone. I had a four different StingRays during past 15 years, and with last two of them I have a problem with ''weak'' G string. It become a real pain in the ass in the last few months. After reading a lot of forums with similar topic, I realized I was not the only one with the same problem.
Can someone with same experience tell me is there a problem with weak G string on new Special series, or EB solved it with new pickup, preamp and other settings ?
Thanks for answers.

It's about setup. Stingrays are exceptionally finnicky if you want the D and G to balance in a mix at volume.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mouthmw