EBMM StingRay Special Club

[Wood and Wire]

I sold my jazz bass and bought a used EB HH Stingray, its output was almost lower than a passive p bass.

Question one:

When i removed the cover to look inside the active circuit, i saw this loose wire in the photo, its tip was in one of the screw holes, but it wasnt connected anywhere? Can anyone tell me whats this wire for? Is it normal that its disconnected and loose like that? And is it normal to have an output like a passive bass?

Question two:

Also the neck humbucker is significantly have lower output, when i put the switch all the way down to bridge and touch to the poles of neck humbucker with a metal tool, there is still current on the neck humbucker. Isnt it supposed to cut the current at neck magnets when its switched to the bridge humbucker all the way down?

I put a brand new battery by the way.

If something wrong i will bring it to the shop and ask for my money back. I can take additional photos if its needed. by the way.

View attachment 3388789

From what little I can see, and the fact that you only changed 1 battery, not 2, I don't think you have a "Special", but a pre-2018 Stingray.

You're better off asking on the regular Stingray thread, as the preamps are completely different between the two models, and I'm not personally au fait with the wiring of the later 3 band preamps.

Usually the bare earth / ground wire goes from the control cavity, through a small hole, and comes out underneath the bridge, which it sits in contact with.

It appears that for some reason, somebody has modified it, and it's just in contact with the control plate, and the screw into the wood - which I don't think would allow it to serve it's intended purpose.

But you really need to have someone look at this, starting with the folks on the regular Stingray thread.

Regarding low output :

It could be an issue, if someone has been monkeying around with the electronics...

But the pre-2018 Stingray never did have a particularly hot output, by active bass standards, and I've found plenty of vintage passive instruments, with beefy pickups, that are louder.


Try this :

With just the bridge pickup, turn the volume, bass, and treble fully up to 100% (leave the mid at the centre detent).

That should give you a level that is about the same as, or slightly louder than your Jazz bass.

Now turn the mid up fully to 100%.

That should make the output significantly louder than your Jazz.


Report back in the regular Stingray thread, as this one is for the 2018 and later Stingray revision, known as the "Stingray Special".


Good luck!

 

[skaine]

It appears that for some reason, somebody has modified it, and it's just in contact with the control plate, and the screw into the wood - which I don't think would allow it to serve it's intended purpose.

Yes one end touches the screw of the cavity cover, other end connected to the small plate in the cavity as seen in the photo. On the other hand i dont hear any hum or noise, totally noiseless. Posted it on the Ernieball thread as well.

The bass has 21 frets and as you corretly assumed it has only 1 battery. Its exactly the same bass in the video linked below. I also asked the production date with providing serial number to the customer support. Its a pre 2018 Stingray for sure.

I will try your advice on turning the volumes tomorrow, i dont want to wake up my neighbors in the apartment, its 01:00 AM here

Thanks very much for the advices, very helpful.

 

[GRoberts]

Does anyone know what battery life to expect from the dual 9V (18V) system in the new Stingray Special?

 

[eyeballkid]

6 months and no sign of losing battery charge yet.

 

[Stevorebob]

Does anyone know what battery life to expect from the dual 9V (18V) system in the new Stingray Special?

6 months and no sign of losing battery charge yet.

Same for me.

 

[skaine]

Ernie ball has an outstanding customer support i should say. They answered the issue, i am sharing with you guys incase you wonder or it might be useful for you in the future if you have the same thing.

"That particular bare wire should make contact with your control cavity plate. You'll notice the inside of the backplate has a bare spot where there is no paint or coating. That wire should make contact with that area. When your guitar was built, that wire was placed into that screw hole and held in place by the screw. When you removed the plate, the wire popped out of the hole. But when you put your control cavity plate back on your bass, you should put the wire back in the hole to be sure it makes contact with the bare spot on the back plate. Let us know if you have any questions."

So it appears everything is in order as far as i see. Its indeed something unussual, so when i bought the bass as used i was worried.

 

[HD007]

Same for me.

Me three

 

[Stranger Danger]

Does anyone know what battery life to expect from the dual 9V (18V) system in the new Stingray Special?

The correct answer is "it depends". It could be a very long time. If you leave it plugged in, it could be a day. It really depends on how much you play it though. I'd guess I play mine 10 hours a week on average and haven't had to change the batteries since July when I got it. Although that is skewed because I did change the batteries one night when I thought they were dead but I just forgot that I had the volume turned all the way down.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

It was needing that low B that led me to the Stingray5 Special in the first place. Several members of the Caprice Club recommenced I try one once the announcement was made that their would be no 5 string and that the Caprice and Cutlass were being discontinued .
Honestly my infatuation with the Stingray5 Special HH caught me off guard too. I was reluctantly to even try one because I’d never gotten along with prior model Stingrays before. But with the new preamp , body contour , and Neo pickups , this bass just works for me.
The Caprice is a great bass and has no flaws . I just need a 5 for what I do . I’m mostly playing modern urban gospel praise and worship music. Those key changes and low flat keys really need a 5 string.

I took the Caprice out of case today and really enjoyed playing old school funk on it. I think I’d better keep it around because it’s the best 4 string I’ve ever played and sellers regret was already creeping in even before I listed it. My Special is my number one player and always will be.

 

[basschips]

I received my SRS from Sweetwater on March 6. I checked my batteries with a volt meter when it arrived both of them said 9.41 volts. The other day, April 14th. I checked the batteries and the volt meter said that both of them were 8.86 volts. Still rounds up to 9 in my book so there still there. I probably play 15 -20 hours a week between practicing and gigging. BTW, it's almost the only bass I've played since it arrived.

 

[bdplaid]

I’m sure an H configuration can get just as many sounds with hand position and lots of preamp manipulation but just haven’t found myself being that way.

You really can't. The neck pickup, the pole selections on the switch and the phase cancellation between the two pickups add so much to their respective sounds, no single pickup can replicate it. I'm really not a fan of the single pickup Stingray anyway, to me it just sounds like a hot bridge pickup. IMO it's not really in the sweet spot either, for that it needs to move a little north toward the neck. But whatev, lots of guys love 'em so who am I to rain on it?

Anyway, I found the HH adds so much variety to the tonal palette I could never consider a single H Stingray again.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

You really can't. The neck pickup, the pole selections on the switch and the phase cancellation between the two pickups add so much to their respective sounds, no single pickup can replicate it. I'm really not a fan of the single pickup Stingray anyway, to me it just sounds like a hot bridge pickup. IMO it's not really in the sweet spot either, for that it needs to move a little north toward the neck. But whatev, lots of guys love 'em so who am I to rain on it?

Anyway, I found the HH adds so much variety to the tonal palette I could never consider a single H Stingray again.

I didn’t like the pre Special HH models. These Special HH models are totally different .

 

[Chiliwailer]

I took the Caprice out of case today and really enjoyed playing old school funk on it. I think I’d better keep it around because it’s the best 4 string I’ve ever played and sellers regret was already creeping in even before I listed it. My Special is my number one player and always will be.

I’m really glad to hear that. I went through a very similar scenario constantly with my Old Smoothie, now the dust has settled I’m so glad that I’ve kept it. It’s more like a passive bass and does things so differently to my lovely Special, which is also my number one

 

[HD007]

I took the Caprice out of case today and really enjoyed playing old school funk on it. I think I’d better keep it around because it’s the best 4 string I’ve ever played and sellers regret was already creeping in even before I listed it. My Special is my number one player and always will be.

Wise move.

 

[maplenecked]

You really can't.

I certainly can’t. Which is why I am an HH player. But I was speaking to an H player who was contemplating an HH. I’ve seen many H players here say they are happy with the variety tones they can get with the strategies in my post. As for me, HH for sure. I think being a fan of HH guitars has a lot to do with it for me too.

 

[Hypercaffium]

I'd grab a single H over an HH. Just sayin'...

 

[basschips]

You really can't. The neck pickup, the pole selections on the switch and the phase cancellation between the two pickups add so much to their respective sounds, no single pickup can replicate it. I'm really not a fan of the single pickup Stingray anyway, to me it just sounds like a hot bridge pickup. IMO it's not really in the sweet spot either, for that it needs to move a little north toward the neck. But whatev, lots of guys love 'em so who am I to rain on it?

Anyway, I found the HH adds so much variety to the tonal palette I could never consider a single H Stingray again.

I agree the H and the HH are completely different instruments. The tonal variety is much wider and easier to get to with the HH. Then add in the fact that all the instruments come from different trees or at least different cuts of trees and you get an instrument that is unique and has a tonal personality onto itself. Depending on an individual players wants or needs, one is not necessarily better than the other... just different.

 

[tminus10]

I do really prefer the series to the parallel setting on the H model but appreciate the versatility of the HH the most

 

[pickles]

H vs HH sound clips if you want to listen:

EBMM StingRay Special Club

 

[Hypercaffium]

H vs HH sound clips if you want to listen:

EBMM StingRay Special Club

Thanks pickles. Nice nickname, and nice avatar btw.