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EBMM StingRay Special Club

#3,421
Jughead6 said:
Has anyone with a 5 string Special (either 5H or 5HH) changed to E-A-D-G-C tuning? Or D-G-C-F-A# tuning? What were the results?

I'm just curious...
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I did E-A-D-G-C tuning, and love it!!!
The C sounds so crisp coming through these pickups.
The E fit comfortably into the spot meant for original B string without any buzz.

-ScottM
 
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#3,423
Jughead6 said:
Great news - I'm glad I'm not going to be a guinea pig.

How was intonation with the compensated nut?
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I had no issues whatsoever. It’s in tune all the way up the neck.

I tried to take a pic of how everything fit in just right.
BF31F3C4-6FAA-456B-A4A0-FA2D644141ED.jpeg

-ScottM
 
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#3,424
basschips said:
I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this? It’s happened to me before on my 66 p bass but I was a bit surprised it was happening on this bass.
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I had this happen on my old USA SUB, even with brand new saddles ordered from EB. Screws were just a bit too loosey goosey and would turn on their own if I were a bit more aggressive with my playing. The cleanest way to deal with this was using threads. Just a thread or two (depending on the need) inside the screw insert, screw it back in and voila, no more moving, and no mess with glue or polish.
 
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#3,425
Wood and Wire said:
Ultimately, only you can decide which instrument you bond with, and which you prefer the sound / feel of...

I would say that everything you've described so far, ought to be addressable by adjusting the instrument's setup - be that slightly lowering the bridge saddles on the E string / raising the E A side of the pickup a little / verifying that the nut is at spec. Checking that the weak E is not an EQ / room issue, by recording it DI, and comparing it on different speakers, in different rooms / different headphones etc.

Have you setup the instrument according to Ernie Ball Music Man's Stingray setup specifications?

Now that you know the neck pickup is not intended to sound anything like the regular Stingray bridge pickup - is that a problem for you?

Do you like the sound it makes / will you have a use for it?

The bridge pickup on your HH will sound identical to the pickup on the single H model you've been offered in exchange - so is there any advantage to you making that exchange, or are you just loosing all those other available tones, simply because they aren't the exact tones you expected them to be?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the helpful response on advance.

Bridge saddles lowered and pickup height is at MM Stingray specifications, i went a luthier to make the best set up that i can get. He made a slight relief on the neck to get the E String resonate better, also this made the action slightly higher than its intended to be. By saying weaker i ment the E string resonates less than the others and thus sounds slightly more dull and lively.

He also told me since i put brand new strings, they are more stiff at the moment so after playing more they will be more elastic. He also advised me to use different brand of strings to see if anything changes. Its Daddario NYXL at the moment 45/105 gauge.

I like the feel and cosmetic appearance of it more than any other bass.

The real question is the last one you asked. If both bridge pickups sound really identical of course i wont change my bass.

If the single H bass has a better output and higher hi-mids i might go with that one. Since i have a P bass already, i dont really use 5th and 4th positions of the switch, 3d switch rarely. I use generally use it at 1st and 2nd posisiton.
 
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#3,426
skaine said:
He also told me since i put brand new strings, they are more stiff at the moment so after playing more they will be more elastic. He also advised me to use different brand of strings to see if anything changes. Its Daddario NYXL at the moment 45/105 gauge.
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Meh, I have never noticed a change in stiffness with strings, and I tend to use my set for up to 6 months. Certainly nothing worth mentioning in that regard, the only thing that happens is they get "broken in" tonally.

What matters is to get a set of strings which stiffness, tension, feel and tone you like.
Now granted, I don't have a Special, but I've always loved EB Super Slinky (45-100) the most on all of my Stingrays, if I was going for a roundwound string. A good setup and a set of Slinkies is perfect IMO. Of course, everyone has their favorite strings, and experimenting with strings can be fun.
 
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#3,430
Stranger Danger said:
I’m going to be putting a black 3 ply pickguard on mine. Ordered direct from EBMM yesterday.
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I was just thinking the same thing! I just copped my 'Ray-5 Special HH in Dropped Copper last week. (Wanted the Burnt Apple but didn't want t wait for it.) I'm not a big fan of white PGs and wasn't sure what the best option would be. Called EB last week and was quoted about $100 for a black one. I think a black 'pearled' type might look even better but still pondering
 
#3,431
Well, I guess I'm officially out of the club, but I've owned two SR Specials. For whatever reason, and I've owned 6-7 Music Man basses, I start out in love and then it ends up sitting. But I did learn that I really like roasted maple. Will be replacing it with a short scale Alien Audio 5 with roasted maple / roasted alder. Guess I'm in love with the P bass sound. I do still have my Caprice and doubt that will go anywhere.
 
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#3,432
GonzoBfiddy said:
I was just thinking the same thing! I just copped my 'Ray-5 Special HH in Dropped Copper last week. (Wanted the Burnt Apple but didn't want t wait for it.) I'm not a big fan of white PGs and wasn't sure what the best option would be. Called EB last week and was quoted about $100 for a black one. I think a black 'pearled' type might look even better but still pondering
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That seems really high. I think I got one from them for $30 or $35.
 
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#3,433
MultiScaleMale said:
Well, I guess I'm officially out of the club, but I've owned two SR Specials. For whatever reason, and I've owned 6-7 Music Man basses, I start out in love and then it ends up sitting. But I did learn that I really like roasted maple. Will be replacing it with a short scale Alien Audio 5 with roasted maple / roasted alder. Guess I'm in love with the P bass sound. I do still have my Caprice and doubt that will go anywhere.
Click to expand...
Oh NO!
 
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#3,436
MultiScaleMale said:
Well, I guess I'm officially out of the club, but I've owned two SR Specials. For whatever reason, and I've owned 6-7 Music Man basses, I start out in love and then it ends up sitting. But I did learn that I really like roasted maple. Will be replacing it with a short scale Alien Audio 5 with roasted maple / roasted alder. Guess I'm in love with the P bass sound. I do still have my Caprice and doubt that will go anywhere.
Click to expand...
You will be missed. Hopefully you’ll make a return .
 
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#3,437
MultiScaleMale said:
Well, I guess I'm officially out of the club, but I've owned two SR Specials. For whatever reason, and I've owned 6-7 Music Man basses, I start out in love and then it ends up sitting. But I did learn that I really like roasted maple. Will be replacing it with a short scale Alien Audio 5 with roasted maple / roasted alder. Guess I'm in love with the P bass sound. I do still have my Caprice and doubt that will go anywhere.
Click to expand...


See you back in the Caprice club when they drop a roasted BFR caprice on us:roflmao:
 
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