Thanks for the input. I have played all the models. To be honest, the EB Sterling 4 string was the best of the bunch, but that just adds more noise to this decision. The sterling would be my choice but I think the new SRS would be a better choice. Resale value alone.
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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
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I have a Caprice, a PJ Elite and a 5H Special. I will probably sell the Elite at some point.
If it’s forever, resale isn’t an issue, right?
Sounds like you liked the Sterling best. Those are great- why not go with the one you love?
Already several good comments, and if there is anything to add, it simply comes down to this:
- Do you want the Fender tones, or
- Do you want the tones of the Stingray Special
The Stingray Special (HH model) has all sorts of wonderful tones, some of which are reminiscent of Fender. The Fender Elite will sound like a Fender with slightly more ability to tweak that Fender tone. Just comes down to which sounds appeal to you most.
It's most likely that you will know exactly which one is best for you by playing both. It was the overall package of the Stingray Special that appealed to me. While it sounds great with several different tones, what sealed the deal was it's light weight, excellent balance, feel of the neck, and the newly rounded body. Since all this is subjective, you're best off trying both-- and both of the instruments you have mentioned are great!
Best of luck & enjoy the search
If it’s forever, resale isn’t an issue, right?
Sounds like you liked the Sterling best. Those are great- why not go with the one you love?
I don’t like parting with any of my babies personally, but a guilty pleasure of mine is checking how much they are going for from time to time.
The Markbass CMD 121P is now 25% off at GC. Ugh. I think I’m going to go try one tomorrow
This is bad. After reading all these posts I really want to trade my 30th anniversary stingray5 for a special 5HH. But I really love the roasted flame maple neck and fingerboard on the 30th. What should I do?
Keep the 30th Annoversary; get the Special.
There’s a place for both. While the Specials are beautifully organic, the 30th anniversary and regular StingRays go places the Specails only approach.
Having a 30th SR5 and a new Special 5H, they're definitely different flavors. The Special is much more rounded and smooth sounding. My Special, an aqua sparkle/ebony, is also the punchiest sounding SR5 I own. I've noticed that on the Special 5H, if I boost bass all the way up, boost the treble some, and cut mids, I can almost get the same tone of my 5HH with both pickups on. I can't get that tone from my '88 SR5 or the 30th, but both of those get different tones that the other basses can't quite get.
I haven't used anything but Elixir nickels on my StingRays and recently bought stainless that I put on my 30th SR5. I think the top is definitely there, but I love Elixir strings.
The rounded and smoother tone is exactly what I’m looking for. Sometimes I found the top end on my 30th SR5 a little too harsh for my taste. I have elixir nickels on it and it helped a bit but I just couldn’t dial that harshness away. I believe a SR5 HH can help me get that big smooth tone that I’m looking for.
Thanks! What did you think of stainless vs nickel? Which is more Stingray-ey? I'm not really trying
to make my Special more versatile, I'm trying to make it more of the stingray sound. Make sense? Stainless?
I'm a big Elixir guy, usually putting 100-45 nickles on all my basses. I can easily kill normal strings in one 3 hour gig and Elixirs have been a life saver for me. However, I had some SS Elixir 105-45 on my 4H Special and did not like them at all. They had too much boom and sizzle and lacked what I perceive to be a fullness or evenness of tone.
I actually put some new Super Slinkys back on my special and think that they are the best match for the Stingray, go figure. The tone and feel of them on the SR might be enough for me to just bite the bullet and change strings more often.
Sounds like a Special is in your future
Probably stainless, but I've loved the sound on all of my StingRays with the nickels and they certainly have the StingRay sound. If you're looking for a bit more bite and zing, the stainless will definitely add it. With that, I haven't spent a lot of time with the stainless on the 30th SR5. I've ran them on other basses and on those, the stainless were definitely brighter. What I noticed was the nickel strings maintained their sound longer than the stainless maintained theirs. The nickels sound just slightly fuller to me.
