Na I ordered both online. they never have any in stock at my local GC or SamAsh. I should probably check out some independent shops, but theyre pretty far from me
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
Na I ordered both online. they never have any in stock at my local GC or SamAsh. I should probably check out some independent shops, but theyre pretty far from me
So, the bass gets returned, and the next person that buys it - thinking they are paying for a brand new instrument, are in fact buying a second hand, cut & shut parts bass.
If they have to do a warranty return (for some reason), or later down the line sell the bass ; the neck is no longer the one listed on factory documents - so they're totally screwed.
I had a Fender that I bought that had a twisted neck but it was covered under warranty. The tech got a new Fender neck installed on the bass courtesy of Fender. Does that now make it a parts bass? Does it matter if the technician did it or if I had done it myself? Either way it is a Fender bass with a stock neck on it, it just so happens to not be the original neck since that one twisted.
The neck, and body are itemised separately on the factory documents.
If for example, the neck got damaged at some point in the future, in order to get a replacement from EBMM you have to return the original neck.
If the one you return is not the one listed for that instrument, it's going to get complicated.
Even if there is never that kind of problem, owners are encouraged to register their instruments with EBMM - and anyone can retrieve an instruments serial number from the EBMM database - which reveals a number of details about the instrument, including the official "birthday" of the instrument.
The "birthday" is the date stamped on the neck heel, not the date written on the control plate (or neck pocket).
There's any number of ways you might discover that discrepancy, whether curiosity, fitting a shim etc.
I think the vast majority of people would be livid, if they discovered that somebody had previously tried out their supposedly brand new instrument, for 30 days at home, and swapped a major component out.
Besides it being morally wrong, it's almost certainly illegal.
You wouldn't dream of taking a car off the lot, for a test drive, and en route swapping the wheels for those of a second car that your trying (even if it were the same dealer).
Swapping the strings would be like swapping the wheels - swapping necks is like switching out engines.
That's an entirely different set of circumstances.
You owned that instrument.
You didn't subsequently return it - as new - for a full refund.
If, at a later date, you decide to sell it, it's up to you to take care of how that repair was documented.
In 40 years time, you may indeed find that replacement neck drastically effects it's value on the 2nd hand / collectors market (nobody thought 70's Fenders were worth a damn, until they became 35 years old).
My comment above was tongue in cheek. Everyone calling me out on it is completely right.Swap the necks
But I have been considering doing a neck swap with one of my basses, since there's a bass of the same model popping up on CL, but with a neck made of different wood. In that case, though, I would be buying the bass outright, and possibly selling a frankenbass at a loss and with full disclosure. But these basses have their serial number stamped on the neck, so I wouldn't be able to fool anyone anyway.
In any event, I would expect more of the difference in the two Stingrays to be in the electronics, which one could also swap out, were one so inclined
It's official now--
My two Classic Rays have found new homes, allowing me to pickup another Special. These new Stingrays do everything I want from a bass-- Ray or otherwise. All the classic Ray tones are there just by twiddling a few knobs, it's comfortable and looks great. Having the second pickup is one of my favorite features as well.
Even though the bass is lighter, it's still around 9-lbs hanging on my shoulder, so I'm just waiting for my new GruvGear strap to arrive & I'll be ready to roll!
My two Classic Rays have found new homes, allowing me to pickup another Special. These new Stingrays do everything I want from a bass-- Ray or otherwise. All the classic Ray tones are there just by twiddling a few knobs, it's comfortable and looks great. Having the second pickup is one of my favorite features as well.
Even though the bass is lighter, it's still around 9-lbs hanging on my shoulder, so I'm just waiting for my new GruvGear strap to arrive & I'll be ready to roll!
It's official now--
My two Classic Rays have found new homes, allowing me to pickup another Special. These new Stingrays do everything I want from a bass-- Ray or otherwise. All the classic Ray tones are there just by twiddling a few knobs, it's comfortable and looks great. Having the second pickup is one of my favorite features as well.
Even though the bass is lighter, it's still around 9-lbs hanging on my shoulder, so I'm just waiting for my new GruvGear strap to arrive & I'll be ready to roll!
View attachment 4097669
Black and maple is so right on a Stingray!
After much deliberation I finally pulled the trigger on a charging green 4H Special. It's nice and light with no dead spots. After not being unboxed from the factory for over 7 months it was nearly in tune with only very minor adjustments to intonation being needed. The neck is practically flat with a very low action and zero buzz. Really couldn't ask for a better out of the box setup.
This is my first Stingray and I am very impressed with the fit and finish. In comparison it feels more refined than my '17 Rick 4003W as far as build quality is concerned. I absolutely adore my Rick but I immediately needed to remove a pup cover and replace the bridge to make it playable for me. Conversely there isn't anything other than changing strings that would improve the Special for me.
Even though I've only spent less than 15 minutes plugged in, I'm a little surprised that the signature Ray tone has been somewhat elusive so far, at least the Ray tone that is in my head.
This is my first Stingray and I am very impressed with the fit and finish. In comparison it feels more refined than my '17 Rick 4003W as far as build quality is concerned. I absolutely adore my Rick but I immediately needed to remove a pup cover and replace the bridge to make it playable for me. Conversely there isn't anything other than changing strings that would improve the Special for me.
Even though I've only spent less than 15 minutes plugged in, I'm a little surprised that the signature Ray tone has been somewhat elusive so far, at least the Ray tone that is in my head.
Nice looking bass there! I love my SR Specials and the feel of them is like no other basses that I've played. They do sound a bit different compared to the classic SR but I find it to be more versatile now with the Specials. I'm guessing it's mostly due to the magnets in the pickups that they changed which is why it doesn't have quite the original classic SR tone.
Ive had mine for about a week or 2 now and I noticed that about the sound too. Ive figured out that using a compressor really helps to bring out the traditional sound, for me. I've also never had a bass where the string height was more important to the sound of it than this one. I usually like my action really really low, but at some point on this one, the tone starts to sound a little different. Just my thoughts though.
with regard to low action, keep in mind that these pickups have a lot of pull. you may find adjusting the pups lower after lowering the action brings back some of the sweetness.
After reading (or skimming) every post here starting on Friday after I placed my order, I was fairly confident I knew what to expect tonally from a Special. The terms organic, vintage and versatile have been popular descriptions though many report that the Special still has all it's traditional DNA intact. Though I have just begun to explore the Special I am a bit surprised at how refined it is sonically, I was expecting it to be a bit more aggressive or perhaps gritty. My frame of reference may be somewhat skewed from time spent with my '81 G&L L2K as well as an L-1505 that has an MFD in the Ray position and both basses being very much on the aggressive side of things.
I am not a finicky bassist and I enjoy instruments with their own character. My first impression is that the Special has very nearly none of the baked in Ray tone, though that isn't at all a negative quality as there are may ways to add more grit and bite. This is an amazing bass and I am so excited to get to know it better. And get a black and/or tort pickguard.
I am not a finicky bassist and I enjoy instruments with their own character. My first impression is that the Special has very nearly none of the baked in Ray tone, though that isn't at all a negative quality as there are may ways to add more grit and bite. This is an amazing bass and I am so excited to get to know it better. And get a black and/or tort pickguard.
Congrats on the new bass!
Spend some time really getting to know the preamp and I think you’ll be surprised at how interactive the thing is— much more than that of the L2K, or any previous Stingray. You may find that traditional Ray tone in there as I did. Nothing at all against the G&L— I love my L2K— this new Ray is a much different animal sonically.
Personally, I like that the default on the Special is a bit smoother than the previous Ray; maybe I’m just weird LOL
Just curious, what are they sending you to address the problem?I reached out to EBMM re: my bridge issues.
… … …
Parts on the way!
