EBMM StingRay Special Club

[oldskoolskatedad]

Thanks. I have seen this. Good video, but it doesn't address the old 4HH vs Special 4HH question.

Not entirely but it does answer the old 4HH bridge pup soloed vs Special 4HH bridge pup soloed

 

[Cesar Vortmann]

Thanks for all the answers! Thomann told me that it's polishing residues, which seem to be fine. I just wanted to double check it was no gunk from Mr. Greasy Fingers from a display area of some sort.

Every maple board I've ever seen on a StingRay has been finished.

Since they stopped putting a gloss lacquer on the back of the neck, you are advised to periodically sand the wood, and reapply a gunstock oil, and wax coating - assuming you like that fast, bare wood feel.

If you don't bother, it basically turns back into a gloss finish - albeit a grubby one.

You don't need to do anything to the finger / fret board itself, when it's maple.

That was my understanding but I also imagined you would do the same to the fretboard, being the same type of wood and everything. For those in Europe, what's the Birchwood-Casey Tru-oil alternative you use? I didn't find that one here and I don't know any gun store to buy gunstock oil (I'm assuming that by the name it's supposed to be used to take care of the wood parts of gun).

I use Dunlop 65 Ultimate Lemon Oil. Used other brands too. I apply it whenever I change strings.
Personally, I wouldn't do anything until you find out why you received it that way. New bass and all.
Good luck man.

Same thing here. I'd change string every 3/4 months since I don't sweat a lot but still like the brightness of relatively new strings. Depending on the strings too. I'm trying this Elixir set and it's still lasting a lot. Though sounding wise I may still go with the DR Hi Beams.

Older StingRays and StingRay Classics with finished necks have finished maple boards, but both my StingRay 5 and StingRay 5 Special with maple boards are oil/wax finished like the back of the necks. It's easy to see the finished headstocks are darker.

One only needs to sand the back of the necks if dirt has penetrated the wood. Otherwise they can be cleaned with Murphy Oil Soap or gunstock oil. To keep them clean only requires an occasional wipe of oil and wax. I do it when I change strings.

I hope I never have to sand anything down . I wipe the pass pretty good after playing so that and the ocasional oil when changing string should be fine.

Congrats on the new bass!

What I see in those photos is most likely just polish residue. However, it could be slight scratching of the wood from the fret installation/dressing/polishing/etc.

Maybe I’m in the minority here, but there is nothing in those photos that would give me ANY concern whatsoever. That fretboard is going to get dirty from normal use (remember the bass is an instrument— i.e. a tool). Have fun, enjoy it and play like you stole it!

Again, congrats on the new bass!

All fine now, I wouldn't return this bass anyway. It sounds amazing, it weights nothing and it's now a "classic" color combination too. Whenever the weather allows it for a better natural light I'll take some pictures and post it. The iPhone camera is great but it doesn't capture the beauty of the bass. I'll dust out my DSLR for that

 

[Stevorebob]

Thanks. I have seen this. Good video, but it doesn't address the old 4HH vs Special 4HH question.

I have 5-string HHs, pre-Special and Special basses, so consider that. The Special has more finesse; the pre-Special, more stones. The Special suits those who just could not get along with StingRays and opted for P and J-basses. Older Stingrays roar; Specials purr. The Special gets you to the older StingRay sound, but at more aggressive EQ settings. My feeling is that the Special was designed to have a broader appeal than the older StingRays, and it does. The older StingRay is like a ‘60s Ford F-150 to the Special’s Ford Explorer. I like, and will always have, both.

Oh, the most noticeable difference is 3lbs.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I have 5-string HHs, pre-Special and Special basses, so consider that. The Special has more finesse; the pre-Special, more stones. The Special suits those who just could not get along with StingRays and opted for P and J-basses. Older Stingrays roar; Specials purr. The Special gets you to the older StingRay sound, but at more aggressive EQ settings. My feeling is that the Special was designed to have a broader appeal than the older StingRays, and it does. The older StingRay is like a ‘60s Ford F-150 to the Special’s Ford Explorer. I like, and will always have, both.

Oh, the most noticeable difference is 3lbs.

Great summation. I should have pointed out that I already have both the Special and the pre-Special 4H, as well as a BFR pre-Special 4HH. What I haven't seen addressed is a comparison between the two eras of 4HH StingRays. Maybe someday somebody will do a video or audio clip directly comparing the two. I've never seen a Special 4HH in the wild.

 

[oldskoolskatedad]

Great summation. I should have pointed out that I already have both the Special and the pre-Special 4H, as well as a BFR pre-Special 4HH. What I haven't seen addressed is a comparison between the two eras of 4HH StingRays. Maybe someday somebody will do a video or audio clip directly comparing the two. I've never seen a Special 4HH in the wild.

Perhaps this video will answer your question. Though it is comparing a 5HH & 5HH Special the switching controls, pickup specs and preamps are the same as the 4HH & 4HH Special

 

[NDC]

N. E. B. M. M. 2020 (BFR) S. R. B. D. (New Ernie Ball Music Man 2020 (BFR) Sting Ray Bass Day).

#62 of 85.

 

[N4860]

N. E. B. M. M. 2020 (BFR) S. R. B. D. (New Ernie Ball Music Man 2020 (BFR) Sting Ray Bass Day).

#62 of 85.

Congrats! That thing is beautiful! If they did an HH like that, I would be all over it.

 

[byoung93888]

Looks awesome, congrats!

 

[N4860]

N. E. B. M. M. 2020 (BFR) S. R. B. D. (New Ernie Ball Music Man 2020 (BFR) Sting Ray Bass Day).

#62 of 85.

How drastic does the colour shift get on that? I have been curious about that. For example, with my Plumpkin SR Special, it goes from a dark purple to a pretty bright orange in the right light:

 

[Wolfhound32]

Need new strings on my Special, and wondering what strings do y'all like on your Specials and why...

Thanks!

 

[Pet Sounds]

Perhaps this video will answer your question. Though it is comparing a 5HH & 5HH Special the switching controls, pickup specs and preamps are the same as the 4HH & 4HH Special

Great -- thanks!

 

[N4860]

Need new strings on my Special, and wondering what strings do y'all like on your Specials and why...

Thanks!

I have the following Specials:
- H with stock Slinky strings
- HH with light guage Slinky's (blue pack)
- HH with D'addario Halfrounds
- H fretless with light guage Slinky's
- H passive with stock Slinky Strings

In regards to why: for the most part, I just enjoy standard slinky rounds, but the HH and fretless I went with lighter guages just to have something with a little more bite when I dig in. I like the looser feel for those. The other HH I wanted to have something different for variety and I had initially tried cobalt flats but I like something more flexible so I tried the only half rounds my local store had which were the D'addario's and I enjoy them.

 

[oldskoolskatedad]

Need new strings on my Special, and wondering what strings do y'all like on your Specials and why...

Thanks!

Having only had my 4H Special for a few weeks my experience is quite limited. I didn't dislike the stock Slinkys but for the last couple of years I've been putting Rotosound FM66 Funkmasters (30-50-70-90) which are high output stainless rounds on all my basses. I am definitely digging them on the Ray but I actually prefer them after a few months when they are good and dead. I usually try TI flats on my basses but I think I'll try a set of Cobalt flats on this one.

 

[selowitch]

I think Dunlop Super Bright Nickels would sound rather awesome on a StingRay.

 

[Stevorebob]

Need new strings on my Special, and wondering what strings do y'all like on your Specials and why...

Thanks!

5-string basses...

• EB Slinkys: They just work.
• EB Slinky Colbalt Rounds: Adds organic texture to the lows and low mids.
• DR Low Riders Nickel, 45-125: Better B-string clarity.

 

[monkeyfinger]

I am going to try some SIT Power Wounds on my 5HH next. I've never tried these. I am looking forward to it.

 

[pineweasel]

For those in Europe, what's the Birchwood-Casey Tru-oil alternative you use? I didn't find that one here and I don't know any gun store to buy gunstock oil (I'm assuming that by the name it's supposed to be used to take care of the wood parts of gun).

I found Birchwood-Casey products easy to find online in the UK.

 

[Cesar Vortmann]

I found Birchwood-Casey products easy to find online in the UK.

Unfortunately UK is not Europe anymore and I don’t mean that as a joke, lots of stuff were stuck at the borders.

There’s some tips from Thomann here:

I’m also inclined to try Music Nomad’s F-One fretboard oil cleaner and conditioner: https://www.amazon.com/Music-Nomad-MN105-Fretboard-Conditioner/dp/B006WPGZAG

I had some other Music Nomad’s products before and they were all great.

Have anyone tried the Ernie Ball’s Steel or the Sadowsky Steels in the Specials?

 

[pertyman]

Need new strings on my Special, and wondering what strings do y'all like on your Specials and why...

Thanks!

 

[monkeyfinger]

Cobalts by a long shot!! Much better mids.