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EBMM StingRay Special Club

Visited my local GC last night with some excess guitar stuff to trade in and this happened. Was marked clearance, and $600 off list. New, 2018 stock. The trade in gear gave me another 10% off, and it was worth more than the bass so no tax and I came home with this and a full pocket of cash. Good day, eh?
CC31D7CB-9B6E-4244-8D97-CF4AE3FAA096.jpeg
 
I’m back in. Finally found a Ray that I can keep. The US SUB that weighed 11lbs and had a painted neck was a no go for me.
The aqua Sparkle 5HH was 9.8 lbs with ebony fretboard. Could get used to having that neck pickup and I was too distracted trying to get it to sound like jazz bass and stingray H.
I said I was done with Stingrays.
Even though Louis Johnson , Bernard Edwards are 2 of my favorite players I could never get a Stingray to feel or sound right on my hands .

Well I’m bored today and live too close to Bass Central. Wandered in and came home with this beauty!!

What an amazing Stingray5. 8.8lbs of bass loveliness!!

Lesson learned. Never say never.

863EEE6E-5F62-49C6-AD29-8BA73D0F25A9.jpeg
 
I’m back in. Finally found a Ray that I can keep. The US SUB that weighed 11lbs and had a painted neck was a no go for me.
The aqua Sparkle 5HH was 9.8 lbs with ebony fretboard. Could get used to having that neck pickup and I was too distracted trying to get it to sound like jazz bass and stingray H.
I said I was done with Stingrays.
Even though Louis Johnson , Bernard Edwards are 2 of my favorite players I could never get a Stingray to feel or sound right on my hands .

Well I’m bored today and live too close to Bass Central. Wandered in and came home with this beauty!!

What an amazing Stingray5. 8.8lbs of bass loveliness!!

Lesson learned. Never say never.

View attachment 4332535

I love it! If I can, I know I would happy as can be with a single H Stingray Special 5 myself.
 
I’m back in. Finally found a Ray that I can keep. The US SUB that weighed 11lbs and had a painted neck was a no go for me.
The aqua Sparkle 5HH was 9.8 lbs with ebony fretboard. Could get used to having that neck pickup and I was too distracted trying to get it to sound like jazz bass and stingray H.
I said I was done with Stingrays.
Even though Louis Johnson , Bernard Edwards are 2 of my favorite players I could never get a Stingray to feel or sound right on my hands .

Well I’m bored today and live too close to Bass Central. Wandered in and came home with this beauty!!

What an amazing Stingray5. 8.8lbs of bass loveliness!!

Lesson learned. Never say never.

View attachment 4332535
If I lived closer to Bass Central I'd be a lot more broke :cool:
 
I love it! If I can, I know I would happy as can be with a single H Stingray Special 5 myself.

Yes, so i have the HH cause of the good deal but i'll be looking at switching to the single H which is all i need and hopefully get one lighter. For the time being my chopper blue will still get a lot of playtime. But this Amethyst Sparkle...what a beaut'!
 
I had a SR Special 5H and let it go because I couldn't get a more jazz bass-like classic slap tone (even if just for slap and pop accents) But I loved the Fingerstyle tone and the bass felt and played like a Ferrari. I now have a Sadowsky 5 JJ and love it, but want another low weight 5 string option.

So ...HH or H? I love the simplicity of the 5H but wonder if challenges of the HH are worth the trouble? I've read EQ can require more care depending on which PU switch mode you are in. I've also watched a video where the guy was comparing the HH to the H and he commented the neck Humbucker is right where your hand is typically position and that it is distracting.

I have found a few 8lb to 8.8lb Stingray Special 5H and 5HH. So the weight will work great.

Also wanted to ask about the sonic differences of Maple FB versus Rosewood or Ebony FB's?

Thanks!
 
I had a SR Special 5H and let it go because I couldn't get a more jazz bass-like classic slap tone (even if just for slap and pop accents) But I loved the Fingerstyle tone and the bass felt and played like a Ferrari. I now have a Sadowsky 5 JJ and love it, but want another low weight 5 string option.

So ...HH or H? I love the simplicity of the 5H but wonder if challenges of the HH are worth the trouble? I've read EQ can require more care depending on which PU switch mode you are in. I've also watched a video where the guy was comparing the HH to the H and he commented the neck Humbucker is right where your hand is typically position and that it is distracting.

I have found a few 8lb to 8.8lb Stingray Special 5H and 5HH. So the weight will work great.

Also wanted to ask about the sonic differences of Maple FB versus Rosewood or Ebony FB's?

Thanks!

I’d say it really depends on what’s more important, weight or Jazz tone?

You very well could get both in the special If you’re weight limit isn’t too low.

If you really want that Jazz tone the HH is totally worth it as it houses way more sonic possibilities. I find that it comps a very convincing Jazz bass tone.

Slap bass may a bit of challenge if your technique is aggressive or if you don’t slap the same spot consistently. With patience and practice this issue can be easily resolved. I don’t slap much these days but it’s never been an issue for me on my HH.
 
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Are the Specials still made of Ash? Website list specs as select hardwood.
The original release of the Specials in 2018 were swamp ash. Somewhere along the line, they switched to “select hardwood.” In their FAQs EBMM describes select hardwood as, “Historically, we've used ash, poplar, and alder in our StingRay and Sterling basses.”
 
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The original release of the Specials in 2018 were swamp ash. Somewhere along the line, they switched to “select hardwood.” In their FAQs EBMM describes select hardwood as, “Historically, we've used ash, poplar, and alder in our StingRay and Sterling basses.”
Thank you. I remembered that being posted but couldn’t find it or remember the specifics.

I suspect my Special5 is alder. That is my favorite body tone wood. I didn’t find my ash/ ebony Special5 to be all that pleasing to my ears. Not for my style of play . I just don’t prefer ash. But my new one sounds like alder and coupled with the nice rich dark chocolate rosewood fingerboard, I have finally found a Stingray that checks all of the boxes for me.
 
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