EBMM StingRay Special Club

[evilgus]

I agree, where did you get that PG.. I’d like that pattern for my blacked out SR..

From the Music Man online store! Pickguard for StingRay Special H 5-String Bass

They don't freight outside of the U.S, though, so I had to get a friend to buy/post it to me.

P.S: It's not actually as dark as I was hoping, but the black screws and knobs helped quite a lot! The pics on the store do look a bit darker than the real thing...

EG

 

[_Obra_]

I now have a nice pair 2018 Special and my original 1996.

View attachment 4437693

The perfect pair!

 

[FirewalZ]

The perfect pair!

Its interesting to compare them side by side tone wise.....my I put basslines pickup/pre in the 96 right when they came out years back, to correct the missing G string issue(pre-Internet), it solved the problem. I dont remember the tone changing much, maybe a bit more upper mids. Its defiantly an upper mids/treble forward bass, sizzly and bites, broken in Sunbeams tame it down. The Special is more even string to string, and more low mid forward, less sizzle and bite, but defiantly there if you dial it in, and unmistakably still a Stingray sound. The Special seems to have a more flexible pre-amp and i can get a few different tones from it.

 

[Les Fret]

OK great! How do they compare?
Edit: just saw your post above....
Anyway, nice pair and good luck playing them!

 

[Paradilum]

I now have a nice pair 2018 Special and my original 1996.

View attachment 4437693

I _really_ like the all-black pickguard on the left - no white border. I think I need one for my Charcoal sparkle. Where did you get it? Is that a matte-black or shiny?

 

[FirewalZ]

I _really_ like the all-black pickguard on the left - no white border. I think I need one for my Charcoal sparkle. Where did you get it? Is that a matte-black or shiny?

Its mate/flat black....i just bought it here through TB classified, it was already on the bass. The owner included the original, which was the standard shiny black with white boarder.

 

[Richard I]

I changed the strings on my Special 5H, from EB 45-130 (green ones) to DR Lo Rider Nickel (45-130, same set I use on my Classic 4). Great improvement, not only for tension (couldn't stand EB's 100 Low E and 80 A strings), but also for tone (more mids).

 

[evilgus]

I changed the strings on my Special 5H, from EB 45-130 (green ones) to DR Lo Rider Nickel (45-130, same set I use on my Classic 4). Great improvement, not only for tension (couldn't stand EB's 100 Low E and 80 A strings), but also for tone (more mids).

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll try those too! I'm also pretty pissed off about the quality control on the Slinkies, I've had 2 bad E-strings out of 3 sets, recently....grrrrrrr!

EG

 

[Lesfunk]

On a different subject, have we ever come to a consensus regarding the Taming of the stingray specials tone vs. the older models?

is it the pickup?
The preamp?
Both?

I’m curious because my special is the nicest fit and finish Ray I’ve had and plays wonderfully
I just want that Grind and Punch back in my life and am considering a pickup switch out, something I would never have considered on previous models.
I wouldn’t be interested in doing an entire electronics package switch, but a pickup? Maybe…

 

[Richard I]

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll try those too! I'm also pretty pissed off about the quality control on the Slinkies, I've had 2 bad E-strings out of 3 sets, recently....grrrrrrr!

EG

Yep, i like them a lot on my Classic 4...but I also dig Hi Beams, Fat Beams and regular Lo riders on my Stingray, I gotta admit. They just fit perfectly in that bass.

They're also a bit rougher under the fingers, which I prefer.

On a different subject, have we ever come to a consensus regarding the Taming of the stingray specials tone vs. the older models?

is it the pickup?
The preamp?
Both?

I’m curious because my special is the nicest fit and finish Ray I’ve had and plays wonderfully
I just want that Grind and Punch back in my life and am considering a pickup switch out, something I would never have considered on previous models.
I wouldn’t be interested in doing an entire electronics package switch, but a pickup? Maybe…

Yes, I noticed that slight difference you're referring to between the "older" models (latter ones, with alnico pu) and newer Specials at the time I purchased mine in store. I "A/B-ed" two of them.

Due to the (little) experience I gained in modifying and trying lots of different pickups and electronics, i think it might be the pu.
SR5 with alnico pu were a bit different compared to the previous ones with ceramic pu - but I don't remember if they had the same, exact preamp.

 

[FirewalZ]

I changed the strings on my Special 5H, from EB 45-130 (green ones) to DR Lo Rider Nickel (45-130, same set I use on my Classic 4). Great improvement, not only for tension (couldn't stand EB's 100 Low E and 80 A strings), but also for tone (more mids).

I’m a new SR Special owner and haven’t yet found what strings match the tone I’m after…it’s currently wearing my standard brand DR Sunbeams…I do like Lowriders as well, maybe illl try them next

 

[Richard I]

Bear in mind that I do no more use steel strings, on all my bass...they lack of mids to me, but I like and need mids. This is true for Lo Riders, too, "standard" ones are good but I prefer nickels.

Than, there's the tension question to face..which is equally important to me

 

[Richard I]

(sorry for double posting)

I noticed that my SR5 Special has a dead straight neck (it doesn't give me issues, it's simply straight like an arrow, the type of neck that allows you to get ultra low action) with the TR being in fully loose position - it can only straighten, acting against bowing.

Those roasted necks are solid as rocks.

 

[Jim C]

I like Sunbeams on my SR

 

[Taustin Powers]

Those roasted necks are solid as rocks.

That actually varies. Of all my basses, the SRS4H with the roasted maple neck needs the most frequent truss rod adjustments, pretty much every time the weather changes a little.

 

[Bill Murray]

That actually varies. Of all my basses, the SRS4H with the roasted maple neck needs the most frequent truss rod adjustments, pretty much every time the weather changes a little.

Ive had my special HH since February (or maybe March?) either way I gigged a TON with it all seasons and lots of outdoor gigs in New England, many on the ocean front on the hottest days of the year, still hasn’t needed even a slight adjustment.

 

[FirewalZ]

I’ve only had my Special 4H a week, but the neck is pretty straight, doesn’t seem to move easily. I changed the strings it came with from stiff higher tension rounds(nor sure the brand), to Sunbeams, which are lower tension…it needed no adjustment.

 

[Lesfunk]

The neck on my Special 5 seems stiff as can be. I assume that the ebony fingerboard can only be seen as a positive contribution to this

 

[Wicked G]

The neck on my Stingray Special HH also is straight as an arrow and seems pretty stiff as well. I've only had it for a few weeks, but the roasted necks on my SBMM Stingrays are also pretty solid. So no complaints here yet, knock on roasted wood.

 

[Marc valero]

The first few years I had my 1990 SR 5 I used to adjust the neck once in awhile, but haven't had to touch it for many years.