EBMM StingRay Special Club

[Stranger Danger]

Has anyone tried Stainless steel strings with these basses? Slinky nickels are my go to. Just curious

I have gone back and forth with Super Slinkies, SIT Powerwounds and Ken Smith Slick Rounds. They all sounded different flavors of great. Haven't tried SS yet. The only SS that I like is DR DDTs. May try them at some point.

 

[Chiliwailer]

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The 5HH Aqua Sparkle showed up today. The Sparkle is intensely shiny and cool. 9lbs 6oz. The ebony is jet black all the way through. Now it’s time to shake the house before the kids go down. My only complaint is that the neck isn’t as fragrant as the maple one

First purchase from CME, they pack really well.

Gorgeous pair of Specials you’ve got there, nice one

Have you noticed much of difference in tone between them?

 

[maplenecked]

Gorgeous pair of Specials you’ve got there, nice one

Have you noticed much of difference in tone between them?

The ebony fretboard might be a little snappier in the highs. But it’s probably just the brand new strings.

 

[maplenecked]

This 5 string is so cool. Can't get enough! I'm kinda liking having flats on the 4 and rounds on the 5 so far. I do have a set of 5 string TI flats coming though...for science

 

[Groovegestapo]

The ebony fretboard might be a little snappier in the highs. But it’s probably just the brand new strings.

It’s definetly snappier. I hardly have to boost the highs past 11oclock

 

[Stranger Danger]

The ebony fretboard might be a little snappier in the highs. But it’s probably just the brand new strings.

When I AB’d the maple HH and the ebony H, I definitely could tell a difference but it wasn’t enough to overcome the flexibility of the HH.

 

[MMiller28]

When I AB’d the maple HH and the ebony H, I definitely could tell a difference but it wasn’t enough to overcome the flexibility of the HH.

Strings

 

[Stranger Danger]

Strings

What about them?

 

[Treeman]

I have the Cobalt flats on my SR5 classic and on my Sterling 4 since +4months. Playability is fine and smooth, as you would expect from other flats too. Fresh Cobalt flats to me sounds similar in the bass range than D'Addarios Chromes but have better presence and articulation in highs an upper mids. Very balanced tone for slapping and finger style with minimum string noise. Sits perfect in the band mix.

The thing I am amazed most of is that they do not seem to age in tone. After +4months of continous playing for 1-2hrs/day there is almost no degradation in tone, especially not in the highs. It's almost like they are fresh.

Any other Cobalt flat users experiencing the same ?

The other night I pulled off the Slinks and put the Cobalt Flats back on. Before doing so, I tried out a trick I read on the Cobalt Flats thread of wiping them down with 90% isopropyl, then steel wool, then finishing again with the alcohol (I know...really a silly thing to have to do with your strings); and I think I got the feel to about 85-90% of what I would hope for. Practicing at home, they sound really lovely. Just mighta learned me that I'm a flats-on-a-Ray guy, but probably best to stick to brighter flats to keep thank sting stangin'. New mission is to give 'em a shot in the band mix, and if they do well go ahead and change out for something like Slick Rounds, Chromes, or the EB Group flats.

Tried to go back into the mystic and figure out what it was that pulled me to the 'Ray anyway. It was seeing a pic of Carl Radle driving one of the very early ones... Golly that guy had feel like nuthin' else. Listened to the last album he did with EC, Backless, and am certain he's playing that 'Ray. Listen to that opening run on "Walk Out in the Rain," that left me with the StingRay STING and I have not been the same! RIP, Carl.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

So, I'm trying to install a Hipshot d-tuner on the 4HH. The BT13 model from Hipshot should be the correct model, but it has the tuner head from Bongos. Hipshot said they don't plan on making a d-tuner for the Special yet, but I could reassemble my tuner with the BT13 and that should work since the tuning machines are the same.

But!! I can't get the cloverleaf off of the tuner. Sent an email to support to see if I'm doing something wrong, so I'll update when I hear back from them. I don't want to force it because you can't buy this tuner anywhere. Screw it up and I have a 3 string, heh.

 

[Kevin Wolfe]

The other night I pulled off the Slinks and put the Cobalt Flats back on. Before doing so, I tried out a trick I read on the Cobalt Flats thread of wiping them down with 90% isopropyl, then steel wool, then finishing again with the alcohol (I know...really a silly thing to have to do with your strings); and I think I got the feel to about 85-90% of what I would hope for. Practicing at home, they sound really lovely. Just mighta learned me that I'm a flats-on-a-Ray guy, but probably best to stick to brighter flats to keep thank sting stangin'. New mission is to give 'em a shot in the band mix, and if they do well go ahead and change out for something like Slick Rounds, Chromes, or the EB Group flats.

Tried to go back into the mystic and figure out what it was that pulled me to the 'Ray anyway. It was seeing a pic of Carl Radle driving one of the very early ones... Golly that guy had feel like nuthin' else. Listened to the last album he did with EC, Backless, and am certain he's playing that 'Ray. Listen to that opening run on "Walk Out in the Rain," that left me with the StingRay STING and I have not been the same! RIP, Carl.

+1 on Carl Radle. One of my early idols and still an absolute favorite to this day.
“Motherless Children” from 461 O.B. Wow.

 

[Maiden Bass]

Anyone try Cobalts on a Special yet?

 

[Stranger Danger]

Anyone try Cobalts on a Special yet?

@Treeman has

 

[Jughead6]

Is anyone using a wireless system (e.g. Line6 G-series) with their SR Special? If so, how does it cope with the 18V preamp?

 

[Stranger Danger]

Is anyone using a wireless system (e.g. Line6 G-series) with their SR Special? If so, how does it cope with the 18V preamp?

I use a Line 6 G10. It works perfectly

 

[Maiden Bass]

@Treeman has

And how did they sound on the Special?

 

[KaseOfBass]

Is anyone using a wireless system (e.g. Line6 G-series) with their SR Special? If so, how does it cope with the 18V preamp?

No issues with a SR5S and the Shure GLXD14R system.

 

[Treeman]

And how did they sound on the Special?

I've just recently put on a set of Cobalt Flats I've been keeping around (bought this past spring and couldn't make 'em work on my P-Bass (moreso my fingers than the P-Bass...more on that below)). So, I have tried the flats but have not yet touched the Cobalt rounds.

I have not yet had the chance to use them in a band mix, but foolin' around at home I think they sound really nice. Not quite the roundwound "zing" as advertised, but I am happy with that. Harmonic content sounds gently controlled in all the right places for a 'Ray, while the fundamental pushes through with a modest amount of thump. They absolutely inhabit that space between rounds and traditional flats, and the EQ on the Special is super usable with them. I'm finding that keeping knobs at detente sounds plenty great, with any adjustments not needing to be too dramatic. Just a touch of highs gets you back into roundwound territory, and just a touch back gets you more into the territory of traditional flats. But this is all at home...will have to update once I am able to play out with 'em.

I'm not crazy about the feel of them, though. From all I've read, folks either complain of a chalky-type friction causing finger drag, or have no idea what folks are complaining about and claim they're as smooth as glass. Must be a skin-type thing causing the polarization.... Mine gave me blisters on the plucking hand when I played them with the band all Memorial Day weekend, but I polished them with steel wool and alcohol before getting them onto the 'Ray and that took some of the texture down.

 

[Maiden Bass]

I've just recently put on a set of Cobalt Flats I've been keeping around (bought this past spring and couldn't make 'em work on my P-Bass (moreso my fingers than the P-Bass...more on that below)). So, I have tried the flats but have not yet touched the Cobalt rounds.

I have not yet had the chance to use them in a band mix, but foolin' around at home I think they sound really nice. Not quite the roundwound "zing" as advertised, but I am happy with that. Harmonic content sounds gently controlled in all the right places for a 'Ray, while the fundamental pushes through with a modest amount of thump. They absolutely inhabit that space between rounds and traditional flats, and the EQ on the Special is super usable with them. I'm finding that keeping knobs at detente sounds plenty great, with any adjustments not needing to be too dramatic. Just a touch of highs gets you back into roundwound territory, and just a touch back gets you more into the territory of traditional flats. But this is all at home...will have to update once I am able to play out with 'em.

I'm not crazy about the feel of them, though. From all I've read, folks either complain of a chalky-type friction causing finger drag, or have no idea what folks are complaining about and claim they're as smooth as glass. Must be a skin-type thing causing the polarization.... Mine gave me blisters on the plucking hand when I played them with the band all Memorial Day weekend, but I polished them with steel wool and alcohol before getting them onto the 'Ray and that took some of the texture down.

Thanks, but I was asking about the Cobalt rounds. If anyone has tried Cobalt rounds on a Stingray Special please let us know!

I am wondering how the new pickups and preamp will work with the higher output and wider frequency range of the Cobalt rounds!

 

[Stevorebob]

Thanks, but I was asking about the Cobalt rounds. If anyone has tried Cobalt rounds on a Stingray Special please let us know!

I am wondering how the new pickups and preamp will work with the higher output and wider frequency range of the Cobalt rounds!




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I’ll get astound to it eventually. Cobalt Rounds have been my go-to strings for my StingRays. I’m guessing I’ll like them on the StingRay Special.