EBMM StingRay Special Club

[Jim C]

@Jim C, really? Wow.

My 5HH is so magnificent - even "game changing" as they say - that it's really petty to worry about the weight, but it's my heaviest at 10.2lb.
As someone said, it's a good reason to get started on a core routine.

My 83' is nearly 10.5 lbs. but my back is from 58'...
I complain but rehearse and gig with it. It sat in the case for probably 10 years while I was with Fender and G&L. Got tired of being louder than I wanted to in order to cut through the mix. No problem now with that somewhat nasal quality and a$$ kick punch.
Stingray, the Farfissa Organ of bases: in a good way.

 

[Vanheusen77]

I bought a special for the disco vibe but I am surprised at how versatile it actually is and it’s probably the bass I play the most right now.

 

[Pet Sounds]

My 83' is nearly 10.5 lbs. but my back is from 58'...
I complain but rehearse and gig with it. It sat in the case for probably 10 years while I was with Fender and G&L. Got tired of being louder than I wanted to in order to cut through the mix. No problem now with that somewhat nasal quality and a$$ kick punch.
Stingray, the Farfissa Organ of bases: in a good way.

As several of us have said, the Special can weigh far less than the the old StingRays. You may want to play a couple and see what you think.

 

[Surely_Bassy]

Yes he does know it.His name is Judah .

@Pet Sounds , @Todd Hamby , @Lukasonbass

Judah’s a handsome lad, for sure!

 

[Surely_Bassy]

View attachment 4469594
and me! but in the process of selling it to get a lighter single H

Well, that’s okay. It’ll be like when a family member gets a divorce, but you stay in contact with the in-law.

EDIT: Never mind! Just saw your other reply—glad you’re gonna stick with the Amethyst Amigos and Amigas.

 

[Surely_Bassy]

Looks like we're a growing tribe!
@Surely_Bassy, I'm constantly amazed at how light my Amethyst is. I'm sure it's got to be sub-8 pounds, like yours. It's one of my lightest basses, yet it doesn't have that toy-like feel that I get from many light basses. It's sooooo well constructed.

Right?? Just like the tones available, I keep finding things to love about this bass, including he construction and weight.

 

[FirewalZ]

I bought a special for the disco vibe but I am surprised at how versatile it actually is and it’s probably the bass I play the most right now.

Yep, i have two nice P's, 2 nice J's and a 1996 3-band Stingray.....at the moment my Special is my favorite out of them all. The 96 is noticeably different tonally, different and more highs, upper mid forward. The Special has much stronger and tighter lows and low mids and is more even sounding. It combines what i like about a P and a J.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Yep, i have two nice P's, 2 nice J's and a 1996 3-band Stingray.....at the moment my Special is my favorite out of them all. The 96 is noticeably different tonally, different and more highs, upper mid forward. The Special has much stronger and tighter lows and low mids and is more even sounding. It combines what i like about a P and a J.

Excellent desciption!! This is why I sold my Geddy Lee Jazz. My StingRay5 Special brings out what I like about a Pbass and a Jazz and it eliminates what I don't like about them. You hit the nail on the head as far as I am concerned .

 

[FirewalZ]

Excellent desciption!! This is why I sold my Geddy Lee Jazz. My StingRay5 Special brings out what I like about a Pbass and a Jazz and it eliminates what I don't like about them. You hit the nail on the head as far as I am concerned .

Yep, I was just realizing that today...going through a HP/LP filter, a touch of compression and into a GK combo, I was getting an almost "rear pickup on a jazz" tone, but the fullness and qualities of a P as well.

 

[Richard I]

. I don’t find them to weight more. My Amethyst Sparkle 5 is 8lbs . That’s great for a 5 string. My Sandberg 5 is 9lbs. Anything 9 1/2 lbs or less is good for a 5 string.
With the Specials, I have found that the ash/ ebony HH models weigh more.

Why ruin a sparkle finish if you don’t like it ? But one in another finish .

9,19 lbs my 5H in metallic finish (ebony board). Good weight to me, not too heavy, not too light, it gives the right feel while playing standing

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Yep, I was just realizing that today...going through a HP/LP filter, a touch of compression and into a GK combo, I was getting an almost "rear pickup on a jazz" tone, but the fullness and qualities of a P as well.

Hmmmm… I play through GK combo as well.

 

[dave64o]

Yep, i have two nice P's, 2 nice J's and a 1996 3-band Stingray.....at the moment my Special is my favorite out of them all. The 96 is noticeably different tonally, different and more highs, upper mid forward. The Special has much stronger and tighter lows and low mids and is more even sounding. It combines what i like about a P and a J.

I like that assessment. As of now, I'm only "lurking" in the Stingray Special thread because my Stingray is a 2007, with the Sterling preamp and ceramic pickups. But I've been drooling over the idea of adding a Special to my collection, although it probably won't be for a few more years. I'm planning to finally buy myself my first quality NEW bass as a retirement gift to myself (I've bought all of my basses used, most here on TB).

So I like hearing reports that the tone of the Specials seems different enough from my Stingray that it would be worth having two Stingrays. I guess, tonally, that pair would give me the sound of a Stingray Special and teh sound of a Sterling, but in two Stingray bodies. Not a bad thing as far as I'm concerned.

 

[FirewalZ]

I like that assessment. As of now, I'm only "lurking" in the Stingray Special thread because my Stingray is a 2007, with the Sterling preamp and ceramic pickups. But I've been drooling over the idea of adding a Special to my collection, although it probably won't be for a few more years. I'm planning to finally buy myself my first quality new bass as a retirement gift to myself (I've bought all of my basses used, most here on TB).

So I like hearing reports that the tone of the Specials seems different enough from my Stingray that it would be worth having two Stingrays. I guess, tonally, that pair would give me the sound of a Stingray Special and teh sound of a Sterling, but in two Stingray bodies. Not a bad thing as far as I'm concerned.

My 1996 3 band has Basslines alnico pickup and preamp, which I purchased and installed years ago to fix the missing G issue, however it’s still similar tonally to the original, just more even. It’s always been over the top sizzley, so I tame it down with broken in Sunbeams or flats. I can only describe it as a twangy brightness, which is what I think turns some folks off. The Special does not have that issue, side by side with the same strings, it’s thicker, tighter lows and low mids. With cutting and boosting the different knobs, the preamp is more useful as well.

 

[Surely_Bassy]

I like that assessment. As of now, I'm only "lurking" in the Stingray Special thread because my Stingray is a 2007, with the Sterling preamp and ceramic pickups. But I've been drooling over the idea of adding a Special to my collection, although it probably won't be for a few more years. I'm planning to finally buy myself my first quality new bass as a retirement gift to myself (I've bought all of my basses used, most here on TB).

So I like hearing reports that the tone of the Specials seems different enough from my Stingray that it would be worth having two Stingrays. I guess, tonally, that pair would give me the sound of a Stingray Special and teh sound of a Sterling, but in two Stingray bodies. Not a bad thing as far as I'm concerned.

That sounds like a fantastic retirement gift to yourself—and well earned! If I could encourage you from a different angle, and you'll indulge me for a second: I'm coming to the Special as my first StingRay, and I don't see myself playing another type of bass any time soon.

I started on a Fender MIM Jazz when I was 14, have played some Ps and other Js (most notably, an Am Pro II J that I really dug), spent some time with my COVID-the-world-is-ending-so-I-should-go-out-playing-a-dream-bass Ricky 4003W, and most recently, I tried my hand on a Jaguar P/J. They're all gone. The Amethyst Sparkle Special is the last one standing, and I adore the sounds I get from it. I don't have a basis of comparison with pre-Special Rays, but I've read enough to know that it's a different sound. In fact, I think @FirewalZ described it perfectly up-thread. All I know is that the sounds I get from ol' Eel inspire me to keep playing.

Anyway, just wanted to give you the noob perspective, as well—that, even if you didn't have your '07 to compare to, a Special will most likely feel fantastic in your hand and in your ear.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

That sounds like a fantastic retirement gift to yourself—and well earned! If I could encourage you from a different angle, and you'll indulge me for a second: I'm coming to the Special as my first StingRay, and I don't see myself playing another type of bass any time soon.

I started on a Fender MIM Jazz when I was 14, have played some Ps and other Js (most notably, an Am Pro II J that I really dug), spent some time with my COVID-the-world-is-ending-so-I-should-go-out-playing-a-dream-bass Ricky 4003W, and most recently, I tried my hand on a Jaguar P/J. They're all gone. The Amethyst Sparkle Special is the last one standing, and I adore the sounds I get from it. I don't have a basis of comparison with pre-Special Rays, but I've read enough to know that it's a different sound. In fact, I think @FirewalZ described it perfectly up-thread. All I know is that the sounds I get from ol' Eel inspire me to keep playing.

Anyway, just wanted to give you the noob perspective, as well—that, even if you didn't have your '07 to compare to, a Special will most likely feel fantastic in your hand and in your ear.

They are really special. I feel the same way about mine. I call her my Special Jewel!!

 

[PhinDog]

So Blu is doing much better. The set up is coming along.
New Strings - such difference!
Neck Relief Adjusted - nice and flat about .011/.012.
Action coming along, keep trying to get lower, but down to micro adjustments
My B string I need to keep a lot higher to keep the tension good. Anyone else find this as well?
Pickup height and intonation left.
The sound is really really good!
I am now super impressed instead of unimpressed!! Woohoo!

The only down size so far is Blu is about 9.5 lbs. Wondering between the bad set up and the weight if its why someone passed it along. But it balances really well on a strap and feels really light still. I'm a little jelly over the 8lbers, but it's lighter than my JB4 and the position 2 on the HH might just sound better! Getting really stoked!

 

[monkeyfinger]

One of these in dark grey would look great with that bass and should help with any weight issues.

https://store.talkbass.com/collecti...by-gecko-leather-works?variant=39383594893394

 

[PhinDog]

That sounds like a fantastic retirement gift to yourself—and well earned! If I could encourage you from a different angle, and you'll indulge me for a second: I'm coming to the Special as my first StingRay, and I don't see myself playing another type of bass any time soon.

I started on a Fender MIM Jazz when I was 14, have played some Ps and other Js (most notably, an Am Pro II J that I really dug), spent some time with my COVID-the-world-is-ending-so-I-should-go-out-playing-a-dream-bass Ricky 4003W, and most recently, I tried my hand on a Jaguar P/J. They're all gone. The Amethyst Sparkle Special is the last one standing, and I adore the sounds I get from it. I don't have a basis of comparison with pre-Special Rays, but I've read enough to know that it's a different sound. In fact, I think @FirewalZ described it perfectly up-thread. All I know is that the sounds I get from ol' Eel inspire me to keep playing.

Anyway, just wanted to give you the noob perspective, as well—that, even if you didn't have your '07 to compare to, a Special will most likely feel fantastic in your hand and in your ear.

I agree!
I am a 4 string player and played a special 5 and bought one. Its so fun to have the extended range and the closer spacing makes it very J bass like. I love it. And the sound is the most usable versatile bass I have yet. I may sell all my pedals it sounds that good. Well maybe not the envelopes, lol.

 

[PhinDog]

One of these in dark grey would look great with that bass and should help with any weight issues.

https://store.talkbass.com/collecti...by-gecko-leather-works?variant=39383594893394

Good idea.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

So Blu is doing much better. The set up is coming along.
New Strings - such difference!
Neck Relief Adjusted - nice and flat about .011/.012.
Action coming along, keep trying to get lower, but down to micro adjustments
My B string I need to keep a lot higher to keep the tension good. Anyone else find this as well?
Pickup height and intonation left.
The sound is really really good!
I am now super impressed instead of unimpressed!! Woohoo!

The only down size so far is Blu is about 9.5 lbs. Wondering between the bad set up and the weight if its why someone passed it along. But it balances really well on a strap and feels really light still. I'm a little jelly over the 8lbers, but it's lighter than my JB4 and the position 2 on the HH might just sound better! Getting really stoked!

That has not been my experience with their B strings.
However , as I pointed out earlier , that 9.5 weight has been my experience with sparkle / ash/ ebony / HH Special 5 strings.
It’s not the lightest but not the heaviest either.