EBMM StingRay Special Club

[Stranger Danger]

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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Sorry I just assumed you meant Flats. I haven’t tried the cobalt rounds on the SRS but I don’t think I ever will. I tried them on a jazz bass and thought they were the worst feeling and sounding strings I’d ever used in my life.

 

[Maiden Bass]

Sorry I just assumed you meant Flats. I haven’t tried the cobalt rounds on the SRS but I don’t think I ever will. I tried them on a jazz bass and thought they were the worst feeling and sounding strings I’d ever used in my life.

I feel the same way about flats.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I feel the same way about flats.

I like a lot of different strings. Flats, tapes, Rounds and everything in between. The cobalts were absurdly rough and basically amplified every single frequency I don’t like to hear. Maybe they’d be great on a Stingray and I’m sure lots of folks like them. As always YMMV.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

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

So you've had a weekend and a few days with the bass. How are you liking it so far? Mine is due to arrive friday.

 

[maplenecked]

So you've had a weekend and a few days with the bass. How are you liking it so far? Mine is due to arrive friday.

Oh sweet, happy new bass week! I’m loving it. I’m in so deep I’m thinking about giving my 4HH the axe . I’m finding the string spacing advantageous to long practicing and learning sessions. When I go back to the 4 it feels kinda silly. I’m still a noob to bass (a year this month) and an ultra noob to 5 strings (1 month) so i figure these are some normal noob reactions. But I gotta say this is the finest instrument I’ve owned yet, and I’m excited for you to get yours!

The neck radius, ebony board on the roasted maple....yeah...you’re gonna be happy oh and the sparkle

 

[Stranger Danger]

Oh sweet, happy new bass week! I’m loving it. I’m in so deep I’m thinking about giving my 4HH the axe . I’m finding the string spacing advantageous to long practicing and learning sessions. When I go back to the 4 it feels kinda silly. I’m still a noob to bass (a year this month) and an ultra noob to 5 strings (1 month) so i figure these are some normal noob reactions. But I gotta say this is the finest instrument I’ve owned yet, and I’m excited for you to get yours!

The neck radius, ebony board on the roasted maple....yeah...you’re gonna be happy oh and the sparkle

Don’t sell the 4 for at least a year.

 

[Maiden Bass]

I like a lot of different strings. Flats, tapes, Rounds and everything in between. The cobalts were absurdly rough and basically amplified every single frequency I don’t like to hear. Maybe they’d be great on a Stingray and I’m sure lots of folks like them. As always YMMV.

I thought the Cobalts were excellent when I recently tried them!

And so does John Myung, who switched from the regular Ernie Ball nickels!

 

[Treeman]

I thought the Cobalts were excellent when I recently tried them!

And so does John Myung, who switched from the regular Ernie Ball nickels!

I have never been too in to Dream Theater, but there is something about John Myung's presence that I find mystically inspiring. And he's got me GASing pretty hard for a 5 or 6-string Bongo... Now that I'm a MM fanatic...

 

[Stevorebob]

I thought the Cobalts were excellent when I recently tried them!

And so does John Myung, who switched from the regular Ernie Ball nickels!

Who am I to disagree with John Myung? But here it goes: I really like Cobalt Rounds, but not on my Bongo 5HH. There’s an annoying ping that comes trough on the B- and E-strings when I fret, sounds like a high-tension cable ping. Something to do with the Bongo’s pick ups, pick-up placement or electronics — doesn’t happen with my StingRays. On my pre-2018 ‘Rays, Cobalt Rounds have a wonderful organic tone, like a deep wood block. (Haven’t tried Cobalt Rounds on my SR Special yet.) On my Bongo, the Cobalt Rounds are just metal on metal.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I thought the Cobalts were excellent when I recently tried them!

And so does John Myung, who switched from the regular Ernie Ball nickels!

He's a great player but definitely not the tone that I am shooting for. If it works for someone else then that's great. The Cobalts seem to have wildly different reactions.

 

[Stevorebob]

He's a great player but definitely not the tone that I am shooting for. If it works for someone else then that's great. The Cobalts seem to have wildly different reactions.

That’s more Bongo than Cobalt in Myung’s tone there.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

OUT FOR DELIVERY!! ne day earlier than expected.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Whelp I must say that once again Ernie Ball MusicMan has exceeded my expectations .

You guys and gals were right.
These new Specials are superb. Very versatile and comfortable to play. This one can’t be more than 8 1/2 - 9 lbs.


I’m so glad I was patient and didn’t buy the charcoal sparkle that was at my local GC. It was a sparkling black beauty but this aqua Sparkle is amazingly bluetiful!! Pics can’t do it justice but I’ll post some tomorrow.
Neck smells great. Excellent build quality .

Mine must have been the last delivery of the night. I only got about an hour with it tonight. Spend the first 15 minutes smelling the neck and gazing at the finish.
I think it’s the most beautiful bass I’ve ever seen.

 

[HD007]

Whelp I must say that once again Ernie Ball MusicMan has exceeded my expectations .

You guys and gals were right.
These new Specials are superb. Very versatile and comfortable to play. This one can’t be more than 8 1/2 - 9 lbs.


I’m so glad I was patient and didn’t buy the charcoal sparkle that was at my local GC. It was a sparkling black beauty but this aqua Sparkle is amazingly bluetiful!! Pics can’t do it justice but I’ll post some tomorrow.
Neck smells great. Excellent build quality .

Mine must have been the last delivery of the night. I only got about an hour with it tonight. Spend the first 15 minutes smelling the neck and gazing at the finish.
I think it’s the most beautiful bass I’ve ever seen.

Congratulations! Can’t wait to hear your impressions after you get more play time with your sparkling new beauty. Looking forward to pics as well.

 

[PeterH]

Alas, here I am still pained between the Classic and the Special! I'm probably going to go for the Classic 5, but what can you guys say about how you've found your tones after some time with the Specials?

 

[Stranger Danger]

Alas, here I am still pained between the Classic and the Special! I'm probably going to go for the Classic 5, but what can you guys say about how you've found your tones after some time with the Specials?

Classic has a slab body, heavier and less versatile preamp? Why would you want that? Just for the gloss neck? A heavier, less versatile and less comfortable instrument doesn’t seem all that appealing to me

 

[Edmang]

Classic has a slab body, heavier and less versatile preamp? Why would you want that? Just for the gloss neck? A heavier, less versatile and less comfortable instrument doesn’t seem all that appealing to me

Some folks are fans of the 2-band EQ in the classic and think it sounds better than the 3 band. You also get the built in mutes.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Some folks are fans of the 2-band EQ in the classic and think it sounds better than the 3 band. You also get the built in mutes.

Fair enough. I got a Nordstrand Mute for that. Quicker and easier for me but it’s not a sound I would typically be looking for.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Some folks are fans of the 2-band EQ in the classic and think it sounds better than the 3 band. You also get the built in mutes.

This isn’t the same 3 band EQ. For me, and opinions vary, the Special simply blows away previous MM designs. And that’s tough to do.

 

[mouthmw]

I always preferred the 2 band Stingray preamp to a 3 band ray preamp. I haven't tried the new one though, but it does sound smoother than the old ones from what I've heard and read, so I'd definitely go that route. Especially since it's lighter. Lots of nice upgrades, so kudos to EBMM. Perhaps one day I'll grab one, I'd like to.