EBMM StingRay Special Club

[FirewalZ]

Like @FirewalZ, I've been a passive Fender guy for the past 10 years. I absolutely love the tone of my Precision and absolutely hate everything else about it.

On the other hand, I absolutely lover everything about the Stingray, but I've always had doubts about owning a bass with only one pickup in the bridge position. I was wondering if the Stingray Special with the front pickup soloed can get in the ball park of a Precision. I'm not looking for perfection, but something that sits in the mix as good as a Precision without cutting through like a knife in hot butter.

Thanks.

I will say that my Special "sits" better in the mix than my older 3-band. My older Stingray is much more upper/mid forward, and with that twangy/sizzle edge it sticks out in the mix a bit more.

 

[PhinDog]

Like @FirewalZ, I've been a passive Fender guy for the past 10 years. I absolutely love the tone of my Precision and absolutely hate everything else about it.

On the other hand, I absolutely lover everything about the Stingray, but I've always had doubts about owning a bass with only one pickup in the bridge position. I was wondering if the Stingray Special with the front pickup soloed can get in the ball park of a Precision. I'm not looking for perfection, but something that sits in the mix as good as a Precision without cutting through like a knife in hot butter.

Thanks.

I agree with @LetItGrowTone.
I find that the solo neck pick up can get in the ball park but can get a little darker than my P. The position 4 (inner coils) gives me a little more P-feel. I can then rollup a little more mids and cut the treble a bit to get a little more thump. If I could solo the third coil it would be a lot more Pish.

Here's a great Mod Vid from @pertyman that gives that tone.

 

[PhinDog]

Does anyone know of a US retailer that has the Ray34 Natural finish Swamp Ash with Maple Neck in stock? I am not able to find one anywhere. Thanks in advance.

You May do better asking here, at the Sterling By Music Man Owners Club.
The Official Sterling by Music Man Owners Club

But.... - No Affiliation to either, just a quick Google search.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

or
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Staccato]

Yes. But I’m not sure of the years. Only with the 3band StingRays and on Sterling. Pre Ernie Ball, and early Ernie Ball StingRay 2bands , Old Smoothie, and Classics and well as US SUB are all alnico.
Not all 3bands are ceramic.

Stingray 2 band or 3 band pre-Special?
4-string we're AlNico.
5-string were AlNico - then Ceramic - then back to AlNico years.

Specials have neodymium pickups. (That’s what I said there.) Pre-Specials we’re mostly Alnico, but some years they were ceramic.

Hint- Video, below pre-dates Stingray Specials.
This EBMM SR5 comparison video is fun- grab your headphones:

 

[Pagorn Suebwong]

Incoming:

View attachment 4483716

Pre-loved, but in a very, very good state. My 1993 4H Stingray will have to make do with a little less attention. But the competition is family...

I liked to have one classic MM stringrey 4 strings Bass

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Stingray 2 band or 3 band pre-Special?
4-string we're AlNico.
5-string were AlNico - then Ceramic - then back to AlNico years.



Hint- Video, below pre-dates Stingray Specials.
This EBMM SR5 comparison video is fun- grab your headphones:

That Classic!!!

 

[Benko]

This one arrived, beautiful, lightweight, perfect.

ok now i need to sell the 2 others, 3 stingray special 5 at home right now, i'm gonna get in trouble

 

[Benny4P]

Wow! Beautiful grain on the fretboard!

 

[Pagorn Suebwong]

This one arrived, beautiful, lightweight, perfect.
View attachment 4490845

ok now i need to sell the 2 others, 3 stingray special 5 at home right now, i'm gonna get in trouble

This is the one I like to have.

 

[FirewalZ]

This one arrived, beautiful, lightweight, perfect.
View attachment 4490845

ok now i need to sell the 2 others, 3 stingray special 5 at home right now, i'm gonna get in trouble

Super sharp...If i had bought new, i would have chosen a sparkle or something similar. EB really did a great job on the Specials, still a Stingray but can win over folks who traditionally did not like the sound.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

This one arrived, beautiful, lightweight, perfect.
View attachment 4490845

ok now i need to sell the 2 others, 3 stingray special 5 at home right now, i'm gonna get in trouble

That is worth getting in to trouble for. I’m sure you had to get it while the getting was good. Stock is becoming few and far between.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Super sharp...If i had bought new, i would have chosen a sparkle or something similar. EB really did a great job on the Specials, still a Stingray but can win over folks who traditionally did not like the sound.

Yes!! This is me. All of the above.

 

[Benko]

That is worth getting in to trouble for. I’m sure you had to get it while the getting was good. Stock is becoming few and far between.

haha honestly it cost me a fortune just to move to that color...for no benefit than a finish (it sounds and play the same than my chopper blue with which I will have hard time parting cause it was the first 5 i really felt good with)

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

haha honestly it cost me a fortune just to move to that color...for no benefit than a finish (it sounds and play the same than my chopper blue with which I will have hard time parting cause it was the first 5 i really felt good with)

Sparkle ….
Purple…
Lighter weight….
You had to do it!!

Just sell the HH and the chopper blue H and you will be fine. Trouble don’t last forever!!

 

[Pet Sounds]

This one arrived, beautiful, lightweight, perfect.
View attachment 4490845

ok now i need to sell the 2 others, 3 stingray special 5 at home right now, i'm gonna get in trouble

Congratulations! For whatever reason, my Amethyst Sparkle Special is noticeably lighter than my other two, so there was a benefit beyond the beautiful finish. Hope you enjoy it for many years to come!

 

[RedJag]

I’ve finally accepted the fact that I should get a Stingray. Will most likely order from Sweetwater. I really like the Pacific Blue Sparkle, but I also dig the Smoked Chrome color as well. Has anyone seen both that has any opinions/comments on either of those colors?

 

[hypercarrots]

I’ve finally accepted the fact that I should get a Stingray. Will most likely order from Sweetwater. I really like the Pacific Blue Sparkle, but I also dig the Smoked Chrome color as well. Has anyone seen both that has any opinions/comments on either of those colors?

Pacific blue sparkle is one of my all time favorite music man colors. The way it fades from that deep blue on the edges and the metallic flakes accentuating the special’s new curves and contours. You get so many shades of blue in one bass.

 

[hypercarrots]

As for smoked chrome, i prefer eclipse sparkle because of the matching headstock and it’s an exclusive color

 

[Taustin Powers]

Pacific blue sparkle is one of my all time favorite music man colors. The way it fades from that deep blue on the edges and the metallic flakes accentuating the special’s new curves and contours. You get so many shades of blue in one bass.
View attachment 4492227

I would have to agree. This one and Tectonic Blue are quite amazing. If I could trade my Aqua Sparkle for one of those, I probably would! (I still like mine though!)

 

[Benko]

I would have to agree. This one and Tectonic Blue are quite amazing. If I could trade my Aqua Sparkle for one of those, I probably would! (I still like mine though!)

The aqua spakle has the ebony fretboard though, right? this is a real premium specs for me