EBMM StingRay Special Club

[PrimitiveMan]

I think they are having problems getting the swamp ash wood so now don't really specify what woods they are using. The lighter Specials are nice but I wouldn't necessarily turn down a 9 pounder if you loved the way it looks and sounds unless you have back problems. I sit and play ☺. Like I said, I think weight is a factor in the sound.

I like a little weight too. Mine is 8.9 pounds which I think is nice for a 5 string.

Still much lighter than any other 5 string stingray I've tried!

 

[Wicked G]

As do I, and the 4HH on the outer single coils is glooorious.

I like every setting, but usually use setting 3 the most. This past Friday I primarily used 2 and 4 on a boomy stage and they worked extremely well.

 

[metron]

There is a u-tube out there demonstrating the difference between the H and HH both in parallel mode but they weren't Ernie Ball Music Man they were both Sterling's and they did sound very different. I had an HH Sterling and sent it right back, yuck. I have the H and HH EB Specials and unlike the Sterlings they do sound nearly identical in parallel. The only difference I'm hearing (same strings) is coming from the fret board with the H being rosewood and the HH ebony. I don't find the different switch positions on the HH other than position 1 to be either appealing or useful, perhaps position 2 and 4 but the 5 and 3 are horrible and muddy. None can reproduce my P bass even remotely. I think they could have done a much better job experimentIng with spacing on the neck pickup. The only reason I'm keeping the HH is because I really like the sound of the ebony fretboard, has a grand piano like tone attack. It also weighs in at about 9.5 lbs compared to my H which weighs about 7.2 lb, the added weight may also have something to do with it. Lighter is not necessarily better.

Yeah Ive heard that demo and they do sound different. The HH is almost compressed sounding. I dont hear those differences in mine.

Woods are probably a factor. As I mentioned my 8.6 lb HH is ash maple and has more highs overall in the sound. The 9.4 lb H is ebony and unknown body wood. Has a better speaking B and is overall slightly more muted in the highs. That can be compensated with like a 5% bump of the treble knob. For all practical purposes, I think the bridge pickups sound almost exactly the same.

I hear the boominess you refer to for settings 3 and 5 at noon on the EQs but I find thats easily remedied with a slight cut to the bass and slight boost to the mids and treble. Sometimes I just like how the neck booms at all noon too.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

There is a u-tube out there demonstrating the difference between the H and HH both in parallel mode but they weren't Ernie Ball Music Man they were both Sterling's and they did sound very different. I had an HH Sterling and sent it right back, yuck. I have the H and HH EB Specials and unlike the Sterlings they do sound nearly identical in parallel. The only difference I'm hearing (same strings) is coming from the fret board with the H being rosewood and the HH ebony. I don't find the different switch positions on the HH other than position 1 to be either appealing or useful, perhaps position 2 and 4 but the 5 and 3 are horrible and muddy. None can reproduce my P bass even remotely. I think they could have done a much better job experimentIng with spacing on the neck pickup. The only reason I'm keeping the HH is because I really like the sound of the ebony fretboard, has a grand piano like tone attack. It also weighs in at about 9.5 lbs compared to my H which weighs about 7.2 lb, the added weight may also have something to do with it. Lighter is not necessarily better.

You’re kidding right? Position 5 (neck only) and 3 (both pickups) are awesome and I’m using them as often as position 1. Maybe you are experiencing eq related issues making it unusable in your gear and musical setting?

 

[dave64o]

I have a SR5HH and I find all five pickup positions very usable. From what I've read on TB, I'm in the minority because I like Position 4 best (inner coils) and use that as my default setting, but I use all five positions on a typical gig.

 

[Moonskunk]

You’re kidding right? Position 5 (neck only) and 3 (both pickups) are awesome and I’m using them as often as position 1. Maybe you are experiencing eq related issues making it unusable in your gear and musical setting?

No eq issues I'm aware of. To me they both sound muddy whatever the setting on either of my amps (GK and Trace Elliot) or bass. I even tried adjusting pickup height on the neck pickup, 3 and 5 still sound like mud. My 50's P bass with Fralin pickup sounds so much better it's not even a contest. I can cope with position 2 and 4 but absolutely love position 1.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

I would like to hear coil positions 2+4 (the front half of both pickups).
It could be tried/tested easily enough, but it wouldn't a be humbucking pair without some more work.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Also, coil positions 1+3 (the back half of both pickups) would probably be closer to a J bass (if you're interested in that) than 1+4.
But, again, it wouldn't be a humbucking pair without more work or a custom pickup.

 

[Low Key]

I really love my EBMM Stingray Special (single H, 5-string). The only issue I'm combating is how much louder the E string is vs. the rest of the strings. The E string is thunder and, by comparison, makes the other strings sound thin and too bright. It really stood out in a gig last night.

I've adjusted the pickup height to favor the higher strings but that hasn't done a lot. I'm curious if people have confronted this with the 5-string Rays and how they've gotten around it. I believe I have Dunlop Superbrights on it (45-130), or the original Slinky set. Lack of gigs during COVID has made me lose track of when and what strings I've changed....

Oh, and I play finger style, slap and pick. So I do need treble extension, just not crazy brightness.

I welcome thoughts on this if others have had this issue.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I really love my EBMM Stingray Special (single H, 5-string). The only issue I'm combating is how much louder the E string is vs. the rest of the strings. The E string is thunder and, by comparison, makes the other strings sound thin and too bright. It really stood out in a gig last night.

I've adjusted the pickup height to favor the higher strings but that hasn't done a lot. I'm curious if people have confronted this with the 5-string Rays and how they've gotten around it. I believe I have Dunlop Superbrights on it (45-130), or the original Slinky set. Lack of gigs during COVID has made me lose track of when and what strings I've changed....

Oh, and I play finger style, slap and pick. So I do need treble extension, just not crazy brightness.

I welcome thoughts on this if others have had this issue.

If pickup height doesn't seem to help, I'd try changing strings first before anything else. Maybe with a lighter E string?

 

[DrGroovenstein]

If pickup height doesn't seem to help, I'd try changing strings first before anything else. Maybe with a lighter E string?

I agree, try different strings including lighter gage E string. What are you using right now? What are your pickup measurements below the strings? Do you do any kind of radical EQ, like really bumping low bass, low mids, or have any kind of low-pass filter? Some times amps and cabs can really push the low end and it's a bit out of control, I have this issue with an amp I use for rehearsal and I started using a high-pass filter to get rid of super low frequencies and tighten up the E string.

 

[chanson]

Anyone know about this color option? Got it in a trade recently, and I can't find any info online other than this product page. Must be a GC exclusive, but not labeled as one? Really enjoying it, although I'm a little luke warm on the HH configuration.

[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[2milehighspike]

Yeauser! That is a looker, I wish I could help on info. If you hadn't posted the GC link I would have thought this was produced I few years back when the Specials first came out but now I'm not sure. Whats it weigh?

 

[chanson]

Youser! That is a looker, I wish I could help on info. If you hadn't posted the GC link I would have thought this was produced I few years back when the Specials first came out but know I'm not sure. Whats it weigh?

It is about 10 lbs. Not very light for a Special, but I don't really mind.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

I vaguely remember seeing that combo on the Ernie Ball site. I also see it on Musicians Friend, but they are owned by GC I believe.

 

[jdaunt]

Anyone know about this color option? Got it in a trade recently, and I can't find any info online other than this product page. Must be a GC exclusive, but not labeled as one? Really enjoying it, although I'm a little luke warm on the HH configuration.

[This invalid link has been removed]

I believe i had it’s sister, the pace car blue version. Yeah it was a GC/MF exclusive from around 2016 i think it was. Really liked mine, but never got along with the EBMM 5er string spacing, so sold it.
You can go to the Music-Man.com website and put in the serial number and get the official info about it.

 

[chanson]

I believe i had it’s sister, the pace car blue version. Yeah it was a GC/MF exclusive from around 2016 i think it was. Really liked mine, but never got along with the EBMM 5er string spacing, so sold it.
You can go to the Music-Man.com website and put in the serial number and get the official info about it.

Thanks, didn't think to look up the serial. Manufacture date is March '21.

 

[jdaunt]

Thanks, didn't think to look up the serial. Manufacture date is March '21.

Ahh ok, then the white one that was the same model as my blue one was different. Looks similar though, was white with the gold hardware.

 

[bdplaid]

Is anyone else disappointed in the color options?

 

[Moonskunk]

Yep, except for perhaps one or two they're horrible. Hopefully they fired that guy and got someone with some taste.