EBMM StingRay Special Club

[dave64o]

I forgot which model Sandberg she has, but I hope you just prompted her to post a pic of it.

I remember it being a pretty nice looking bass. Maybe a TM?

 

[Paradilum]

I also bought several pickguards from him. Same experience. Took 8+ weeks last time I ordered. Never disappointed with the result though.

View attachment 4722335

That changes the whole look of Cruz Teal. Nice!!

 

[jd50]

I forgot which model Sandberg she has, but I hope you just prompted her to post a pic of it.

I remember it being a pretty nice looking bass. Maybe a TM?

I picked mine up here on TB. It had a black PG, I ordered a Tort PG from Sandberg, took a few months to come in but it was worth it.

 

[Jim C]

Can someone help me decide on a pick guard color? I'm wondering if Tort would be overkill.

For now, I took it off

View attachment 4722205

Beauty, love it with the full body showing!
Red and black sharpie the holes FTW.
They should make the guards for these as an option as the body looks so good.

 

[FLStudiobassist]

Beauty, love it with the full body showing!
Red and black sharpie the holes FTW.
They should make the guards for these as an option as the body looks so good.

Thanks I appreciate it!! I'm in agreement with you that the body looks really good without a pick guard, I'm stuck between clear, red Florentine, and tort. But I'd rather have no pick guard at all

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Can someone help me decide on a pick guard color? I'm wondering if Tort would be overkill.

For now, I took it off

View attachment 4722205

CLEAR!! Show of that amazing sparkle as much as possible . Or no guard at all. Get some black screws and it should look stellar!!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

You should check out a Sandberg TM2 5. I could never get into the SR5 HH and just couldn't put my finger on it. I picked up a Sandberg TM2 5 which has 2 humbuckers but back more towards the bridge and I love it, it's my go to when I'm not playing my Stingrays.

This is my other main player. I enjoy it just as much as my StingRay5 Special.
Sandberg makes a great bass.

 

[dave64o]

THAT was the picture I was hoping you'd post!

Do they offer the option of splitting the MM pickup? Seems like that would give you the options of a MM, 60s Jazz, or 70s Jazz tone from that pickup (similar enough, anyway).

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

THAT was the picture I was hoping you'd post!

Do they offer the option of splitting the MM pickup? Seems like that would give you the options of a MM, 60s Jazz, or 70s Jazz tone from that pickup (similar enough, anyway).

On this particular model they don’t . But I’m not really after those sounds.
I’ve had them and while I do like a good Jazz , I like what this bass does even better.
That back pickup is closer to the bridge compared to the StingRay sweet spot . My fav setting is both pickups on with blend 25% more towards the rear pickup. It’s like if a Jazz and StingRay had a baby. Think StingRay5 Special with extra clarity and note separation.
More articulate. 2band eq . Sounds great passive and active. Neck pickup solo gets some great vintage sounds with the bonus of a great low B. 19mm spacing at bridge and neck shape makes me approach it entirely differently.

Both basses produce rich, smooth and powerful notes. When I want that signature StingRay bounce to the notes…. only my Special can produce that. I’ll never part with either.

If you like that higher level factory that rivals boutique Ernie Ball quality , you’ll appreciate Sandberg as well.

 

[Pet Sounds]

THAT was the picture I was hoping you'd post!

Do they offer the option of splitting the MM pickup? Seems like that would give you the options of a MM, 60s Jazz, or 70s Jazz tone from that pickup (similar enough, anyway).

I don't have the Ida, but my TM-4 does have the option of splitting the MM pickup. I like the sounds it gives me, but I don't think the Sandberg really cops a StingRay tone, and it isn't exactly like a Fender Jazz, either. I dial up the neck pickup slightly with the blend knob and usually play it active with the bridge pickup in MM mode, and it gives me a thick, rich, almost Precision Bass tone but with more definition. It definitely can get snarlier with the bridge favored in the various modes, but thick and rich works best for most of the music I play. I can also get a version of thick and rich from my StingRay Specials, but it's pretty different than what I hear from the Sandberg. Just my 2 cents.

 

[dave64o]

On this particular model they don’t . But I’m not really after those sounds.
I’ve had them and while I do like a good Jazz , I like what this bass does even better.
That back pickup is closer to the bridge compared to the StingRay sweet spot . My fav setting is both pickups on with blend 25% more towards the rear pickup. It’s like if a Jazz and StingRay had a baby. Think StingRay5 Special with extra clarity and note separation.
More articulate. 2band eq . Sounds great passive and active. Neck pickup solo gets some great vintage sounds with the bonus of a great low B. 19mm spacing at bridge and neck shape makes me approach it entirely differently.

Both basses produce rich, smooth and powerful notes. When I want that signature StingRay bounce to the notes…. only my Special can produce that. I’ll never part with either.

If you like that higher level factory that rivals boutique Ernie Ball quality , you’ll appreciate Sandberg as well.

Good info, thank you!

It's a few years away, but it's no secret I've been thinking ahead about a retirement gift to myself. A Sandberg is high on my list, and lately I've been drooling over the Maruszczyk website, too IIRC, Maruszczyk has an option for putting a MM style pickup in just about the right spot to split it and be a 60s or 70s Jazz (that was something I loved about my old Lakland 55-02). And, as much as I love my parts Jazz, it would also be nice to add a NICE Jazz to my collection, so a Sadowsky, or a Sandberg TT, is a possibility. There are also two excellent luthiers in my area who stopped doing repairs and are building full time now, so maybe there's a custom build in my future. Lots of possibilities .....

But, for now, I'm really enjoying my new Special. I've only used it at a couple of rehearsals and one gig so far (was looking forward to playing for a set or two tomorrow night, but we had to cancel that gig because our guitar player was just diagnosed with COVID), but it's making me REALLY happy. Not sure it will end up my #1, but more and more I suspect it will share the #1 spot with my 2007 ceramic. They have similar feel, but they have their own tonal character, which is exactly what I was hoping to get out of the two of them.

 

[Jim C]

Stingray Special Prices Coming Down?

I've had a few new ones on my watch list on Reverb.
This week, 4 different sellers offered me a 24 hour deal on new 4h Specials.
The price reduction was $150 - $225 off per seller.
Not sure if this means that buyers don't think they are worth the asking price, or if the economy and consumer confidence is forcing sellers to move stock that is sitting. I suspect it's the latter.

 

[Bill Murray]

Stingray Special Prices Coming Down?

I've had a few new ones on my watch list on Reverb.
This week, 4 different sellers offered me a 24 hour deal on new 4h Specials.
The price reduction was $150 - $225 off per seller.
Not sure if this means that buyers don't think they are worth the asking price, or if the economy and consumer confidence is forcing sellers to move stock that is sitting. I suspect it's the latter.

they’re definitely not going down. I’m assuming the move to gig bags was to prevent another price increase.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

You should check out a Sandberg TM2 5. I could never get into the SR5 HH and just couldn't put my finger on it. I picked up a Sandberg TM2 5 which has 2 humbuckers but back more towards the bridge and I love it, it's my go to when I'm not playing my Stingrays.

I don't have the Ida, but my TM-4 does have the option of splitting the MM pickup. I like the sounds it gives me, but I don't think the Sandberg really cops a StingRay tone, and it isn't exactly like a Fender Jazz, either. I dial up the neck pickup slightly with the blend knob and usually play it active with the bridge pickup in MM mode, and it gives me a thick, rich, almost Precision Bass tone but with more definition. It definitely can get snarlier with the bridge favored in the various modes, but thick and rich works best for most of the music I play. I can also get a version of thick and rich from my StingRay Specials, but it's pretty different than what I hear from the Sandberg. Just my 2 cents.

Good info, thank you!

It's a few years away, but it's no secret I've been thinking ahead about a retirement gift to myself. A Sandberg is high on my list, and lately I've been drooling over the Maruszczyk website, too IIRC, Maruszczyk has an option for putting a MM style pickup in just about the right spot to split it and be a 60s or 70s Jazz (that was something I loved about my old Lakland 55-02). And, as much as I love my parts Jazz, it would also be nice to add a NICE Jazz to my collection, so a Sadowsky, or a Sandberg TT, is a possibility. There are also two excellent luthiers in my area who stopped doing repairs and are building full time now, so maybe there's a custom build in my future. Lots of possibilities .....

But, for now, I'm really enjoying my new Special. I've only used it at a couple of rehearsals and one gig so far (was looking forward to playing for a set or two tomorrow night, but we had to cancel that gig because our guitar player was just diagnosed with COVID), but it's making me REALLY happy. Not sure it will end up my #1, but more and more I suspect it will share the #1 spot with my 2007 ceramic. They have similar feel, but they have their own tonal character, which is exactly what I was hoping to get out of the two of them.

Uh oh!!

 

[Vanheusen77]

My guess is that the second hand prices at going to come down as the general economic outlook turns more pessimistic. BTW that Sandberg sounds great!

 

[Pet Sounds]

Uh oh!!

Nice!
I laughed when he called pounds "freedom kilos."
The only place he lost me was when he referred to his "pre-CBS" StingRay!

 

[Paradilum]

Uh oh!!

Are Sandbergs really half the price of EBMM SRs in Germany?

 

[dave64o]

Uh oh!!

Wow, I can definitely see that getting the attention of the single H fans, especially if the 2-band EQ is similar to an old Stingray 2-Band. That sounded really nice!

I’ll have to check that out next time I’m on Sandberg’s web site.

 

[Nobis17]

Confession time:

A few months ago I listed my 4HH in the classified to see if anyone would bite, since I had been mostly playing my Nash. Last week I restrung my 'ray with TE flats and then played a show with it this week. Today I removed the 'ray from the classified - I had forgotten how amazing it really is. It is still, hands down, the best bass I've ever played. I think the only way I would willingly part with it is if someone wanted to trade a 5HH for it. Silly me (that was a close one )

 

[dave64o]

The important thing is that a catastrophe was avoided!

TE Flats? Or did you mean TI’s?