Difference is that Lakland like Modulus peaked in the mid to late 90s and EBMM (it could be argued) is peaking now.
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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
I’ve had Chromes on my 2007 SR 5HH a few times and the current set has been on it for close to a year. I think that bass (ceramic pickups) is noticeably more aggressive and snarly than a Special, but the Chromes sound fantastic on it! For reference, my band plays mostly classic rock, blues, and blues rock.
My Special 5HH currently has Elixir Nanowebs on it and this is the first time I’ve used them and I like them a lot. I’ve had the bass about a month and the previous owner put them on just before I bought it, so I want to give the strings a little more time. However, I’m pretty sure I’ll eventually put Chromes on that one and put Nanowebs or, possibly my favorite strings overall, nickel Lo Riders on my 2007. I suspect doing that would better accentuate the difference between the two basses.
I’ve loved how Chromes have sounded on every bass I’ve put them on, so I have the bar set pretty high for how they’ll sound on my Special. Would be interested in hearing your impression of them after you’ve left them for several months or a year - or why you took them off sooner.
Good luck with them!
I am able to get the action lower than I could with the regular slinky and I play with a pick for the Phish band I’m in so they work quite well. Will see how it goes over time
My take on the Stingray Special is it’s boutique quality. They’re not particularly high volume mass produced (certainly not to the level of Fender) and there’s an amount of material selection and hand manufacture and finishing which puts them on a par, for instance with CS Fender basses in terms of quality.
They seem to make a lot more guitars and guitar models than basses these days which is a reverse of what they did, say 30 years ago - and given the size of their manufacturing facility is probably why there is a limit on the number of bass models and variations available.
Someone in this thread referred to them as parts basses assembled to a high quality - they actually manufacture the bodies and necks in their factory - the only bought in parts are elements like tuning pegs (manufactured and labelled for them) and Jack sockets etc. I would equate a parts bass to buying in the bodies/ necks etc and that is definitely wrong!!
I love my Musicman basses and have recently used my 2003 ceramic SR5 quite a lot - it’s great to play and sounds heavenly!!
They seem to make a lot more guitars and guitar models than basses these days which is a reverse of what they did, say 30 years ago - and given the size of their manufacturing facility is probably why there is a limit on the number of bass models and variations available.
Someone in this thread referred to them as parts basses assembled to a high quality - they actually manufacture the bodies and necks in their factory - the only bought in parts are elements like tuning pegs (manufactured and labelled for them) and Jack sockets etc. I would equate a parts bass to buying in the bodies/ necks etc and that is definitely wrong!!
I love my Musicman basses and have recently used my 2003 ceramic SR5 quite a lot - it’s great to play and sounds heavenly!!
They are definitely Boutique quality . That is why I dont mind paying asking price of them.
Even better having both a Special and a ceramic SR5.
I've been doing a lot of A/B'ing of my 2007 ceramic and my 2019 Special since buying the Special last month. But, after playing my Special almost exclusively for the past two weeks, including a 3-set gig last weekend, and absolutely loving it, I took my ceramic to rehearsal last night. We played for over two hours and it sounded every bit as good as it always has to me.
I'm close to concluding that I could easily live with either as my only bass if forced by circumstances to make that choice. But I really wouldn't want to have to make that choice - and making it would be quite difficult.
I'm not helping myself by starting to drool slightly at the thought of picking up a Classic 5. I suspect doing that would mean I'd then have THREE bases that I could happily have as my only bass - and be unable to decide which one would be that one.
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It’s been a decade since I last owned an SR4. I played them exclusively for years, but eventually I had different needs and I moved to playing 5’ers (I’ve never been a fan of the SR5).
So, here I am playing in a new band where an SR4 will be absolutely perfect. I’m excited about the new Specials as well.
Here’s my question. This compensated nut…. Will it require an adjustment to work properly with a bass tuned a 1/2 step down to D# Standard? Thanks!!!
So, here I am playing in a new band where an SR4 will be absolutely perfect. I’m excited about the new Specials as well.
Here’s my question. This compensated nut…. Will it require an adjustment to work properly with a bass tuned a 1/2 step down to D# Standard? Thanks!!!
That was me.
This applies to Sadowsky as well as MANY high end basses and was not meant as a slight on quality or sound.
The instrument is made from parts that are assembled in a factory.
There is no fitment, customer options, or individually optioned or customized parts.
The only handwork AFAIK is sanding and polishing.
So yeah, a well engineered bass that is assembled from high quality parts.
And while I believe the newer materials and QC are even better, I am super happy with my 83'!
They certainly manufacture the bodies and necks on the CNC machines in their factory - a certain amount of the finish buffing is also done by machine - as well as hand finishing necks and bodies, also hand wiring, assembly and set up, and spraying in house also. The various factory tour videos give good detail on this. I believe the bass pick ups are machine wound in house (to achieve consistent quality).
No. I always have at least one StingRay 5 tuned to D#/Eb. The compensated nut works just fine. I recommend the intonation be adjusted appropriately.
This is the truth. The strings are equidistant from the edge of the nut and each other. So they look "off" but just to the center of the neck. And trust me I'm the first to go agghhh when something's not symmetrical. Maybe some other makers offset the dots to look "right".If asked
If they were evenly spaced starting with the A centered then the B would always be closer to the edge.
Of course, yeah. Turning screws is no problem…. Filing a nut down. No problem. Adjusting a compensated nut? Yeah. I’ve never done that. Good to know it doesn’t require adjustments.
I love my 2018 Aqua Sparkle 4H Special more then any StingRay I owned through the years, but would love the nut width to be a little narrower.
I contacted Ernie Ball and they answered me that Slo special necks or Sterling necks are not available for purchasing.
I am interested in whether it is possible to find someone who would exchange the Slo Special neck for my ''regular'' Special neck (roasted maple with ebony)?......or just take to it to a luthier to narrow the neck
I contacted Ernie Ball and they answered me that Slo special necks or Sterling necks are not available for purchasing.
I am interested in whether it is possible to find someone who would exchange the Slo Special neck for my ''regular'' Special neck (roasted maple with ebony)?......or just take to it to a luthier to narrow the neck
Incredible scenery at our gig last night
First gig with my Amethyst for Independance Day celebration at a local US Army Camp.
After 6 months of playing exclusively my 35inch graphite neck instrument it was a nice homecoming to be with a Stingray. It sounded absolutely glorious with a fresh set of DR Lo-Rider, super punchy even too much as I had to tame a bit the treble.
Also first time with a GK 1001RB + 410RBH..ok maybe that was the real key component for that glorious sound, I was already a convinced of the GK sound but THIS, this is in your face all the way (first time the drummer does not ask me to up the volume so he can't hear me)
After 6 months of playing exclusively my 35inch graphite neck instrument it was a nice homecoming to be with a Stingray. It sounded absolutely glorious with a fresh set of DR Lo-Rider, super punchy even too much as I had to tame a bit the treble.
Also first time with a GK 1001RB + 410RBH..ok maybe that was the real key component for that glorious sound, I was already a convinced of the GK sound but THIS, this is in your face all the way (first time the drummer does not ask me to up the volume so he can't hear me)
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A Stingray with Lo Riders through a 1001RB is pure bliss!
My 1001RBII has been replaced with a Mesa D800+, but I just can't sell it. It's a beast of an amp so I've kept it as a backup and an outdoor amp.
My 1001RBII has been replaced with a Mesa D800+, but I just can't sell it. It's a beast of an amp so I've kept it as a backup and an outdoor amp.
I love my 2018 Aqua Sparkle 4H Special more then any StingRay I owned through the years, but would love the nut width to be a little narrower.
I contacted Ernie Ball and they answered me that Slo special necks or Sterling necks are not available for purchasing.
I am interested in whether it is possible to find someone who would exchange the Slo Special neck for my ''regular'' Special neck (roasted maple with ebony)?......or just take to it to a luthier to narrow the neck
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Loving all the SPARKLES!!
Perfect 4th of July weekend bass. Goes right along with fireworks.
Some days I miss my 1001RB more than I like my Mesa TT800
I sometimes feel the same way about my older amps. I used a 700rb for many years and loved that thing. Same goes for an ED WT800 I used to have.
