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EBMM StingRay Special Club

Played a festival on Thursday evening and used my recently purchased Stingray Special 5HH for the whole show. Well, almost the whole show. The festival organizer stopped us midway through our fourth set and said there are reports of lighting so they asked us to end it there.

We got everything torn down and in their cases or bags and were halfway done loading up our cars when the skies opened. The weather turned from no rain to torrential downpour in just seconds. Luckily we already had the PA, lighting, and some of our of instruments/amps loaded, but I was just going to get my car at that point. Everybody else quickly moved everything remaining under our tent while I drove back, but that only did so much. Things got WET.

Luckily, there was no apparent damage and everyone got home OK. It sucked at the time, but we’re laughing about it now.

But, to get back on topic, my Special sounded fantastic. A photographer friend was getting some shots and talking to the crowd as he walked around and said we got lots of compliments. I attribute it to the bass (not the bass player, the bass!). :D

This was NOT the best picture of me that he took, but it was the best shot of the bass…


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Great looking bass! Glad you got it safely put away before it was washed away!
 
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Just a quick shot of the Special in action. It's still my #1 after almost 4 years. I was sick and barely got through the gig and the brutal Florida heat didn't help.
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Nice looking bass!

I know a lot of people go for the "authenticity" of the single H model and I totally get that. But I love the versatility I get from my HH Stingrays. No regrets owning a pair of them (a 2019 Special - now in my avatar! - and a 2007 ceramic).
 
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Nice looking bass!

I know a lot of people go for the "authenticity" of the single H model and I totally get that. But I love the versatility I get from my HH Stingrays. No regrets owning a pair of them (a 2019 Special - now in my avatar! - and a 2007 ceramic).
Trust me I battled back and forth between the single and double pickup ones. After playing one for a while in a GC I decided that the HH is more versatile and the front pickup didn't get in the way of my technique.
 
Anyone have experience with the Zero-Mod Thumb rest? I've been thinking i could really use a thumb rest on my Special so i can play in-between the neck and pickup, closer to P bass territory....but absolutely don't want to drill any holes.
I have one on my Stingray and Stingray Special. Same model works on both. Also have them on some other basses. Really love them because I don't really like resting my thumb on the pickup for many reasons.
 
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I have one on my Stingray and Stingray Special. Same model works on both. Also have them on some other basses. Really love them because I don't really like resting my thumb on the pickup for many reasons.

I've been curious about if they fit the SR Special because they don't specifically make that clear on their website. I'm glad to hear that it works though. I might grab one for my single H ray.
 
I've been curious about if they fit the SR Special because they don't specifically make that clear on their website. I'm glad to hear that it works though. I might grab one for my single H ray.
You're right, it's not really clear. What I did was when I got my Special, I moved the existing one from my old Stingray onto it to make sure it fits - which it does. I believe the pickguards are exactly the same and it merely is screwed into the pick guard holes. In any event, I just purchased a second one after verifying.

I should add...no idea about the fit on HH versions, I only have single H Stingrays.
 
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Anyone have experience with the Zero-Mod Thumb rest? I've been thinking i could really use a thumb rest on my Special so i can play in-between the neck and pickup, closer to P bass territory....but absolutely don't want to drill any holes.

I have a zero mod, Single H SR5, it stays for about a month before I took it out.

On other basses I usually always pluck from the neck pick up and thought I wanted to keep same "feel" when I moved to the Stingray. Now I believe that plucking with thumb anchored on the bridge pick up is BY DESIGN the sounds you get from the Stingray, more tight, I eventually got used to it and can't come back now, the Zero Mod was therefore useless
 
I have a zero mod, Single H SR5, it stays for about a month before I took it out.

On other basses I usually always pluck from the neck pick up and thought I wanted to keep same "feel" when I moved to the Stingray. Now I believe that plucking with thumb anchored on the bridge pick up is BY DESIGN the sounds you get from the Stingray, more tight, I eventually got used to it and can't come back now, the Zero Mod was therefore useless
As a long time Stingray player, I definitely use the pickup position …it’s just lately I’ve been wanting to explore plucking up closer to the P position. With less tension on the string the tone is different and certain things are easier…
 
I switched to floating thumb years ago and never looked back. No need for an anchor and it actually increased my speed and decreased some wrist pain I was having at the time.

Of course different things work for different people but throwing it out there. It's nice to be able to change my plucking hand position smoothly to get the sound I want. Generally on my Special I am plucking either over the pickup or right in front of it. I do move closer to the neck sometimes for a fatter sound
 
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So, for the long time EBMM Stingray HH players. I know the weight was a big factor and then the preamp upgrade on the Specials have been mostly what I hear about. I am thinking about picking up a used pre-2018 HH as a backup. Other than weight and possibly having to learn the different EQ slopes will I be disappointed?
This is just me, but I was never totally happy with the pre-Special StingRay because of its very "zingy" tone. (I know many people love it.) Especially with 3-band models, I just found the tone harsh and not that versatile, particularly given that I'm not a slapper.
 
This is just me, but I was never totally happy with the pre-Special StingRay because of its very "zingy" tone. (I know many people love it.) Especially with 3-band models, I just found the tone harsh and not that versatile, particularly given that I'm not a slapper.
I bought my first real pro bass in 1996, a Stingray 3 band 4string....yes i was listening to RHCP:) Ive had the exact same issues over the years and until recently hadn't really bonded with it. Flats or Sunbeams really help, also a hp/lp filter.
 
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