EBMM StingRay Special Club

[Benko]

I was waiting for three years to found an Aqua Sparkle. Finally got one on Reverb!
BTW, the person responsible for last set of colours should be fired.

I believe we debated this already, I would personally widely disagree as it gave us the Amethyst Sparkle ands some other super cool finishes, snow white is nice, so is speed blue.

But I see the point that some people would have like to see more "classic" color and don't want / need anything too flashy

 

[vinylphile]

I believe we debated this already, I would personally widely disagree as it gave us the Amethyst Sparkle ands some other super cool finishes, snow white is nice, so is speed blue.

But I see the point that some people would have like to see more "classic" color and don't want / need anything too flashy

I dunno, I love my Forest Green Pearl…

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I was waiting for three years to found an Aqua Sparkle. Finally got one on Reverb!
BTW, the person responsible for last set of colours should be fired.

Yep, for the most part they were pretty undesirable. It wasn't a person though, it was a monkey. EBMM wanted to try an experiment and at the same time cut back on the payroll so with some positive reinforcement at the cost of just a few bananas cleverly got a monkey to select out different color combinations. Though there have been quite a few customer complaints about the latest set of the colors, one or two of the paint schemes were surprisingly good. The monkey has since been retired to the local zoo where it occasionally does people caricature drawings for visitor entertainment. Next Spring when the new colors are introduced let's hope they at least come from a budding art student at the local community college.

I believe we debated this already, I would personally widely disagree as it gave us the Amethyst Sparkle ands some other super cool finishes, snow white is nice, so is speed blue.

But I see the point that some people would have like to see more "classic" color and don't want / need anything too flashy

Amethyst Sparkle will go down in history as one of the best finishes ever offered!!! It is my all time favorite .
My first Special was aqua sparkle. But Amethyst Sparkle is on another level.

Ernie Ball should never eliminate natural Ash , black, or white from the offerings. Huge mistake.

Maroon Mist, and that Frost green were other favorites of mine.

 

[Mike Vee]

Charging green and natural were the best I've seen thus far. I want more colors that have a vintage look. Save the sparkle for Bongos or at least just the 5ers.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Charging green and natural were the best I've seen thus far. I want more colors that have a vintage look. Save the sparkle for Bongos or at least just the 5ers.

Charging green was great too!!

 

[KaseOfBass]

They've had some really nice finishes since the Specials came out. My favorites are the ones I've owned - aqua sparkle and charcoal sparkle. Had a tort guard on the charcoal bass that really made it pop. I like some of the other current ones, but just can't get down with any that have the gold hardware - just not my cup of tea.

Previous SR family photo -

 

[_Obra_]

Is there any other difference besides the bridge between Tim Commerford Active Full scale and Stingray Special?

I would love that vintage style bridge with muters on my Special.

 

[dave64o]

They've had some really nice finishes since the Specials came out. My favorites are the ones I've owned - aqua sparkle and charcoal sparkle. Had a tort guard on the charcoal bass that really made it pop. I like some of the other current ones, but just can't get down with any that have the gold hardware - just not my cup of tea.

Previous SR family photo -

View attachment 4778942

Nice collection!

- Is the one on the left (Buttercream) a special edition? I couldn't help noticing that it has binding on the neck. Binding, especially with blocks on the fretboard, makes me weak in the knees.

- Love the Charcoal Sparkle! I always liked that finish but, after seeing one in the local Guitar Center, I finally realized just how pretty it is. The ebony fretboard is a key feature, it matches the hardware and it really brings out the sparkle in the finish. Very nicely done.

I know I'm in the minority but, for me, I prefer that they have some classic finishes each year, including some kind of traditional burst. I honestly think a lot of the finishes offered in the last few years are pretty cool, but they're mostly not finishes I want for myself. I waited until a 2019 Special popped up for sale so I could finally buy myself a tobacco burst Special and ensure that my entire bass collection remains all bursts.

Thst being said, lately I have been warming up to the idea of a sparkle finish. For example, I already mentioned how much I like the Charcoal Sparkle. And the Autumn Sparkle kind of looks like a sparkle version of my Honeyburst Stingray.

Not sure I'll actually buy myself a sparkle Special, but you people have been slowly wearing my defenses.

 

[N4860]

Is there any other difference besides the bridge between Tim Commerford Active Full scale and Stingray Special?

I would love that vintage style bridge with muters on my Special.

The only differences would be the bridge, the ramp, and the string gauge for the stock strings, besides the colour of the instruments.

 

[KaseOfBass]

Nice collection!

- Is the one on the left (Buttercream) a special edition? I couldn't help noticing that it has binding on the neck. Binding, especially with blocks on the fretboard, makes me weak in the knees.

- Love the Charcoal Sparkle! I always liked that finish but, after seeing one in the local Guitar Center, I finally realized just how pretty it is. The ebony fretboard is a key feature, it matches the hardware and it really brings out the sparkle in the finish. Very nicely done.

The one on the left is a 30th Anniversary edition that came with a slightly different preamp (according to EBMM) and the pickup had ceramic magnets instead of the Alnico used at the time. Sadly, GAS got the better of me, and I have none of those basses any longer. I do, however, currently have a 2019 BFR SR5HH that's quite the stunner and a USA SUB 5. Really want another Special as I really enjoy what they did with the preamp/pickups in those basses.

But yes, blocks and binding =

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Nice collection!

- Is the one on the left (Buttercream) a special edition? I couldn't help noticing that it has binding on the neck. Binding, especially with blocks on the fretboard, makes me weak in the knees.

- Love the Charcoal Sparkle! I always liked that finish but, after seeing one in the local Guitar Center, I finally realized just how pretty it is. The ebony fretboard is a key feature, it matches the hardware and it really brings out the sparkle in the finish. Very nicely done.

I know I'm in the minority but, for me, I prefer that they have some classic finishes each year, including some kind of traditional burst. I honestly think a lot of the finishes offered in the last few years are pretty cool, but they're mostly not finishes I want for myself. I waited until a 2019 Special popped up for sale so I could finally buy myself a tobacco burst Special and ensure that my entire bass collection remains all bursts.

Thst being said, lately I have been warming up to the idea of a sparkle finish. For example, I already mentioned how much I like the Charcoal Sparkle. And the Autumn Sparkle kind of looks like a sparkle version of my Honeyburst Stingray.

Not sure I'll actually buy myself a sparkle Special, but you people have been slowly wearing my defenses.

I think the buttercream one is the SR 5 30th anniversary. One of my fav looking Stingrays.

I didn't think I'd ever own a Sparkle until I saw one in person. It won me over!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

The one on the left is a 30th Anniversary edition that came with a slightly different preamp (according to EBMM) and the pickup had ceramic magnets instead of the Alnico used at the time. Sadly, GAS got the better of me, and I have none of those basses any longer. I do, however, currently have a 2019 BFR SR5HH that's quite the stunner and a USA SUB 5. Really want another Special as I really enjoy what they did with the preamp/pickups in those basses.

But yes, blocks and binding =

View attachment 4779103

Wow !! You have had some nice StingRays , including your BFR.
Those 30th Anniversary models are sweet!!

 

[dave64o]

Sounds like that 30th anniversary probably has the Sterling preamp and the Sterling 5 ceramic pickups that are in my 2007 Stingray 5HH? Not the typical Stingray sound, but I absolutely love that combination. As aggressive as it can be, the EQ pretty flexible and can dial down the aggression as much as you need to if you need to.

That BFR is a Stingray I've drooled over the few times they've popped up for sale. The lack of the big SR5 pickguard, the blocks, and that top make that a really unique version.

 

[KaseOfBass]

Wow !! You have had some nice StingRays , including your BFR.
Those 30th Anniversary models are sweet!!

I’ve been fortunate to have owned some great basses, including a slew of Stingrays. I’ll stray away from EBMM to normally go back to a jazz bass, but always end up coming back.

Sounds like that 30th anniversary probably has the Sterling preamp and the Sterling 5 ceramic pickups that are in my 2007 Stingray 5HH? Not the typical Stingray sound, but I absolutely love that combination. As aggressive as it can be, the EQ pretty flexible and can dial down the aggression as much as you need to if you need to.

That BFR is a Stingray I've drooled over the few times they've popped up for sale. The lack of the big SR5 pickguard, the blocks, and that top make that a really unique version.

I’m not sure on the preamp - the promotional material on it claimed it was unique to the 30th Anniversary model, but who knows. It definitely had the Stingray sound albeit a smidge more edgy and aggressive than the others I had at the time.

I too drooled over the giants orange BFR and scoured the web when they came out for one with a reasonable weight. Everything I found was 10 lbs or more and that’s just a no-go for me. This one popped up and weighing 9 lbs 1 oz, I snagged it. I get compliments over the looks and tone of the BFR at almost every show.

With that, I really want to add a Special back to the herd and am looking for the right one. I received lots of compliments on the two I had and wish I would’ve hung onto them.

 

[poropara]

26708284[/URL], member: 44461"]Amethyst Sparkle will go down in history as one of the best finishes ever offered!!! It is my all time favorite .
My first Special was aqua sparkle. But Amethyst Sparkle is on another level.

Ernie Ball should never eliminate natural Ash , black, or white from the offerings. Huge mistake.

Maroon Mist, and that Frost green were other favorites of mine.

Amethyst Sparkle is the one that attracted me to (want to) splurge buy a stingray special. Now just waiting for it to hit my country’s music stores, and I will see how my wallet (and home CFO) says.

 

[Taustin Powers]

They've had some really nice finishes since the Specials came out. My favorites are the ones I've owned - aqua sparkle and charcoal sparkle. Had a tort guard on the charcoal bass that really made it pop. I like some of the other current ones, but just can't get down with any that have the gold hardware - just not my cup of tea.

Previous SR family photo -

View attachment 4778942

Charcoal with tort is a fantastic combo!!

Anyone tried different pickguards with Aqua Sparkle?

 

[vometia]

Oh wow, haven't seen that finish. I love it!

I think that's the same finish as mine; can't remember the name offhand, but this is it (apologies if I've posted it before). I remember really wanting the Burnt Apple one at the time but the blue really grew on me. Still can't make up my mind about the black or white pick-guard though, I keep swapping them over.

Stingrays

• vometia
• Aug 12, 2022
• 4-string bass ebmm fretless sparkle stingray

A pair of Stingrays, a GB Rumour and an Ashdown amp.

 

[dave64o]

Beautiful Stingrays, especially the blank plank fretless. Wish I could play one but just haven't put in the time to get comfortable on fretless. Maybe someday.

What's the bass in the middle?

 

[vometia]

Beautiful Stingrays, especially the blank plank fretless. Wish I could play one but just haven't put in the time to get comfortable on fretless. Maybe someday.

Thanks! And I was really surprised to discover I could play fretless especially given that my dexterity is really bloody awful (I play fingerstyle because I kept missing the strings with a plectrum...) but I was faffing around with someone's double bass one day and discovered I could play it. Absolutely no idea how because I'd never touched one before and certainly hadn't practised. So I bought the fretless.

What's the bass in the middle?

It's a GB Rumour, made in Brighton in England by luthier Bernie Goodfellow. Lovely bass, huge range of tones and very modern-sounding; but I think I realised I prefer old-fashioned-sounding: Stingrays, Ps and Rickys are really my thing!

 

[dave64o]

Cool. The GB has kind of an “MTD meets Ken Smith” look to it, so I was guessing it was kind of modern sounding. But I really had no idea what it would sound like.

I agree about preferring more old school tones from my basses. I usually adjust my ceramic Stingray to reduce the mids and highs a little and I’ve been using flats on it for a couple of years now. For a bass that’s supposed to be pretty snarly I can get any tone I need from it. My L-2500 may be my most “modern” sounding bass, but I still wouldn’t call it very modern and I rarely run it in active mode or use the bridge pickup. I prefer the neck pickup in series mode (or single coil if I want a clearer tone) and it gives me a great, beefy, P bass on steroids kind of tone. But, as much as I like that L-2500, I still strongly prefer my Stingrays, for the feel and playability as well as for the tone.