That may be a typo. I've never played such a light bass, but I would worry about head dive issues... And tone maybe?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
That may be a typo. I've never played such a light bass, but I would worry about head dive issues... And tone maybe?
Happy Thanksgiving to a club that I not only want to be a member of, but would also have me as a member (and to Groucho Marx, for letting me paraphrase/butcher his famous joke
)!
Last edited:
Yea I was thinking the same, no idea how they would even get that bass that light.
Tone is not going to be an issue but neck dive will. My 9.5 pound 5HH balances perfectly. My 9 pound 5H balances well but not as good as the the 5HH so the 9.5 actually feels lighter on the shoulder but heavier in hand if that makes sense. At 7.6 that bass will almost certainly dive unless they really found a super light neck which is certainly possible. I’d love to try it on in person
I have 3 Stingray Specials. One Frost Green 4H with Maple board is very light - probably around 8lbs, maybe even a shade below that. Slight neck dive when resting on my knee but no issue when standing with a good strap which is how I almost always play. A joy to play and so light!
My other two are a Charcoal Sparkle 4H with ebony board - this one is quite a bit heavier at around 9lbs. Also a new Harvest Orange 5H (sparkly finish and ebony board) at around 9lbs.
These weights are just using the bathroom scale method - not very accurate. But the latter two are very obviously significantly heavier.
When looking at Specials at sites like Wilcutt that post weights, the lightest ones seem to be the non-sparkle finishes and maple boards.
So by no means a scientific study, but in my experience the ebony / sparkle ones seem to be heavier.
My other two are a Charcoal Sparkle 4H with ebony board - this one is quite a bit heavier at around 9lbs. Also a new Harvest Orange 5H (sparkly finish and ebony board) at around 9lbs.
These weights are just using the bathroom scale method - not very accurate. But the latter two are very obviously significantly heavier.
When looking at Specials at sites like Wilcutt that post weights, the lightest ones seem to be the non-sparkle finishes and maple boards.
So by no means a scientific study, but in my experience the ebony / sparkle ones seem to be heavier.
Yep!! That is my experience as well.
Whileit is heavier it still isn’t too heavy. Under 10 lbs is still good for a string full scale bass.
That is true. 9-9.5 is just fine for a 5 string bass. 4 string I need 8-8.5
Yep!! That is my experience as well.
Whileit is heavier it still isn’t too heavy. Under 10 lbs is still good for a string full scale bass.
Well, the bursts seem lighter. I'm just sayin' ...
EDIT: FWIW, my Vintage Tobacco Burst Special 5HH is supposedly 8.3 pounds, at least as claimed by the original owner and the previous owner (I’m the third). I haven’t weighed it myself yet, but my 2007 ceramic 5HH is about 9.5 pounds and the Special is noticeably lighter. The ceramic is no problem on a four hour gig but the weight difference with the Special becomes even more apparent after a four hour gig.
I’m out all day today (caring for aging parents) but will weigh it tonight if I think about it after I get home.
EDIT: FWIW, my Vintage Tobacco Burst Special 5HH is supposedly 8.3 pounds, at least as claimed by the original owner and the previous owner (I’m the third). I haven’t weighed it myself yet, but my 2007 ceramic 5HH is about 9.5 pounds and the Special is noticeably lighter. The ceramic is no problem on a four hour gig but the weight difference with the Special becomes even more apparent after a four hour gig.
I’m out all day today (caring for aging parents) but will weigh it tonight if I think about it after I get home.
Last edited:
I think I've found that anything up to 10.5 pounds is fine for me. I have shoulder and back issues (I'm only 40 but have other poopie going on) but when I play live I move around a lot and get so into the performance that it really doesn't bother me. My original band plays a single 1 hour set and my cover band will play 3 1 hour sets and I can deal with it just fine. However, if I'm practicing at home (standing up) or at a band practice, I use the lightest bass I have because I get sore after like 20 minutes. I still prefer my 9ish pounders but can deal with my heavier basses since I like the tone so much.
Edit - I'm talking 5 string basses, I sold all my 4s.
Edit - I'm talking 5 string basses, I sold all my 4s.
I was able to catch my basses in this mornings Florida sunshine off my back balcony.
Trying to catch the majestic shimmer and shine of the sparkle is hard .
But I managed to get a few good shots .
Pics still don’t do it justice. Such a beauty to behold in person.
Trying to catch the majestic shimmer and shine of the sparkle is hard .
But I managed to get a few good shots .
Pics still don’t do it justice. Such a beauty to behold in person.
Paint me like one of your French girls.
I was able to catch my basses in this mornings Florida sunshine off my back balcony.
Trying to catch the majestic shimmer and shine of the sparkle is hard .
But I managed to get a few good shots .
Pics still don’t do it justice. Such a beauty to behold in person.
View attachment 4887144
View attachment 4887145
View attachment 4887146
View attachment 4887147
View attachment 4887148
You seriously need to see if you can get paid to photograph basses.
Great shots of a great collection!I was able to catch my basses in this mornings Florida sunshine off my back balcony.
Trying to catch the majestic shimmer and shine of the sparkle is hard .
But I managed to get a few good shots .
Pics still don’t do it justice. Such a beauty to behold in person.
View attachment 4887144
View attachment 4887145
View attachment 4887146
View attachment 4887147
View attachment 4887148
Although, I think all of those basses cry out for a leopard print strap, not just the fretless.
. 
That strap does look nice with all of my basses.Great shots of a great collection!
Although, I think all of those basses cry out for a leopard print strap, not just the fretless.
It was hard to find just the right strap for my Fuego Fretless. But the leopard never fails.
I was able to catch my basses in this mornings Florida sunshine off my back balcony.
Trying to catch the majestic shimmer and shine of the sparkle is hard .
But I managed to get a few good shots .
Pics still don’t do it justice. Such a beauty to behold in person.
View attachment 488
This may be a silly question, but is the white one a shorter scale, or is it just leaned back more than the others?I was able to catch my basses in this mornings Florida sunshine off my back balcony.
Trying to catch the majestic shimmer and shine of the sparkle is hard .
But I managed to get a few good shots .
Pics still don’t do it justice. Such a beauty to behold in person.
View attachment 4887144
View attachment 4887145
View attachment 4887146
View attachment 4887147
View attachment 4887148
Nah….. It was the only way to prop it up in the pillows to keep them all steady .
