EBMM StingRay Special Club

[Wolfhound32]

Well, I've been trying to sell it for months and not even a nibble. It's just sitting here. I really hate the neck, but love everything else.

Our "wonderful economy" is making it difficult to sell anything, especially a mighty fine used bass.

When kicking around the TB Classifieds, it seems that the only things selling swiftly are the very-low and the very-high priced. What's in the middle tends to sit much longer.

Hang in there-- eventually you will find someone specifically looking for that model/color and willing to pay what you're asking.

It's too bad you don't like the neck feel, these are real gems-- and one of the few I'd pay the going rate for. Can't say I notice any difference in neck size between the SR and Fender Pro II P. I figured the two were darn near the same width... Now I've got to check for myself LOL!

 

[Wolfhound32]

Couldn't concentrate in todays practice session until I scratched this itch...

2021 Fender Pro II Precision:

2018 StingRay Special HH:

Just for kicks, as it's today's weapon of choice; 2021 Rickenbacker 4003:

Okay, now I can get to work

 

[_Obra_]

My apologies to @Stranger Danger

I just remeasured the nut on mine and it is exactly 42.89mm. Sorry, my mistake.

 

[Stranger Danger]

What’s a millimeter between friends?

 

[liverbird]

It’s a standard 1 5/8” neck like the modern p bass.

Although EBMM in their specs have always listed the StingRay nut width as 1 5/8", they are really 1 11/16".

 

[Stranger Danger]

Like I said, what’s a millimeter between friends?

 

[got_the_bug]

I’ve been in the SS club a few times over, but recently found myself un-Special and wishing that I wasn’t.

I love most things about the StingRay Specials, but I’ve ended up moving the ones I’ve owned along due to other basses being in more consistent rotation.

I sold the last of my Specials about a month ago, and I was feeling the absence. I was cruising the Guitar Center used site, which is a favorite activity of mine. What I found was what was listed as an “Aqua Burst” StingRay for $1329.99 in excellent condition. What I could see from the single, terrible, grainy picture was that it was actually a StingRay Special in Frost Green Pearl. Based on the fact that was over $1000 less than the street price of a new one…

So…a few days later, I’m back in the club. It’s basically a new bass…plastic still on the pickguard, pristine paint.

Bonus…it’s really light, too…lighter than my recently departed 5H by an ounce…

Only one minor disappointment…

None of my other StingRay Specials have had a neck pocket gap like this. I know that it’s just cosmetic…the E and G strings are equidistant from the ends of the fretboard, and the strings are aligned over the pickup poles, so there is no need to loosen neck bolts and pull the neck to one side.

I’m just gonna play it and stifle my OCD…

 

[got_the_bug]

Oh, and the serial number doesn’t return any results in the EBMM serial number lookup…

 

[Stranger Danger]

Neck gap is an overrated deal. When the weather heats up it goes away.

 

[got_the_bug]

No unsightly finish cracks around the neck pocket to worry about, either…

 

[BASS67]

Neck gap is an overrated deal. When the weather heats up it goes away.

Really?, I've never checked that, although I doubt it, I don't know.

 

[dave64o]

Couldn’t resist…‍
Best bass I have ever owned, and that includes some very nice boutique basses costing a lot more money…
Hats off to EBMM they have smashed it with these specials

Beautiful!

I’m a hardcore burst/tort guy but I love how beautifully the black pickguard works on that burst. Maybe it’s the black hardware and the especially dark looking fretboard? Regardless, it looks fantastic.

Congrats!

 

[Stranger Danger]

Really?, I've never checked that, although I doubt it, I don't know.

Wood contracts in the cold and expands in the heat. I’m not talking a massive amount of course but again, what’s a millimeter between friends?

 

[got_the_bug]

Neck gap is an overrated deal.

Functionally, that’s likely true…to me, it’s more about attention to detail and quality craftsmanship. Still, it’s not awful, and I’m pretty sure EBMM would say it was within acceptable tolerances.

Just something I haven’t personally experienced on any of the other 10+ EBMM basses I’ve owned.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Functionally, that’s likely true…to me, it’s more about attention to detail and quality craftsmanship. Still, it’s not awful, and I’m pretty sure EBMM would say it was within acceptable tolerances.

Just something I haven’t personally experienced on any of the other 10+ EBMM basses I’ve owned.

What I’m saying is that it doesn’t necessarily mean that it left that factory like that. Kinda like fret sprout that you hear people complain about but really is the result of temperature changes and how wood reacts.

But I think you’ve reached the right conclusion about the gap. It really doesn’t matter. Just another example of the snake oil we all sell eachother about basses on the internet so we can avoid practicing haha!

 

[Rlbragg15]

Functionally, that’s likely true…to me, it’s more about attention to detail and quality craftsmanship. Still, it’s not awful, and I’m pretty sure EBMM would say it was within acceptable tolerances.

Just something I haven’t personally experienced on any of the other 10+ EBMM basses I’ve owned.

Congrats on a great find! As a fellow OCD lifer, I can completely understand the neck gap thing. When I got my first run Special in 2019, it had a similar gap, but it was apparent the neck had shifted as the pickup pole + dot inlay spacing was screwed up. Fortunately, loosening the neck screws and pulling to the E side (and shifting the whole neck in the pocket for correct alignment) fixed it right up.

My Fender '63 AVRI Precision has a similar neck gap, but like yours everything is perfectly in line. The thing plays so good that I've been able to overcome that brain itch and really enjoy it.

I'm not sure neck gap matters that much in the end (unless it's just egregious), but if it takes away from your playing experience and joy, it's worth correcting.

 

[Jhalb]

I’ve been in the SS club a few times over, but recently found myself un-Special and wishing that I wasn’t.

I love most things about the StingRay Specials, but I’ve ended up moving the ones I’ve owned along due to other basses being in more consistent rotation.

I sold the last of my Specials about a month ago, and I was feeling the absence. I was cruising the Guitar Center used site, which is a favorite activity of mine. What I found was what was listed as an “Aqua Burst” StingRay for $1329.99 in excellent condition. What I could see from the single, terrible, grainy picture was that it was actually a StingRay Special in Frost Green Pearl. Based on the fact that was over $1000 less than the street price of a new one…

So…a few days later, I’m back in the club. It’s basically a new bass…plastic still on the pickguard, pristine paint.

View attachment 4905730

Bonus…it’s really light, too…lighter than my recently departed 5H by an ounce…

View attachment 4905732

Only one minor disappointment…

View attachment 4905739 View attachment 4905740 View attachment 4905741

None of my other StingRay Specials have had a neck pocket gap like this. I know that it’s just cosmetic…the E and G strings are equidistant from the ends of the fretboard, and the strings are aligned over the pickup poles, so there is no need to loosen neck bolts and pull the neck to one side.

I’m just gonna play it and stifle my OCD…

$1329 for a beautiful Stingray with a minor flaw, winner winner chicken dinner. Congratulations

 

[got_the_bug]

$1329 for a beautiful Stingray with a minor flaw, winner winner chicken dinner. Congratulations

Thanks!

 

[Stranger Danger]

From our show last night

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

From our show last night

All that sparkle looks great with the Christmas sweaters.