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EBMM StingRay Special Club

#12,221
lordradish said:
Well, did the first gig with the new 5HH tonight. I am so glad I didn't listen to the HH naysayers out there, as the neck pickup in various combinations absolutely KILLS it on jazz stuff. It's a Fender Rhodes trio, so we cover a lot of jazz and funky jazz. HH was perfect. For the more trad stuff, I went back and forth between positons 4 and 5, and when we went funky, I just went with the classic Ray sound. So glad I got it.

With the new custom shop open, it is a daily struggle to not pull the trigger on a 5 HH fretless. I'm sure I will by the end of the year, godless willing.
Click to expand...
The secrets to the HH is not expect it sound like other basses . You have to enjoy the different settings for what they bring to the table.And they bring a lot!!!
The deeper secret is the hidden settings in between those known settings. @Todd Hamby revealed this to me.
These basses bring so much to the table.
 
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#12,224
ics1974 said:
Make sure the pickups are working correctly. tap on the pole pieces with a screwdriver to see if they make a sound through the amp. Do this for each pickup switch setting.
1- bridge pickup both sides of pole pieces (bridge only) should make sound
2- outer coils only on both pickups
3- all coils
4- inner coils only (both pickups)
5- neck coils only
Click to expand...

Stevorebob said:
This. And that hum is evident in positions 2, 3 and 5, means that the outer coil of the neck pickup seems to have failed. Bring the bass to an EBMM-authorized service center to get a replacement EBMM pickup installed.
Click to expand...

I tried this and filmed it. I feel embarrassed I didn’t think to do this. But you both nailed it. Question is:
Do I just contact Sweetwater or is there a place in Ohio that is authorized repair?

 
#12,226
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
The secrets to the HH is not expect it sound like other basses . You have to enjoy the different settings for what they bring to the table.And they bring a lot!!!
The deeper secret is the hidden settings in between those known settings. @Todd Hamby revealed this to me.
These basses bring so much to the table.
Click to expand...
I messed around with the hidden settings, but I get too much hum. I did get the instructions on how to add a mod switch to get the other settings.

Only setting I'm not quite sold on is position three. It has some sort of scooped sound that I can't seem to reduce with the EQ. Anyone have some good EQ settings for pos 3 they'd share?
 
#12,227
lordradish said:
I messed around with the hidden settings, but I get too much hum. I did get the instructions on how to add a mod switch to get the other settings.

Only setting I'm not quite sold on is position three. It has some sort of scooped sound that I can't seem to reduce with the EQ. Anyone have some good EQ settings for pos 3 they'd share?
Click to expand...
I add a good amount of mids and reduce the bass a little from centre.
 
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#12,230
I think I've finally decided to bite the bullet on ordering an HH Special...but I'm REALLY torn on finish. They have all the new finishes at the distribution centre, and also have a Smoked Chrome leftover...so it would only be about a week to get any of those.

I have always loved the Ocean Sparkle...I drooled over the Music Man Luke for years. But I'm not sure I love how blingy the Ray is with the gold and pearloid. How do they look in person? Hard to judge by photos...

I do really like the Smoked Chrome as well...what do you guys think of these finishes?
 
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#12,231
kln_bc said:
I think I've finally decided to bite the bullet on ordering an HH Special...but I'm REALLY torn on finish. They have all the new finishes at the distribution centre, and also have a Smoked Chrome leftover...so it would only be about a week to get any of those.

I have always loved the Ocean Sparkle...I drooled over the Music Man Luke for years. But I'm not sure I love how blingy the Ray is with the gold and pearloid. How do they look in person? Hard to judge by photos...

I do really like the Smoked Chrome as well...what do you guys think of these finishes?
Click to expand...

I like the blingy finishes so I'd personally be leaning towards the Ocean sparkle but I can see the appeal with the Smoked Chrome as well. I tend to shy away from blacks and other dark finishes unless they're really unique like the colour shifting purple ray in my display pic. I also have a gingerburst Ray 5H which is more of a dark sparkle which works for when I don't want to be as flashy as my pink champagne sparkle ray.
 
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#12,232
kln_bc said:
I think I've finally decided to bite the bullet on ordering an HH Special...but I'm REALLY torn on finish. They have all the new finishes at the distribution centre, and also have a Smoked Chrome leftover...so it would only be about a week to get any of those.

I have always loved the Ocean Sparkle...I drooled over the Music Man Luke for years. But I'm not sure I love how blingy the Ray is with the gold and pearloid. How do they look in person? Hard to judge by photos...

I do really like the Smoked Chrome as well...what do you guys think of these finishes?
Click to expand...

Based on the few I've seen in stores, it seems to me like the sparkle finishes are more vibrant and even prettier in person than they are in pictures. If you like the sparkle finishes enough to be interested in them, I think seeing them in person will seal the deal. I'm a hardcore burst guy and have liked some of the sparkle finishes in the past but not enough to tempt me. But, when a Big Al popped up for sale (as I've said here many times, it basically fell into my lap :D) I immediately grabbed it. It's Metallic Red, a little deeper red than a Candy Apple Red, and with a beautiful metallic look. Once I saw it I was hooked. I'm still a burst guy, but I now have a growing appreciation for metallics and sparkles - and especially metal flakes. :drool:

N4860 said:
I like the blingy finishes so I'd personally be leaning towards the Ocean sparkle but I can see the appeal with the Smoked Chrome as well. I tend to shy away from blacks and other dark finishes unless they're really unique like the colour shifting purple ray in my display pic. I also have a gingerburst Ray 5H which is more of a dark sparkle which works for when I don't want to be as flashy as my pink champagne sparkle ray.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen that Gingerburst in a while. Would love to see some pics again. :D
 
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#12,233
kln_bc said:
I think I've finally decided to bite the bullet on ordering an HH Special...but I'm REALLY torn on finish. They have all the new finishes at the distribution centre, and also have a Smoked Chrome leftover...so it would only be about a week to get any of those.

I have always loved the Ocean Sparkle...I drooled over the Music Man Luke for years. But I'm not sure I love how blingy the Ray is with the gold and pearloid. How do they look in person? Hard to judge by photos...

I do really like the Smoked Chrome as well...what do you guys think of these finishes?
Click to expand...
The Smoked Chrome is a good amount of sparkles without too much bling. If you don’t really like the gold hardware and pearl , go for the smoked chrome. It’s discontinued. Once it’s gone , it will not so easy to find. If you do t like it , you can maybe return it for ocean sparkle .
 
#12,235
dave64o said:
Based on the few I've seen in stores, it seems to me like the sparkle finishes are more vibrant and even prettier in person than they are in pictures. If you like the sparkle finishes enough to be interested in them, I think seeing them in person will seal the deal. I'm a hardcore burst guy and have liked some of the sparkle finishes in the past but not enough to tempt me. But, when a Big Al popped up for sale (as I've said here many times, it basically fell into my lap :D) I immediately grabbed it. It's Metallic Red, a little deeper red than a Candy Apple Red, and with a beautiful metallic look. Once I saw it I was hooked. I'm still a burst guy, but I now have a growing appreciation for metallics and sparkles - and especially metal flakes. :drool:


I haven't seen that Gingerburst in a while. Would love to see some pics again. :D
Click to expand...

IMG_20210322_221834650.jpg


314358616_680997806757573_3110400076583838103_n.jpg
 
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#12,236
melloncollie said:
Does anybody know what coils are active in the hidden settings?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure for certain but I imagine it is some sort of combination of the 2 configurations that it is set between. If you open up the cavity and mess with the switch, you can physically see how there's a little spot between the settings where the switch is just barely making contact with both of the surrounding switch positions (there's little metal tabs for each setting if I recall). It's been a while since I've tried those in between settings but I used to mess around with them on a 5H. I'd love to hear from someone with more experience with those settings to explain exactly what's happening (i.e is it just activating different coils or is it putting them in series or something?)
 
#12,237
I mean, I LOVE sparkle finishes...the black chrome also has some sparkle, and it's the last one. At the same time, that ocean sparkle is probably my favorite colour, period. I do like the idea of the ebony board for a bit of brightness on the Chrome...but overall prefer rosewood. The Chrome is like 300 cheaper also...but at these prices that's not that big a difference.

I wonder if maybe the gold is a little more understated in person. Some pictures I see it really looks good, while others...its just too much for me.

N4860 said:
View attachment 5409886

View attachment 5409876
Click to expand...

That's stunning...
 
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#12,239
kln_bc said:
I think I've finally decided to bite the bullet on ordering an HH Special...but I'm REALLY torn on finish. They have all the new finishes at the distribution centre, and also have a Smoked Chrome leftover...so it would only be about a week to get any of those.

I have always loved the Ocean Sparkle...I drooled over the Music Man Luke for years. But I'm not sure I love how blingy the Ray is with the gold and pearloid. How do they look in person? Hard to judge by photos...

I do really like the Smoked Chrome as well...what do you guys think of these finishes?
Click to expand...
I don’t regret the Aqua Sparkle at all. I wanted something a little more loud and have gotten nothing but compliments. I fill in for a band with a female singer and she always says bring the pretty one :cool:
 
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