I just wish you were able to get different combinations from Stingray. I would love to have a standard Stingray 5 but with the two band. I just can’t deal with the slab body of the classic.
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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
The Special really is the best buy for me, for a number of reasons. I like the 2 band sound best, but no 2 band stingrays (except some very rare custom ordered and special edition 4 Hs) have a modern radius, and I can’t stand 7.5. So the only choices with a modern radius are 4Hs up to 2018 and Specials. I’ve had about 3 4Hs, and to me I just don’t like the geometry of the neck. They just don’t setup low without buzz and I’ve had a few be realllly buzzy even at moderate string lowness. The Special is made soooo well, has different neck geometry that can setup verrrrrrry low. And I think the Special 3 band sounds better than the predecessor, too. It’s warmer. Lastly, I like the ability to easily return a new bass to the retailer if something is wrong. Obviously the downside is price. The Specials are extremely expensive.
The only other bass that checks all my boxes is the Sterling ray24ca, AND as a bonus has the “SLO” neck too, but the problem is I can’t stand the Sterling name on the headstock. Yep I’m shallow like that unfortunately. I tried but my MIA and MIJ Fenders bully the poor guy into leaving. I really wish there was still a made in Japan EBMM branded range in the $1300ish bracket.
The only other bass that checks all my boxes is the Sterling ray24ca, AND as a bonus has the “SLO” neck too, but the problem is I can’t stand the Sterling name on the headstock. Yep I’m shallow like that unfortunately. I tried but my MIA and MIJ Fenders bully the poor guy into leaving. I really wish there was still a made in Japan EBMM branded range in the $1300ish bracket.
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Tis a shame you have a problem with the name. I had a 24ca and a 25ca. Both were excellent basses and were the gateway to later EBMM purchases. I'd love to find a blue 25ca with a rosewood board.
I have a 'gut' feeling after hearing demo's both solo and in mix [live and studio processed] that Stingray Special 5 may be what I like best of all Stingrays 4 or 5 from '76 to present
If only I could play one
been doing 4's for 50 years and not sure willing to to deal with learning curve also knowing I use my E String for thumb rest and left hand for muting
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And the QC, but that’s for another thread.
Yes would be nice for every Bassist
They have SBMM from 350-1k and EBMM 2700 TO ?
Maybe they might decide to go for an in-between 1300-1700 and Japan would be best spot for them.
You must have allot of willpower to only have one bass. What kind of Special do you have?
Yes 100%. But they’d be 90-97% as good as USA and half the price. Most people would be just fine w that, especially if the headstock said Music Man. They would never sell as many MIAs after that.Yes would be nice for every Bassist
They have SBMM from 350-1k and EBMM 2700 TO ?
I had a Early model Ernie Ball Stingray 5HH that weighed over 12 pounds that I gigged for years in a Worship Ministry setting. Loved that bass but the weight just wore on me over the years. Wanting to get a Stingray Special from Sweetwater and was wondering how they compare tonally and build wise to the earlier versions? Really loving the option to get one under 10 pounds now lol.
Build wise they nailed it. Tonally it is great too. It is less aggressive, and more open sounding then the pre specials. It definitely sounds like a Stingray but a bit more polite. With the knobs at center indent the bass has a flatter sounding EQ IMO. Of course you can adjust it to taste. Some like the new sound better and some like the old sound better but everyone is different so only you can decide. I suggest trying before buying if you can. Youtube has some great comparisons as well. Here is Lobsters comparison between the old 3 band and the special. You can definitely hear a tonal difference. Its not a HH but at least you can hear the bridge pickup.
Me personally I slightly like the old sound better but that's just me.
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Here she is! Bass is absolutely amazing. The pink is quite mild in person, absolutely love it. Very shell pink/vintage looking, nice dark board (which will get even darker once I oil it). 8lbs, 2 oz. Everything is perfect. NOT SURE about the tort! Actually kind of digging the original pearl better, which is a first for me. The pearl seems to have some pink in it, or is reflecting off the bass, which just looks awesome... but we'll see. Both look awesome.
Yeah, the tuner/truss rod problems are a shame. Both of mine were excellent and reasonable weights. If they had not been, I may not have bought the Big Al or Stingray. Most of the newer Ray25s and Ray35s I have seen have also been >10 pounds.
I am not normally a fan of anything pink, but this looks insanely good. Almost looks like an aged white. Do you have pics with the original pickguard on it?
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It looks good with the tort, but I think the original pickguard is even better. Makes the finish pop a bit more. Of course, mine is just a worthless Internet opinion. You can't go wrong either way. Congrats on the new bass!
Thanks! Nah, no pics. I should have snapped on in the same area with the same light. I'll lay it on later and do that.
It's a VERY classy pink. This is probably not the most pc way to describe it, but it's the least "feminine" pink possible. Something you might see on a Rolls Royce, 70s Cadillac or a very expensive dress shirt.
Nice bass. EBMM has some nice dark chocolate looking rosewood . Im secretly hoping the pearl pickguard goes right back on. And Im hoping that you keep this one.
Matching head stock looks so good. Love the subtle pink. Congratulations !!!!
Man this looks incredible. Im not sure if its just the lighting (based off your description sound like its not) but i actually love how mild the pink hue is. Depending on how much you were hoping for a brighter ping i would say keep the Tort on it, i think it looks really good for that old aged white tort pickguard PBass vibe... if you put the white Pguard back on it, it will be much more visibly pink and washed out imo. Personally i love this and im not a fan of pink, love how subtle it looks.
Thanks!! It's indeed very light pink with a very warm hue as well. Almost taupe-like. Beautiful. All along I was going for that Fender shell pink/tort vintage look, and i got it!
Here's the pearl laid on it. Looks good, but it's not "me" - if you know me in person you would agree. I dress in black and earth tones almost always, and have a "hipster" type look. The pearl just doesn't fit my vibe - too refined, too Hello Kitty. On the right person it would be killer though! I see an old soulful dude in a suit at church or something, haha.
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Oh it's a keeper... I can tell already. The neck reminds me almost exactly of my Sabre Classic, one of my biggest selling regrets. The only thing is that the nut is annoyingly high. Have to get it filed down.
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