Well that sucks. Sorry to hear that.
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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
Argh....I don't know, I'll need to get over my PTSD first (Post Traumatic Stingray Disorder).
I've said here before and know some don't like it- EBMM knocks it out the park most of the time but they do have QC issues pretty regularly. A lot of them are amazing but I've played some (even BFR) that have had poor fret work, electronic issues, dead spots etc.
My Aqua Sparkle Special 5H had a high fret that was pretty easy to fix and now the fretwork is perfect. But for a bass of this price there shouldn't have been any fret issues.
I also had to send my bass to EBMM to get the electronics replaced pretty early on. It started buzzing loudly when the pole pieces were touched. They replaced under warranty and have I've had no issue since then.
Glad I stuck I out as it remains my favorite bass. I have a nice boutique jazz (Sugi) that has some of the most stellar fretwork and construction I've ever seen... But I still prefer the Special.
I don’t have much bad to say. It was still gorgeous, but they’re indeed was a moderately present neck problem and a very stiff truss rod. Neither are fatal flaws. Probably. If I were in love with the sound, I would’ve kept it and had it fixed at my tech, but I didn’t wanna spend any more money on it, and it should’ve been perfect to begin with. Plus there always the chance it won’t come out right even after that and then it’s non returnable. Can’t take that risk.
Perhaps your eyes like the look of a StingRay and your mind the idea of a StingRay. Maybe your ears prefer the Fender sound.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I was just the opposite. Kept buying Fenders and Fender clones when what I really wanted was StingRays and more modern voiced instruments .
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ebmm-stingray-special-4h-hot-honey.1649295/
no affiliation - just sayin
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ebmm-stingray-special-4h-hot-honey.1649295/
no affiliation - just sayin
That Hot Honey finish is just gorgeous!https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ebmm-stingray-special-4h-hot-honey.1649295/
no affiliation - just sayin
My problem is I don't have the ability to try one before buying and the issues you guys are stating worries me. I would really like to add one of the Special 5HH to my stable though.
EBMM quality is very consistent . But no one is perfect. We live in an imperfect world . That is probably why his bass was offered at a good discount that he couldn’t pass up. These issues are less common and not the norm. Buy with a good return policy like he did and all will be fine.
When they are good, I don't think you can find anything better for the price. Just buy with a good return policy is my humble recommendation
@LadyLoveStingRay5 told me to post about this here. Maybe I can find some new friends who also love the newer stingray version.
So, I got my stingray special 5h a few days ago through a trade plus cash on my end. I've been trying to put her through the paces and I'm definitely in the boat of keeper her for a long time. I know people have said it before here on TalkBass, but I really feel like my GAS is gone.
Anyway she's a 5H in Cruz Teal with roasted maple neck and ebony fretboard. Speaking of looks, this is honestly only the second bass my wife has said is pretty. So she definitely going to be a long term keeper. Anyway, below are the pics and a vid I did showing off the tone I got with it.
https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_4252-jpg.5434476/ https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_4253-jpg.5434477/ https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_4255-jpg.5434478/
So, I got my stingray special 5h a few days ago through a trade plus cash on my end. I've been trying to put her through the paces and I'm definitely in the boat of keeper her for a long time. I know people have said it before here on TalkBass, but I really feel like my GAS is gone.
Anyway she's a 5H in Cruz Teal with roasted maple neck and ebony fretboard. Speaking of looks, this is honestly only the second bass my wife has said is pretty. So she definitely going to be a long term keeper. Anyway, below are the pics and a vid I did showing off the tone I got with it.
https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_4252-jpg.5434476/ https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_4253-jpg.5434477/ https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_4255-jpg.5434478/
I have owned many Stingrays in the past and only had one lemon. The rest were fantastic.
Welcome. I absolutely adore that finish. If EBMM ever releases it again with the option for chrome hardware and rosewood or maple , I’ll be the first in line to buy one.
Another question for you guys. Do you like the single H or HH configuration better tonally? Can the 5HH still get that famous Single H tone?
Oh agreed. That would be awesome. I'm debating putting some DR Black Beauties on to see what that looks like with the black hardware.
I have and like both. Yes it can. But the 5HH can't get the series or the filtered single row of coils sound. The HH gets you more options. It is up to which you would prefer or use more. Personally , I could get by with just the 5H, but I couldn't pass up the finish and features on the 5HH BFR, so I bough it. It gave me a justifiable reason to have both , because it brought something different to the table. It has different woods and different strings , so it works for me.
I have owned two HH models. 2007 ceramic SR5 HH and a Special 5 HH. Sold both because I had a love hate relationship with the second pickup. One day I would love it then I wouldn't the next day. I ended up selling them both but regretting selling my 2007 ceramic SR5 HH because it had a great aggressive sound I missed. I ended up buying it back from the buyer and absolutely loved the sound again... until I recently bought a Duff Mckagan signature Jazz bass Special. Now when I play the Duff and then play the HH, the sound of the second pickup is not what I want it to be. So now I am confused about my HH again. I do absolutely love the sound of the bridge pickup on my HH though. It is killer!
If I were you, I would probably go for the single H version.
As a counter point to @ics1974 (whose opinion is, of course, valid!), I love the second pickup. I especially like how sweet and full the "dusty frets" above 10 sound with just the neck pickup. In my experience, the single-H sound is perfect, and all of the other ones are great, too.
But to agree with @ics1974 (in a way) I am getting a bit more into slap and I find the second pickup on the specials takes a bit of an adjustment in technique (or as others have put it, "it can get in the way"). It's a bit easier on my not-special 4H and a PJ I have.
