Wow, installing those flats was unexpectedly difficult. But they're on now and sound pretty excellent unamplified - stoked to try them with headphones today.
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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
One of the best finishes and wow does it sound just as glorious !!!
I just adore the Specials!!
Stingray special specs : -
Stingray special thickness at 1st fret 0.830" (21mm)
Stingray special thickness at 12th fret 0.936" (23.7mm)
Width 1-11/16" (42.86 mm) at nut 2-1/2" (63.5 mm) at last fret;
Slo special specs : -
SLO Special nut width 1-1/12" (38.1 mm)
Neck thickness at 1st fret 0.830" (21mm)
Neck thickness at 12th fret 0.936 (23.7mm)
SLO special neck radius 11"
Jazz bass specs : -
Jazz Neck thickness at 1st fret 0.800" (20.3mm)
Jazz Neck thickness at 12th fret 0.900" (22.8mm)
Actual measurements with verier calipers on Starry Night HS SLO special with MHS
SLO special at 1st fret 0.850" (21.59mm)
SLO special at 12th fret 0.925" (23.5mm)
Stingray special thickness at 1st fret 0.830" (21mm)
Stingray special thickness at 12th fret 0.936" (23.7mm)
Width 1-11/16" (42.86 mm) at nut 2-1/2" (63.5 mm) at last fret;
Slo special specs : -
SLO Special nut width 1-1/12" (38.1 mm)
Neck thickness at 1st fret 0.830" (21mm)
Neck thickness at 12th fret 0.936 (23.7mm)
SLO special neck radius 11"
Jazz bass specs : -
Jazz Neck thickness at 1st fret 0.800" (20.3mm)
Jazz Neck thickness at 12th fret 0.900" (22.8mm)
Actual measurements with verier calipers on Starry Night HS SLO special with MHS
SLO special at 1st fret 0.850" (21.59mm)
SLO special at 12th fret 0.925" (23.5mm)
I have never played with flats before, let alone installed them. Been thinking about trying it though. What is the difficulty with installing them?
It might have just been me, but EB provides instructions for how to wind the strings onto the posts - I'd never done it like that before and found it difficult to do per their instructions.
But the strings are on and sound killer.
I have flats on both of my StingRay Special HH's. T.I. flats on one and DR Legends on one. I installed them the same way I always do (not the Ernie Ball recommended way) and it's fine. Both sound killer, as well. Maybe if you use Ernie Ball flats, their winding method might be the way to go. But I love the T.I.'s and the DR flats.
I suspect they suggest that method as a means of using up the excess string, rather than having people cut the strings to length, and risk having the core slip.
I'm wary of stringing flatwounds through the body (I always prefer top loading bridges), due to the excessive break angle, which can separate the core from the outer winding - weakening the string, particularly if you take them off, and reinstall them again / put them on a different instrument.
So, needless to say, the idea of doubling the string back on itself with two sharp angles, gives me the heebie jeebies - but it is right at the end of the string, meaning there would be plenty left to wind around the post if the worst happens, and it snaps - I figure Ernie Ball have concluded that this is still the least risky option, versus cutting the string...
...but this is all just conjecture, on my part.
I'm kind of in the same boat, always been intrigued by the StingRay but have always just stuck with my Fender's (mainly P's). I know their different, but I suppose my main concerns is active as I always played passive electronics and also finding my way around the neck to also find a great sound. I would like to branch out but the little voice in my head always pulls me back to Fender's and P's and says "don't fix what is not broke and just works."
I used to feel that way. Then I got a Ray25. I sold that and got a Big Al5H. And a Stingray Special 5HH. And a Big Al 5SSS. And a Bongo 5HH. I still have my P bass, but have sold all my other passive basses. Both are great in their own way, but the necks and tonal variability of Music Man basses are the best.
I played a Big Al 5SSS once in a Guitar Center outside of Boston in December 2012.
It still visits me in my dreams.
It still visits me in my dreams.
If you ever run across one again, the only action should take is buying it right then and there.
I love my Big Al 5SSS as much as I do my Stingrays. They are amazing basses. Different from a Stingray, yes, but equally amazing.
I had about $75 to my name back then so I was in no position to buy it. I did have a friend who worked there and, in retrospect, I should have talked to him about any and all ways I could have made it happen.
Oh well. Now I've got the purple sparkle monster to keep me happy.
Yeah, when reality is staring you in the face like that, you need to make smart decisions, which you did. But, like you said, you have your Special - and they are equally amazing!
These statements are very true. As much as the preamp in the Big Al is ludicrous, the secret sauce is that the Big Al SSS sounds fantastic passive, too. I play mine passive most of the time (neck and middle pickups).
I agree 100%. I play mine passive with the neck and middle pickups 1/2 to maybe 2/3 of the time and the use the passive tone control and my plucking position to vary it.
All pickups "off", which gives you the bridge and middle pickups in series, is also part of a Big Al SSS's secret sauce. That setting is a killer rock tone and I use that a lot as well.
I do use the preamp and active tone controls, and they are extremely effective and with a huge range of very useable tones. But I do that maybe 1/4 of the time, mostly when I want some *serious* beef or want a really aggressive rock tone with a lot of high mids and/or highs.
Thanks for the insight. I guess I am not against trying something new, I just never did because the Fender just always worked for me. I'm get more comfortable to the idea of something different, I'll likely pull the trigger on a StingRay or a Spector. Of course, I'll plan to keep my best Fender(s) close.
Just got an email from ups that a label was created for my custom design experience bass!!! Ordered on October 10th, so this was much quicker than expected.
For anyone who has gotten one of these, did Musicman send an email with pics/details before they shipped it? Very curious to know the weight (shipping weight is 20 pounds, which seems pretty light). I got a flamed maple neck, so I’m also super excited to see that!
For anyone who has gotten one of these, did Musicman send an email with pics/details before they shipped it? Very curious to know the weight (shipping weight is 20 pounds, which seems pretty light). I got a flamed maple neck, so I’m also super excited to see that!
I ordered the day after you. I wonder if they work on CDE basses one at a time,..... naww surely not!
