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EBMM StingRay Special Club

#13,781
Element Zero said:
I bought a set of shims from MM, took the neck off and tried the pink one. It helped a bit but then there was a bit of a ski slope happening and the notes were choking out above the 14th fret. Took the neck back off and went back to no shim. Slapped on a set of Elixirs and dinked around for a day and off they went. Tried some Super Slinky’s (as I’m thrilled with those on the fretted Stingray) and couldn’t take them off fast enough. Flop city. Weird. Put a new set of Regular Slinky’s, Lowered the action down as far as it would go, have very little relief in the neck, and just decided to live with it. After playing it for QUITE a lot of hours at home, and a loud jam session playing 70’s rock covers, I don’t really “need” it to be slammed.

I’m in a very comfortable spot right now and am feeling blessed to own this magnificent bit of wood metal and plastic.
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I’m glad that you stuck with it and took the time to get a feel for the instrument and find the right strings and what works for you .

It is a beautiful piece. EBMM knows how to make great basses.

I only have 2 that seem to set up as low as my Sandberg . But not displeased with any of the others. Different strings and such, it’s just the nature of guitars. I have learned not to always compare every little detail across the board and let each instrument shine on its own a speak for itself ( so to speak ). ;)
 
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#13,783
Element Zero said:
Oh for sure. I ran through a ton of different strings (that’s a whole addiction in itself) on the fretted over the years until just on a whim I thought “ya know, I wonder if MM knows best” so Super Slinky’s and factory setup. Sublime. But the fretless really likes the regular Slinks.
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Ive certainly been guilty of overthinking situations like this myself. Years of hands on experience brings about wisdom .
 
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#13,784
Looks like I'm joining your ranks today (unexpectedly). I honestly didn't know ANYTHING about Specials until one popped up on Marketplace today at too good of a price to ignore. I've had Stingrays in the past - one of the early 5HH back in 2003 (that weighed a ton) and I picked up a SUB USA in trade a few weeks ago (which I'm going to sell).

Playing the SUB I was thinking "I sure would like a Stingray in the arsenal but they're just too heavy and I don't love the contours".

This is the seller picture, bringing it home to clean up and setup as we speak.


IMG_4935.jpg


8.4lbs on the bathroom scale which makes it about the same weight as my medium scale Spector Bantam 5 string. Absolutely wild.

Very dead strings on it (I kind of dig dead strings) but I have a few sets of DRs laying around in the closet to try out. Will start with Pure Blues. I prefer warmer tones and my previous Stingray was strung with flats.

My only 5 right now is a medium scale so I'm gonna love having a tighter B string again. Never thought I could play a full scale 5er due to a shoulder injury. Hopefully the reach of a full scale doesn't bug me at rehearsal, about to find out! Will be an easy sale at the price I nabbed it for if it doesn't work out. HAD to jump on it.
 
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#13,786
BGroovy said:
Looks like I'm joining your ranks today (unexpectedly). I honestly didn't know ANYTHING about Specials until one popped up on Marketplace today at too good of a price to ignore. I've had Stingrays in the past - one of the early 5HH back in 2003 (that weighed a ton) and I picked up a SUB USA in trade a few weeks ago (which I'm going to sell).

Playing the SUB I was thinking "I sure would like a Stingray in the arsenal but they're just too heavy and I don't love the contours".

This is the seller picture, bringing it home to clean up and setup as we speak.


View attachment 7096975

8.4lbs on the bathroom scale which makes it about the same weight as my medium scale Spector Bantam 5 string. Absolutely wild.

Very dead strings on it (I kind of dig dead strings) but I have a few sets of DRs laying around in the closet to try out. Will start with Pure Blues. I prefer warmer tones and my previous Stingray was strung with flats.

My only 5 right now is a medium scale so I'm gonna love having a tighter B string again. Never thought I could play a full scale 5er due to a shoulder injury. Hopefully the reach of a full scale doesn't bug me at rehearsal, about to find out! Will be an easy sale at the price I nabbed it for if it doesn't work out. HAD to jump on it.
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Glad you found your way here. That is a natural beauty . They didn’t make too many like that . It’s classic and classy. Hope it works out for you .
 
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#13,787
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
Glad you found your way here. That is a natural beauty . They didn’t make too many like that . It’s classic and classy. Hope it works out for you .
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When I was looking around I didn't come across many Natural specials, I do love the classic Stingray look. Trying to rush through cooking dinner for the kids so I can get it on the bench and give her a good scrub!
 
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#13,788
BGroovy said:
Looks like I'm joining your ranks today (unexpectedly). I honestly didn't know ANYTHING about Specials until one popped up on Marketplace today at too good of a price to ignore. I've had Stingrays in the past - one of the early 5HH back in 2003 (that weighed a ton) and I picked up a SUB USA in trade a few weeks ago (which I'm going to sell).

Playing the SUB I was thinking "I sure would like a Stingray in the arsenal but they're just too heavy and I don't love the contours".

This is the seller picture, bringing it home to clean up and setup as we speak.


View attachment 7096975

8.4lbs on the bathroom scale which makes it about the same weight as my medium scale Spector Bantam 5 string. Absolutely wild.

Very dead strings on it (I kind of dig dead strings) but I have a few sets of DRs laying around in the closet to try out. Will start with Pure Blues. I prefer warmer tones and my previous Stingray was strung with flats.

My only 5 right now is a medium scale so I'm gonna love having a tighter B string again. Never thought I could play a full scale 5er due to a shoulder injury. Hopefully the reach of a full scale doesn't bug me at rehearsal, about to find out! Will be an easy sale at the price I nabbed it for if it doesn't work out. HAD to jump on it.
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Looks fantastic! I tried one really similar to that at a local shop and I kinda regret not buying it. Wood grain wasn’t as cool as yours, but it was somehow only 8lbs and played beautifully. The Specials really live up to the name.
 
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#13,789
Brandon Shea said:
Looks fantastic! I tried one really similar to that at a local shop and I kinda regret not buying it. Wood grain wasn’t as cool as yours, but it was somehow only 8lbs and played beautifully. The Specials really live up to the name.
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Go find one! After cleaning the grain on the fretboard is really really nice. First roasted maple board for me.

IMG_4953.jpeg
 
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#13,793
BGroovy said:
Go find one! After cleaning the grain on the fretboard is really really nice. First roasted maple board for me.

View attachment 7097491
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Whoa, what a fingerboard! Which strings are you putting on first?

Lucky for me, my wife mentioned something "Special" that Santa might deliver this year, so I think my immediate search might be over soon. :bassist: ;)
 
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#13,794
ics1974 said:
Just found a good deal on a 2023 Special 4 H on Reverb. I talked the seller into selling it privately, to save me the taxes and him the fees. He gave me a good deal too. Ships out today and I should have it in a week. Very excited. extra tort pickguard included


View attachment 7097563View attachment 7097564View attachment 7097565
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Nice case. My new BFR Moonbeam came with one of theses cases with gold interior .
I usually only see these offered up with certain BFR models . I think that 70’s Nitro Radio Knob BFR came with the case like yours…. Red interior . Looks good with the red tort pg.
 
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#13,795
This may be a long shot, does anyone know what screw is used to attach the clover tuner to the worm screw on the Special’s lightweight tuners? I went to tune up the 5h and noticed the G tuner was binding. Inspected it and the screw is missing that goes through the top of the tuner button down through the worm screw. Weird.

Went to the local hardware store but no match. Close I can tell it might be an M2.5x30?

I sent in a support request to EBMM.
Hoping I don’t have to buy a whole new tuner just to get the screw.
 
#13,796
Pet Sounds said:
Time for a new family picture?
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Here you go.
I took a few pics. What it looks like now and what it will look like after I sell the Short Scale Starry Night . My new MoonBeam BFR and the Active Short Scale T.C. are replacing it and the Old Smoothie. ( Already sold.)


If anyone is interested in the Starry Night let me know before I post it . I’m including the 2 straps and the 2 extra pickguards .
And I’m in the Christmas spirit .





IMG_2513.jpeg

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#13,797
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
Here you go.
I took a few pics. What it looks like now and what it will look like after I sell the Short Scale Starry Night . My new MoonBeam BFR and the Active Short Scale T.C. are replacing it and the Old Smoothie. ( Already sold.)


If anyone is interested in the Starry Night let me know before I post it . I’m including the 2 straps and the 2 extra pickguards .
And I’m in the Christmas spirit .





View attachment 7098133
View attachment 7098136
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Nice Ray collection, and I also love the Ida Nielsen Sandberg!
 
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