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EBMM StingRay Special Club

#14,141
I'll agree that the roasted maple can sometimes be dark enough to not look like maple. If I compare my Special to my Big Al, which has a un-roasted maple fretboard (that model was unfortunately discontinued before SBMM started roasting their maple boards), the difference is a big one. They don't look like the same woods.

Considering my particular Special, I don't mind it at all. The coloring fits the color scheme of the bass really well. On other colors/finishes, I can see opinions being different.

I wasn't actually the one who bought the tort guard. The previous owner replaced the original white with this tort and a parchment and included all three in the sale (on top of a great price!). They all work nicely and give it three distinct looks that I can easily change. But, I'm a hardcore tort guy, so you can probably guess how often I change them. LOL
 
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#14,142
Spacecoastbass said:
Naw Swartz you're like all of us music geeks that are transparent enough to admit it!

CC cookie sounds about right. '94 rosewood not a special/2019 roasted
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LOVE that '94!!! IIRC, they didn't call that finish Honeyburst at the time, but it looks basically the same as my 2007 Honeyburst.

As the regulars in the Stingray threads are probably sick of hearing, I LOVE Honeyburst! :woot:
 
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#14,143
dave64, I want to correct my blunder, that is a '97. Just looked up the serial# to see what they called the color. No mutes and the plastic battery compartment. '94's have the chrome covered batt. comp. I believe.

EB calls it sunburst but it's definitely on the lighter side leaning towards that sweet Honey!
 
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#14,144
Ahh, I didn't know those details. Interesting choice of name for that finish since just about every other sunburst out there has a black/dark outer edge. Then again, EBMM does have a well deserved reputation for confusing names! LOL.

Still a beautiful finish no matter what you call it!
 
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#14,145
Spacecoastbass said:
Naw Swartz you're like all of us music geeks that are transparent enough to admit it!

CC cookie sounds about right. '94 rosewood not a special/2019 roasted
Click to expand...
Wow what is the finish on that 2019 Special? I really, really like that and the board looks pretty good to me too. I think it's called Black Cherry or Cherry Cola? I don't see that finish on Sweetwater anymore.

More 1st world rants -- I love (LOVE) the Candyman finish w/ Ebony board but can't stand the white pup. Couldn't do it. Reminds me of my barely teen years in the early 80s when Fender had white pickups in their jazz.

Rant two -- why no plain natural finish in the Special? Hot Honey is nice but doesn't quite hit the same.

Part three -- Bongo has one finish with a (NICE!) plain maple board. But it's in mantis green. It's a crazy finish, and I do kind of dig it. I don't know if I $3200 dig it.

Right now my all time fave finishes are the Jackpot (black and gold ftw) and the upcoming Oxblood.

If money falls into my lap this year I just may buy a "close second" Ray to keep me busy while I have one made through the custom builder.

Speaking of customs -- does EBMM have a dedicated Customs Shop like Fender, or just the online builder? There may be just a few options that I would want that aren't available (a new Special, in black nitro, roasted neck, vintage 70s maple board).

Thank you for the inspiration Ray Bros and Gals.
 
#14,146
swartzfeger said:
Wow what is the finish on that 2019 Special? I really, really like that and the board looks pretty good to me too. I think it's called Black Cherry or Cherry Cola? I don't see that finish on Sweetwater anymore.

More 1st world rants -- I love (LOVE) the Candyman finish w/ Ebony board but can't stand the white pup. Couldn't do it. Reminds me of my barely teen years in the early 80s when Fender had white pickups in their jazz.

Rant two -- why no plain natural finish in the Special? Hot Honey is nice but doesn't quite hit the same.

Part three -- Bongo has one finish with a (NICE!) plain maple board. But it's in mantis green. It's a crazy finish, and I do kind of dig it. I don't know if I $3200 dig it.

Right now my all time fave finishes are the Jackpot (black and gold ftw) and the upcoming Oxblood.

If money falls into my lap this year I just may buy a "close second" Ray to keep me busy while I have one made through the custom builder.

Speaking of customs -- does EBMM have a dedicated Customs Shop like Fender, or just the online builder? There may be just a few options that I would want that aren't available (a new Special, in black nitro, roasted neck, vintage 70s maple board).

Thank you for the inspiration Ray Bros and Gals.
Click to expand...
EBMM. Custom Design Exprerience just became available in 2024 .

Hope it last .

www.music-man.com

Custom Design Experience

Design your dream instrument, review your specs, and hit submit. Our team will process your order and it will ship within 4-6 months.
www.music-man.com
 
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#14,147
Pretty sure it's called Burnt Apple. The FB is quite dry for my taste but I'm holding off conditioning until the next set of strings.

I'm with you on the natural finish. It's a classic look w/ maple neck, black pick guard. Maybe that's what they intended, save it for the Classic.

Not a fan of white on J bass either (well maybe a blue or white). I've had a couple (still have a sire vintage) black and tort. I am a fan of Fender Tele, Blond-maple neck and a white pick guard for some odd reason. Old fashioned I suppose. I tried to hold out for a Stingray in that color but just got a good deal on those two. EB sparkle finishes are incredible. I'm a drummer as my main instrument and would absolutely dig any of their sparkles on some tubs.
 
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#14,148
Spacecoastbass said:
Pretty sure it's called Burnt Apple.
Click to expand...
Yes it is Burnt Apple; I was looking at maybe getting one with that finish in December 2018

GC released an exclusive in Burnt Apple with matching headstock 2023 and I bought one that Summer

1738494734020.png
 
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#14,153
My special 5 got a new ramp today. Got it from Barbera guitar company. The first one they sent was wider than the pickup, seemed like it was measured to include the "ears" that hold the screws. I worked with them to get dimensions for the Special 5H and this one came out perfect (to me at least).

It's radiused to match the fretboard. The height at the middle of the ramp matches the fretboard perfectly.

I play just in front of the stingray pickup so it's exactly what I was looking for, all my Jazz basses and my Spector have ramps, I tend to play right in that spot between the center of the pickups on a 2 pickup bass.

If anyone wants one for a Special 5H he's got the design for this one now.

IMG_5831.jpeg

IMG_5825.jpeg
 
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#14,154
BGroovy said:
My special 5 got a new ramp today. Got it from Barbera guitar company. The first one they sent was wider than the pickup, seemed like it was measured to include the "ears" that hold the screws. I worked with them to get dimensions for the Special 5H and this one came out perfect (to me at least).

It's radiused to match the fretboard. The height at the middle of the ramp matches the fretboard perfectly.

I play just in front of the stingray pickup so it's exactly what I was looking for, all my Jazz basses and my Spector have ramps, I tend to play right in that spot between the center of the pickups on a 2 pickup bass.

If anyone wants one for a Special 5H he's got the design for this one now.

View attachment 7143442
View attachment 7143443
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That is :cool:. Reminds me of the ramp on my active short scale . I never use it but it’s a nice option for players that need one.
Same goes for the thumb rest on my Sandberg Ida 5.
 
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#14,159
swartzfeger said:
All, I've been jonesin' for a Ray Special for awhile now. Former fender guy; the changes to the Special with the pups, the pre, everything... it's time. I owned a Bongo 5 fretless 10+ years ago but had to sell (dumb decision). That Bongo was the best fit and finish and quality of any bass I've ever owned. Little things like the truss wheel made it such a great bass. So, yes -- I want a Ray 4 and 5 in my life now.

Issue -- I'm a shallow prima donna when it comes to looks and aesthetics. I'd sound unhinged if I listed all my biases (PJs are an abomination, Rick's MUST have shark fin inlays and not dots, fake relics should be outlawed, etc... it's fatiguing living with this lol!)

I **LOVE** the look of worn maple boards. Nothing looks better than logging the hours on a maple J or P and the board showing wear.

I really appreciate the Special neck being roasted, but I'm not sold on the look of the roasted board itself. Some pics I've seen the roasted maple board looks almost as dark as Pau Ferro (which I'm not a fan of). I think roasted maple looks great on the back of the neck -- I just don't want it that dark on the front, lol!

How dark are your roasted maple boards? Do they show wear after a few years of digging in? (I think the specials came out in '18 so we may have some out there with 5+ years of playing on them). I think EBMM oils the board (not lacquered) so that may affect how the boards look after play.

Sorry for sounding unhinged. Some people look for lighter basses. I would take a 10lb Ray with a light maple board lol.

My actual dream ray would be roasted maple neck with a vintage maple board like the Retro. Who knows, maybe some day I can custom order.

If anyone has pics of their maple boards they'd like to share I would **LOVE** to see!
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There is one in the classified with a lighter roasted neck

https://www.talkbass.com/classified...black-with-roasted-maple-fingerboard.1664631/
 
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