EBMM StingRay Special Club

[humbuckaroo]

No one answered my last post about this model, but I'll try again! Lol

Do you guys think this is a better deal than a modern Special 4H? The new model is 4500 here and the old one is selling used for 2500 so a considerable difference.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

No one answered my last post about this model, but I'll try again! Lol

Do you guys think this is a better deal than a modern Special 4H? The new model is 4500 here and the old one is selling used for 2500 so a considerable difference.

If you can, play them both and buy the one that you like the best. It’s all personal preference . Only you can tell if the Special is worth the extra money .

 

[PrimitiveMan]

No one answered my last post about this model, but I'll try again! Lol

Do you guys think this is a better deal than a modern Special 4H? The new model is 4500 here and the old one is selling used for 2500 so a considerable difference.

I had a 5 HS briefly along with my Special 5H. The HS model has a pretty big volume dip in the 2 single coil settings (neck coil solo, and bridge coil of bridge pickup solo), but it had some great tones. I prefer the feel and sound of the Special by far though.

It's personal preference, both are great basses

 

[ics1974]

No one answered my last post about this model, but I'll try again! Lol

Do you guys think this is a better deal than a modern Special 4H? The new model is 4500 here and the old one is selling used for 2500 so a considerable difference.

No one answered my last post about this model, but I'll try again! Lol

Do you guys think this is a better deal than a modern Special 4H? The new model is 4500 here and the old one is selling used for 2500 so a considerable difference.

I was looking at this bass just this morning on Marketplace. I assume you are from the Toronto area. Here is a cheap Stingray Special in Hamilton
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[IronLung1986]

How often do you guys change your strings? The Low B is already pretty thuddy with less sustain after about one week with 1-2 hours per day of play. Struggling with sustain despite a good set up. I made sure no twist. Set witness point at nut and bridge, by gently pressing on both sides of the saddle and nut. intonated right. Neck is pretty straight.
Any other thoughts? Sometimes it's pretty good, sometimes it's thuddy.... I've never, ever got great sustain out of a low B. Especially when hitting around the 5th frets. That E is worthless, completely.
I usually change my strings a few days before I gig a bass. But curious if those Low B's just need to be changed more frequently.

I wonder if it's really the string being dead. A good B string is all in the setup, and it comes down to the most microscopic adjustments imaginable. Humidity changes the neck a little and your B string goes from good to bad. That could be what's going on. It's the truss rod, pickup height, and string height at the bridge. It takes time to get them all perfect and seriously the tiniest adjustments you can possibly make. I always have to have the B string saddle about the same height as the E, rather than slightly lower following the curve of the fingerboard. It needs disproportionately more room for excursion than the other strings. But, that's where it comes down to microadjustments because a little too high and it gets thuddy. Too low and it doesn't play right or feel consistent with the other strings. You can get them sounding pretty good, and decent sustain should be achievable. That E on the B string should be able to be a suitable alternate E with a tubbier but completely viable sound. In fact I've often favored that E over the open one on my 5's. It's just incredibly tedious dialing in the setup.

 

[Stevorebob]

No one answered my last post about this model, but I'll try again! Lol

Do you guys think this is a better deal than a modern Special 4H? The new model is 4500 here and the old one is selling used for 2500 so a considerable difference.

A better deal? If it’s In great condition, I’d say the pre-Specil HS is a better deal that the Special. But that assumes one appreciates the tone and ergonomics (weight) of each equally. The pre-Specials are more aggressive, too aggressive some say, and they can be too heavy for some players. If that’s you, then the higher priced Special may be the better deal.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I am confident that I could be happy with and get tone I wanted from any Stingray pre EB, EB Classic, Retro 70's 2 band, pre Special 3 Band BUT I am extremely happy I choose the Special for the many reasons you can read in this thread

That HS model seems a rare bird and I have read more than a few players wanting that option again; the volume drop as reported by another poster you may have decide if that is a problem; this is going to be a gut decision on your part is my guess

 

[humbuckaroo]

I think I'll keep my Special 4H order.

 

[humbuckaroo]

You guys mentioned the HS has a volume drop when both pickups are selected. Is this true for the HH basses?

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

You guys mentioned the HS has a volume drop when both pickups are selected. Is this true for the HH basses?

Nope!!

 

[PrimitiveMan]

You guys mentioned the HS has a volume drop when both pickups are selected. Is this true for the HH basses?

It's not a drop when both pickups selected, it's in the neck solo and the single coil bridge position (position 5 and 2)

 

[humbuckaroo]

It's not a drop when both pickups selected, it's in the neck solo and the single coil bridge position (position 5 and 2)

Ah okay. Thanks for the clarification!

 

[dave64o]

I seem to go in streaks with my basses and, lately, my Special was getting less gig time than my other Stingray and my Big Al. So I made a point of it being one of the two basses I took to last Friday's gig and I ended up using it for all three sets instead of alternating basses like I usually do. I can't say I "forgot" how good it sounds because that's not true. I know it sounds amazing, and it sounded soooooooooooo good! And, as usual, I used all five pickup switch positions over the course of the night. They're all very usable, at least as far as I'm concerned.

If you can ignore the putz playing it, it's a beauty!

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

Having fun on tour with my Stingray Special 5H in Amethyst Sparkle.

 

[dave64o]

That tone was awesome!

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

Thanks! That's a bit of parallel compression, used DR Hi-Beams (like 15-ish shows and some rehearsals) and then straight to the monitoring desk. I'm sure the monitor guy did EQ a little bit for the mix but apart from that there's nothing fancy involved.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Having fun on tour with my Stingray Special 5H in Amethyst Sparkle.

Just got around to listening, you sound great! Great energy too

 

[humbuckaroo]

I was finally able to get my hands on a Special 4HH and a 5H side by side. Build quality excellent, play ability amazing (apart from one caveat explained below). I now understand people's issue with that G string falling off of the fretboard. I could play it fine but good luck doing a pull off. That and a few other factors definitely made me confident that choosing a 4H was the right move for me.

One question though, the setups on these were really bad. Is this a normal thing? Both basses had 3mm off of the fretboard at least, with an obvious neck bow. Setup would be mandatory after buying either one.

 

[Brandon Shea]

I was finally able to get my hands on a Special 4HH and a 5H side by side. Build quality excellent, play ability amazing (apart from one caveat explained below). I now understand people's issue with that G string falling off of the fretboard. I could play it fine but good luck doing a pull off. That and a few other factors definitely made me confident that choosing a 4H was the right move for me.

One question though, the setups on these were really bad. Is this a normal thing? Both basses had 3mm off of the fretboard at least, with an obvious neck bow. Setup would be mandatory after buying either one.

Mine needed some help once the winter really set in, but after a good setup (and some fret filing) it’s fantastic. I don’t think it would’ve been as bad if I had kept the humidity higher in the house. The StingRays I’ve tried at a local shop have all been set up beautifully, which seems less likely (but not impossible) if you visit Guitar Center.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I was finally able to get my hands on a Special 4HH and a 5H side by side. Build quality excellent, play ability amazing (apart from one caveat explained below). I now understand people's issue with that G string falling off of the fretboard. I could play it fine but good luck doing a pull off. That and a few other factors definitely made me confident that choosing a 4H was the right move for me.

One question though, the setups on these were really bad. Is this a normal thing? Both basses had 3mm off of the fretboard at least, with an obvious neck bow. Setup would be mandatory after buying either one.

Was it at GC? Almost every stingray I've played there has been setup horribly lol

My 5H sets up incredibly well, action can go very very low. Neck is very stable. Not the most stable I've had but better than most. I tweak it a couple times a year but I'm picky about setup, neck fluctuates pretty mildly with seasonal change, most would probably just leave it alone