Cobalt Flats Are my favourite on a Stingray Special
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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
Howdy folks. New guy here. I just recently got my new Dazzler for an insane deal in dead mint condition. Haven't seen many Dazzlers here on TB. A 3 hr each way road trip for over $1100 off? Who wouldn't?!
I figured I would wait a bit before sharing some thoughts on the bass until after the honeymoon period was over. I have been buying, selling and trading basses since the early 90s just to find that one. Over 100+ basses since that time. I had always admired Stingrays but never crossed paths, all this time and never even played a Stingray in my life! It's been mainly P's,J's Ricks, and oddballs all this time.
I always discounted the Stingray as a 1 trick,1 tone pony, not really understanding them until I finally got the itch to finally get on board.
Its been a really long time since I had got a new bass in that I just can't put down and just can't stop looking at. A bass that when you walk into the room for something completely different and have to stop to pick it up and play it.
I don't have any experience with the earlier 2 and 3 band Stingrays so being new I think the preamp is fantastically voiced. I'm glad I went with the traditional 4H as it has any tones I would ever need depending on EQ and technique.
Coming from mostly many different P's and J's the best way to describe being new to the stingray in comparison is Powerful and "Electric". That low end tightness is like crack. The E just sounds so deep and tight. Hard to describe but feels like a tight sub bass in a way, can't get over it.
Marvelous EBMM quality as expected.
Best balancing bass I have owned in a while while still being light.
It's absolutely true that the finishes on these instruments are difficult to capture in photos. This thing in person is Bonkers! If Liberace or Rick James were still around they would be playing one of these.
. We have a base of white glass glitter flake then a coat of iridescent opal flip flop flake which has green, teal,yellow,purple and pink flake in it and shifts colors depending on the light.
When I was searching for photos of this finish to get a better idea what it looks like before making the purchase this comic book popped up. Perhaps the finish was named after the comic book? Apparently it was some sort of late 70's Disco Superhero. The character absorbs sonic vibrations—such as from her performances or ambient noise—and transforms them into powerful bursts of light, including blinding flashes, laser-like beams, or dazzling displays. Sounds about right.
Here's a quick video taken at a truck stop on the trip back home.
TL;DR I'm bummed out that I haven't tried a Stingray years ago. This Special is absolutely bonkers and I don't want to play any of my other basses.
Cheers!
I figured I would wait a bit before sharing some thoughts on the bass until after the honeymoon period was over. I have been buying, selling and trading basses since the early 90s just to find that one. Over 100+ basses since that time. I had always admired Stingrays but never crossed paths, all this time and never even played a Stingray in my life! It's been mainly P's,J's Ricks, and oddballs all this time.
I always discounted the Stingray as a 1 trick,1 tone pony, not really understanding them until I finally got the itch to finally get on board.
Its been a really long time since I had got a new bass in that I just can't put down and just can't stop looking at. A bass that when you walk into the room for something completely different and have to stop to pick it up and play it.
I don't have any experience with the earlier 2 and 3 band Stingrays so being new I think the preamp is fantastically voiced. I'm glad I went with the traditional 4H as it has any tones I would ever need depending on EQ and technique.
Coming from mostly many different P's and J's the best way to describe being new to the stingray in comparison is Powerful and "Electric". That low end tightness is like crack. The E just sounds so deep and tight. Hard to describe but feels like a tight sub bass in a way, can't get over it.
Marvelous EBMM quality as expected.
Best balancing bass I have owned in a while while still being light.
It's absolutely true that the finishes on these instruments are difficult to capture in photos. This thing in person is Bonkers! If Liberace or Rick James were still around they would be playing one of these.
. We have a base of white glass glitter flake then a coat of iridescent opal flip flop flake which has green, teal,yellow,purple and pink flake in it and shifts colors depending on the light.When I was searching for photos of this finish to get a better idea what it looks like before making the purchase this comic book popped up. Perhaps the finish was named after the comic book? Apparently it was some sort of late 70's Disco Superhero. The character absorbs sonic vibrations—such as from her performances or ambient noise—and transforms them into powerful bursts of light, including blinding flashes, laser-like beams, or dazzling displays. Sounds about right.
Here's a quick video taken at a truck stop on the trip back home.
TL;DR I'm bummed out that I haven't tried a Stingray years ago. This Special is absolutely bonkers and I don't want to play any of my other basses.
Cheers!
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Cobalt Flats for me. I was a fan from when I first tried them about 9 years ago, though for a long time I used DR DDTs on most of my basses except for the fretless Tony Franklin Precision I had, but I switched over to Cobalt Flats some time ago. When I got my first StingRay a few months ago I had DR DDTs on it and more recently EB Cobalt rounds, but I'm going to Cobalt Flats as I have on my new CDE StingRay fretless and my Jazz Bass. 55-110s on all.
Howdy folks. New guy here. I just recently got my new Dazzler for an insane deal in dead mint condition. Haven't seen many Dazzlers here on TB. A 3 hr each way road trip for over $1100 off? Who wouldn't?!
I figured I would wait a bit before sharing some thoughts on the bass until after the honeymoon period was over. I have been buying,selling and trading basses since the early 90s just to find that one. Over 100+ basses since that time. I had always admired Stingrays but never crossed paths, all this time and never even played a Stingray in my life! It's been mainly P's,J's Ricks, and oddballs all this time.
I always discounted the Stingray as a 1 trick,1 tone pony, not really understanding them until I finally got the itch to finally get on board.
Its been a really long time since I had got a new bass in that I just can't put down and just can't stop looking at. A bass that when you walk into the room for something completely different and have to stop to pick it up and play it.
I don't have any experience with the earlier 2 and 3 band Stingrays so being new I think the preamp is fantasticly voiced. I'm glad I went with the traditional 4H as it has any tones I would ever need depending on EQ and technique.
Coming from mostly many different P's and J's the best way to describe being new to the stingray in comparison is Powerful and "Electric". That low end tightness is like crack. The E just sounds so deep and tight. Hard to describe but feels like a tight sub bass in a way, can't get over it.
Marvelous EBMM quality as expected.
It's absolutley true that the finishes on these instruments are difficult to capture in photos. This thing in person is Bonkers! If Liberace or Rick James were still around they would be playing one of these.
When I was searching for photos of this finish to get a better idea what it looks like before making the purchase this comic book popped up. Perhaps the finish was named after the comic book? Apparently it was some sort of late 70's Disco Superhero. The charactor absorbs sonic vibrations—such as from her performances or ambient noise—and transforms them into powerful bursts of light, including blinding flashes, laser-like beams, or dazzling displays. Sounds about right.
Here's a quick video taken at a truck stop on the trip back home.
TL;DR I'm bummed out that I haven't tried a Stingray years ago. This Special is absolutely bonkers and I don't want to play any of my other basses.
Cheers!
If you don’t stop , you are going to talk me into getting this finish. The comic character might be the tipping point .
That's a bummer. I love EBMM basses but some slip through that shouldn't have. It's rarer than other companies but certainly happens. A shim should do the trick though
I had SIT Foundation nickels on a jazz bass and really liked them. I think I’ll start with those….
A see a number of folks are sporting flats (specifically Chromes & Cobalts). I’ve also been thinking of flats as well, but don’t currently have any on hand (but easily remedied). I’ve had both those on other basses. One of my JBs had Cobalt Flats and they were perfect on that particular bass! My current JB has TI flats and they are there to stay! But I’m unsure if I’d like them on the Ray - only one way to find out, eh.
Thanks for the replies. I’m always interested in string choices. I’ve tried many and find it interesting how the same strings can sound great on one bass and sometimes blah on another.
I’ve whittled my bass inventory down to just 3 now. My JB has the TI flats (which I mentioned), my PB has GHS Balanced Nickels (and are really great for this bass!), and the Ray is in the experimenting mode. Perhaps I should keep track of my Ray string odyssey and make updates if folks would find it of interest.
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I've spent too much money and time going down the string rabbit hole too! It's fun thoughI had SIT Foundation nickels on a jazz bass and really liked them. I think I’ll start with those….
A see a number of folks are sporting flats (specifically Chromes & Cobalts). I’ve also been thinking of flats as well, but don’t currently have any on hand (but easily remedied). I’ve had both those on other basses. One of my JBs had Cobalt Flats and they were perfect on that particular bass! My current JB has TI flats and they are there to stay! But I’m unsure if I’d like them on the Ray - only one way to find out, eh.
Thanks for the replies. I’m always interested in string choices. I’ve tried many and find it interesting how the same strings can sound great on one bass and sometimes blah on another.
I’ve whittled my bass inventory down to just 3 now. My JB has the TI flats (which I mentioned), my PB has GHS Balanced Nickels (and are really great for this bass!), and the Ray is in the experimenting mode. Perhaps I should keep track of my Ray string odyssey and make updates if folks would find it of interest.
It looks like it emits some kind of energy that interferes with the camera sensor...
like trying to take a picture of a vampire.
For some reason it looks like YouTube compression broke the video when posting it here on talkbass. Wierd.
Let's see if this works any better.
!!!!
Hey anyone running the zero-mod thumbrest on the special? How are you getting along with it?
I'm adjusting being a new Ray owner and use a combination of floating thumb but after playing mostly fender for over 30 years my muscle memory is just hardwired for a certain tension and feel. Right now a couple weeks in and my fingers end up slapping the pickup.
I do use a combination floating thumb however certain scenarios I really need an anchor. It looks like the zero-mod all the way back towards the pickup is my sweet spot.
I'm adjusting being a new Ray owner and use a combination of floating thumb but after playing mostly fender for over 30 years my muscle memory is just hardwired for a certain tension and feel. Right now a couple weeks in and my fingers end up slapping the pickup.
I do use a combination floating thumb however certain scenarios I really need an anchor. It looks like the zero-mod all the way back towards the pickup is my sweet spot.
Oh, you definitely need a DazzlerIf you don’t stop , you are going to talk me into getting this finish. The comic character might be the tipping point .
Oh, you definitely need a Dazzler
I'm also a longtime Fender player, and used to rest my thumb on the pickup of a Precision or bridge pickup of a Jazz. My first StingRay was set up with the pickups low so that resting my thumb on the bridge pickup was awkward, so I raised the pickups, which of course made them louder than necesary. Now that I just got my CDE StingRay fretless with its factory setup, I realized that I need to return the pickups on my fretted StingRay to the proper height, and either just deal with the slight awkwardness or figure something else out.
Fortunately for me being self taught and just figuring out/Adapting and developing my own technique to use my right hand for tone changes I wanted and not just playing over split coil on my Precision; just gravitated to resting thumb on E String and sliding between neck and bridge;
Point being have no problem with any bass including my Special;
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Curious with your Stingray Special, do you adjust the EQ on your amp and fine adjust with the Stingray's preamp EQ, or keep your amp EQ flat and only use the EQ on the Stingray preamp?
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That's a good question. I run a tech21 vt-bass 500 amp pretty much all EQ at noon and then tweak onboard eq and compressor from there but everyone is different.
Brandon Shea
Commercial User
I keep my amp’s EQ as flat as possible most of the time. My active basses (including the StingRay Special) make it easy enough to adjust the tone on the fly without having to touch the amp. The treble knob is the one I tweak most often.
Bingo same here. Rarely do I go past detent on the bass as it gets crazy really fast. Rarely touch the mid control as they nailed the voicing on the new preamp really well at full detent. Treble control and maybe a little bass can get you pretty much anywhere tonally.
Since I'm only about 2 weeks in on my first ever Stringray owned in my 35+ years of playing I must say what a beast to tame!
On fresh rs66's (a string I stopped playing over 20 years ago and fell back in love with) I'm finding myself running the treble almost all the way down and easing into it when the brightness is needed. That and tweaking my Cali75 to taste.
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