EBMM StingRay Special Club

[NicholasU]

Thanks all. I've taken it up with the retailer as they offer a 3 year guarantee so hopefully something positive comes back. If not I'll contact EB.

In the meantime I'm playing one of my other Rays to remind myself how good they can be.

Also lovely Amethyst posted earlier. Still lust for one of these.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

As some of you may recall I bought 3 specials a couple of months ago and two of them are playing great but one of them has quite a distance between the fretboard and the strings when you start getting passed the 9th fret. I have taken it to my guitar tech/luthier and he has said the truss rod is already maxed out as it came from EB and the action is as low as it can go on the bridge. To get it playing and set up perfectly he'd actually need to make some physical modifications to the bass. Also when turning the truss rod key it makes some sort of cracking noise.

H was concerned that as the years go on and weather changes affect the wood then there is no room for manoeuvre with adjustments.

Anybody else experienced anything like this?

When I first got my 5H, it was a bit noisy in series with a filter mode (middle position), I contacted EBMM and they asked me to ship to them and they replaced the pickup. It was very straight forward, only cost $25 for shipping. It was new old stock when I bought it, but I was the one who registered the warranty so they honored it, even though the bass was almost 3 years old.

 

[Wood and Wire]

As some of you may recall I bought 3 specials a couple of months ago and two of them are playing great but one of them has quite a distance between the fretboard and the strings when you start getting passed the 9th fret. I have taken it to my guitar tech/luthier and he has said the truss rod is already maxed out as it came from EB and the action is as low as it can go on the bridge. To get it playing and set up perfectly he'd actually need to make some physical modifications to the bass. Also when turning the truss rod key it makes some sort of cracking noise.

H was concerned that as the years go on and weather changes affect the wood then there is no room for manoeuvre with adjustments.

Anybody else experienced anything like this?

Sounds like it needs a shim, and probably less relief (from that description, I suspect the truss rod has been maxed in an attempt to lower the action, rather than set relief).

Stick a shim in the neck heel, slacken the truss rod maybe as much as a full turn, and set the action at the saddles - tweak from there by ear & feel, but I recommend getting a set of feeler gauges, and a string height gauge.

There definitely shouldn't be any woodwork / surgery done by your luthier ; if it really needs that kind of work, return it to your dealer / EBMM under warranty.

 

[Chris Chong]

Agree w woodandwire, could be needing a shim.

i encounter the same issue of unable to lower the strings further. Almost straight neck, bottom out saddles. Had this issue on a 2012 stingray5, and now on a stingray5 special.

I had used a 0.5deg angled shims fr stew Mac for a Warwick corvette and have ordered the same this time. While waiting for the package to arrived, I have worked out some calculations for those who are curious on angled shims.

Thread 'Calculating Neck Shim Angle'

Nov 4, 2025

Ordered 0.5deg angle neck shims from stew Mac, and thought I should share my calculations here.

Assuming 34” scale neck joint at 16 fret.

For Stew Mac 0.5deg angle shim

For Stew Mac 0.25deg angle shim

• Chris Chong
• Replies: 33
• Forum: Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]

• 

 

[Benko]

Howdy folks. My new SR5 came yesterday and all I can say is Holy Cow!.

I just got my SR4 Special in about 4 weeks ago now and have been so impressed with these basses that after 30 years of mostly fender and never owning or even playing a StingRay that I just had to get a 5 string.

I've never been a 5-string guy—in fact, for years the StingRay 5's wonky pickguard genuinely repulsed me.
That said, this particular finish more than makes up for it.

My last 5 string was a new Fender Ultra II J5. It sounded pretty good but it was a boat anchor, I just could not transition to the giant wide neck at all and the B string was absolutley terrible.

I was really bummed out as I love the feel of that low B. It's like taking a hit off a pipe. But that bass turned me off to 5 strings once again..

Fast forward to getting the low B bug again and being so impressed with my SR4 Dazzler that I just had to get another completely over the top rediculous sparkle Stingray.

I did tons of research on the Stingray 5 and read all about how some players hate the string spacing whole others love it. Compared to my old fender, for me the SR5 neck and spacing is absolutely exquisite. No more eyes fixated on the right hand to get the right string, so much faster and easier to play.


Tonally it matches the finish completely bonkers. I'm finding myself at the moment all flat on EQ and just running the 5 way switch and there's so many usable tones to be had and they all sound killer. Really nice to have that palette and to get close to some classic sounds when needed as well.

I'm not a big slapper but yeah, the neck pickup is in the way unless you are very careful on pops or totally lower the pickup out of the way. But it's worth it for how versatile.

What a B string! Not typically a nickel rounds player. This came with the stock strings and they just sound so great that I'm almost afraid to put my typical stainless on it.

Comparing the Stingray special 4H maple and 5HH rosewood.

2 completely different personalities.
The 4h maple is more aggressive and in your face. The 5HH rosewood is more sophisticated and grown up. That very tight smooth jazz,r&b studio tone is right there out of the box but can still cover any other territory just as well.

And again, come on with these finishes! After owning 100s of basses and always being a sucker for candy and metal flake I just had to have it and tired of the same old molds of ok Metal, you get a black bass. Classic rock you get a sunburst, etc. Sure it's not for everyone but I love it!

Congrat! Arguable one of the best finish, I miss mine (but I really really enjoy the Ebony fretboard of my Raspberry)

Funny you mention the stock strings...I consider myself a steel roundwound guy but I'm also enjoying very much the stock string. I remember stopping using those Ernie Ball strings cause they would die very quickly but I have a to say they are a VERY good match for the stingray, I think I'll keep using them for a while

 

[CrimsonGhost]

Congrat! Arguable one of the best finish, I miss mine (but I really really enjoy the Ebony fretboard of my Raspberry)

Funny you mention the stock strings...I consider myself a steel roundwound guy but I'm also enjoying very much the stock string. I remember stopping using those Ernie Ball strings cause they would die very quickly but I have a to say they are a VERY good match for the stingray, I think I'll keep using them for a while

Thanks!! Indeed. Ebony on the amethyst would been really cool but I got lucky that this one has a very nice dark even board.

I have never been a nickel player due to feel. But these actually feel great and have zing but not harsh. If seems like all the players who's tone I enjoy seem to be using nickel on 5 string.

 

[Geri O]

Still waiting for that first scratch, that first nick, that first scrape on my new Stingray Special.....

I got it on a Wednesday night, set it up and rehearsed Thursday and Thursday night, traveled with it Friday and Saturday, and finally, 3 services on Sunday morning.

While the OEM MM-badged Mono case is perfectly fine for such travel, I'm glad I sprang for the Mono M80 soft case. Easy to use, the Headlock feature works great, the backstraps are perfect, and I have the wheels put away for future use.

Since that Sunday, it's been here on a guitar stand in my office/studio.

I just looked it over after I played for a bit. Still looks showroom out-of-the-box new.

I'm getting worried.....

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Still waiting for that first scratch, that first nick, that first scrape on my new Stingray Special.....

I got it on a Wednesday night, set it up and rehearsed Thursday and Thursday night, traveled with it Friday and Saturday, and finally, 3 services on Sunday morning.

While the OEM MM-badged Mono case is perfectly fine for such travel, I'm glad I sprang for the Mono M80 soft case. Easy to use, the Headlock feature works great, the backstraps are perfect, and I have the wheels put away for future use.

Since that Sunday, it's been here on a guitar stand in my office/studio.

I just looked it over after I played for a bit. Still looks showroom out-of-the-box new.

I'm getting worried.....

Love the new avatar!!!!

 

[NicholasU]

Wasn't sure how it would work on a Ray but I just fitted EB Cobalt flats to my rosewood board Ray and they sound incredible. Still get that Ray sound but with more warmth and actually a nice amount of zing. Much prefer the sound over the Slinky's the bass came with. I'm not sure they would work as well withy ebony board or maple board ray but the combo with rosewood is really nice. Going to get playing some 80s funk and disco now to see how they go.

As an aside, no update on my slightly problematic Ray but I really hope to hear from the retailer tomorrow.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Wasn't sure how it would work on a Ray but I just fitted EB Cobalt flats to my rosewood board Ray and they sound incredible. Still get that Ray sound but with more warmth and actually a nice amount of zing. Much prefer the sound over the Slinky's the bass came with. I'm not sure they would work as well withy ebony board or maple board ray but the combo with rosewood is really nice. Going to get playing some 80s funk and disco now to see how they go.

As an aside, no update on my slightly problematic Ray but I really hope to hear from the retailer tomorrow.

I keep slinky cobalt flats on my amethyst sparkle Ray with rosewood board. My set is well broken in . Perfect combo to me.

I keep Slinky rounds on my maple board Rays. Again…. Perfect match up for my needs. The only exception is my maple board Fretless. That bass wears TI Flats.

 

[NicholasU]

I keep slinky cobalt flats on my amethyst sparkle Ray with rosewood board. My set is well broken in . Perfect combo to me.

I keep Slinky rounds on my maple board Rays. Again…. Perfect match up for my needs. The only exception is my maple board Fretless. That bass wears TI Flats.

I just bought some DR Hi beams to try on the maple or ebony board to see how they go. I do like the Slinky rounds on my maple I have to say.

 

[CaptainRuss]

I’m sporting Cobalt flats on my ebony board SR and it’s lovely. They lost the acoustic zing from when they were fresh so if I just grab and play with out plugging in they seem dull now but as soon as I plug in they sound just right.

 

[aero58]

I’m sporting Cobalt flats on my ebony board SR and it’s lovely. They lost the acoustic zing from when they were fresh so if I just grab and play with out plugging in they seem dull now but as soon as I plug in they sound just right.

What gauge are you using? I’m trying to find a string that I like on my ebony board SR and plan to give the Cobalt flats a try soon.

I got to admit, my ebony Ray is being persnickety with strings thus far. After the stock strings (which I wasn’t “wowed” with), I’ve tried GHS Bassics (which were good actually - just a tad bright for me, but if I had left them on for longer I bet they would be perfect; GHS Round Core Bass Boomers (not bad, but didn’t “wow” me); and just put some SIT Powerwound Nickels on, so TBD.

 

[CaptainRuss]

What gauge are you using? …

45-105

 

[aero58]

45-105

Thanks.

 

[ics1974]

Wasn't sure how it would work on a Ray but I just fitted EB Cobalt flats to my rosewood board Ray and they sound incredible. Still get that Ray sound but with more warmth and actually a nice amount of zing. Much prefer the sound over the Slinky's the bass came with. I'm not sure they would work as well withy ebony board or maple board ray but the combo with rosewood is really nice. Going to get playing some 80s funk and disco now to see how they go.

As an aside, no update on my slightly problematic Ray but I really hope to hear from the retailer tomorrow.

That’s exactly what I have on mine

 

[CrimsonGhost]

Just catching up on the latest posts here and funny how you guys are talking about strings.
I was just up until 4am testing and comparing strings on my new 5HH and I have been trying out different sets on the 4h.

I have had the craziest revelation... Again I'm new to stingrays but for the last 30+ years I have been a sucker for trying new and different strings.
I'm shocked at how much a StringRay reacts to strings. On my fenders its typically been flats, pressurewound and steel roundwounds. Always disliked Nickels, mostly for feel but stainless seems to work great on P's-Js to open them up a bit. This is the opposite with the Stingray 5HH.

The bass came with factory slinkys and sounds amazing but they are going a little dead.
I restrung the bass with a set of Roto 66's and then I ordered a set of Ken smith Stainless tapered B. Both typically great string choices.

The Ken Smith SS on the 5HH on this specific bass are so scooped to the point that they felt lifeless, like a condom holding back to tone. Lows and noise, muffled in a bad way. pops and burps just cold and sterile. I thought perhaps I was just up too late or something was off with my rig so I popped the original nickel slinkys back on and boom the tone instantly returned. - thick rich tone, pops and burps are sweet, slides smooth and big. Versatile. From that smooth jazz- R&B, church tone, to rock, metal and anything in between.

Another thing I noticed as well since I'm somewhat new to 5 Strings. Taped B string on this bass didn't help or hurt the B.
Compared to my Fender Ultra II Jazz which had a comically bad B string the 5HH with the factory strings has been amazing.
The tapered B didn't offer any advantage over than more sensitive tuning and intonation. I found myself under or over shooting pitch.

Of course this is all subjective, player, style each bass is a little different etc. But for this specific bass the $26 dollar pack of Slinkys is where its at until I dive into the nickel 5 string rabbit hole!

Still looking for something to tame the sizzle a little bit on the 4h maple Dazzler. that bass is super aggressive compared to the 5hh rosewood.
Labella super polished was my first choice but ended up with a bad D out of the pack. But then again I just got my 4hh and then a few weeks later got the SR5 and enjoying the 5 so much I don't see the 4 getting much action for a while. My first go from 4 string to 5 string wasn't that fun, turns out it wasn't me it was the bass. On this SR5 its been fun and exciting to re-unlock the fretboard and relearn material on 5 string, its making me a better player and making me explore different patterns and breaking old habits.

 

[aero58]

String update: The SIT Powerwounds that I put on just a few days ago sounded terrible on this particle bass - just lifeless - "muffled" sounding. Oy - had to remove them. Replaced them with Cobalt Flats (45-65-80-100). I can honestly say that I have finally found THE strings for this bass - most excellent! Dare I say, perfect? So far. I'm a happy camper now.

 

[Tony G]

Cobalt flats sounds perfect to me on every bass I’ve tried them on.

 

[aero58]

Cobalt flats sounds perfect to me on every bass I’ve tried them on.

Roger that. I had them on a jazz bass that sounded great.