EBMM StingRay Special Club

[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]

• 

Shim installed.

Post in thread 'Calculating Neck Shim Angle'

Nov 26, 2025

Finally able to spend a little time to install the shim.

I was able to set the G-string 12F height from 3/32 to 2/32 while raising the saddle up by 1mm.
For B-string, from 4/32 to 3/32 and raised the saddle up by 2mm.

• Chris Chong

• 

 

[Barticus]

I feel like I’m mastering the switch and the EQ on this bass for different song settings, and I’m super happy with the tone that I’m getting… I probably look like I’m giggling a bit at times throughout the gig from what I’m hearing in my IEMs

 

[NicholasU]

Update on the bass with the reply from the retailer as follows:

1. We follow our standard procedure for returns which means we receive the guitar back, it is checked, and we send a replacement parcel out for the same price;

2. Or we change the status for the return request and offer you a refund for the returning guitar. In this case, the price of the new guitar you will purchase will be 2666.00 GBP. No discount can be offered in this situation.

Due to being away I have decided with the second option, not ideal as I need to pay an extra £116 (as I couldn't negotiate a discount this time for some reason) but at least I can get a new bass and it will be delivered next week.

Hoping this new one is a bit lighter as well as the first one was definitely heavier than my other two Rays.

 

[humbuckaroo]

You should make sure they weigh them before sending.

I recently inquired about some Hot Honeys in local stock and had them photograph the tops so I could pick. These requests are not unreasonable in these days of sight-unseen purchasing.

 

[NicholasU]

You should make sure they weigh them before sending.

I recently inquired about some Hot Honeys in local stock and had them photograph the tops so I could pick. These requests are not unreasonable in these days of sight-unseen purchasing.

I did actually ask that and they said they wouldn't do it as they don't want to open the box. If it comes and is too heavy they said they'd accept the return. Seems silly really as that's such a waste of time, effort and money for the sake of not doing a simple task.

 

[NicholasU]

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.

Also, checked with my guitar tech and he confirmed it needs a shim. So you were correct.

 

[Chris Chong]

after installing shim, setup to my usual string height….
Oh man many notes choked beyond 15fret…

Still have to send to tech for fret levelling.

 

[humbuckaroo]

I did actually ask that and they said they wouldn't do it as they don't want to open the box. If it comes and is too heavy they said they'd accept the return. Seems silly really as that's such a waste of time, effort and money for the sake of not doing a simple task.

This sounds like an awful store.

I really dislike when shops make it a hassle to buy from them, and I usually oblige by not doing so.

Tell them to weigh the boxes and send the lightest one.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Tell them to weigh the boxes and send the lightest one.

 

[NicholasU]

This sounds like an awful store.

I really dislike when shops make it a hassle to buy from them, and I usually oblige by not doing so.

Tell them to weigh the boxes and send the lightest one.

Yeah I dislike that as well, the trouble is the price they had was way better than anywhere else. As it stands I've got the last one they had in stock as it's a limited edition anniversary model so it's down to fate. Minimal hassle to me if I need to send it back though as they'll organise the courier for me.

 

[humbuckaroo]

Yeah I dislike that as well, the trouble is the price they had was way better than anywhere else. As it stands I've got the last one they had in stock as it's a limited edition anniversary model so it's down to fate. Minimal hassle to me if I need to send it back though as they'll organise the courier for me.

Best of luck and post pics!

 

[Wood and Wire]

Also, checked with my guitar tech and he confirmed it needs a shim. So you were correct.

Well, sort of: reading back my first line you quoted, I accidentally typed “probably less relief”, when I meant to type “less tension on the truss rod”, or “more relief”

Anyway, hopefully the rest of that post made sense of what I actually meant.

I hope it all works out.

 

[NicholasU]

Well, sort of: reading back my first line you quoted, I accidentally typed “probably less relief”, when I meant to type “less tension on the truss rod”, or “more relief”

Anyway, hopefully the rest of that post made sense of what I actually meant.

I hope it all works out.

You were certainly doing better than me. I've always had someone set mine up but I've started learning how to do it myself.

 

[maddogsauce]

Got a new emerald burst pearl Spitfire Pickguard for the gold bar custom.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Got a new emerald burst pearl Spitfire Pickguard for the gold bar custom.

RESPARKABLE!!!!

 

[Barticus]

Got a new emerald burst pearl Spitfire Pickguard for the gold bar custom.

Those are great, where did you get them?

 

[maddogsauce]

Those are great, where did you get them?

These are from Spitfire Pickguards. They're not cheap, but there's nothing like them!!

 

[Cory rich40]

Ditto!!! That’s was exactly my point . This is why I have come to the conclusion of why settle for less. You get what you pay for. Money spent on EBMM is money well spent . Im
Never disappointed. Therefore I pay out for what I want.

They can be steals on the used market if you are in the right place at the right time.

The other side of the coin for me is this. Someone asked me why I buy all these different EBMM Specials and don’t just buy 1 or 2 boutique brands. The answer is simple . All of basses bring something different to the table , yet they can still get me that great EBMM build quality , sound, feel, and some extra sounds as well. Flats, rounds, versatile pickups , different tunings , frets , no frets , I have it all. All with a similar feel but different amazing finishes . They all look great to my eyes .

I don’t care what anyone’s else says….. if you desire that true StingRay sound, you get the real deal . Anything else falls up short to my ears . No one has been ever to out build or out deliver on that signature StingRay bounce to the notes. So I’m staying put.

Take my word for it. If you want a stingray get a real one. The imitations will fall short and you will end up disappointed like I was with the sterling darkray. Getting 90% there for me tone wise isn’t good enough. That’s why I’m not messing with the sterling bongo. It probably gets 50% there.

 

[Geri O]

You should make sure they weigh them before sending.

I recently inquired about some Hot Honeys in local stock and had them photograph the tops so I could pick. These requests are not unreasonable in these days of sight-unseen purchasing.

I was lucky when I bought my Hot Honey Special 5H (and big thanx to @LadyLoveStingRay5!)

She pointed me to the Hot Honey model at Sweetwater that I actually wound up with. While I was looking at it, I saw where they had 3 Hot Honey Specials and the displayed pics and weights. The one I wound up with definitely had the best grain pattern on the top, but I would have been happy with any of the other two.

 

[humbuckaroo]

Grain is everything with those Hot Honey tops, or anything else that's not painted over. You won the lottery with that one, thanks to LLSR5 of course.