I seriously doubt that, and it's most likely just a standard "mass produced" pick of the best/worst. You just gotta find a good specimen. Since it's EBMM, it shouldn't be hard, but they're not all flawless. From the few EBMM Stingrays I've had, they were all nice, no doubt, but they all differed in how the saddle height transferred to string action (neck angle, no biggie). None of them buzzed though. Maybe they're churning out a bit more Specials than they did before since they're so popular, so there might be a bit more QC problems? I don't know, maybe not. Probably not. They certainly don't plop them out like Fender does, which definitely adds to QC problems with Fender.
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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
I seriously doubt that, and it's most likely just a standard "mass produced" pick of the best/worst. You just gotta find a good specimen. Since it's EBMM, it shouldn't be hard, but they're not all flawless. From the few EBMM Stingrays I've had, they were all nice, no doubt, but they all differed in how the saddle height transferred to string action (neck angle, no biggie). None of them buzzed though. Maybe they're churning out a bit more Specials than they did before since they're so popular, so there might be a bit more QC problems? I don't know, maybe not. Probably not. They certainly don't plop them out like Fender does, which definitely adds to QC problems with Fender.
If you play one bass like I have since July, you can get to the point like I have that you don’t really even need to look down at your hands. The only time I’ll sneak a peek is if I’m making a big full octave jump. Even then I know pretty much where I need to be.
I have some fret buzz I need to sort out. Seems to be mostly the E string, at the 5th fret I have a ton of noise, much more than normal - I play hard with a pick, and don't expect *low* noise, but this is very over the top despite having still a visible curve to the neck and not the lowest action at all. Not sure what to do, flatten the neck more and raise it a bit? Just raise the saddle a hair? I'll try find time to mess with it tonight.
I tried all of that with no results, leveling the frets helped on some strings but, for me it’s going to take an outside party to sort it out.
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Making new music with my SRS
Making new music with my SRS
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This is a long thread to read all the way but here we go!!
Hard to try a Stingray Special in my neck of the woods so I’m trying to get a handle on the tone/sound compared to older stingrays. Given the words “refined”, “broader” and “more rounded” have been used in this thread to describe the new Special, can someone tell me how the Special’s tone differs from an Old Smoothie? To me the Old Smoothie can be described in these terms too.
I get the difference in weight, 3 vs 2 band eq and different neck finish etc, but curious if anyone has both of these instruments to give a comparative opinion.
Hard to try a Stingray Special in my neck of the woods so I’m trying to get a handle on the tone/sound compared to older stingrays. Given the words “refined”, “broader” and “more rounded” have been used in this thread to describe the new Special, can someone tell me how the Special’s tone differs from an Old Smoothie? To me the Old Smoothie can be described in these terms too.
I get the difference in weight, 3 vs 2 band eq and different neck finish etc, but curious if anyone has both of these instruments to give a comparative opinion.
There's been a leaning towards "vintage" tones on electric, and acoustic instruments, as well as vocals in popular music, going back about 15 years.
The impression that I've got, is that EBMM has tried fighting that trend, with the likes of the Axis, and the Big Al, but they don't sell in large enough volumes to sustain the line : "modern", or "cutting edge" aren't widely popular.
Stingrays sound decidedly "modern", when compared to popular classic Fender tones (that was kind of the point, at the time), and that seemed to have impacted the volume of sales over the last decade.
It seemed that EBMM were trying to recover some of those losses, by tapping in to the "vintage" tone market, with their passive offerings - the Cutlass, and the Caprice (as well as Old Smoothie).
Perhaps because of insufficient market awareness of the Cutlass, and Caprice, or because it seems that when people think EBMM, they think Stingray (which seemed to seal the Sabre's fate), those passive basses never managed to sell in sufficient volumes.
That really left EBMM in a situation where they're associated with a single iconic bass guitar, and a market that craves "vintage" tones.
I'm fairly confident that if the Cutlass, and Caprice had been sold as well as they should have, the 2018 Stingray would not have had the pre-amp re-voiced - I think it would have had the weight, and playability upgrades, but that's all.
To my ear, the 2018 Special still sounds like a Stingray (in that a 3 band Stingray sounds like a Stingray, albeit with a different voicing to that of a 2 band Stingray) it just sounds like a Stingray with flats / worn in rounds, played through an old tube amp.
"Vintage" tone goal achieved.
Owning the 2 basses in my avatar , I agree with this . I’d say the Special has an overall warmer , more organic tone than the Old Smoothie and 2 band Stingrays. Yet it still sounds like a Stingray. Get the HH model and you get some additional jazz, Pbass , Sabre, and Gibson SG bass like tones . Definitely not one trick pony. Very versatile basses.
I traded my Old Smoothie for my 4HH Special....mostly due to weight, I'm somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2 lbs down. The neck is slightly slimmer/different profile on the Special. Sound wise, there is less grind due to more headroom of the 18v preamp. And, with 2 pups and 5 positions, there's a lot more diversity available. I prefer a fatter tone than the typical tone I could get with the Smoothie, so I'm not back on bridge only on the Special much. The both pups and neck only tones are stellar. But bridge only vs bridge only on the 2 basses, I would say very close but again less grind for the Special. I sorta miss the grind, but I don't miss the weight, love the feel, and really like the extras with 2 pups and 5 positions. The 3 band EQ is also very very powerful but smooth. That said, I run it mostly very close to flat.
In southern Australia. The Specials haven’t found their way down here in stores yet unless specifically ordered. They will get here at some point over the next 12 -18 months I’m told, but the exchange rate is killing us at the moment too, so they’ll be ridiculously expensive. I won’t buy one untested at the quoted order price. I own a few MM basses - 6 actually - so I’ll be patient and keep enjoying my current crop.
Thanks for the few replies above too. Love the passion!
I would describe the specials as having a more “musical” range. Hard pressed to find a harsh tone when flipping switches and dialing. This is a trend in a lot of new bass onboard pres and outboard amps. It’s a trend I like, never had a use in the old days for all the extreme settings and always hated the limited “sweet spot” of where a sound was offered. In fact always hated stingrays when I played them, loved that recorded tone on albums but never could fully get there. The specials make it easy to get there and can cop jazz, pj, and Gibson ebo tone too. I don’t see any downside to the new design in my opinion. Neck is buttery smooth and weight is low.......EBMM got their *%+! Together on this one
I'm in Melbourne. Ordered my charging green SR5H at Bass Centre and had it delivered in less than 6 months.
You’re the one! I was in there about a month ago and they said they’d ordered one in specially for a local punter. Congratulations and hope you’re enjoying it!
I’m happy to wait and try before I buy.
Perhaps a meeting is at hand?
You're welcome to PM me if you want to try mine.
Agreed. Ibanez preamps for example always have about an 1/8” of actual useable room on the knobs. With this bass I can crank to my hearts desire.
I have both basses, a Special and a Smoothie. Up until last week, my Smoothie was up for sale, but having recently strung them both with identical strings, at the same time, I’ve seen the light and can’t even begin to think about getting rid of it right now!
They are soooooo different, yet both so Stingray... if that makes sense?
For me, the Smoothie lets the notes breath more, particularly in the treble strings. Partly due to feeling like it has less tension, but really i think its due to the nature of the pickup. It has a more open tone that is reminiscent of a 2 band EQ, though with more dynamic range imo due to the specially designed preamp. I actually find the Smoothie to be more organic. The Special is epic, much more focussed, way more authority and an all round stronger signal with tons of tone versatility. It’s a new tonal flavour for the Ray, given it’s history, but it suits these times and they knocked it out of the park with this redesign, including the ergonomics. That said, I’m sure the Special’s tone isn’t for everyone in comparison to older models, and vice verse. I played both with a mate of mine whose a drummer, he prefered the Smoothie. I loved both for different reasons
Hope that helps, though subjective opinions of tone using unstandardised vocabulary isn’t easy for us all!!!
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Curious what the percentage of bass players use rounds vs flats is.
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