I've had good luck with used, especially with GC. I know people rag on them, but the two used instruments I've purchased from them have been solid and in the condition described.
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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
Agreed. I've had great experiences with GC's used gear site on numerous occasions.
I have a Sterling Ray34 H, and recently bought an EBMM Special 5 HH.
I wanted a 5 string, but wanted something more versatile than a single H Stingray.
I LOVE it. The tone versatility is awesome, and I really like the neck and the string spacing.
I paid $1900 for it used but absolutely mint, so the price you found is a great deal.
Compared to the Ray34, the Special is definitely better. The tuners feel much better though they all work fine. The truss rod adjustment is smoother, but they both work fine. The frets are great on both.
I did have to shim the neck slightly on the Ray34, as well as file the nut. The Special is perfect. After some slight set up, it’s perfect and has been incredibly stable.
Weight wise, they’re the same. Both right under 9.5lbs. Though the Special has an extra string and and humbucker.
I wouldn’t replace my Ray34 with a USA version that was the same. It’s close enough.
But I wanted a 5 HH, and am happy I got an EBMM instead of a Sterling.
And I do agree about the 5 strings. I don’t play music that needs it, but I love having it. I use it a lot.
In your case, I would (and did) get the 5 HH, but if you have the chance to return your Ray34, and get a great deal on the Special 5 H, you’ll probably be glad you did it. They’re killer basses.
I wanted a 5 string, but wanted something more versatile than a single H Stingray.
I LOVE it. The tone versatility is awesome, and I really like the neck and the string spacing.
I paid $1900 for it used but absolutely mint, so the price you found is a great deal.
Compared to the Ray34, the Special is definitely better. The tuners feel much better though they all work fine. The truss rod adjustment is smoother, but they both work fine. The frets are great on both.
I did have to shim the neck slightly on the Ray34, as well as file the nut. The Special is perfect. After some slight set up, it’s perfect and has been incredibly stable.
Weight wise, they’re the same. Both right under 9.5lbs. Though the Special has an extra string and and humbucker.
I wouldn’t replace my Ray34 with a USA version that was the same. It’s close enough.
But I wanted a 5 HH, and am happy I got an EBMM instead of a Sterling.
And I do agree about the 5 strings. I don’t play music that needs it, but I love having it. I use it a lot.
In your case, I would (and did) get the 5 HH, but if you have the chance to return your Ray34, and get a great deal on the Special 5 H, you’ll probably be glad you did it. They’re killer basses.
Thank you for this. Since you had a more controlled setting to try both basses out, what did you think of the tones on the 5HH vs the Ray34? Did you find the highs to be less harsh/nasally on the Special? Any other tonal differences worth mentioning? Was there anything the Special could not do as well as the Ray34?
Buying a Sterling expecting an EBMM is like buying a Squier and expecting an American Fender. It looks similar but it ain't it.
There is a substantial increase in quality and playability when moving to a StingRay Special, even from a higher end Sterling.
There is a substantial increase in quality and playability when moving to a StingRay Special, even from a higher end Sterling.
Tried out a used Stingray Special 5HH tonight. Here is the link to the exact one:
[This invalid link has been removed]
No issues with the fret edges being sharp, so I agree that was a one off at the other GC. Everything felt pretty darn good on this one. There was a decent size gouge on the body which I’ll show with a picture.
Bass was quite light. That said, the bridge felt almost like plastic. I poked around some of the other Music Man basses and the bridges felt higher quality, but they were not Specials.
This one was made in 2022 per a search of the serial number.
I brought headphones to hear the bass better. I’m not sure if my ear is unfamiliar with the variety of MM tones, but I wasn’t hearing massive changes between the various pickup positions. I’m starting to think the HH palette of tones is lost on me and H should be sufficient. Unfortunately, there are no local Stingray Special 5H to try out.
I’m not super technical with instruments, but I always bring my gear to a local tech for an evaluation and setup if necessary. Twice he has advised me to send an instrument back due to being at the end of its adjustability. One time he pointed out how the saddle was basically bottomed out and there’s no where to go if it needs future adjustments. The saddle for the B string was basically bottomed out, so I don’t know if this is a big concern.
Action and playability felt good on this one.
I liked this used one, but it didn’t necessarily grab me. Feels odd saying this, but the color scheme and HH pickup configuration is not my cup of tea for an otherwise strong instrument.
[This invalid link has been removed]
No issues with the fret edges being sharp, so I agree that was a one off at the other GC. Everything felt pretty darn good on this one. There was a decent size gouge on the body which I’ll show with a picture.
Bass was quite light. That said, the bridge felt almost like plastic. I poked around some of the other Music Man basses and the bridges felt higher quality, but they were not Specials.
This one was made in 2022 per a search of the serial number.
I brought headphones to hear the bass better. I’m not sure if my ear is unfamiliar with the variety of MM tones, but I wasn’t hearing massive changes between the various pickup positions. I’m starting to think the HH palette of tones is lost on me and H should be sufficient. Unfortunately, there are no local Stingray Special 5H to try out.
I’m not super technical with instruments, but I always bring my gear to a local tech for an evaluation and setup if necessary. Twice he has advised me to send an instrument back due to being at the end of its adjustability. One time he pointed out how the saddle was basically bottomed out and there’s no where to go if it needs future adjustments. The saddle for the B string was basically bottomed out, so I don’t know if this is a big concern.
Action and playability felt good on this one.
I liked this used one, but it didn’t necessarily grab me. Feels odd saying this, but the color scheme and HH pickup configuration is not my cup of tea for an otherwise strong instrument.
The Ray35 was harsher but still sounded very good in the mix. The Special can get aggressive if you crank the treble, but still sounds smoother and more refined. The Ray35 can't get the smoother tone of the Special. It's not just the eq points, you also have more dB of gain. The Special has a lot more booty
The Special just feels more premium too
For me the 5H is the way to go, I never found the HH that useful, but I use the series setting on the 5H all the time.
For two pickup EBMM basses I much prefer the Bongo
I'm thinking of ordering a fretless 5H in the not too distant future. Have any of you done so? How did that go?
I love the tones of the 5HH. I do find that the 5 way switch changes things noticeable. Both full humbuckers are powerful and fat. The outer coils goes a thinner j bass sound, etc.
I don’t really use the neck pickup only setting really.
i think the HH can still sizzle like the Ray34. It still sounds like a stingray to me, but it can get real fat and mellow, which is great. I like the Stingray sound, but not enough to always want it.
I have a couple P basses as well, and really if I had to only keep one bass, the 5HH could do everything I would ever need.
Commenting on your other post, the bridge being bottomed out isn’t generally a huge deal on basses. Shimming necks is fairly normal and not difficult. I had to do it on the Ray34 to get it exactly where I wanted it, as well as filing the nut.
From a quality point of view, the EBMM is noticeably better. Mine is perfect. It feels like a full premium instrument and it’s gorgeous. The Ray34 is fine, but it needed some tinkering and it’s still not as nice.
I was looking at everything but a stingray. Dingwall, Yamahas, Ibanez multiscales. I really wasn’t planing on getting a 5HH.
But after playing one at GC for a while, I was really impressed.
I’m stoked with mine and it’s become my main player.
Since no design is perfect (I must not say this in the Precision Club
) and we are all (fortunately) different, what three things would you change in the design of the StingRay Special, 4 or 5 strings?
I absolutely agree that the Special has changed many things for the better compared to the model before it, but I think there is always room for improvement.
I know what I would...
-What I would definitely change is the bridge. Not because it doesn't work well, on the contrary, it works great, but only for visual reasons. I find it very impersonal and boring, unworthy of such a strong bass. I would like to see larger bridge, with mutes, maybe not quite the old vintage style, but some modern variation on that theme.
-Another thing I would change is the construction of the pickup, or probably just its casing. To clarify, when I touch the plastic casing of the pickup with the fingers of my right hand while playing, a very unpleasant sound is made, as if the pickup is hollow inside. Very different compared to playing ''before Special'' StingRay, which has no sound at all and the pickup seems very compact.
-And although there are still a few little things that I would probably like to see improved or changed (like the frequency of the treble EQ), in third place would be one of the positions on the HH models. I would like to see one position that include rear coil of the bridge pickup and the rear coil of the neck pickup, so it would sound as similar to the Jazz bass.
And finally, don't get me wrong, I love the Special and have had one since the first series from 2018, but I assume that one day a new model will arrive with some changes.
So what are the three changes you would like to see in the next model?
) and we are all (fortunately) different, what three things would you change in the design of the StingRay Special, 4 or 5 strings?I absolutely agree that the Special has changed many things for the better compared to the model before it, but I think there is always room for improvement.
I know what I would...
-What I would definitely change is the bridge. Not because it doesn't work well, on the contrary, it works great, but only for visual reasons. I find it very impersonal and boring, unworthy of such a strong bass. I would like to see larger bridge, with mutes, maybe not quite the old vintage style, but some modern variation on that theme.
-Another thing I would change is the construction of the pickup, or probably just its casing. To clarify, when I touch the plastic casing of the pickup with the fingers of my right hand while playing, a very unpleasant sound is made, as if the pickup is hollow inside. Very different compared to playing ''before Special'' StingRay, which has no sound at all and the pickup seems very compact.
-And although there are still a few little things that I would probably like to see improved or changed (like the frequency of the treble EQ), in third place would be one of the positions on the HH models. I would like to see one position that include rear coil of the bridge pickup and the rear coil of the neck pickup, so it would sound as similar to the Jazz bass.
And finally, don't get me wrong, I love the Special and have had one since the first series from 2018, but I assume that one day a new model will arrive with some changes.
So what are the three changes you would like to see in the next model?
Standard option of SLO neck on the 4 .Since no design is perfect (I must not say this in the Precision Club
I absolutely agree that the Special has changed many things for the better compared to the model before it, but I think there is always room for improvement.
I know what I would...
-What I would definitely change is the bridge. Not because it doesn't work well, on the contrary, it works great, but only for visual reasons. I find it very impersonal and boring, unworthy of such a strong bass. I would like to see larger bridge, with mutes, maybe not quite the old vintage style, but some modern variation on that theme.
-Another thing I would change is the construction of the pickup, or probably just its casing. To clarify, when I touch the plastic casing of the pickup with the fingers of my right hand while playing, a very unpleasant sound is made, as if the pickup is hollow inside. Very different compared to playing ''before Special'' StingRay, which has no sound at all and the pickup seems very compact.
-And although there are still a few little things that I would probably like to see improved or changed (like the frequency of the treble EQ), in third place would be one of the positions on the HH models. I would like to see one position that include rear coil of the bridge pickup and the rear coil of the neck pickup, so it would sound as similar to the Jazz bass.
And finally, don't get me wrong, I love the Special and have had one since the first series from 2018, but I assume that one day a new model will arrive with some changes.
So what are the three changes you would like to see in the next model?
Option of 19mm sting spacing and a wider neck on the 5 string.
Option of no pickguard or clear pickguards and rear routing on all models.
Option of mutes on all models.
Move the pickup placement on the HH models where the neck pickup is closer towards the bridge. Add the ability to select each coil individually or in any combination desired.
Some of our desires would probably mean the bass will weigh more.
Brandon Shea
Commercial User
This is such a minor thing, but it’d be an incredible change. Some of the finishes don’t deserve to be covered up!
Nothing on my 4 string for my use: had Special coming up on 3 years and never even had the thought of Wish it had this or did that enter my mind but since you asked maybe a better Battery CompartmentSince no design is perfect (I must not say this in the Precision Club
I absolutely agree that the Special has changed many things for the better compared to the model before it, but I think there is always room for improvement.
I know what I would...
-What I would definitely change is the bridge. Not because it doesn't work well, on the contrary, it works great, but only for visual reasons. I find it very impersonal and boring, unworthy of such a strong bass. I would like to see larger bridge, with mutes, maybe not quite the old vintage style, but some modern variation on that theme.
-Another thing I would change is the construction of the pickup, or probably just its casing. To clarify, when I touch the plastic casing of the pickup with the fingers of my right hand while playing, a very unpleasant sound is made, as if the pickup is hollow inside. Very different compared to playing ''before Special'' StingRay, which has no sound at all and the pickup seems very compact.
-And although there are still a few little things that I would probably like to see improved or changed (like the frequency of the treble EQ), in third place would be one of the positions on the HH models. I would like to see one position that include rear coil of the bridge pickup and the rear coil of the neck pickup, so it would sound as similar to the Jazz bass.
And finally, don't get me wrong, I love the Special and have had one since the first series from 2018, but I assume that one day a new model will arrive with some changes.
So what are the three changes you would like to see in the next model?
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One could make a case for a wider neck, but once one gets used to the neck as supplied and comfortable with it, one sees no point in changing it.
Better battery box design, these fail or have issues fairly commonly.Since no design is perfect (I must not say this in the Precision Club
I absolutely agree that the Special has changed many things for the better compared to the model before it, but I think there is always room for improvement.
I know what I would...
-What I would definitely change is the bridge. Not because it doesn't work well, on the contrary, it works great, but only for visual reasons. I find it very impersonal and boring, unworthy of such a strong bass. I would like to see larger bridge, with mutes, maybe not quite the old vintage style, but some modern variation on that theme.
-Another thing I would change is the construction of the pickup, or probably just its casing. To clarify, when I touch the plastic casing of the pickup with the fingers of my right hand while playing, a very unpleasant sound is made, as if the pickup is hollow inside. Very different compared to playing ''before Special'' StingRay, which has no sound at all and the pickup seems very compact.
-And although there are still a few little things that I would probably like to see improved or changed (like the frequency of the treble EQ), in third place would be one of the positions on the HH models. I would like to see one position that include rear coil of the bridge pickup and the rear coil of the neck pickup, so it would sound as similar to the Jazz bass.
And finally, don't get me wrong, I love the Special and have had one since the first series from 2018, but I assume that one day a new model will arrive with some changes.
So what are the three changes you would like to see in the next model?
I wish the faux single coil setting on the 5H was volume matched better.
Offhand, the only thing I'd like to see is an active/passive switch. Probably needlessly, I worry a bit about battery death at a show.Since no design is perfect (I must not say this in the Precision Club
I absolutely agree that the Special has changed many things for the better compared to the model before it, but I think there is always room for improvement.
I know what I would...
-What I would definitely change is the bridge. Not because it doesn't work well, on the contrary, it works great, but only for visual reasons. I find it very impersonal and boring, unworthy of such a strong bass. I would like to see larger bridge, with mutes, maybe not quite the old vintage style, but some modern variation on that theme.
-Another thing I would change is the construction of the pickup, or probably just its casing. To clarify, when I touch the plastic casing of the pickup with the fingers of my right hand while playing, a very unpleasant sound is made, as if the pickup is hollow inside. Very different compared to playing ''before Special'' StingRay, which has no sound at all and the pickup seems very compact.
-And although there are still a few little things that I would probably like to see improved or changed (like the frequency of the treble EQ), in third place would be one of the positions on the HH models. I would like to see one position that include rear coil of the bridge pickup and the rear coil of the neck pickup, so it would sound as similar to the Jazz bass.
And finally, don't get me wrong, I love the Special and have had one since the first series from 2018, but I assume that one day a new model will arrive with some changes.
So what are the three changes you would like to see in the next model?
Things i would change are pretty minimal, but honestly kind of shocking considering that aside from this the attention to detail is great and it seems they went with "pull all the stops" approach when making the special:
1) Lumenlay side dots. Its such a small cost increase for massive value. On my roasted maple fingerboard and neck its REALLY hard to see black side dots on a dark brown roasted maple neck in the dark or stage lights.
2) Recesed backplate. Once again with CNC machines and everything i dont see how this is hard to do, i think they even do it on the majesty, just countersink the battery box and rear route plate so its nice and flush with everything.
3) Rear routed controls / no banana plate / relocation of the switching. Love the stingray, sound and feel but man the circle pickguard is already goofy enough, i don't need the giant banana plate as well. Especially when the HH models ect already have rear routing might as well not put the plate. 2ndly, if they want to keep the plate because its traditional or a trademark, put the selector switch or controls ON the giagantic control plate instead of a switch randomly cut into the body lol.
4) Consistancy on finishes. I got my frost green pearl stingray a few years ago and i wanted the pearlized forest green faded into light green like the pictures, instead by the time i got it i saw online most people getting the later runs of that year were getting more of a blackburst to green. Sadly mine ended up being the blackburst but i loved the wood on the neck so much i ended up keeping it (i also waited like 8 months becuase it was when they were backed up at the factory). I ordered a Grape Crush stingray that should be coming any day now and im starting to get similar concerns from what im seeing online. Ive seen things ranging from what i want - dark purple fading to a light purple, to blue border, to purple fading to pink. I don't understand how the variance is this large. See below:
1) Lumenlay side dots. Its such a small cost increase for massive value. On my roasted maple fingerboard and neck its REALLY hard to see black side dots on a dark brown roasted maple neck in the dark or stage lights.
2) Recesed backplate. Once again with CNC machines and everything i dont see how this is hard to do, i think they even do it on the majesty, just countersink the battery box and rear route plate so its nice and flush with everything.
3) Rear routed controls / no banana plate / relocation of the switching. Love the stingray, sound and feel but man the circle pickguard is already goofy enough, i don't need the giant banana plate as well. Especially when the HH models ect already have rear routing might as well not put the plate. 2ndly, if they want to keep the plate because its traditional or a trademark, put the selector switch or controls ON the giagantic control plate instead of a switch randomly cut into the body lol.
4) Consistancy on finishes. I got my frost green pearl stingray a few years ago and i wanted the pearlized forest green faded into light green like the pictures, instead by the time i got it i saw online most people getting the later runs of that year were getting more of a blackburst to green. Sadly mine ended up being the blackburst but i loved the wood on the neck so much i ended up keeping it (i also waited like 8 months becuase it was when they were backed up at the factory). I ordered a Grape Crush stingray that should be coming any day now and im starting to get similar concerns from what im seeing online. Ive seen things ranging from what i want - dark purple fading to a light purple, to blue border, to purple fading to pink. I don't understand how the variance is this large. See below:
I agree as to the side dots. Numerous otherwise excellent basses these days have hard-to-see dots. Quite irritating.
1. Solid bridge saddle barrels where the screws can go all the way through for full range of adjustment, like it was in the pre-Special.Since no design is perfect (I must not say this in the Precision Club
I absolutely agree that the Special has changed many things for the better compared to the model before it, but I think there is always room for improvement.
I know what I would...
-What I would definitely change is the bridge. Not because it doesn't work well, on the contrary, it works great, but only for visual reasons. I find it very impersonal and boring, unworthy of such a strong bass. I would like to see larger bridge, with mutes, maybe not quite the old vintage style, but some modern variation on that theme.
-Another thing I would change is the construction of the pickup, or probably just its casing. To clarify, when I touch the plastic casing of the pickup with the fingers of my right hand while playing, a very unpleasant sound is made, as if the pickup is hollow inside. Very different compared to playing ''before Special'' StingRay, which has no sound at all and the pickup seems very compact.
-And although there are still a few little things that I would probably like to see improved or changed (like the frequency of the treble EQ), in third place would be one of the positions on the HH models. I would like to see one position that include rear coil of the bridge pickup and the rear coil of the neck pickup, so it would sound as similar to the Jazz bass.
And finally, don't get me wrong, I love the Special and have had one since the first series from 2018, but I assume that one day a new model will arrive with some changes.
So what are the three changes you would like to see in the next model?
2. G string slipping off issue corrected on the 5 string.
3. Get rid of the extra fret on the 4 string. Makes the neck look like it's protruding too far into the body and covers a spot where I like to play.
4. Bonus one I guess. Move the neck pickup on HH models back toward the bridge a bit.
