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EBMM StingRay Special Club

#15,881
Kubicki Fan said:
I'd say, even if it is set up like crap - likely to be the case for a GC offering these basses can be made to play very nicely.

If the bass is 9lbs or less, you like the feel (some people a have problem with the g-string being close to the edge of the fretboard) the new Stingray special 5 is a very good deal currently, at the price you've quoted.
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For sure. I'm like 80% sure I'm going to do the exchange of the Ray34 for the new Stingray Special 5H. I looked around the used offerings online and called a few GC stores for the ones that caught my eye, but each one seemed to have an issue that was going to bother me:
  • No case
  • Gator case instead of the original case
  • Scratched up body
I think going new for this price is my best bet.
 
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#15,882
Eneade said:
I took my new Special 4HH to rehearsal tonight.

View attachment 7454224

The bridge pickup sounds like a Stingray. The neck pickup does not bother imo.

The neck pickup was a very good surprise. Fat and snappy.

Position 3 was great for slap.

Position 2 is mid scooped and I boosted the mids quite a lot. Gave me a Rickenbacker vibe with the mid boost (I have never had a Rick though).

I was about to test position 4 but we ran out of time. But I now pos. 4 is a good one.
Click to expand...

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts after your next rehearsal and can give Position #4 a try. Not all agree, and that's OK, but I love it!

Lately I've been using Position #2 a little more often and exactly the way you described - with a mid boost. I always found Position #2 kind of Jazz-like (I also like Jazz basses), but with more of a mid scoop and beefier lows. It's a great tone when you want it and I find adding mids brings it closer to a typical Jazz bass tone. And then giving the mids an even bigger boost brings out an aggressive snarl that's a much different flavor from the bridge pickup solo'd. That's even more true on my 2007 SR5HH, which has the preamp and ceramic pickups of the five string Sterling.
 
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#15,884
aarono2690 said:
For sure. I'm like 80% sure I'm going to do the exchange of the Ray34 for the new Stingray Special 5H. I looked around the used offerings online and called a few GC stores for the ones that caught my eye, but each one seemed to have an issue that was going to bother me:
  • No case
  • Gator case instead of the original case
  • Scratched up body
I think going new for this price is my best bet.
Click to expand...

If you wait there will be an example for you eventually.
 
#15,887
PrimitiveMan said:
I really want to try one but haven't seen one yet in person. I don't even use much distortion but they just seem so cool lol
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Yeah it was hard to find this one. Found a small boutique shop in a rich suburb that had one.

I’m assuming the wise play is to just do a Stingray Special and get a pedal if you love them additional tones. That Plasma Purple Darkray though, my lord.
 
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#15,890
PrimitiveMan said:
I really want to try one but haven't seen one yet in person. I don't even use much distortion but they just seem so cool lol
Click to expand...
I got a used one here on TB, it's a version 1. (sans octaver).
I bought it out of curiosity. I planned to flip it after I got it figured out.

The DG preamp doesn't sound identical to the EB pre., it has its own character, and it still has the Stingray magic.

Yup, it is staying with me until I can't lift it any more.
 
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#15,891
dave64o said:
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts after your next rehearsal and can give Position #4 a try. Not all agree, and that's OK, but I love it!

Lately I've been using Position #2 a little more often and exactly the way you described - with a mid boost. I always found Position #2 kind of Jazz-like (I also like Jazz basses), but with more of a mid scoop and beefier lows. It's a great tone when you want it and I find adding mids brings it closer to a typical Jazz bass tone. And then giving the mids an even bigger boost brings out an aggressive snarl that's a much different flavor from the bridge pickup solo'd. That's even more true on my 2007 SR5HH, which has the preamp and ceramic pickups of the five string Sterling.
Click to expand...
I will for sure try #4 next time I bring the bass !
Tonight I have set the pickups close to factory height, the neck pickup was too high. It makes for tighter low, better articulation and a bit more growl (through headphones).

I checked the batteries, they are still 8,6V and are the Duracell "not for retail" ones made in 2018. The first owner did not play this bass much since 2019 !!

I think the next strings will be Dunlop Super Bright Nickels to bring a bit more mids to the natural voice of the bass.
 
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#15,892
humbuckaroo said:
All the new basses have the Mono. The hard case is no longer offered with EBMM basses unless you add it as a custom option.
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I think the Mono case is really, really nice. Honestly I prefer it to a hard case as it’s much lighter and plenty sturdy for anything other than the bass falling off of a moving truck.
 
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#15,893
Eneade said:
I will for sure try #4 next time I bring the bass !
Tonight I have set the pickups close to factory height, the neck pickup was too high. It makes for tighter low, better articulation and a bit more growl (through headphones).

I checked the batteries, they are still 8,6V and are the Duracell "not for retail" ones made in 2018. The first owner did not play this bass much since 2019 !!

I think the next strings will be Dunlop Super Bright Nickels to bring a bit more mids to the natural voice of the bass.
Click to expand...
I'm not an HH fan, but position 4 is definitely my favorite besides 1.

Super Brights sound great on the Special, but I prefer the stainless ones. I have been loving the Dunlop Hybrid Nickel on my Bongo, need to try them on the Special too.

My favorite strings on the Special so far have been SIT Foundations (stainless), so only been using them for awhile. it is fun to switch it up on occasion though
 
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#15,894
aarono2690 said:
Yeah it was hard to find this one. Found a small boutique shop in a rich suburb that had one.

I’m assuming the wise play is to just do a Stingray Special and get a pedal if you love them additional tones. That Plasma Purple Darkray though, my lord.
Click to expand...
Yeah, sometimes if you want a certain color, you have to go with a Darkray. That’s what I did when I went with the Grapes of Wrath.
 
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#15,896
tindrum said:
I think the Mono case is really, really nice. Honestly I prefer it to a hard case as it’s much lighter and plenty sturdy for anything other than the bass falling off of a moving truck.
Click to expand...

The mono case is very, very nice. I just wish it could somehow hinge open without having to pull the zipper all the way around back of it. Because of this I have been using my P bass HSC for my Stingray.

At the types of gigs I play we're usually setting up and going asap. I just wanna unlatch, grab, latch, and go.
 
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#15,897
panama said:
The mono case is very, very nice. I just wish it could somehow hinge open without having to pull the zipper all the way around back of it. Because of this I have been using my P bass HSC for my Stingray.

At the types of gigs I play we're usually setting up and going asap. I just wanna unlatch, grab, latch, and go.
Click to expand...
I totally get what you mean and it kinda causes me a momentary tangle, too. But, I just love how light and well made it is/the quality of protection that I'm wiling to accept the minor snag. Such a great case!
 
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#15,899
Dusky Bass said:
I totally get what you mean and it kinda causes me a momentary tangle, too. But, I just love how light and well made it is/the quality of protection that I'm wiling to accept the minor snag. Such a great case!
Click to expand...
I have always used Hardcase for my Basses since 1975: most early medium priced gig bags made me nervous

My 2023 Special came with G&G Hardcase but the quality of Mono Bags I would be fine with and welcome extra storage
 
#15,900
I put the order in for Special 5H in Butane Blue. I started struggling before I placed the order, "oh crap, do I want Jackpot finish instead????" I asked my GF what she thinks because she has better taste, she thought Jackpot was better, but to me it's very marginal. For some reason almost every Guitar Center I went into had new and used Specials in Jackpot with nothing in other finishes. I thought it was attractive in person.

I think Butane Blue with a white pickguard will be *chef's kiss*

I kept tormenting myself on asking if I got the right color scheme.
 
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