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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
I have purchased several new EBMM instruments. All have arrived with excellent fretwork and good setups. Get the bass, adjust the setup to your satisfaction, and then decide if the frets need work. I’ll bet no.
I PLEK'd mine. Why? I like it a lot and have never done a PLEK before. So, I wanted to try it, this bass has stainless frets so a PLEK should have a long life. Is it better? Not sure because it's hard to A/B when I dropped the bass off and then went back a week later to pick it up and really can't remember how it played before versus now. But, the action is great and low. Was it worth $180? Dunno.
It’s the wood not the frets that actually make the bass need a plek? Does steel vs Nickel matter?
Whether it's the wood or the frets, PLEK'ing removes a slim amount from the frets. Since stainless doesn't wear much if it all, PLEK it once and it should be good for a very long time. Roasted maple should be very stable as well. So, I thought I'd try to get it mathematically perfect and go from there.
Hmm, well Sweetwater has one 5HH in stock at 9 pounds I like OK (white/rosewood). Would have to tort the guard. That 48-month financing has me thinking...
Plek an ernie ball?! Do you also rehydrate your water?
Yeah, I tried Chromes and Cobalt flats on my Special. I’m a fan of both, and generally really don’t like rounds. But I just can’t seem to stop loving the rounds on the Special. You’re right though, the flats did sound great, both sets were awesome on the bass, not at all disappointing.
I find a large difference in sound between the Special and Smoothie. There are a fair few variables, the obvious being the 10 pole pickup but also the fact that it’s alnico, plus the gorgeous 2 band EQ which has been specially designed for this bass. Perhaps the alder body makes a difference too, but that will always be argued until the early hours...
The Special is indeed smooth and lovely compared to Rays of old. The Smoothie is just smooth in a different way, the tone is more ‘open’ for me, has more breath in the notes and even though it has a great punch is more subtle and softer than the Special - possibly because the stings go between the poles rather than over them, it’s a little less direct and full on.
The paradox is, they both sound like great Rays, just different.
Yes, I’ve had several EB’s PLEKed, they’re not perfect and had issues, but played the way I wanted them too after.
If you really want the green , call them up and ask when they will get that color 5HH in stock. They should be able to tell you if they will have another one in time to get the financing . You should be able to reserve it.
Thanks- I actually also really like the white and it would go well with my jazz gigs. Maybe even a tux effect with my black Cutlass, ha.
Sweetwater is making this way too easy, of course.
Oh yes. The white is classy and would look nice with tort or black pg.
I just ordered this one from Sweetwater, and I’m having them PLEK it before shipping it to me.
Congrats on that beauty! They must be busy -- I ordered a 5HH white today. If it's a keeper I'll likely sell my 4HH, boo hoo.
Here's my incoming. If it stays, it will get a new pickguard:
