EBMM 'Vintages?'

[Quap]

I've read that 2009 is better than say 2002 when talking about MIA Fenders.

Does the same hold true for EBMM's either Stingrays or Sterlings? Any year better than any other? Certain time frames to stay away from?

 

[bovinehost]

Not really. I think most people would agree that the 1980-1984 pre-EB era basses could be iffy at times, but QC since then has been stellar. I've had MM basses from the mid 70s through the latest models and while I remember some more fondly than others, there was no period other than the one mentioned that would cause me concern.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I think that, on the whole, EBMM has had much better manufacturing QA than FMIC. I, for one, am convinced that Fender's quality has only improved *because* of companies like EBMM - competition, free market, etc. But for what ever reason, EBMM has made *very* solid basses for a years.

Oddly, their guitars just never had taken off - certainly not like their basses. Go figure.

 

[Jim C]

Not really. I think most people would agree that the 1980-1984 pre-EB era basses could be iffy at times, but QC since then has been stellar. I've had MM basses from the mid 70s through the latest models and while I remember some more fondly than others, there was no period other than the one mentioned that would cause me concern.

Have read this very same account by others and it matches my own experience in that the only MM that didn't have a great neck is my 83 which is possesed; it sounds so good the ski jump and worn frets don't really matter

 

[narud]

I've read that 2009 is better than say 2002 when talking about MIA Fenders.

Does the same hold true for EBMM's either Stingrays or Sterlings? Any year better than any other? Certain time frames to stay away from?

late 80's early 90's ernie balls are killing. killer figured woods, tight construction. 2000's suffered some of what fender is noted for with the hit or miss thing. ive encountered some newer balls that needed neck shims straight from the factory, or buzzy upper register frets from either unlevel frets or a slight kick up in the board at the heel.

 

[syciprider]

I think Fender is the only major maker to have "vintage" years. The competition are very consistent through time.

 

[king_biscuit]

late 80's early 90's ernie balls are killing. killer figured woods, tight construction.

+1 I think history will look to that era as the golden period of EBMM.

 

[trunkshope6]

for the most part i think any mm instrument will be good,and considering fender made the stingray a good 30 years afte the tele, those late 70s and 80s mms should be considered valueable as a vintage instrument

 

[spufman]

I think part of the reason EBMM instruments don't hold resale as well as a Fender is because they've always made them really really well and continue to do so - ironic. That said, I do prefer the early Sterlings. I think the early-mid nineties wood source was outstanding plus it seems like they truly picked the best and carefully chose cuts and fittings to work artistically with the beautiful grain. And I like the trans bridge, countersunk neck plates and non-compensated nuts which were phased out through the years.

 

[P. Aaron]

I've read that 2009 is better than say 2002 when talking about MIA Fenders.

I have a 2002 MIA Precision and it is a very fine bass: tone, playability, finish is all exceptional. It might be a tad heavier than the newer ones, but QC is an instrument to instrument thing as well as personal taste.

 

[Jim C]

What year did MM go from small frets to large?
Understand the that early SR's had the thin "vintage frets"

 

[scowboy]

Funny my '99 Stingray 4h is heaviest I've had but by far my favorite. Something about the tone.

 

[baba]

Those early 90's Stingrays seem to have the sweetest looking necks. Amazing birdseye in many of them.

 

[bovinehost]

late 80's early 90's ernie balls are killing. killer figured woods, tight construction. 2000's suffered some of what fender is noted for with the hit or miss thing. ive encountered some newer balls that needed neck shims straight from the factory, or buzzy upper register frets from either unlevel frets or a slight kick up in the board at the heel.

The figured wood for necks became too expensive.

Other than that, and I'm going to guess I've played about as many EBMMs as anyone on the planet, I've not found the "2000s suffered" thing and so on to be anywhere near accurate.

 

[Boombass76]

If we're talking SR5's some say that there is a difference between the late 92 to 2007/8 models as EBMM used a ceramic pickup in that period. Some prefer the alnico pickups they used from 1987-92 and again from 2008 -> Some don't care and others even prefer the ceramic.

Generally, I think that most, who actually have an opinion about this, prefer alnico over ceramic. I have owned 4 'ceramic' SR5's and 1 Alnico. I kept the 92 Alnico and have sold the all of the others... (Obviously, I didn't have 4 ceramics at any one time, but I kept buying them as I love the SR sound, but something was just not quite right... It turned out it was the pickup).

 

[trey le parc]

I've owned a lot of Stingrays, and only one was a dud-- a 1982 (B025316, as I recall) model which I later learned was probably not built by Music Man. I don't know the details, but it appears that for a short time in the early 80s MM subcontracted the building of Stingrays to a third party.

 

[narud]

The figured wood for necks became too expensive.

Other than that, and I'm going to guess I've played about as many EBMMs as anyone on the planet, I've not found the "2000s suffered" thing and so on to be anywhere near accurate.

for your requirements, maybe so. the average bass player sets up their basses with much more relief and higher saddles than i would ever use. those older basses can be set up to my requirements without issue. the newer ones have been hit or miss. when i set up a stingray with the type of action i can get no problem on a boutique, the flaws reveal themselves. i live on the central coast....im sure i see as many of these as you have

 

[parsons]

Other than that, and I'm going to guess I've played about as many EBMMs as anyone on the planet, I've not found the "2000s suffered" thing and so on to be anywhere near accurate.

Agreed. My Sterling is from 02 and my Stingray is from 03 and neither have a single thing I can complain about. Sure, they're not birdseye, but the sound is all there.

 

[bovinehost]

for your requirements, maybe so. the average bass player sets up their basses with much more relief and higher saddles than i would ever use.

I'm no average bass player! I hope someday to advance far enough to be called 'average' but there's a lot of work to be done yet. FTR, I set my relief extremely flat and the saddles are normal height without any probs on the 11 or 12 "late model" Music Man basses I currently have.

i live on the central coast....im sure i see as many of these as you have

I live in Dallas but have never seen Tony Romo. (But I did have sushi across from Troy Aikman a while back.)

I'm not talking about seeing the basses - I'm talking about living with them, gigging with them, playing them regularly.

Your point of view/opinion is your own. I wouldn't try to tell you you're blowing smoke. I'm just saying that as daily user of these very instruments, I haven't had your experience.

 

[JMac- Wiskerface Designs]

The only EBMM bass that I have ever picked up that played poorly, was an early 90's Stingray that had been terribly abused. It looked as if it had been in an attic for 10 years. Dead strings, ski sloped neck, and even had the finish removed. Other than that one particular bass every other EBMM bass I have played was top notch, aside from the poorly set-up displays at GC, which is no fault of EBMM.