I think this is going to break my never buy brand new rule. I don't think I can wait for the used ones to roll in. 
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Ernie Ball Classic Reissues With Slight Issue
- Thread starter bovinehost
- Start date
I hope i'm not commiting some kind of sin, but what's so special about those? Didn't EB always make basses with 5 strings. (As you can tell, I don't pay much attention to the happenings of Musicmen.
I dont even touch 5ers, but thats not why I came in here. I came in here to just to restate the fact that EBMM owns...hard. They truely are a "customers" business. Great reps, great product line, they listen to what people want, etc.
Keep it up EBMM, you guys are doing a terrific job
Keep it up EBMM, you guys are doing a terrific job
I think this is going to break my never buy brand new rule. I don't think I can wait for the used ones to roll in.
I feel your pain.
It's called a Company that wants to stay ahead of the game and doing a GREAT job of it.
Man, that is the perfect stingray 5 . If the original was like that, I'd have 2. Now that these are coming out.....
That is scary promising! I assume those are ALNICO magnets in that there pickup?
I currently have a 20th Anniversary SR5H that is an excellent instrument, but have been harboring doubts about the three-band EQ...two band certainly works a charm for Sadowsky, and the best Modulus Quantum I've ever played had a two-band EQ. I've never played an old two-band SR, but seeing that two-band alternative on a five-string certainly has my attention!
But as to weight, certainly those mutes and associated hardware are going to push these toward the higher end of the scale?
Kudos to the Ball folks - the constant profusion of special-issue stingrays can be mind-numbing, but from a marketing point of view you have to give credit for maximizing the ways to extract value from one great, time-tested design...and something like this, which sports desirable substantive features, is outstanding!
I currently have a 20th Anniversary SR5H that is an excellent instrument, but have been harboring doubts about the three-band EQ...two band certainly works a charm for Sadowsky, and the best Modulus Quantum I've ever played had a two-band EQ. I've never played an old two-band SR, but seeing that two-band alternative on a five-string certainly has my attention!
But as to weight, certainly those mutes and associated hardware are going to push these toward the higher end of the scale?
Kudos to the Ball folks - the constant profusion of special-issue stingrays can be mind-numbing, but from a marketing point of view you have to give credit for maximizing the ways to extract value from one great, time-tested design...and something like this, which sports desirable substantive features, is outstanding!
Am I wrong, or do these have an actual finish on the neck (instead of the thin sating stuff)? If so, I'm getting one!
No, I read that too. I was just commenting that they're smart about it too. Let's give the customers a "reissue", but let's have a modern reissue too. Sorta like what they think Leo would have done if 5-strings were a viable commercial product in 1976. I'm not that jazzed about five-string basses personally, but this is a GREAT way to show the company's focused on customers.
John
I've had a few EBMM basses (and liked them) - - can someone explain why a "reissue" bass is better than a bass that is... well... improved? Those features of the old EBMM basses were changed for a reason, right?
I don't mean to be a wet blanket here, but this strikes me as just a marketing ploy rather than a product release...
I don't mean to be a wet blanket here, but this strikes me as just a marketing ploy rather than a product release...
Oh wow!!!!! I just called Paul Turner (Jamiroquai, Annie Lennox, etc) and e-mailed him the pics. We both think this is the best thing Ernie Ball have done for their 5 string Stingray basses - these instruments have "WINNER" stamped into the DNA!!
Well, BOH, it's because while some people find the changes an improvement, others didn't. While the 2-band EQ has always been an option, it's really hard to find a 'Ray with the 2-band as most dealers order the 3-band. I don't think string-through really makes any real difference, but bass players are funny and want stuff that's demonstrably inconsequential. I read once that EB lost Pino Palladino as an endorser because they wouldn't do the STB bridge (and that's why Lakland has the option).
And it's a new product for EB- the old-style bridge with STB and the mutes, the physical appearance of the original Leo Fender/Forrest White designed StingRay, with some new features that make life easier. For the 5-string this is essentially a new product because the StingRay 5 never had the PUP, electronics, nor the look of the original 'Ray.
And EVERYTHING'S marketing. Sterling Ball did say that he'd never do a "reissue", but he's got a factory to run and employees who need work. So, if this gives them more business, then it's a good thing. Plus there's a market for it, this is getting the product the customers want.
John
And it's a new product for EB- the old-style bridge with STB and the mutes, the physical appearance of the original Leo Fender/Forrest White designed StingRay, with some new features that make life easier. For the 5-string this is essentially a new product because the StingRay 5 never had the PUP, electronics, nor the look of the original 'Ray.
And EVERYTHING'S marketing. Sterling Ball did say that he'd never do a "reissue", but he's got a factory to run and employees who need work. So, if this gives them more business, then it's a good thing. Plus there's a market for it, this is getting the product the customers want.
John
I half agree. I dont think 90% of owners will ever use the mutes. I like putting them so that they just barely touch the d and g strings for a slightly sitar-ish kind of buzz.
It is also hard for them to ignore the prices that vintage MM basses fetch on ebay just because they have that bridge.
EBMM didnt invent the reissue market. I think credit for that can go to Fender.
Also to be fair Musicman is run by Sterling Ball, a bassist himself. He actually hangs out and shoots the breeze on the company forum quite often. The impression I get from chatting with him and other EBMM folks is that the company genuinely enjoys coming up with neat basses. I am thankful that there is still a company making (somewhat) affordable quality, USA made basses. The classic series I have no idea on the price though!
I am stoked that they have a 2 band 5 string with the old style bridge. that is amazing to me since they had to make a whole new bridge from scratch on that one, not just dig up the tooling from the 90's. As far as the round pickguard on the 5, I could care less. I like the regular stingray 5 pickguard just fine.
Now I am stuck, I cant decide if I should try and get a Big Al 5 or the Classic 5.
I really like the Big Als looks.
