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Ernie Ball strings on a Stingray, who knew?

FirewalZ

FirewalZ

Aug 14, 2014
3,766
7,359
S.E. Michigan
#1
These days I mainly play on a 1996 3 band Stingray or a 2018 Special, and have been a stalwart DR user for years, Sunbeams and Fatbeams. I had an outdoor gig approaching with a power trio I play with, and on a whim decided to throw a set of super slinky’s on my 96. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded, as the older 3 bands can be too sizzly. They were not overly bright like I thought, meaty lows, nice and clear and comfortable to play on. These will probably be what I keep on that bass.
Here is a clip, if Facebook permissions allow viewing….keep in mind this was outside, it had been raining and was in the 40’s, probably the coldest gig I’ve played on. :)

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#3
FirewalZ said:
These days I mainly play on a 1996 3 band Stingray or a 2018 Special, and have been a stalwart DR user for years, Sunbeams and Fatbeams. I had an outdoor gig approaching with a power trio I play with, and on a whim decided to throw a set of super slinky’s on my 96. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded, as the older 3 bands can be too sizzly. They were not overly bright like I thought, meaty lows, nice and clear and comfortable to play on. These will probably be what I keep on that bass.
Here is a clip, if Facebook permissions allow viewing….keep in mind this was outside, it had been raining and was in the 40’s, probably the coldest gig I’ve played on. :)

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You guys sound GREAT!!!
 
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#5
FirewalZ said:
These days I mainly play on a 1996 3 band Stingray or a 2018 Special, and have been a stalwart DR user for years, Sunbeams and Fatbeams. I had an outdoor gig approaching with a power trio I play with, and on a whim decided to throw a set of super slinky’s on my 96. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded, as the older 3 bands can be too sizzly. They were not overly bright like I thought, meaty lows, nice and clear and comfortable to play on. These will probably be what I keep on that bass.
Here is a clip, if Facebook permissions allow viewing….keep in mind this was outside, it had been raining and was in the 40’s, probably the coldest gig I’ve played on. :)

Link Removed
Click to expand...
that's a really nice StingRay tone. Not too bright and/or zingy. Good sounding group too. nicely done.
 
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#7
I'm pretty sure that EBMM basses come from the factory with EB Slinky round wound strings. I know that mine did; and, I ordered it straight from the factory. Although I'm not a fan of rounds - of any brand - I have used the Hybrid and Regular Slinkys quite a bit. I like them, as far as rounds go, but... I like flat wounds a whole lot more. So, the Slinkys eventually all go away... Currently, the only bass I own - out of 24 - with rounds, is a '94 Gretsch Broadkaster; it wears TI Jazz Rounds. My '20 4HH Stingray Special kept it's Slinky's for a while, but they eventually got replaced by a set of Galli JF4505 Jazz Flats. My ears - but especially my fingers - like the Galli's a whole lot more...:cool:
 
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#11
ItsmeSantiago said:
Stingray sounds great and your vocalist is how I’d want a blues band vocalist to sound. Nicely done!

If you haven’t put Cobalt flats on your Stingray, they are great as well. I only use Cobalt rounds and flats at the moment.
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I have read how much folks like the cobalt flats but I've been hesitant on trying them. In the past I found flats dont work well for me live, to stiff, high tension, get thuddy, dont cut, etc. What are those strings like stiffness and tension wise? Do they rust, etc?
 
#14
FirewalZ said:
These days I mainly play on a 1996 3 band Stingray or a 2018 Special, and have been a stalwart DR user for years, Sunbeams and Fatbeams. I had an outdoor gig approaching with a power trio I play with, and on a whim decided to throw a set of super slinky’s on my 96. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded, as the older 3 bands can be too sizzly. They were not overly bright like I thought, meaty lows, nice and clear and comfortable to play on. These will probably be what I keep on that bass.
Here is a clip, if Facebook permissions allow viewing….keep in mind this was outside, it had been raining and was in the 40’s, probably the coldest gig I’ve played on. :)

Link Removed
Click to expand...
You guys locked in great very Cool set.
 
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#15
FirewalZ said:
I have read how much folks like the cobalt flats but I've been hesitant on trying them. In the past I found flats dont work well for me live, to stiff, high tension, get thuddy, dont cut, etc. What are those strings like stiffness and tension wise? Do they rust, etc?
Click to expand...
I don’t experience any of those concerns. Think of the Cobalt flats as a hybrid of sorts. The feel of flats with the tone of rounds…almost. They’re expensive but they are so worth it if you’re wanting to mellow out a clanky bass
 
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#17
they work for me… I used to only use super slinky’s.

For at least the last 7 years I have run the regular green pack slinky 5’s on both of my basses, the fender pro P 5 and the stingray special 5 HH. I don’t even know what I’m missing with other strings :woot:
 
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#19
FirewalZ said:
These days I mainly play on a 1996 3 band Stingray or a 2018 Special, and have been a stalwart DR user for years, Sunbeams and Fatbeams. I had an outdoor gig approaching with a power trio I play with, and on a whim decided to throw a set of super slinky’s on my 96. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded, as the older 3 bands can be too sizzly. They were not overly bright like I thought, meaty lows, nice and clear and comfortable to play on. These will probably be what I keep on that bass.
Here is a clip, if Facebook permissions allow viewing….keep in mind this was outside, it had been raining and was in the 40’s, probably the coldest gig I’ve played on. :)

Link Removed
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, they're great strings...for about a week
 
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