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Fall 2021 Ernie Ball BFR Stingray Special 5HH

Jul 17, 2004
15,282
41,359
This thing is beautiful. Im not into the HH or Ash but it sure looks good.

fall-2021
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This thing is beautiful. Im not into the HH or Ash but it sure looks good.

fall-2021
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I really like it, but I don't think I'll be getting that one. I am very happy with my current SR5 Special. Actually, I'm happy with my current StingRay collection and don't foresee getting another one anytime soon unless it is drastically different in features (something like the TC or the DarkRay). I've instead been on the hunt for a Big Al bass.
 
I picked up my 8 year old HH as pretty close to new old stock. Wouldn't trade it for the world.... But I only paid $700. Not sure I could get away with dipping into the savings to shell out $3200.
I do like the striped ebony knobs... My guess is that and possibly the roasted maple neck add at least a grand to the cost. but......

I'm actually more intrigued by the Joe Dart model with no tone or volume controls...
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I like Stingrays but their R&D or Press department is missing the mark lately. Still no return of Classic Stingrays and no signature of Cliff Williams' bass. No, got to pay 7k for that..but plenty of Dream Theater or Rage Against Machine signatures. What a joke. I'm starting to really dislike this greedy company and their overpriced instruments.

I couldn’t disagree more. This era of Musicman is producing the best instruments they have since the 90’s (IMO, the specials are even better). While Classic Stingrays are great, I’d much rather have these unique BFR or limited edition takes on their signature designs with modern appointments and contouring. While I’m not big on Dream Theater (or Bongo’s in general), I really liked what they offered with the Commerford and Joe Dart models.

If Musicman was to change anything with their business model I’d prefer To see their take on the Fender Mod-Shop where I could pick from a customized list of finishes, pickup types, hardware colors and details like that for a semi-custom build. :thumbsup:
 
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I like Stingrays but their R&D or Press department is missing the mark lately. Still no return of Classic Stingrays and no signature of Cliff Williams' bass. No, got to pay 7k for that..but plenty of Dream Theater or Rage Against Machine signatures. What a joke. I'm starting to really dislike this greedy company and their overpriced instruments.

What a terrible company choosing to produce the instruments that sell. The production of the classics were put on hold due to production limitations because of covid so they chose to focus just on the SR Specials which far out sell the classics. Fair enough that it's not your preference, but you shouldn't fault the company for doing what's best for the company. I'm sure this last year and a half hasn't been the greatest for them.
 
Yeah it's... not a Schecter. I just cannot get into the Shecter body shape or headstock, and I love the roasted maple neck/fretboard on the Ray.

OTOH, while it's a nice bass, I think it falls way short of some of the other recent BFRs. In particular, they may never do better than the 2020 fretless:

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I don't even play fretless and now I kinda wish I had bought one.
 
I like Stingrays but their R&D or Press department is missing the mark lately. Still no return of Classic Stingrays and no signature of Cliff Williams' bass. No, got to pay 7k for that..but plenty of Dream Theater or Rage Against Machine signatures. What a joke. I'm starting to really dislike this greedy company and their overpriced instruments.
I agree. There are no more instruments for the common player. Their new business model is constant new "signature models" made in limited batches designed to create FOMO (fear of missing out) and to raise prices of the production models. Pretty soon, there are going to be so many signature models, that none of them are going to mean anything.
 
I couldn’t disagree more. This era of Musicman is producing the best instruments they have since the 90’s (IMO, the specials are even better). While Classic Stingrays are great, I’d much rather have these unique BFR or limited edition takes on their signature designs with modern appointments and contouring. While I’m not big on Dream Theater (or Bongo’s in general), I really liked what they offered with the Commerford and Joe Dart models.

If Musicman was to change anything with their business model I’d prefer To see their take on the Fender Mod-Shop where I could pick from a customized list of finishes, pickup types, hardware colors and details like that for a semi-custom build. :thumbsup:

yup. I would open a new line of credit right now and stay up all night TONIGHT deliberating my options if an EBMM custom shop suddenly became a thing.
 
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I agree. There are no more instruments for the common player. Their new business model is constant new "signature models" made in limited batches designed to create FOMO (fear of missing out) and to raise prices of the production models. Pretty soon, there are going to be so many signature models, that none of them are going to mean anything.

Sorry but I MUST disagree. The Sterling by Music Man has 16 basses (that's right, one-six) that I would recommend to any 'common player'. All for reasonable prices. Many in traditional finishes. One of my Dallas friends uses a $400 Sterling by MM at ALL of his gigs, and he makes a living as a musician. JuliaPlaysGroove made her mark on Sterling by MM, if the model script wasn't on the head stock, 9 out of 10 bass players wouldn't be able to tell the difference. But the 'common' player is too good for these models?
 
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Sorry but I MUST disagree. The Sterling by Music Man has 16 basses (that's right, one-six) that I would recommend to any 'common player'. All for reasonable prices. Many in traditional finishes. One of my Dallas friends uses a $400 Sterling by MM at ALL of his gigs, and he makes a living as a musician. JuliaPlaysGroove made her mark on Sterling by MM, if the model script wasn't on the head stock, 9 out of 10 bass players wouldn't be able to tell the difference. But the 'common' player is too good for these models?
SBMM has nothing to do with Ernie Ball except in name only. The company that produces those instruments is called Praxis and all they do is license the design and name. There are no more ERNIE BALL instruments for the average weekend warrior.
 

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