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Musicman Classic Stingray 5 string

#41
Dear friends...I have only one question to make abous MusicMan Classic Stingray Bass.

Well...I'm intending to buy one late this year.
The one with Birdseye maple Neck-Fingerboard

I've been playing all my entire life, basses with Rosewood or Ebony fingerboards.
I'm not experienced with maple fretboards and more even with glossy finish attached on them.

Of course...I know a lot about MusicMan company and it's awesome instruments.
The reason I ask help...is about the treatment on these glossy fingerboards.
A craftsman (friend of mine) told me that glossy maple fingerboards need special
treatment, not only because they are proven vulnerable to dust and dirt, but also because (as he told me) any gloss finish would be faded pretty soon because of playing.
Also (as he told me)...each projected and imposed set-up (let's say approx. every 6 months), would be a risk every time you need to rub the frets for intonation and perfect adjustment.

I'am asking any of you owners of this awesome bass to inform me if you will your experiences about this issue and if you had to trouble similar situations with glossy maple fingerboards...in order to make clearer my decision about this bass.

thanx a lot my friends.
 
#42
I'm an SR5 owner but mine has a Pao Ferro neck. However, I've owner or played many, many maple necked instruments. He may be thinking about older maple necked instruments that have a nitro finish that will wear over many years of use.

The neck on the MM classic are finished with high gloss poly finish. That a very hard and durable finish. No special care is required other than to wipe them off periodically. Not sure what's he's referring to with respect to set-up and "rubbing the frets". I'm guessing your friend is a workworker and not a luthier. Is he referring to fret leveling maybe? 6 months is pretty frequent for needed a setup unless you live somewhere with an extreme climate and require frequent truss rod adjustment. A fret leveling is usually a once every 10 years type of service and then only if the bass gets a lot of playing time. And even if required, will have no impact on the fretboard finish. Luthiers usually cover the fretboard with tape when doing any fret work.
 
#43
what is mine ceramic or alnico?
10624912_10202604643906428_6154450419832048593_n.jpg
 
#44
villis said:
what is mine ceramic or alnico?View attachment 471941
Click to expand...

This kind of info is at musicmanbass.org. On the 5-strings, I can't remember if there is a range of years. I know my '98 Stingray 5-string is a ceramic. Can you provide the serial number so that someone else might know off the top of their heads?

And I can't imagine a replacement pickup of any brand making this bass sound any better than it does in stock form. I love this bass!!
 
#47
teousis84 said:
Dear friends...I have only one question to make abous MusicMan Classic Stingray Bass.

Well...I'm intending to buy one late this year.
The one with Birdseye maple Neck-Fingerboard

I've been playing all my entire life, basses with Rosewood or Ebony fingerboards.
I'm not experienced with maple fretboards and more even with glossy finish attached on them.

Of course...I know a lot about MusicMan company and it's awesome instruments.
The reason I ask help...is about the treatment on these glossy fingerboards.
A craftsman (friend of mine) told me that glossy maple fingerboards need special
treatment, not only because they are proven vulnerable to dust and dirt, but also because (as he told me) any gloss finish would be faded pretty soon because of playing.
Also (as he told me)...each projected and imposed set-up (let's say approx. every 6 months), would be a risk every time you need to rub the frets for intonation and perfect adjustment.

I'am asking any of you owners of this awesome bass to inform me if you will your experiences about this issue and if you had to trouble similar situations with glossy maple fingerboards...in order to make clearer my decision about this bass.

thanx a lot my friends.
Click to expand...

As has already been stated, the Classic Series MusicMan finish is a very hard multiple coat lacquer, polished to a mirror finish. It's the hardest neck finish you can get. The birdseye maple will be a little brighter sounding than the rosewood overall, but you'll have no maintenance issues. I have the Classic Series Sabre with the rosewood board and the gloss finish is among the best I've ever seen on a bass. You should have no worries. Just bear in mind that the rosewood fingerboard will sound a little darker than the maple. It's still a very small difference, though.

Enjoy - Classic MM's are fantastic!
 
#50
I have a 2005 StingRay 5H that I "classic-ized" by putting in a Nordstrand MM 5.2 and an East 2 band.

The top end now sounds silky with a bite very much like my old Ray, not the "honk" that the stock set up has up there. Unfortunately, the tradeoff was that the bottom end isn't as deep now, but I can usually dial in what I need on my amp.

At some point, I will go back and try the Nordstrand w/ the stock 3 band my bass came with, just to see what that sounds like.
 
#51
Very interesting. I've actually been thinking about Doing the same thing to my SR5. Unfortunately the pickup housing now used by Ernie Ball makes it mor difficult since there are the only ones that make it. Would have to either take cover off stock pickup ( bass is a 2012) or buy a different pick guard with mounting screw cut outs. I was considering either east or nordstrand preamp. Disappointing to hear that there is less bass. Is that due to preamp or pickup or both? Did the older stingrays hVe less bass than current ones?
 

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