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My experiences with the new (and old) Stingrays
- Thread starter birminghambass
- Start date
Haven't heard a huge correlation between unplugged and plugged tone of a solid body electric bass yet. Not to mention the distinct electric tone of an active Stingray bass. Not convinced. YMMV.
I'm talking about the responsiveness of the instruments - the 'notes jumping off the fingerboard' - which was present unplugged on the 3 specials I tried a few weeks ago.
Fresh strings + good action? I dunno what to tell you, really. How would one really describe "notes jumping off the fretboard" on an unplugged solid body bass. All my notes jump off the fretboard nicely on my basses, unplugged. Maybe more so on my lighter basses as they tend to resonate more. Psychological effect? I don't know. Would dead flats "jump" as well? It's all good, we all have our little idiosyncrasies in what we're looking for in an instrument, and those tend to jump into our general experience with an instrument. It's all pretty subjective, and it's all good.
There is definitely a difference, acoustically with the roasted maple necks with stainless steel frets. I have a Classic Sabre with those, and also a Special 4 string and Special 5 string. The latter have ebony fretboards which also seems to make a difference.
I'm generally playing my Specials mostly currently so voted for that. My take on the Special is they get much closer to the 2 band Musicman sound but with the advantage of the mid control.
They're great basses and good as the Classic, pre EB and Old Smoothies are, the sum of the details of the upgrade makes for an all round excellent and highly playable bass.
Nice demo btw. It goes without saying their slap sound is great.
I'm generally playing my Specials mostly currently so voted for that. My take on the Special is they get much closer to the 2 band Musicman sound but with the advantage of the mid control.
They're great basses and good as the Classic, pre EB and Old Smoothies are, the sum of the details of the upgrade makes for an all round excellent and highly playable bass.
Nice demo btw. It goes without saying their slap sound is great.
I do most of my learning and practicing unplugged in front of the TV. That's what I was talking about specifically.
Alan Ace Cooper
Supporting Member
- Jan 6, 2004
- 3,349
- 9,350
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- Endorsing artist: Devon Basses, DR Strings, EMG pickups, Bag End Cabs
The MusicMan, Sting Ray 5 String Bass, is pretty much the only bass that is allowed in my house, that is not shaped like a Fender Jazz Bass! I had 3 back in the 90s. The main one was a 1989 Blueburst that I found used in 1994. I played that bass to death! I traded it when I started endorsing another manufacturers basses. That was a bad move, as the love affair only lasted about 3 years. 2 years ago, I was blessed to come across this 1988 Blueburst beauty. It's all original, except the nut. I have a 1990 neck, that I planned to use at some point. It plays fine under higher tension, like using flats or rounds @ 45 - 130 or higher. It could probably use a heat treatment or something, but for now it just sits in a closet.
Before I went to NAMM in January, I picked up a Sterling by MusicMan Ray 25, which is pretty functional for an under $600 investment. I'm not sure if its the pickup, or the preamp that I am expecting more Umph from. Now...at the Ernie Ball booth, I fell in love with this green, HH MusicMan Sterling! It was freshly unboxed, but it felt very broken in. Then again, I've only not liked MusicMan basses that I have played in Guitar Center stores. A local, vintage - new shop in this area, Action Music / Falls Church Virginia, carries the newer, classic / Smoothy models. They all look and feel, Tip Top.
Anyone know why Ernie Ball has changed the tried and true, bridges with the saddle bolts on each end, to a more conventional style bridge?
Before I went to NAMM in January, I picked up a Sterling by MusicMan Ray 25, which is pretty functional for an under $600 investment. I'm not sure if its the pickup, or the preamp that I am expecting more Umph from. Now...at the Ernie Ball booth, I fell in love with this green, HH MusicMan Sterling! It was freshly unboxed, but it felt very broken in. Then again, I've only not liked MusicMan basses that I have played in Guitar Center stores. A local, vintage - new shop in this area, Action Music / Falls Church Virginia, carries the newer, classic / Smoothy models. They all look and feel, Tip Top.
Anyone know why Ernie Ball has changed the tried and true, bridges with the saddle bolts on each end, to a more conventional style bridge?
I’m pretty sure it’s part of the weight-loss program that they put the Special on.
Below are my 2001 EBMM StingRay 5H in Honeyburst that I’ve had for about a year and the 2001 EBMM Sterling 4H I just got last week. I love both of them. The StingRay is my main player and just sounds great no matter what I ask it to do. The Sterling is angrier and gnarlier (probably due in large measure to the ceramic pickups in contrast to the Alnicos in the ’Ray).
I only had a brief demo of a EBMM StingRay 5H Special at Guitar Center. I found that I was excited about the lower weight and the roasted maple neck and fingerboard felt great. Although I didn’t have time for a thorough workout, it seems to me that the sound was a bit polite and thinner than I was hoping for. It did not seem to have that familiar punch. Maybe I should give it another try sometime.
I only had a brief demo of a EBMM StingRay 5H Special at Guitar Center. I found that I was excited about the lower weight and the roasted maple neck and fingerboard felt great. Although I didn’t have time for a thorough workout, it seems to me that the sound was a bit polite and thinner than I was hoping for. It did not seem to have that familiar punch. Maybe I should give it another try sometime.
That's how they sound to me too, both solo and in the band mix. I feel the snarl is almost gone, certainly tamed. They remind me of the combo I used in one of my previous Stingrays - Nordstrand MM4.2 with a 2 band preamp. It was just too polite, I hated it in the band mix. I don't think the Specials sound quite as mellow as that combo did for me, but they're definitely more "domesticated".
Good to see the 2 bands leading the way, I like all Stingrays but there is something special about a 2 band like my 2016 Classic.
This is also.my impression of the Special. Having said that the latest fretless BFR StingRay with the coated fingerboard is anything but polite!
I also concur with your observations on the Sterling. I put a genuine Sterling pickup in my Ray34 and it is the most alive instrument I think I've ever played. The dynamic response, clarity, bite, presence and authority are exactly what I expect from a Sterling. In fact I've been thinking of putting a Delano MC4 FE in my fretless Ray for some time now, and your post has prompted me to order one in just now. I'll try to report back my findings in a week or two...
I hear ya brother! If all goes well, I should be getting a Classic Stingray natural next week.
And it's allegedly only 9.1 lbs! That's pretty low weight for a Classic.
Good choice as I like Natural finish myself. Obviously if you want a 2 band then a pre EB would be the best option, but availability and price come into big time. So a Classic/Old Smoothie will get you closer to the original than any other Ray and that includes The Special which regardless of the misinformation that you get from some,will not get you there.It is the original black epoxy preamp that gives that true Stingray tone, and unfortunately the Special is miles away from that.
My slightly underwhelming encounter with an SR Special makes me wonder if a Sterling Ray35 with a roasted maple neck might be more to my liking—or perhaps even a Reverend Mercalli 5, which is just over half the cost.
| PROS | CONS |
| • Lighter overall weight • Roasted maple neck/fingerboard feels awesome • Reputedly more stable neck than non-roasted maple • Stainless steel frets are more durable than nickel-silver • 18v preamp provides more headroom than 9v | • Sound seems less aggressive/punchy • Pricey • Already own a non-Special StingRay 5H |
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Yeah I think it is a great Bass and it has it's place but I found the ones I have tried to be quite thin sounding, but I was still thinking of purchasing one but I thought again as I already own a Bongo which already gives me the versatility of tone that the Special would give me.
Did someone say 'Classics'?
Here are two from the first batch of five when EBMM introduced them at Bass Player Live in October 2009.
Surf Green and Fiesta Red, B050501 and B050505. (The colours were renamed Mint Green and Coral Red for the production run.)
The Surf Green is 8.9 lbs.
Here are two from the first batch of five when EBMM introduced them at Bass Player Live in October 2009.
Surf Green and Fiesta Red, B050501 and B050505. (The colours were renamed Mint Green and Coral Red for the production run.)
The Surf Green is 8.9 lbs.
