Wow, you could almost use the tiger stripe grain for fret markers.
Stunning, Congrats.
Stunning, Congrats.
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NBD - 2020 MusicMan Stingray Special Ray5 BFR
- Thread starter BQFS
- Start date
It's true…. Only thing is that when you look at those lines while playing they have a 3-D type effect and you think they are moving . It's best to close your eyes and feel it. Otherwise you get dizzy.
Trust me, I know!!
That is absolutely stunning! When I get a fretless, I was sure I would get lined, but now I am hearing more players hear present a good argument for getting unlined.
The funny thing is that I have two unlined fretlesses, but I prefer lined fretless. That said my intonation on unlined is OK.
I'm not totally sure. I would have to look up the spacing specs. There's definitely guys on here who could answer that question better than myself.
It's all EBMM five strings, not just the stingray special. Never bothered me but I know guys who sold theirs because of it. You just have to adjust technique slightly
- Dec 21, 2007
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Agreed. And be careful not to bust your nut…
Exactly right!
And if you plan to use strings larger than the Super Slinkies gauge that comes on the Stingray (45, 65, 80, 100, 130), have a good guitar tech ever-so-slightly widen the nut string slots. NOT deeper! Just a little wider.
I had my brand new Special for 2 days when I put my gauge of strings on it (Pro Steels, 50, 70, 85, 105, 135). It was actually fine at first, but later that evening, I loosened the tension to tweak the neck a bit and the corner of the bass side of the nut broke off! Off, I say, off!...
So I grabbed the SuperGlue and well, glued the broken piece back on. And it was fine for the few days it took to order and receive the new nut and another few days until I could make the 3-hour drive to have the nut professionally replaced and filed for the gauge of strings I use. Music Man took pity on my story and they sent me two nuts for the price of one plus free shipping (I know, guys...."we should all be so lucky..."....
). I was able to keep the reglued original nut along with the new unused nut. As for the narrow neck and the G string proximity to the edge of the fingerboard, there's still guys out there that call this a defect. Well, whatever. From the first time I played a 5-string Stingray (all of them, including my fairly new and aforementioned Stingray Special 5H), I observed the neck width, adjusted my technique for it, and didn't think twice about it. No one ever mentions the B string's close proximity to the bass side edge, but that's because it doesn't get pulled off the fretboard like the G strings can if one isn't careful.
Thank you! I will do my best.Bud, I am so happy for you! May you play your beautiful bass in good health.
No worries. I learned to play fretless by playing in the dark or shutting my eyes. I rarely look at the board.It's true…. Only thing is that when you look at those lines while playing they have a 3-D type effect and you think they are moving . It's best to close your eyes and feel it. Otherwise you get dizzy.
Trust me, I know!!
My first instrument was violin. Just keep in mind that all orchestral string instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass) have neither fret lines nor side dots. Good fretless technique requires good intonation. The more you look at your board, the less you are relying on your ears. I absolutely see no sense in having a lined fretless. I find lines an unnecessary distraction. I accept the argument regarding side dots. Tony Franklin recommends adding a first position dot, and that makes a lot of sense. But it's not religion, so I have no desire to start a war. Whatever works for you is just fine with me.
Mine came with EB Cobalt flats and I plan to keep those on there until they break or otherwise wear out. I really like their sound, which surprises me, because I really generally dislike everything about flats and have never ever installed them on any bass I have ever owned. The cobalts have a really nice tone, closer to rounds than the flats that came on basses I bought (and quickly removed). I guess I am ruined by over 30-odd years of using nothing but Rotosound rounds.
Personally, I love the neck, have no issue with the string spacing.
On the 5 strings (both fretted and fretless) I have converted to E-C tuning, I used the baking soda and superglue technique which I thought worked great. I was hesitant, but when the only decent luthier I could find in my area wanted $200 to make me a new nut and $100 to install it, I decided I preferred doing it myself. So, I learned a new skill and it was well worth it.
I learned to do my own setups years ago. I think you have a closer relationship with your instrument, the more you are able to work on it yourself. My degrees and experience are in electronics, so that part came easy. The rest not so much, but it was well worth it. Especially since the luthiers in my area leave much to be desired. I see no sense, especially no economic sense, in going to the luthier every time the weather changes and I have to adjust the setup or intonation.
Also, since I like to defret instruments and upgrade them, I would lose money if I had to pay a luthier to do the setup before shipping the basses to their new owners.
