Congrats on the new toy - it's purty. I've only had my 4HH for a couple of months now and still am in the honeymoon phase, but I do believe it's my new "most comfortable" bass.
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NBD! Black on Maple MusicMan StingRay
- Thread starter Freekmagnet
- Start date
^ Ya just ask Tim Commerford; best tone I've ever heard. Awesome bass man!
What? A stingray cost $700 in 87? For real? I was born in 88 and paid $1500 for mine in 2011
Hey that thing looks familiar!!!!!
I'm the guy who helped you out if you bought that bad boy from Instrumental Music Santa Barbara. Glad to know there's a good ending to the story and I'm sure happy I gave you a good deal on it
- Adam
Oh my....oh my....oh my....my GAS is on full pedal now. Thanks, doofus. xD Just kidding. Great basses!
I bought mine new in 96, played like it 3-4 nights a week, 50 weeks a year for about 12 years. I had the weak G string issue real bad and upgraded the pickup and preamp to Basslines. It still plays and sounds great, however these days Im in more of a Fender mood and mostly play my P or J.
How's the bass lines preamp? Does it retain that ray sound? My preamp is giving me issues so I'm looking to switch.
Hey that thing looks familiar!!!!!
I'm the guy who helped you out if you bought that bad boy from Instrumental Music Santa Barbara. Glad to know there's a good ending to the story and I'm sure happy I gave you a good deal on it
- Adam
No way! Yes I did buy it at Instrumenal in SB, and yes you did help me. Thanks, Adam! It took me a week to get strings for it!
-Jeremy
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Yes, it still sounds like a Ray, if anything it was more barky than before. I used the Alnico SMB4a and the 3 Band eq, this was pretty much when they first came out. If I could do it over I would look for something closer to the Leo Music Man's, I like the the tone a bit better on the originals. The EBMM's can be a bit harsh or "twangy" for some folks, I love it at times and don't like it at others, it depends on what sound and style I'm going for at the particular time.
Great story and congrats. There is nothing better than when an instrument finds YOU.
Though I have to say I looked at Rays in the late 80s and they were actually significantly more expensive than Fenders. Remember, in those days active electronics were not yet commoditized the way they are now, so that "technology" as well as other high-grade features in the stingrays for yore (adjustable string mute bridges for example) cost addition money to make thus added to the higher cost of the basses.
What a salesman at Focus II Guitar Center in Commack told me, circa 1987 actually, is (and I paraphrase) "this bass is 700 bucks but if you want the quintessential active sound, this is the bass to get." That always stuck with me because it really does set a benchmark for tone (and quality) in my head. In many ways you could argue that these are the P bass of active basses.
Leo got it right the first time, the second time!
Though I have to say I looked at Rays in the late 80s and they were actually significantly more expensive than Fenders. Remember, in those days active electronics were not yet commoditized the way they are now, so that "technology" as well as other high-grade features in the stingrays for yore (adjustable string mute bridges for example) cost addition money to make thus added to the higher cost of the basses.
What a salesman at Focus II Guitar Center in Commack told me, circa 1987 actually, is (and I paraphrase) "this bass is 700 bucks but if you want the quintessential active sound, this is the bass to get." That always stuck with me because it really does set a benchmark for tone (and quality) in my head. In many ways you could argue that these are the P bass of active basses.
Leo got it right the first time, the second time!
I always gigged and owned the stingray 5HH. Recorded with it and traveled as my main bass for years but in a heavy mix it was somewhat muddy no matter what I done with the on board EQ. Loved it and it had the smoothest neck I've ever had.
Yeah, maybe you guys are right about that. It just seemed shocking to me today that I could afford one 25 years ago.
Actually, that'd be first, second and third time. Fourth, if you count the L2000.
This is mine. I bought this about 3 years ago. It's spent maybe 2 weeks of its life with me out of its case. Sounds incredible, and man do they play amazing!
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If you still have it I'll give you what you paid for it, plus shipping. I'm totally serious. You probably don't even play that silly old thang, now do ya? Be a good TBer and let me try it awhile. Cmon, man! 36 years later and you get a FULL payback!
