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NBD: Stingray Special 5

willsellout

willsellout

I apologize in advance.
Gold Supporting Member
Aug 13, 2002
6,904
8,668
Fort Wayne, IN
#1
So my Fender Elite had a broken truss rod because it seemed like Fender didn't implement their spoke wheel truss rod all that well. Now, I loved the bass, but I had a hard time with the neck and the weight at 10 pounds wasn't ideal either. So I took it into Sweetwater today as their repair shop is up and running, somewhat. I told them what was up. Tech took the neck off and the truss rod spoke wheel fell out and showed it snapped at the threads. I was expecting them to get a new neck from Fender at which point I was going to sell it and get something else. They were like Nah, lets just get you a new bass
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They didn't have much in the way of Fender Ultra's so I asked if I could just get a credit and use it towards something else. They said no problem. I bought it when I was an employee so I bought it at cost. They gave me a credit for that plus about 10% just because, which was super cools. They also said they'd give me a deal on the price of whatever I wanted in exchange. They didn't have much stock of Fender Ultra's, and to be honest I've lost my taste after this incident. So this is the bass I chose to come home with. The color is Maroon mist or something like that and she weighs 8.4 pounds! Its the lightest Musicman I've ever seen. Plays beautifully, sounds like a Stingray should. The neck is narrow for a 5'er and feels really really great. Super stoked about this whole thing. This is why I continue to shop at Sweetwater even after I stopped working there.

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#4
willsellout said:
So my Fender Elite had a broken truss rod because it seemed like Fender didn't implement their spoke wheel truss rod all that well. Now, I loved the bass, but I had a hard time with the neck and the weight at 10 pounds wasn't ideal either. So I took it into Sweetwater today as their repair shop is up and running, somewhat. I told them what was up. Tech took the neck off and the truss rod spoke wheel fell out and showed it snapped at the threads. I was expecting them to get a new neck from Fender at which point I was going to sell it and get something else. They were like Nah, lets just get you a new bass View attachment 3834390

They didn't have much in the way of Fender Ultra's so I asked if I could just get a credit and use it towards something else. They said no problem. I bought it when I was an employee so I bought it at cost. They gave me a credit for that plus about 10% just because, which was super cools. They also said they'd give me a deal on the price of whatever I wanted in exchange. They didn't have much stock of Fender Ultra's, and to be honest I've lost my taste after this incident. So this is the bass I chose to come home with. The color is Maroon mist or something like that and she weighs 8.4 pounds! Its the lightest Musicman I've ever seen. Plays beautifully, sounds like a Stingray should. The neck is narrow for a 5'er and feels really really great. Super stoked about this whole thing. This is why I continue to shop at Sweetwater even after I stopped working there.

View attachment 3834391
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That bass is gorgeous! You did well.
 
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#6
Thanks folks! The weight really sold me, but the neck on these new batch of Stingray's are something really cool. I'm a sucker for a figured neck, or a unique neck. Don't know why. I forget how easy these are to play for me with the narrower nut and tighter string spacing. It's a huge step up for me over the Fender playability wise, but I did like the EQ control available on the Elite.
 
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#9
These things are just the Ford F150 of the five-string world; when these were a new product, for most people, it was the first five-string that just worked, you didn't really have to think about it, a brilliant redesign of the 4-string that could have easily gone off in the weeds, but EB just nailed it.

I'm traditional and the single pickup layout is my own preference, but that's one hell of a bass and a great compliment to Sweetwater. That's a Whole Lotta Bass, Congrats !
 
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#10
willsellout said:
I moved to Indiana in 2018 after I retired from the military. The sales engineer job at Sweetwater brought me here. I took the job because I was feeling frisky, apparently. Didn't last too long. Way too much work, LOL.
Click to expand...

Would love to learn more about the role. I personally love SW, but I recently lost my SE and I’m sad :(

Im thinking of getting a new 4H special. Any comments on the differences in the preamp between this new model and the older 3 band Rays.
 
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#20
Very nice looking bass, willsellout.
I have a Stingray 4, and love it.
I've recently also begun trying different Ernie Ball strings.
If you want Flatwounds with almost roundwound sustain, try the Cobalt Flats.
If you want flats that are similar, but different to Fender 9050s, try their Series 3 flatwounds.

Much good luck with your bass.

Ernie Ball products: Good cracker, good cracker!

Mike ;)
 
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