New MusicMan Stingray BFR - thoughts?

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

What I am trying to find is not necessarily the sound of the 76 Stingray. It is just that my model is pretty different from the one I've had a long time ago, made in around 88 ( with 2 equas ). That is the kind of sound that I want to be close to and not necessarily to the pre Ernie Ball stuff.

do you have a stingray made after 2017? If not it should electronically be identical to the one you had in 88, unless it’s a three bander, but three banders can mostly get the same sounds if you slightly cut the mids.

the eq curve on the 2eq has a deeper valley on the mids when the bass and treble are fully boosted, a slight cut in the mids and a slight boost to the volume gets it extremely close to a 2eq

 

[Sacha 2A]

do you have a stingray made after 2017? If not it should electronically be identical to the one you had in 88, unless it’s a three bander, but three banders can mostly get the same sounds if you slightly cut the mids.

the eq curve on the 2eq has a deeper valley on the mids when the bass and treble are fully boosted, a slight cut in the mids and a slight boost to the volume gets it extremely close to a 2eq

Anyway, now it is done the preamp John East is installed in my bass... And it sounds great ! The lows are deeper and I love the color that it gives to the sound. Everything from the original preamp still remains ( and I havent changed the pickup ) but I find it better now. I have a thread on which I explain more specifically how this preamp sounds ( called "changing my stingray's preamp ).

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Anyway, now it is done the preamp John East is installed in my bass... And it sounds great ! The lows are deeper and I love the color that it gives to the sound. Everything from the original preamp still remains ( and I havent changed the pickup ) but I find it better now. I have a thread on which I explain more specifically how this preamp sounds ( called "changing my stingray's preamp ).

Read the thread! Sounds like you had a wiring issue or a issue with a component in the preamp, had I seen it earlier I would have actually recommend sending your original preamp into musicman and having it replaced! You’d be surprised to know but it would actually be cheaper this way, new preamp is only 80 dollars! If you’re happy with it it doesn’t matter! But if you want that original preamp repaired or replaced it would only cost around 80 dollars to get a new one

 

[KoaFodera]

Yeah....Uh huh uh huh uh huh!!!

Louis "Thunder Thumbs" still amazes me every time I see him slap. Is it true he had one of the first Stingray basses?

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Louis "Thunder Thumbs" still amazes me every time I see him slap. Is it true he had one of the first Stingray basses?

he was one of the guys who did the beta testing along with sterling ball, there’s photos of him and Leo hanging out around the prototype!

 

[KoaFodera]

Two interesting articles regarding Carol Kaye's involvement with Music Man.

Carol Kaye Reflects On Her Legendary Career For Her 85th Birthday

Carol Kaye played a Fender Precision Bass on most of her classic sessions – but she preferred the Music Man StingRay

 

[Sacha 2A]

Read the thread! Sounds like you had a wiring issue or a issue with a component in the preamp, had I seen it earlier I would have actually recommend sending your original preamp into musicman and having it replaced! You’d be surprised to know but it would actually be cheaper this way, new preamp is only 80 dollars! If you’re happy with it it doesn’t matter! But if you want that original preamp repaired or replaced it would only cost around 80 dollars to get a new one

Thanks for the info, I won't put back the original preamp as I prefer the new one but I want to have the original repaired just in case ( if I sell the bass for example, even though I don't think I will do it ... ). I am going to call Musicman and ask for it.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Louis "Thunder Thumbs" still amazes me every time I see him slap. Is it true he had one of the first Stingray basses?

Yes.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Two interesting articles regarding Carol Kaye's involvement with Music Man.

Carol Kaye Reflects On Her Legendary Career For Her 85th Birthday

Carol Kaye played a Fender Precision Bass on most of her classic sessions – but she preferred the Music Man StingRay

Great links !! I have also made mention and posted these StingRay clips from Carole before. She is so under rated but such a big part of electric bass history .

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Two interesting articles regarding Carol Kaye's involvement with Music Man.

Carol Kaye Reflects On Her Legendary Career For Her 85th Birthday

Carol Kaye played a Fender Precision Bass on most of her classic sessions – but she preferred the Music Man StingRay

I bet Carol would like the Specials.

 

[dave64o]

I had to read that a couple of times before convincing myself that you said “Specials” and not “Sparkles”.

But we could discuss that, too!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I had to read that a couple of times before convincing myself that you said “Specials” and not “Sparkles”.

But we could discuss that, too!

 

[2F/2F]

Just got word that mine is on the way.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Thanks for the info, I won't put back the original preamp as I prefer the new one but I want to have the original repaired just in case ( if I sell the bass for example, even though I don't think I will do it ... ). I am going to call Musicman and ask for it.

. Yes! Call musicman, send yours in and they should sell you one for around 80 dollars

 

[Sacha 2A]

. Yes! Call musicman, send yours in and they should sell you one for around 80 dollars

I have called Musicman France, the guy on the phone told me to send an e mail and... No answer since Two weeks !

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

I have called Musicman France, the guy on the phone told me to send an e mail and... No answer since Two weeks !

they might be backed up! Getting the older preamps is gonna take some time! Ask for billy though! He should be able to help!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Demo video finally shows up later they are sold out.

 

[Todd Hamby]

Demo video finally shows up later they are sold out.

I’m sold!!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I’m sold!!

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

I’m sold!!

we joke but I think something very similar is coming back in 2026 lol