New MusicMan Stingray BFR - thoughts?

[Rojd]

Nice, but way out of my price range.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

When they did the Cliff Williams RI they talked about getting the preamp authentic. What's the preamp in this?

 

[BobKos]

I think Sterling Ball has a good feel for what his (repeat) customers want and this will be another popular product for that group. Hats off to him for giving them what they want. Also hats off to him for paying attention to the little details like the 3 bolt, bullet, and proper HS logo. Not that those items make a $3500 bass, but they demonstrate the level of detail that is paid to the design and execution of this bass. EBMM is good at that and I'm sure this bass is worth the price of admission. I currently own a PDN and a limited ed EBMM and can say the quality of those basses is superb. I would imagine BFR quality is even beyond those uplevel basses.

The only thing I am left wondering is if the neck radius is vintage spec 7.25" or if they compromised to keep the playability in the more popular 9" ~ 10".

 

[Microbass]

I'm sure it's a great bass, but it looks pretty awful to me with the giant control plate.

And I know it's supposed to be retro, but I'd not be paying that kind of money and still have to unscrew a battery cover.

EB pricings these days are just getting wild.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I say meh. I’ve never been a member of the cult of nitro. In my mind, painting technology has improved a lot since 1950. But, if MusicMan can charge more for an inferior finish by cashing in on consumer longing for some weirdly mythic past, well, more power to ‘em. I’ll just keep rocking my 2015 SR.

Fender formula .

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I’m sure they will sell out quickly.

 

[JEDI BASS]

What do I reckon?

I reckon it’s the Stingray Classic with different knobs and a $1,000 increase in price. That’s what I reckon

Nah, the Classics had figured maple necks w/ an amber tinted poly on them, the wheel truss adjustment, and a 4 bolt neck plate. So, the Classics are way better, in my opinion.

 

[JEDI BASS]

funny typo in the sweetwater description
"When crafting a truly superior bass, Sterling Ball himself joins his two sons, Pinky and the Brain , to build an instrument worthy of the Ball Family Reserve title."

I made the error even better, LOL.

 

[JEDI BASS]

EB pricings these days are just getting wild.

Totally agree! I'm a fan too. But, they priced me out a while back. It's not that I couldn't buy one or several if I made it a priority. I just refuse to pay that kind of price for an EBMM, when I could get something truly unique and handmade for similar money.

 

[Salo70]

I like it. Not crazy about the color and price.

 

[Todd Hamby]

I have 11 stingrays. That price point kept me away though.

 

[lowendblues]

I had an original. Hard to find these days, I remember the black plastic knobs. I'll have to look for pictures.

 

[swink]

It's almost a straight reprise of the Old Smoothie

The Old smoothie is a different concept. 10 pic-up poles with strings running between the poles for a smoother sound.

I am sure this one will sell like all BFRs.

 

[2thAche]

Not sure who the market is. Someone who saved half enough for the real thing, then gave up and settled for not the real thing?

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Not for me.

 

[swink]

The only thing I am left wondering is if the neck radius is vintage spec 7.25" or if they compromised to keep the playability in the more popular 9" ~ 10".

Copy-paste from their site:
Scale Length 34" (86.4 cm)
Neck Radius 7.5" (19.1 cm)
Headstock Size 8-3/4" (22.2 cm) long
Frets 21 - Low profile, wide, nickel
Neck Width 1.686" (4.282 cm) at nut; 2.466" (6.264 cm) at last fret
Truss Rod Bullet truss rod adjustment at headstock
Neck Attachment 3 Bolt, Pre EB Music Man Design with Micro-Tilt Neck Shim Adjustment
Controls Custom 2-band active preamp; vol, treble, bass
Pickups Vintage style alnico humbucking pickup with long alnico 5 magnets and wound with original single poly-nylon wire.

It's a special run and special runs have their price.

 

[bobalu]

IMO, it would have been perfect if they would have included a tinted neck. But the price alone pushed me out of ever acquiring one.... so no loss for them.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Only 100 being made. So I reckon a lot of people will not have any experience with this bass at all.

100 is a lot, ain’t it?
A lot on one hundred…

I’m sure some people will buy it sight unseen for their collections, most will handle it and complain. Not everyone that handles it will buy it.

Why does every statement on TB have to be met with a challenge?

 

[Smooth_bass88]

way too expensive- but super cool nonetheless

the last time I bought an EBMM instrument it was $1100 shipped from basscentral.com

 

[jasper383]

I like it.

I've often thought a nitro or even lightly reliced nitro Ray in shell pink, sonic blue, or olympic white would be awesome.