New MusicMan Stingray BFR - thoughts?

[May Cassidy]

Do the BFR models in general sound all that different than your standard Stingray?
Or, are they mostly fancy duds on similar specs?

I'm not looking to start any strife, but am curious as a non-Stingray player how different they are from the 'normal' models.

Although I might be wrong, I'm assuming that they're replicating the older 2-Band EQ, which unlike most modern EQ systems doesn't have a center detent and does not have a symmetrical amount of boost and/or cut for bass and treble. Most modern StingRay's you'll buy will have a 3-Band EQ with symmetrical boost and cut across all controls.

 

[Altitude]

We live in a time where people are willing to pay over $2,000 for a basic-ass American Fender P. This seems in the right price-range when you know what you're actually getting. Sweet bass, I'm just not a big Sunburst Fan.

Actually when I think of a ‘76 Ray I think natural with a maple board, now that you mention it.

 

[naetog]

Although I might be wrong, I'm assuming that they're replicating the older 2-Band EQ, which unlike most modern EQ systems doesn't have a center detent and does not have a symmetrical amount of boost and/or cut for bass and treble. Most modern StingRay's you'll buy will have a 3-Band EQ with symmetrical boost and cut across all controls.

Nice.
The BFR in this thread seems to be the most unique one I've seen in a while, but, again, this is coming from a non-Stingray guy.
I really wish I could get comfortable on EBMM basses since they're made right down the road from me, but I'm content enjoying hearing and seeing others play them.
I always love their sound, but they're just one of those basses that never feel right on me.

 

[IronLung1986]

Obviously there are a lot of comments on the high price, and I just think we should be careful not to blame an honest and longstanding USA manufacturer for inflation. It's not so much that it's expensive, it's that our money is worth less. It takes more of it to buy the same stuff. They're not greedy. They have real US workers to pay who have mortgages and rent and mouths to feed. None of that has gotten any cheaper either. Almost every single aspect of manufacturing, every material and component, has risen in cost, drastically in many cases. EBMM's products are nonessential - they really can't overprice things. They have to charge a price that people will actually buy. But it also has to be high enough to cover costs and make a profit. If that balance is not struck it'll be goodbye to EBMM's USA range and hello to all Stingrays being imports. Since all of these basses are apparently spoken for already, they were by definition not overpriced. Too expensive for me certainly, but not overpriced.

These companies are all just trying to survive. EBMM are not some evil conglomerate gaming the system and screwing us. They're subject to the exact same economic phenomena as the rest of us. It costs them more to build stuff and it costs us more to buy their stuff because all of our money is worth less now. EBMM are probably the most respectable, innovative, and trustworthy of the larger American guitar builders. They've given us bass players in particular a lot of love and consideration over the years. Let's not blame one of the good guys for a situation not of their making.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Obviously there are a lot of comments on the high price, and I just think we should be careful not to blame an honest and longstanding USA manufacturer for inflation. It's not so much that it's expensive, it's that our money is worth less. It takes more of it to buy the same stuff. They're not greedy. They have real US workers to pay who have mortgages and rent and mouths to feed. None of that has gotten any cheaper either. Almost every single aspect of manufacturing, every material and component, has risen in cost, drastically in many cases. EBMM's products are nonessential - they really can't overprice things. They have to charge a price that people will actually buy. But it also has to be high enough to cover costs and make a profit. If that balance is not struck it'll be goodbye to EBMM's USA range and hello to all Stingrays being imports. Since all of these basses are apparently spoken for already, they were by definition not overpriced. Too expensive for me certainly, but not overpriced.

These companies are all just trying to survive. EBMM are not some evil conglomerate gaming the system and screwing us. They're subject to the exact same economic phenomena as the rest of us. It costs them more to build stuff and it costs us more to buy their stuff because all of our money is worth less now. EBMM are probably the most respectable, innovative, and trustworthy of the larger American guitar builders. They've given us bass players in particular a lot of love and consideration over the years. Let's not blame one of the good guys for a situation not of their making.

Well said… now if EB can hurry up and release a Special in Honey Burst

 

[May Cassidy]

Obviously there are a lot of comments on the high price, and I just think we should be careful not to blame an honest and longstanding USA manufacturer for inflation. It's not so much that it's expensive, it's that our money is worth less. It takes more of it to buy the same stuff. They're not greedy. They have real US workers to pay who have mortgages and rent and mouths to feed. None of that has gotten any cheaper either. Almost every single aspect of manufacturing, every material and component, has risen in cost, drastically in many cases. EBMM's products are nonessential - they really can't overprice things. They have to charge a price that people will actually buy. But it also has to be high enough to cover costs and make a profit. If that balance is not struck it'll be goodbye to EBMM's USA range and hello to all Stingrays being imports. Since all of these basses are apparently spoken for already, they were by definition not overpriced. Too expensive for me certainly, but not overpriced.

These companies are all just trying to survive. EBMM are not some evil conglomerate gaming the system and screwing us. They're subject to the exact same economic phenomena as the rest of us. It costs them more to build stuff and it costs us more to buy their stuff because all of our money is worth less now. EBMM are probably the most respectable, innovative, and trustworthy of the larger American guitar builders. They've given us bass players in particular a lot of love and consideration over the years. Let's not blame one of the good guys for a situation not of their making.

I agree, I really think EBMM's asking prices are justified for the most part.

 

[Gizmot]

I've had a couple of MusicMan basses and they were both outstanding. However - - that price is ridiculous!

I think it's a nice bass but for the same money you can buy something else that's built better and has more sonic flexibility. I'd pass!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Looks like they took a page out of the Fender book: "No new ideas? Remake a limited run of something old and double the price! Yeah!"

That what I said . It works for Fender and it works for Ernie Ball. If you aren’t interested then you really aren’t the target market .

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I've had a couple of MusicMan basses and they were both outstanding. However - - that price is ridiculous!

I think it's a nice bass but for the same money you can buy something else that's built better and has more sonic flexibility. I'd pass!

Hard to think of any bass that’s built “better.” Different or more preferable to a specific bassist? Sure, but EB is consistently top shelf.

Also, they are pretty flexible in my book:

 

[mikeswals]

Do the BFR models in general sound all that different than your standard Stingray?
Or, are they mostly fancy duds on similar specs?

I'm not looking to start any strife, but am curious as a non-Stingray player how different they are from the 'normal' models.

Depends on the BFR.
A BFR is a "Ball Family Reserve" special run of what ever model they want to make a custom limited run of.
It can be an SR5 with a different paint job, it can be a full single-painted neck and body with gold hardware, or it can be an all-rosewood neck you can order on any model. These are examples of what they're done in the past.
Every year they seem to do at least one BFR, sometimes two or three. So it can be just a color, or it can be different wood or electronics package.

But back to the sound question; The original Leo/preEB StingRays were 2 band eq, string thru, mute bridges, slab bodies. Yes the 2 band is different form the 3 band, they're voiced differently.
For a couple of decades you could order a 2 band eq on a standard StingRay, but now that the current StingRay Special replaced the old standard StingRay, the 2 band then only came on the Classic (which is still currently unavailable).
Now the Classis is a beautiful bass, I have one ( have had many), but they have a few modern features that still separate it from my original '78.... they're still very different.

 

[Harper]

Surprise, surprise.....it's not popular with people who are not the intended audience.

Sweet looking bass.

 

[sabre79]

I find the oversized pickguard disturbing.

I had to take a second look. You're right.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I like it. One of the top 2-3 BFR's that I've seen.

 

[bubinga5]

More overpriced bass nonsense that makes no sense whatsoever other than to make Ernie Ball a loooooot of money. And strip peoples wallets. Its just a rebadged SR4. But dont forget it offers "superior tone, playability, intonation, and looks" Yeah whatever Ernie.

 

[Harper]

More overpriced bass nonsense that makes no sense whatsoever other than to make Ernie Ball a loooooot of money. And strip peoples wallets.

If they are only making 100, they will sell out. They could probably sell a 100 of them it they were twice the price. It's only overpriced nonsense if they don't sell.

 

[bubinga5]

If they are only making 100, they will sell out. They could probably sell a 100 of them it they were twice the price. It's only overpriced nonsense if they don't sell.

Im sure they will sell.To 100 suckers. That doesn't mean they are not overpriced nonsense. Fender have been doing it for years. Same plank of wood, rebadged, massive price hike. If I was going to spend that much on a bass I wouldn't be falling for the old rehash of an old bass. An there is no doubt that is Ernie sales plan. Nothing exiting about it. Apart from his bank balance.

 

[Acoop]

I guessing in 1976 these basses went for $650(?) and in today's dollars is about $2800. ... So the price is pretty good. ... I wonder if it's that big, flat early MM neck?

 

[N4860]

I had to take a second look. You're right.

Isn't that what the 76 stingrays pickguard looked like?

 

[No Malarky]

Not my Cup of Tea.

 

[mikewalker]

Pricetag was an instant eye-roller for me - but on further consideration, it's a "retro-special" and I will concede that it's relatively normal-priced for that market ("Gibson R9" et al...)