New MusicMan Stingray BFR - thoughts?

[Harper]

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.

The key word there is "I", because I guarantee plenty of people are excited about this bass.

It's a big world with lots of options and price points

 

[bubinga5]

The key word there is "I", because I guarantee plenty of people are excited about this bass.

It's a big world with lots of options and price points

yeah I get it. I just loose respect for this type of bass marketing and the builders. Its just lazy and greedy.

 

[IronLung1986]

For a couple of decades you could order a 2 band eq on a standard StingRay,

Those were the best Stingrays ever imo. All the modern construction and quality of life improvements, same classic tone as Bernard Edwards and so many others. Mine is one of them, and if I recall correctly you helped me with some questions years ago that led to me buying it. Still my main bass and never, ever to be sold.

I would love it if EBMM would release a "StingRay Standard" line, maybe at a lower price point than the Special, which would basically be the pre-Special standard 4 and 5 strings exactly as they were, with the 4 string having an option for 2 band/alnico electronics and/or fretless. It would give them a way to sell the pieces of wood that are too heavy to become Specials. I think if marketed properly it could be awesome since it would make available every StingRay tone from Louis Johnson to Bernard Edwards to Pino Palladino to Tony Levin to Flea to Tim Commerford to the Special. They're all such good and distinct sounds that deserve to be readily obtainable. I'd rather see that than the return of the Classic line.

 

[Clarence Walker]

That price is getting into Sadowsky territory.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

That price is getting into Sadowsky territory.

You have not been able to get a new NYC Sadowsky at that price for a few years now. Those days are long gone.

 

[Harper]

I would love it if EBMM would release a "StingRay Standard" line, maybe at a lower price point than the Special, which would basically be the pre-Special standard 4 and 5 strings exactly as they were, with the 4 string having an option for 2 band/alnico electronics and/or fretless

If they do it will probably say "Sterling" on the headstock.....

That price is getting into Sadowsky territory.

If you think about it, it kind of makes sense, IMO. I know Sadowskys are/were the holy grail of Fender style basses at one time. Is the quality and craftmanship that much better than what you get with a USA Ernie Ball? For better or worse, I think this kind of pricing is going to become more common with the higher end American made instruments.

To be clear, I'm personally not someone who would spend 3K on any bass, but I don't begrudge the people who do or the companies who make them.

 

[Joebone]

Meh. Check into Sadowsky Metros, at around the same price range.

 

[naetog]

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.

That's rad.
In the past, at first glance, I thought it was just a different paint job or something more superficial, but that's cool.
I like the variety year to year.
Keeps it interesting!

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Recent prices..... What $3,250 would buy you from G&L: SB-2 ($2,600), Swamp Ash ($75), Quartersawn neck ($100), Gloss neck ($150), Ebony fb ($75), Matching headstock ($150), Case ($100) — or go their CS route, and the basic models start at $3,500

 

[MultiScaleMale]

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.

Not suckers at all. It may have no value to you, but you are not the entire market. $3400 isn't a crazy price for a bass anymore. The Stingray Specials are going for $2500.

 

[Harper]

Recent prices..... What $3,250 would buy you from G&L: SB-2 ($2,600), Swamp Ash ($75), Quartersawn neck ($100), Gloss neck ($150), Ebony fb ($75), Matching headstock ($150), Case ($100) — or go their CS route, and the basic models start at $3,500

ding ding ding....

Even run of the mill American Fenders are +/- $2000, and the custom shop stuff gets into the 4k/5k territory pretty quick.

NOW....if someone thinks it's ridiculous or overpriced, fine. But enough folks are paying those prices to make it worth manufacturers time.

 

[WeAreAllOne]

John Holmes poles? Nice!!!

 

[stringthrough]

Scr*w faithful reproduction, you'd think they'd at least roast the neck for that price.

 

[N4860]

Scr*w faithful reproduction, you'd think they'd at least roast the neck for that price.

Why would you think that they would change something so much such as roasting the neck on what you understand is supposed to be a faithful reproduction?

 

[Tommy V]

my indo sub gets me as close to a ray as i can afford to be..

 

[J Wilson]

At that price, you have a lot of choices. And while EBMM is to me making the best production Fender-descendant basses (with USA G+L's a close, close second), limited/schlimited edition or no, that price just seems like a gouge to me.

 

[burgerdj]

Nitro finish? Cool. Retro knobs? Cool. But they should’ve kept the trussrod wheel. Not sure what they’re trying to achieve with this at that price.

 

[VegetarianBass]

I just want a fretless stingray….. but this is cool. There will be 100 lucky bassists.

Slightly off topic: I feel like it’s en vogue for almost any industry now to offer super limited stuff for a mark up. I’m seeing it everywhere now all of a sudden. I wear New Balance because I have Flintstone feet. They were always teased as dad shoes. Now they’re hip and have special limited edition stuff. I really feel like I’m turning into the old man who yells at the clouds

 

[WeAreAllOne]

The long pole pickup reissue is a long time coming!!!

May we please have some other Classic models with this pickup, please? I'd like a Classic with an oil finish, wheel adjuster, stainless frets, and 6 bolts. IMO, those are all improvements.

 

[sabre79]

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

Yes, but I guess it's the white pickguard. I liked the natural ash body with the black pickguard. Same size pickguard but the white stands out more.