No, I get it and all, but in the Sr HH versions, selector one up from the bridge, and some EQ tweeks get's it done.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
New Stingray Special or New Flea Bass?
- Thread starter Mantis Tobaggan
- Start date
Name ONE "new" thing that Fender has produced in say the past...10 or 20 years that has or will change the benchmark for the next 25-30 years? No, no, you're right, it's the "New Fender Elite American Professional Elite Precision Shazbot Vintage Signature..." The 2018 EBMM Special is in the spirit of her ancestors, but immensely better. It's one of the first things to come out in the mass produced U.S. built bass industry since the advent of dare I say Leo electrified the instrument.
Selectively omitting, I mean editing, my opinion to fit your attempt to remain relevant is why objective analysis is now considered "fringe."
...reading is fundamental.
Are you sure you aren't in Polk County?
How about graphite reinforced necks? They were the first company to put these on production basses back in the 90's when the first of the new generation of American Standard basses were introduced.
What exactly is "immensely better" with the Stingray Special? Body contours? Roasted maple?
This statement doesn't make any sense. One of the first things that came out since Leo electrified the instrument? What does that mean?
What objective analysis? Why are you now resorting to insults?Selectively omitting, I mean editing, my opinion to fit your attempt to remain relevant is why objective analysis is now considered "fringe."
...reading is fundamental.
Are you sure you aren't in Polk County?
If you think Music Man is better than Fender, this is a subjective opinion.
You are so obviously overwhelmed by your obsession with Music Man that you've become incoherent.
Last edited:
Now I'm a huge Stingray fan, in fact I only play Stingrays and Precisions nowadays, but what exactly is immensely better? I'd say the weight loss is by far the best thing they did on the Specials. The hollow saddles that they use (same as on the Classic line) are objectively worse because they don't allow the action to go as low as their standard saddles did. Might not be a problem for some though. So that's not better certainly.
Roasted necks? Cool. Looks pretty. Oil and wax finish is still the same, and it's a "wipe on wipe off" approach as it has always been. I've put 8 coats of Tru Oil on mine to give it a "gun stock" finish as it was intended to be used (Tru Oil is a varnish).
In terms of preamp/pickup/tone, I believe I'd prefer it to the old 3 band, but the 2 band has pretty much been the king for most Stingray aficionados - no high pass filter, fatter, more open tone, gets both smoother tones better and more aggressive ones no problem.
So.. Less weight? Yup. Contours? Never had a problem, even with a slab body rays and old SUBs. 22nd fret? I'd take it or leave it. Tone? That's subjective.
I'm not knocking the new ones, but Stingrays have always been great. Their quality was always high. There's nothing that would make them "immensely better".
Last edited:
Yeah, no need to remove the neck to adjust the Fender Flea. Fender’s come with an excellent quality T-wrench for the allen adjustment. Agreed, it’s not as nice as the Music Man wheel adjustment (which has been adopted in Fender’s Elite line), but the next best thing and nothing to complain about.
I see no difference in Hex or wheel once set for good, i remember a early StingRay, and this was a real tone monster, kinda punchier than the '62 P i owned in this period: too bad i never could try the 5 Classic ... then came the Bergers, but that's another story. ;-)
Last edited:
What’s interesting to me is the love everyone seems to have for the new Stingrays in contrast to the very lukewarm reception the Cutlass and Caprice got. After playing both I was more impressed with the Cutlass than the Stingray Felt very sleek and well made, played much better out of the box. If I was looking for a passive bass it would be at the top of my list.
If there was a Caprice 5, I would own it.
But I think passive P and PJ basses were just a bit too far out of the Music Man box for many — just like an MM Fender Jazz seems to be a bit to far out of the Fender box for many. It appears we don’t want our builders to stretch too much beyond what they’ve already done. A shame, really.
I think you’re taking this way too personally. Pees, Jays and Rays are all Fenders. It’s ok.
I have a few of those wrenches laying around. FMIC actually does still put out instruments to this day that require removing the neck though. And that’s really dumb
Didn’t like the vintage radius or the body shape. But they’re very well made basses
There’s no such thing as set for good. Also the wheel requires no special tool and it’s smoother and easier to adjust
I disagree. As I’ve said, I’ve owned tons of American Fenders over the years and I was able to sell off my P and J after getting the SRS HH. I can get 98% there and that’s good enough for me. The new pickups and preamps get me where I need to go. If you spend more than a few minutes with them it’s pretty damned easy to do. I’ve played mine approximately 250-300 hours since I got it and I can make it sound the way I want. I have no jazz or p bass GAS at all anymore
Stingray special because you aren't flea and that isn't a modulus. Still the Fender Flea looks nice and comfortable and I bet it sounds great.
The Stingray Special is a great bass, but I haven't found the P bass killer in it. I can get a modern / active J sound out of it, but that passive P tone is elusive.
It's the total package. Compare apples with apples. A 2018 Stingray blows any 2018 stock Fender away, and you don't overpay with the 2018 Sr, better QC etc.
Here's another thing to chew on...Japanese Ibanez is a better bang for the buck when compared with U.S. built Fenders...IMO.
Whew, all those "graphite" necks.. they're everywhere now right? No, no, I got it, it's the "distressed" finishes...
Fender lives off long gone laurels, the 2018 Special only re-enforces and then builds upon it's anscestors.
Ok, I ' l l t y p e s l o w e r . . .
Leo electrified, and made more portable the instrument called the "Bass."
You should read my initial post, qualified with "IMO." ...and the notation at the end.
"RIF."
Don't blame me for what comes out of Polk county, I just watch the news...
LOL! You're funny!Name ONE "new" thing that Fender has produced in say the past...10 or 20 years that has or will change the benchmark for the next 25-30 years? No, no, you're right, it's the "New Fender Elite American Professional Elite Precision Shazbot Vintage Signature..." The 2018 EBMM Special is in the spirit of her ancestors, but immensely better. It's one of the first things to come out in the mass produced U.S. built bass industry since the advent of dare I say Leo electrified the instrument.
Selectively omitting, I mean editing, my opinion to fit your attempt to remain relevant is why objective analysis is now considered "fringe."
...reading is fundamental.
Are you sure you aren't in Polk County?
