Passive Stingray Specials at Sweetwater!

[LetItGrowTone]

To anyone who doesn't know: The 3-band has a spike at about 4kHz, even with treble at zero. It also has a built-in HPF set higher than I wanted. (I'm not a Stingray expert. )
A product like the Broughton Resonant Filter Equalizer could be used to add - or possibly subtract - such a spike.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I need for my StingRays to have the active EQ. Passive just seems to lack the lows and highs as well as that signature StingRay “ bounce “ to the notes.

 

[lomo]

I have a limited edition SLO 'ray....from 2019 I think....passive with coil tap, vol/tone, okume body. I love it. I used to have a 2023 'active 'ray special....but sold it. I have plenty of robust eq on my amp head and in a few pedals. Many ooze praise for the 2 band 'ray pre, others prefer the newer 3 band, but I prefer it passive. I'd love to try one from this new run.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

When it comes to making basses, preamps are one of the less expensive components. A good bridge or tuning machines are typically much more expensive. A passive Stingray Special, made with the same components as an active Stingray Special, made in San Luis Obispo, is not going to be inexpensive.

 

[MrAB4003]

To anyone who doesn't know: The 3-band has a spike at about 4kHz, even with treble at zero. It also has a built-in HPF set higher than I wanted. (I'm not a Stingray expert. )
A product like the Broughton Resonant Filter Equalizer could be used to add - or possibly subtract - such a spike.

So that explains why there's so much "sizzle" in the top end! When I tried out the passive Stingray Special, I had to roll the treble all the way off to get tones that I liked. I pretended like it had a 2 band EQ with the bass and mids only. The top end was not as bad as it was in the import models, but there's no way I would spend $3,000 on a Stingray when I can modify a less expensive version to my liking for less.

I think the best option would be to get a Sterling Stingray for about $1,000 and modify it as you wish (e.g. change the pickup, wiring, tuners, etc.). That will get you a nice bass for at most half the price of a new Stingray Special.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

A Stingray without a preamp is like Batman without his cape.


As people have said, you're just not gonna have that booty without the preamp, because it's part of the design. Of course you could do some EQ'ng, but the Music Man preamps these days are really really good. Very powerful and hard to dial a bad sound.

 

[humbuckaroo]

I mean, the Passive still has a preamp. It's just not an active one.

(This was confirmed by a TB user in the StingRay thread a while ago. It's not just wired up like a P bass or something.)

 

[FullumMusic]

Lol! Stingrays have a metallic edge to their tone. If you own a Stingray you know what I'm talking about. Its what makes them a great slap machine. They are not known for being warm and organic. And, from experience, I found the 3 band EQ to be worse than the 2 band.

Ahhh. Gotcha. Got a friend with a 3 band Stingray Special and it simultaneously sounds great and also, to my ear, sounds, i dunno... "too nice?" "too good?" "Too clean?" Must be that metallic edge or zing you're talking about. (Still, i wanna add a 2 Band Stingray to my arsenal.)

 

[BigBigGuy44]

Lots of comments on here about pricing, which I agree with. I purchased my first Stingray, a 4HH model with matching headstock in 2008 for $1,100 out the door. Pricing these days seems excessive in comparison to other brands, but I just got sticker shock looking for a Yamaha BBNE2. They used to run $2,399 new and even at that price, I thought they were a little high. Current retail is $4,099! In comparsion, a new USA made Stingay pushing $3k ain't bad.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

People expecting to pay yesterdays new prices are not living in reality .

Go buy a vintage Fender that isn’t half as well made and was considered junk in the 70’s or an import Chinese made Dingwall or MTD and compare prices for a new US made StingRay.
What does a new US made Rickenbacker cost with as nice a variety of sparkle , burst, translucent finishes that aren’t your everyday same old drab offerings cost? $4K last I checked.

EBMM has no problem selling their instruments . When they do they get discontinued.

EBMM isn’t G&L and they aren’t Fender. It’s in their history but they are doing just fine and their quality rivals boutique.

The complaints about their pricing is just getting old.

 

[VJP]

The complaints about their pricing is just getting old.

The complaints about everyone's pricing is getting old
And I love the "I bought one in 2003 and it was alot less"

 

[Dr. Cheese]

People expecting to pay yesterdays new prices are not living in reality .

Go buy a vintage Fender that isn’t half as well made and was considered junk in the 70’s or an import Chinese made Dingwall or MTD and compare prices for a new US made StingRay.
What does a new US made Rickenbacker cost with as nice a variety of sparkle , burst, translucent finishes that aren’t your everyday same old drab offerings cost? $4K last I checked.

EBMM has no problem selling their instruments . When they do they get discontinued.

EBMM isn’t G&L and they aren’t Fender. It’s in their history but they are doing just fine and their quality rivals boutique.

The complaints about their pricing is just getting old.

At a time where a new pickup truck can run $70K and feeding your family a so so MacDonalds meal can run $40, a $3K Stingray is not out of line.

 

[SunByrne]

Yeah, if i'm going to drop that kind of scratch for a StingRay, it's going to be active and fretless.

 

[Nebadon2000]

People expecting to pay yesterdays new prices are not living in reality .

Go buy a vintage Fender that isn’t half as well made and was considered junk in the 70’s or an import Chinese made Dingwall or MTD and compare prices for a new US made StingRay.
What does a new US made Rickenbacker cost with as nice a variety of sparkle , burst, translucent finishes that aren’t your everyday same old drab offerings cost? $4K last I checked.

EBMM has no problem selling their instruments . When they do they get discontinued.

EBMM isn’t G&L and they aren’t Fender. It’s in their history but they are doing just fine and their quality rivals boutique.

The complaints about their pricing is just getting old.

Well said: I bought my Special 4H Burnt Apple in 2023 $2699 retail at time I payed $2420 and based on what I got consider it a excellent Value

Oh yeah I bought a new 1975 Fender Precision for $250 can't believe a new American Pro II is 2K and used 1975 is North of 3K

 

[iammr2]

You might as well get used to it. Nothing worth having is cheap these days, especially if it is made in America.

As long as you keep that attitude, they'll just keep jacking up the prices.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

As long as you keep that attitude, they'll just keep jacking up the prices.

Do you realize that EBMM has no control over the economy? They have no control over what supplies, shipping rent, and labor cost. No one is forced to buy anything they dont deem affordable or worth it. To blame the people that can afford to pay or are willing to pay for EBMM products for their price increase is ridiculous . By the way, he doesnt even own a EBMM. But he knows they are good quality instruments well worth their price.

I have 5 EBMM basses on my rack. Only 2 were bought new. I consider them steals of a deal. I also got great discounts on the ones I purchased new. My most expensive was my Sandberg, but again I got a great deal. Im not saying everyone should buy EBMM. I just don't agree that they are over priced and not worth the money. If they were known for problems and poor build quality and bad parts, sure. But it happens to be just the opposite. Spend your money how you see fit.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

As long as you keep that attitude, they'll just keep jacking up the prices.

We are talking the economy, not watching our weight. Will power is not the deciding factor regarding inflation.

 

[mikeswals]

I think the best option would be to get a Sterling Stingray for about $1,000 and modify it as you wish (e.g. change the pickup, wiring, tuners, etc.). That will get you a nice bass for at most half the price of a new Stingray Special.

Or, when one is a true Musicman fan, they just buy it stock and play it as is.
There is a reason StingRays are 99% left alone. Rare to find anyone hacking them up. Musicman sells everything they make, and they make alot of them.

 

[MrAB4003]

Or, when one is a true Musicman fan, they just buy it stock and play it as is.
There is a reason StingRays are 99% left alone. Rare to find anyone hacking them up. Musicman sells everything they make, and they make alot of them.

Fair point. Perhaps I'm either just not a MusicMan fan or I haven't found the right model for me yet.

 

[mikeswals]

Ric is a same parallel. I love my Ric.
But you also see (non Ric player) people there who say it has to be changed, it has to be this or that.
And the regular Ric players just play em as is.