Passive Stingray Specials at Sweetwater!

[BassicJazzy]

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.

Yes, I understand the folks who buy a budget bass with objective of modding it to achieve a specific sound, or feature, or improve playability. I don't understand taking something which is good out of the box and changing it just to change it. Actually, I prefer the other route, keeping things to the builder's spec, original parts. If a pre-amp goes bad, and you can find another original in working order, that's the one for me.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

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.

Exactly !! No need to bash anything because it doesn’t work for you or fit your budget.

No bass is one size fits all.

 

[FightMilk]

For those saying it doesn’t sound like a Stingray unless it has the active preamp…. Have you played a passive Stingray? Because I would disagree having owned an active and 2 passive. Ever so slightly different sounding, of course, but doesn’t sound like a Stingray? Gimme a break. They are almost identical seeing as they’re the same bass and pickup.

 

[Geri O]

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.

Great point, Doc!

 

[Geri O]

For those saying it doesn’t sound like a Stingray unless it has the active preamp…. Have you played a passive Stingray? Because I would disagree having owned an active and 2 passive. Ever so slightly different sounding, of course, but doesn’t sound like a Stingray? Gimme a break. They are almost identical seeing as they’re the same bass and pickup.

I have played a passive Stingray.

The difference that I hear (read that again) is substantial enough that I will not own a passive Stingray.

I don’t need anyone telling me what I hear or don’t/can’t hear.

You do you.

(Prepared for snarky response. Have at it)

 

[Geri O]

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

Okay, what attitude would you recommend?

 

[howdydoody13]

So they figured out a way to sell their flagship product minus it's flagship feature and charge the same price for it. Genius!

Good on them…. Based on the replies already, there’s a market for damn near everything these days.

 

[LLendrum]

I'd unironically buy an 8lb passive stingray but where am I going to be able to hear this demoed before I do?

 

[Nebadon2000]

I'd unironically buy an 8lb passive stingray but where am I going to be able to hear this demoed before I do?

At home? Sweetwater has return policy

 

[LLendrum]

At home? Sweetwater has return policy

Not to Australia.

 

[Yahboy]

i am more interested on the wiring diagram need....

 

[iammr2]

Okay, what attitude would you recommend?

If you're going to keep paying these rising prices, they'll just keep raising them.

 

[iammr2]

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

Right, but YOUR weight is YOUR business, and it only affects you. But if you keep paying these high prices, and they keep seeing people that do that, they jack up the price for everyone.

 

[Dasgre0g]

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.

I just saw this thread and you literally beat me to every single point I thought about making.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Right, but YOUR weight is YOUR business, and it only affects you. But if you keep paying these high prices, and they keep seeing people that do that, they jack up the price for everyone.

I think you don’t quite get it. If a company needs to charge high prices to make ends meet and people don’t buy them, the company will go out of business like G&L.

 

[MrAB4003]

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.

You're spot on! I can attest to this as a Rics are my favorite basses.

Most Ric bassists keep the pickups the way they are, but some basses have different ones. I have one 4003 that's completely stock and another that's has two Nordenbocker pickups installed (done by the previous owner). I love them both equally!

Exactly !! No need to bash anything because it doesn’t work for you or fit your budget.

No bass is one size fits all.

You're spot on too! Upthread, I wasn't bashing the Stingray that I tried out last week. It was an incredibly nice bass with superb QC! I would even consider acquiring one (or a similar EBMM model that works better for me) over a Fender.

 

[iammr2]

I think you don’t quite get it. If a company needs to charge high prices to make ends meet and people don’t buy them, the company will go out of business like G&L.

Exactly! Then we'd be stuck with Fender, who's been around for about 75 years, or Ibanez, who's been around for about 67 years, or more recent companies like Sire or Cort, whom many TB'ers say make instruments just as good or better than the older companies. THAT is economics!

But don't fret. Ferrari is still around, right?

 

[Jeff Scott]

But don't fret. Ferrari is still around, right?

I wish they would finally get around to winning a championship or three.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

For those saying it doesn’t sound like a Stingray unless it has the active preamp…. Have you played a passive Stingray? Because I would disagree having owned an active and 2 passive. Ever so slightly different sounding, of course, but doesn’t sound like a Stingray? Gimme a break. They are almost identical seeing as they’re the same bass and pickup.

What I said about passives is that they lack some of that signature StingRay “ bounce” to the notes. I hear a lot more mids on the passives . It doesn’t really get that StingRay scoop of massive lows and sparkling highs. It sounds to me like a StingRay with the mids boosted and the highs and lows backed off .

The magic of the StingRay is that you get the best of a PBass and Jazz bass combined. It doesn’t sound just like either one , but it can sit in and punch through and you aren’t lacking any of the different registers with the eq set to your liking .

The passives sit and punch but the eq options a much more limited at the bass. It might work for you. But for me , it’s lacking what I like best about a StingRay.

 

[Michael Jewels]

I paid $1,250.00 for my Stingray in 2001.

I know the price of everything has gone up, but $3,000.00?

Please.

Mike