No. I tried the dropped copper short scale Stingray in the music store (mine's white). It's not brown or purple, but it's a dark colour. Nothing like the photo above.
Last edited:
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.
SBMM Stingray Short scale
- Thread starter dralionux
- Start date
-
- Tags
- short scale bass
It is, a heavy HDR filter is exaggerating it a bit in the photo.
I use the long scale 40-100 Hi-Beams on my short scale and they are a good all around gauge for me for finger, pick and occasional slapping. My usual custom long scale set is a 35-95 but they are too light for the Ray. I tried a 45-105 and they were too heavy for my taste and they didn't sustain as well as the 40-100 does. The long scale strings fit, you just have to bend them 90 degrees cut them off beyond the bend and they will work just fine.
Hey, got an Olympic White SBMM Stingray arriving later in the week. Always fancied trying a Stingray, and am considering moving over to short scale, for the lighter weight / shorter finger stretch. On my last brief foray into trying shorties, I tried both a Squier VM Jaguar and a Squier VM Mustang. As a P player, I like the simplicity of a single pickup, so never warmed to the P/J setup of the Jaguar, and I disliked the lack of body contour on the Mustang. Otherwise, they were both light and a lot of fun to play on my lap, but as soon as I stood up with them strapped on, neither felt that comfy to stand with. I hope the Stingray is better in this regard.
I feel like I'll have to make the switch to short scale at some point, for the sake of my back, shoulders & hands. I hope this isn't a failed experiment as I really want the short Ray to work for me. I'm halfway through the thread so making notes on string recommendations, etc. It seems you can dial down the zing a little by changing out the stock EB Regular Slinkies for the likes of D'Addario EXLs or GHS Boomers. Planning on staying with nickel rounds for now.
I've seen a few posts on pickguards & I guess there will be more to come once I've read the whole thread, but one thing I haven't seen much of so far is examples of non stock pickguards against the Olympic white body. I must admit I'm not crazy about the white on white look, even with the rosewood board, I feel I'd like a bit more contrast. I've never liked white plates, so like the thought of something like black pearl against the white body. I'll have a look and see if anyone in the UK sells replacement guards for these basses. If not it looks like I'll have to pay for shipping across the pond. Has anyone here had a replacement guard sent to the UK, and if so, where from? Also interested in hard case recommendations, so will note down any I see as I go through the topic, and welcome any ideas on this. Thanks in advance for any input.
I feel like I'll have to make the switch to short scale at some point, for the sake of my back, shoulders & hands. I hope this isn't a failed experiment as I really want the short Ray to work for me. I'm halfway through the thread so making notes on string recommendations, etc. It seems you can dial down the zing a little by changing out the stock EB Regular Slinkies for the likes of D'Addario EXLs or GHS Boomers. Planning on staying with nickel rounds for now.
I've seen a few posts on pickguards & I guess there will be more to come once I've read the whole thread, but one thing I haven't seen much of so far is examples of non stock pickguards against the Olympic white body. I must admit I'm not crazy about the white on white look, even with the rosewood board, I feel I'd like a bit more contrast. I've never liked white plates, so like the thought of something like black pearl against the white body. I'll have a look and see if anyone in the UK sells replacement guards for these basses. If not it looks like I'll have to pay for shipping across the pond. Has anyone here had a replacement guard sent to the UK, and if so, where from? Also interested in hard case recommendations, so will note down any I see as I go through the topic, and welcome any ideas on this. Thanks in advance for any input.
DMC79: I share some of your thoughts, but we differ on the pick guard topic, so I can't help much with that. My short scale Sterling SS4 is white on white and I really prefer it. I considered what other PGs were available and soon decided that I'll be keeping it stock. There are alternates available on the 'net. Perhaps you can see if someone in the UK is painting pick guards. My wife did that (rather psychedelic) for my Bronco (same body as the Mustang but PG not identical). I have no complaints about that body size or weight whether standing or sitting.
I have a Fender PJ Mustang that's just over a year old. I'm so disappointed in the tones I'm getting. I too have a P PUP (only) preference and like the simplicity of just one Vol and one Tone. The Mustang output is low so I tried raising the P PUP but there's a little SNAFU there as well. I have a friend who really, really wants to buy it from me at the price I paid for it. That still may happen.
I put D'Addario Chromes (flats) on my Stingray. That's the only brand of flats that I personally like.
Hope your Stingray works out for you.
I have a Fender PJ Mustang that's just over a year old. I'm so disappointed in the tones I'm getting. I too have a P PUP (only) preference and like the simplicity of just one Vol and one Tone. The Mustang output is low so I tried raising the P PUP but there's a little SNAFU there as well. I have a friend who really, really wants to buy it from me at the price I paid for it. That still may happen.
I put D'Addario Chromes (flats) on my Stingray. That's the only brand of flats that I personally like.
Hope your Stingray works out for you.
I have a Daphne Blue with the stock white pickguard which is very high quality. Wait to get it into your hands, they look better in person than on the web, you might like it. DR High Beam strings work really well on the Stingray, they are flexible and have great sustain due to their round core wire I use 40-100 and they seem to work best - the 45 sets didn't feel or sound as good as the 40's for my playing. My bass doesn't neck dive and is equally comfortable standing or seated. Congratulations and good luck.
I also have the white and thought that I would be swapping it out when it arrived but I haven’t. Like others said it’s high quality and looks sharp. The rosewood also darkens over time and creates the sort of tuxedo look.
I may still get a custom PG but I can’t for the life of me decide on one.
Welcome to the crew!
I play an EBMM short scale Stingray and an SBMM short scale that I had defretted. I tried another SBMM to have as a back up to the EBMM but the one I got had a bunch of QC issues and the band I was planning to use it with fell through so I returned it. I like the growl of the StingRay a lot and the short scale helps to tame that I bit. All in all, it has become my sound. I also have a Mustang that I purchased after I returned the 2nd 'Ray. I hated the sound of the stock pup and like you don't care for the slab body but decided to try upgrading the pickup. I went all in and had my tech rout the body and install a Serek LZN B90. I love the bottom end but it seems to get lost in a mix. I go back and forth with selling it and picking up another SBMM short scale.
Strings... I went through a bunch and have settled on the Stringjoy Nickel wound 45-105. Once broken in a bit, they have less zing than most other roundwounds. Great strings if they are available to you. On the fretless I'm using LaBalla white tapewounds. I may try some ground wounds or pressure wounds to get a little more zing but the tapes are a reasonable compromise to save the fingerboard.
For a case, just check the measurements. Many Fender strat/tele cases will fit just fine.
Speaking of the Olympic white, seems like that color is discontinued in some capacity? Listings just say sold out on most sites now with no restock dates. Bummer as I was looking to pick up a second one haha.
That was my understanding too. Before I purchased mine (used) I was in the music store. Their computer displays how many instruments are available anywhere in the world. There were less than 5 in white when we looked that day (about a month ago), so there are no more new ones to be had in white.
Anyone know if the GHS bass boomers work on this bass? Some posts from a few years ago seemed to suggest there may have been a problem with the wrap length on the GHS strings, but the user didn't specify which string type specifically.
Thanks for all the replies. I should get my Stingray tomorrow, and have also ordered the Gator GC-ELEC-XL case after seeing numerous pics on here of it looking like a perfect fit.
I'm still deciding about strings. I'm not certain what strings are on it now, but seller is including 2 packs of new EB Super Slinky (pink pack) 40-100s, so I guess I may as well try them. Am I right in thinking the stock strings are EB Regular Slinky (green pack) 45-105s? IIRC, my research into short scales last time I tried a couple, taught me that going to a heavier gauge than stock improves string tension and sorts out any floppiness, especially with the E string. Does that sound right? Probably a generalisation, but I'd like to know if this rings true for the short ray. I don't plan on doing any slapping, or needing to bend the strings all that much, or anything like that. With this in mind, I was thinking of trying D'Addario XL nickel rounds (orange pack) EXL160S, in 50-105.
I don't want mega zing but like a fairly bright sound. I'd consider GHS Pressurewounds, I read in here that they are a reasonable round / flat compromise and easy on fingers / fretboard, but they are a pretty light gauge, at 40-96, which I'm not sure is too light, as per my previous comments?
I'm liking the Olympic White & Daphne Blue neck swap in here. Has anybody put a rosewood neck onto the Black Stingray I wonder, that would be a stealth bass, but still with non-matching headstock obviously.
I am more of a maple board man really. But it's not that often these come up for sale in the UK, so I just grabbed the first one that came up that looked in great condition and with a reasonable weight (sub 8lbs). But I do think that the dark rosewood board looks great on this. Compared with the horrible 'dry cardboard' of Indian Laurel & Pau Ferro, they look outstanding. I haven't had a rosewood board for some time. Am I right in thinking to Lemon Oil it before I change the strings next? Very excited to receive my Ray tomorrow!
I'm still deciding about strings. I'm not certain what strings are on it now, but seller is including 2 packs of new EB Super Slinky (pink pack) 40-100s, so I guess I may as well try them. Am I right in thinking the stock strings are EB Regular Slinky (green pack) 45-105s? IIRC, my research into short scales last time I tried a couple, taught me that going to a heavier gauge than stock improves string tension and sorts out any floppiness, especially with the E string. Does that sound right? Probably a generalisation, but I'd like to know if this rings true for the short ray. I don't plan on doing any slapping, or needing to bend the strings all that much, or anything like that. With this in mind, I was thinking of trying D'Addario XL nickel rounds (orange pack) EXL160S, in 50-105.
I don't want mega zing but like a fairly bright sound. I'd consider GHS Pressurewounds, I read in here that they are a reasonable round / flat compromise and easy on fingers / fretboard, but they are a pretty light gauge, at 40-96, which I'm not sure is too light, as per my previous comments?
I'm liking the Olympic White & Daphne Blue neck swap in here. Has anybody put a rosewood neck onto the Black Stingray I wonder, that would be a stealth bass, but still with non-matching headstock obviously.
I am more of a maple board man really. But it's not that often these come up for sale in the UK, so I just grabbed the first one that came up that looked in great condition and with a reasonable weight (sub 8lbs). But I do think that the dark rosewood board looks great on this. Compared with the horrible 'dry cardboard' of Indian Laurel & Pau Ferro, they look outstanding. I haven't had a rosewood board for some time. Am I right in thinking to Lemon Oil it before I change the strings next? Very excited to receive my Ray tomorrow!
Last edited:
I'm *pretty* sure that's the one I have too and yeah, it's a perfect fit, just the like Music Man Shorty Stingray case. I love how small it is. It's the only case I've ever really gotten excited about and the SBMM Short Scale in that case is just fun-sized, too much fun.
You can use practically any long scale round wound string, you just have to cut them to fit. Flat wounds have to be the correct scale for the bass.
I've found 40-100 the best gauge for the SS and I've experimented with lighter and heavier sets.
A lot of it depends on how hard you play too, I play with a moderate touch and have no problems with floppiness. Pure lemon oil, orange oil and even olive oil will work on the fretboard to hydrate it. Good luck.
I've been VERY VERY happy with GHS Balanced Nickels on mine. I play lots of classic to hard rock, plenty of bright, sound great tone down too, not too wooly.
Yep, same here. The Balanced Nickels were specifically designed for short scale and they really are great for that.
I'd suggest checking out the GHS short scale balanced nickel strings, or a balanced short scale set from Stringjoy. Both have been really nice strings, with the Stringjoys being slightly brighter.
As someone who swapped necks to get a rosewood and Daphne bass, I agree that neck swaps on these can really improve choices. I also liked how the maple and white bass looks. Black with rosewood would be super cool.
Just to add my 2 cents:
I thought I wouldn’t like the white in white but as I prefer rosewood I had no real choice. I was going to swap the pick guard but I actually really like it now.
Just ordered the GHS balanced Nickel strings. Once here I’ll do a full set up. It came pretty well setup but it can be improved.
Any gig bag recommendations?
I thought I wouldn’t like the white in white but as I prefer rosewood I had no real choice. I was going to swap the pick guard but I actually really like it now.
Just ordered the GHS balanced Nickel strings. Once here I’ll do a full set up. It came pretty well setup but it can be improved.
Any gig bag recommendations?
I bought the Fender short scale bass bag. It was only $40 and has nice padding. It does not have a big pocket if that’s what you want though. Plus the Fender logo keeps thieves away.
