SBMM Stingray Short scale

[Djadja]

Yeah I've learned to trust myself when I come across something that feels and plays great. I wasn't there hunting a new short scale and definitely wouldn't have thought of grabbing a sterling shortie. I went home and was still thinking about how good it was a few days later so called my Guitar Center "gear advisor" (yes they're doing the Sweetwater thing), had them cut me a deal and went and picked it up.

Going every detail side by side sure I can tell the pots move a little more freely and don't feel as "premium" as my Special. The neck to feel exactly as smooth I could do a pass of steel wool and some gun barrel wax (I have plenty from working on stingrays).

I won't stir the pot any more with the "blindfolded I wouldn't have guessed" (it's still very true), but it's definitely a very nice instrument and glad I decided to bring it home. It can hold its own next to its new family.

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I have an EBMM SS and two SBMM SS - one defretted and one as a backup just in case. There are real differences, but when the SBMM is a good one, they are quite good. I wish when I got mine they had had the roasted necks. Other than that, I’m very happy with mine. The EBMM? It is my #1 and likely a lifetime bass.

 

[BGroovy]

After spending some time with the shortie, I love everything about it except the neck heaviness. I have a shoulder issue (one of the reasons I've moved towards short and medium scales), and on a strap I can definitely feel the neck weight pressing in a but compared to some of my other basses. It's not a heavy bass by any means, but it presses down more than others.

Are there direct fit drop in lightweight tuners? I'll have to weigh the cost of modifying this thing. It plays and sounds fantastic, just an hour or so on the strap and I can feel it.

 

[soflbass]

After spending some time with the shortie, I love everything about it except the neck heaviness. I have a shoulder issue (one of the reasons I've moved towards short and medium scales), and on a strap I can definitely feel the neck weight pressing in a but compared to some of my other basses. It's not a heavy bass by any means, but it presses down more than others.

Are there direct fit drop in lightweight tuners? I'll have to weigh the cost of modifying this thing. It plays and sounds fantastic, just an hour or so on the strap and I can feel it.

See post 3283 and the discussion there in this thread. There are several different options, but none are straight drop in and require some minor work.

Congratulations on your new bass!

 

[MrKenmore]

Jumping in to this thread. A few months ago I picked up a sweet SBMM SS in Dropped Copper for only $380. Manufactured December 2020 per an email I got from Sterling. It's a lot of fun to play and it sounds terrific. It joins my EBMM SR Special which I love. I am on the look out for a used EBMM SS. I do like the Fiesta Red offered by SBMM. That color is nice and the neck looks amazing. It appears I have an older style tuner. I previously had a SBMM Ray 34 and those tuners were so so. These older ones on my SS are different and appear better.

 

[soflbass]

Jumping in to this thread. A few months ago I picked up a sweet SBMM SS in Dropped Copper for only $380. Manufactured December 2020 per an email I got from Sterling. It's a lot of fun to play and it sounds terrific. It joins my EBMM SR Special which I love. I am on the look out for a used EBMM SS. I do like the Fiesta Red offered by SBMM. That color is nice and the neck looks amazing. It appears I have an older style tuner. I previously had a SBMM Ray 34 and those tuners were so so. These older ones on my SS are different and appear better.
View attachment 7189398

Congratulations on the new bass!
I have the sunburst and the tuners on mine were garbage. Switched out to Hipshot ultralite. Had to fill the screw holes but it is much better now. As you probably know, the new models have roasted maple necks but I'm not sure if they switched to different tuners.
But these basses are great for the price point. At $380, that's a steal.

 

[Djadja]

has anyone tried down tuning your SS Stingray? If so, what strings are you using?
I’m in an R&B band and we’re doing a couple of tunes in Eb. I’d like that low Eb…. The bass I am planning to use for this has a set of DR Black Beauties on it, 45-105. They sound pretty floppy dropped that 1/2 step. I’m thinking of going pretty far from them with EB Cobalt flats, 45-105. I have them on my defretted SS and they seem fine dropped to Eb. Or, they have them available 50-110. I don’t want to go there if I don’t need to…
Thoughts?

 

[Djadja]

and question number 2.
The pickup on my EBMM is significantly hotter than the one on my backup SBMM. I had not really paid attention to that until today when trying the SBMM in drop tuning. Has anyone else experienced that? Has anyone swapped out the pup for another? If so, which? and how do you feel about that?

 

[RodRy]

has anyone tried down tuning your SS Stingray? If so, what strings are you using?
I’m in an R&B band and we’re doing a couple of tunes in Eb. I’d like that low Eb…. The bass I am planning to use for this has a set of DR Black Beauties on it, 45-105. They sound pretty floppy dropped that 1/2 step. I’m thinking of going pretty far from them with EB Cobalt flats, 45-105. I have them on my defretted SS and they seem fine dropped to Eb. Or, they have them available 50-110. I don’t want to go there if I don’t need to…
Thoughts?

I've not tried down tuning my Sstingray, but on my full scale Jazz, I found that flatwound strings retain more perceived tension than roundwounds when detuned. So the flats you mention are probably a good direction to go, if you can find them to fit short-scale.

 

[Haveland]

I play in Drop D all the time and often will play in a C standard with those strings. Works way better than I had expected. I have a drop tuner on my e for quick drop tuning.

These days I often just use the pitch shift in my stomp or Anagram if I’m doing a full pitch shift. I have one preset that a foot switch will electrically dropped to BEAD giving me a weird 5 string 4 string bass.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

I just put my SBMM SS up for sale today. I just couldn't get along with how it sounds, but everything else about it was fine. I've tried 3 different types of strings and I've adjusted my amp settings all over the place and I still can hardly bear to listen to it.

 

[XP2aficionado]

has anyone tried down tuning your SS Stingray? If so, what strings are you using?
I’m in an R&B band and we’re doing a couple of tunes in Eb. I’d like that low Eb…. The bass I am planning to use for this has a set of DR Black Beauties on it, 45-105. They sound pretty floppy dropped that 1/2 step. I’m thinking of going pretty far from them with EB Cobalt flats, 45-105. I have them on my defretted SS and they seem fine dropped to Eb. Or, they have them available 50-110. I don’t want to go there if I don’t need to…
Thoughts?

If it may be rounds: Daddario EXL160S.
You have to take a lot of time to set the octave purity correctly. Otherwise, everything above the 12th fret sounds strange.
They work very well down to D flat. You have to readjust the trussrod.

 

[Djadja]

has anyone tried down tuning your SS Stingray? If so, what strings are you using?
I’m in an R&B band and we’re doing a couple of tunes in Eb. I’d like that low Eb…. The bass I am planning to use for this has a set of DR Black Beauties on it, 45-105. They sound pretty floppy dropped that 1/2 step. I’m thinking of going pretty far from them with EB Cobalt flats, 45-105. I have them on my defretted SS and they seem fine dropped to Eb. Or, they have them available 50-110. I don’t want to go there if I don’t need to…
Thoughts?

I ordered a set of the EB Cobalt flats in 105 gauge. While waiting for them, I had a rehearsal and just down tuned the DR Black Beauties on my bass. They actually worked fine. The floppiness I felt at home didn't bother me and didn't impact the sound at volume. If I hadn't already ordered the Cobalts, I probably would have just stayed as was.
I installed the cobalts once they came and they worked well and sounded great both in rehearsal and at a gig. They'll stay on the bass and down tuned at least for now.
I should say that I have an HX Effects and have a patch for down tuning to Eb. Something about it just feels off which is what led to this journey.

 

[WestyBassBob]

I ordered a set of the EB Cobalt flats in 105 gauge. While waiting for them, I had a rehearsal and just down tuned the DR Black Beauties on my bass. They actually worked fine. The floppiness I felt at home didn't bother me and didn't impact the sound at volume. If I hadn't already ordered the Cobalts, I probably would have just stayed as was.
I installed the cobalts once they came and they worked well and sounded great both in rehearsal and at a gig. They'll stay on the bass and down tuned at least for now.
I should say that I have an HX Effects and have a patch for down tuning to Eb. Something about it just feels off which is what led to this journey.

Playing at high volume will require a lighter touch which I imagine should make the floppiness less of an issue.

Look at Entwhistle for example. Dude played with a very light touch but also at insane volumes.

 

[ferndog32]

A current year was traded in at my friend's local music shop, a fiesta red one. Love the roasted neck and maple fingerboard, the fiesta red color is ok, don't really like the white pickguard that came with it. I ordered a black and tort pg from SBMM, still trying to figure out which one I like better (see pictures).

Workmanship: Seems good, so it was either good from the factory (likely) or taken care of by the previous owner.

Weight: 8.0 lbs on the luggage scale. No neck dive when standing, and while seated if I shift the bass over a little.

Strings: I came with Labella DTF, which are cool. But I'm looking to add a little more presence, so I installed Cobalt Flats. May put the Labellas back in the future.

Electronics: No grounding issues notices, except for single coil of course. What is the typical setup for the pickup? I'm curious if it's different than normal given that it's short scale and neodymium. I like that there's a volume cut when you change to parallel or single coil... I can play fingerstyle on series, and change to pick with the other modes with less volume change (and can boost if needed).

Tuners: Seem ok to me. The balance is good, the function well enough, so no need to change them at the momemnt. Seems that this model year has "upgraded" tuners according to the SBMM store (the ones from the Ray34 & 35), not sure what the difference is.

Compactness: I play on a lot of really tight stages, so I appreciate the shortness of the overall length. The bass fits fine in my Mono Vertigo guitar case (it bulges out sideways a little at the headstock due to the tuner width).

Playability/Sound: As most people have said, it plays and sounds great. I like that it's a jazz neck with a bit of thickness to it, it feels comfortable in my hand. I have an Acinonyx, which has a really skinny neck and tight string spacing that's more uncomfortable to my hands.

Haven't made my way though all 160-something pages of this thread, but looking forward to digging through it. And to playing this out on gigs the next few weeks.

 

[Akami]

I ordered a black and tort pg from SBMM, still trying to figure out which one I like better...

I liked the black one best from a distance but zoomed in the tortoiseshell looks better. Wonder how the black abalone would look on there...

 

[gln1955]

A current year was traded in at my friend's local music shop, a fiesta red one. Love the roasted neck and maple fingerboard, the fiesta red color is ok, don't really like the white pickguard that came with it. I ordered a black and tort pg from SBMM, still trying to figure out which one I like better (see pictures).

View attachment 7320940

View attachment 7320941
Workmanship: Seems good, so it was either good from the factory (likely) or taken care of by the previous owner.

Weight: 8.0 lbs on the luggage scale. No neck dive when standing, and while seated if I shift the bass over a little.

Strings: I came with Labella DTF, which are cool. But I'm looking to add a little more presence, so I installed Cobalt Flats. May put the Labellas back in the future.

Electronics: No grounding issues notices, except for single coil of course. What is the typical setup for the pickup? I'm curious if it's different than normal given that it's short scale and neodymium. I like that there's a volume cut when you change to parallel or single coil... I can play fingerstyle on series, and change to pick with the other modes with less volume change (and can boost if needed).

Tuners: Seem ok to me. The balance is good, the function well enough, so no need to change them at the momemnt. Seems that this model year has "upgraded" tuners according to the SBMM store (the ones from the Ray34 & 35), not sure what the difference is.

Compactness: I play on a lot of really tight stages, so I appreciate the shortness of the overall length. The bass fits fine in my Mono Vertigo guitar case (it bulges out sideways a little at the headstock due to the tuner width).

Playability/Sound: As most people have said, it plays and sounds great. I like that it's a jazz neck with a bit of thickness to it, it feels comfortable in my hand. I have an Acinonyx, which has a really skinny neck and tight string spacing that's more uncomfortable to my hands.

Haven't made my way though all 160-something pages of this thread, but looking forward to digging through it. And to playing this out on gigs the next few weeks.

The tort with the roasted neck looks classy.

I know what you mean about the neck vs the Acinonyx. I have both and they get about equal gigging time, but different feel as well as weight.

 

[RodRy]

The tort with the roasted neck looks classy.

I know what you mean about the neck vs the Acinonyx. I have both and they get about equal gigging time, but different feel as well as weight.

I have both of those basses too. My Ace has more of a "frivolous" attitude when I play it, and my StingRay feels more serious. Maybe the weight is why, maybe the tone? Maybe because the Acinonyx has a strap with drinks pictured on it?

 

[MrClassicMetal]

A current year was traded in at my friend's local music shop, a fiesta red one. Love the roasted neck and maple fingerboard, the fiesta red color is ok, don't really like the white pickguard that came with it. I ordered a black and tort pg from SBMM, still trying to figure out which one I like better (see pictures).

View attachment 7320940

View attachment 7320941
Workmanship: Seems good, so it was either good from the factory (likely) or taken care of by the previous owner.

Weight: 8.0 lbs on the luggage scale. No neck dive when standing, and while seated if I shift the bass over a little.

Strings: I came with Labella DTF, which are cool. But I'm looking to add a little more presence, so I installed Cobalt Flats. May put the Labellas back in the future.

Electronics: No grounding issues notices, except for single coil of course. What is the typical setup for the pickup? I'm curious if it's different than normal given that it's short scale and neodymium. I like that there's a volume cut when you change to parallel or single coil... I can play fingerstyle on series, and change to pick with the other modes with less volume change (and can boost if needed).

Tuners: Seem ok to me. The balance is good, the function well enough, so no need to change them at the momemnt. Seems that this model year has "upgraded" tuners according to the SBMM store (the ones from the Ray34 & 35), not sure what the difference is.

Compactness: I play on a lot of really tight stages, so I appreciate the shortness of the overall length. The bass fits fine in my Mono Vertigo guitar case (it bulges out sideways a little at the headstock due to the tuner width).

Playability/Sound: As most people have said, it plays and sounds great. I like that it's a jazz neck with a bit of thickness to it, it feels comfortable in my hand. I have an Acinonyx, which has a really skinny neck and tight string spacing that's more uncomfortable to my hands.

Haven't made my way though all 160-something pages of this thread, but looking forward to digging through it. And to playing this out on gigs the next few weeks.

The tort pickguard matches really well with the red body. The black one would look better on a red sunburst in my opinion.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

I just put my SBMM SS up for sale today. I just couldn't get along with how it sounds, but everything else about it was fine. I've tried 3 different types of strings and I've adjusted my amp settings all over the place and I still can hardly bear to listen to it.

Update:
I got tired of the "is this still available?" and lowballer BS on FB Marketplace so I decided to keep it and swap the pickup and electronics. This was the right decision.

Mine now has a Seymour Duncan SMB-4A pickup (parallel mode only), a 500k volume pot, a 250k no-load tone pot, an orange drop cap, a witchcraft jack and copper shielding tape. It has considerably more "air" in the tone now. Muchos improvement, IMO.

 

[RodRy]

Update:
I got tired of the "is this still available?" and lowballer BS on FB Marketplace so I decided to keep it and swap the pickup and electronics. This was the right decision.

Mine now has a Seymour Duncan SMB-4A pickup (parallel mode only), a 500k volume pot, a 250k no-load tone pot, an orange drop cap, a witchcraft jack and copper shielding tape. It has considerably more "air" in the tone now. Muchos improvement, IMO.

Just for my own curiosity, did you post it for sale on the TalkBass classifieds? I'm not on FB, and have not heard much that would compel me to join it.