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SBMM Stingray Short scale

I finally ordered my SS Stingray (Fiesta Red) from Sweetwater. Should be here Friday. I was biding my time in case Sterling announced updates at NAMM, but it looks like the 2026 models will continue unchanged (except for that new blue color Guitar Center has, which I would jump on if it had the roasted maple fretboard). I also ordered a set of the EB Cobalt Flats. I don’t want round wounds but I want as much round wound “zing” as I can get.

It would be nice to have a sticky at the top of this thread with a list of upgrades/accessories that work with this bass. Which replacement tuners fit, cases (hard or soft) that fit, etc. Does anyone have the ability to do that?

I snagged the lightest unit I could find on Sweetwater (7 lbs 11 oz). Should I swap out the stock tuners with something lighter/higher quality? If so, what’s the best drop-in replacement that requires no drilling or hole filling?
 
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Which model specifically? There are a bunch of Icon cases.
Sorry, that would be super helpful!

This is the electric guitar case, fits most of my short scales (and a few of my 32" medium scales)

On Musician's Friend site it was listed as "Gator ICON Series Bag for Electric Guitars - Red'

It's a great case, if I had to gate check it I wouldn't be super worried about my bass. I'll be flying a bass to NAMM in it on Thursday!
 
PRICE JUMP

If you’ve been thinking about one of these it looks like the price is jumping $100/15% ($649 to $749), so grab one at the lower price if you can find one anywhere. Fortunately I ordered mine Monday from Sweetwater for $649 and their site now shows a price of $749. Ditto Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend. Sterling’s site still shows $649 but I assume they’ll get that updated soon.

I believe these debuted at $549, so up 36% in 5 years? Ouch.
 
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PRICE JUMP

If you’ve been thinking about one of these it looks like the price is jumping $100 ($649 to $749), so grab one at the lower price if you can find one anywhere. Fortunately I ordered mine Monday from Sweetwater for $649 and their site now shows a price of $749. Ditto Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend. Sterling’s site still shows $649 but I assume they’ll get that updated soon.

$100 jump is nuts.

There goes that idea then.
 
I quite like the new colour for 2026
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PRICE JUMP

If you’ve been thinking about one of these it looks like the price is jumping $100/15% ($649 to $749), so grab one at the lower price if you can find one anywhere. Fortunately I ordered mine Monday from Sweetwater for $649 and their site now shows a price of $749. Ditto Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend. Sterling’s site still shows $649 but I assume they’ll get that updated soon.

I believe these debuted at $549, so up 36% in 5 years? Ouch.
Largely due to things we shall not discuss on TB.
 
Insane for a mass-market off-the-shelf bass guitar, no matter where it was made.
hmmm... I'm not sure id call the EBMM short scales "mass market off-the-shelf." Depending on the year, maybe 400 released for the entire world & only available direct? Doesn't feel like mass market to me. Compare the price to similar production instruments from other companies and it isn't really out of line.
 
hmmm... I'm not sure id call the EBMM short scales "mass market off-the-shelf." Depending on the year, maybe 400 released for the entire world & only available direct? Doesn't feel like mass market to me. Compare the price to similar production instruments from other companies and it isn't really out of line.
Agreed, the QC on the > $2k EBMM that I've owned and played are far superior than the other "mass market" guitars at that price point from major companies.
 
hmmm... I'm not sure id call the EBMM short scales "mass market off-the-shelf." Depending on the year, maybe 400 released for the entire world & only available direct? Doesn't feel like mass market to me. Compare the price to similar production instruments from other companies and it isn't really out of line.
I mean Stingrays in general. Pretty much every one they make is pushing $3k.
 
I quite like the new colour for 2026
View attachment 7414389
I received my Fiesta Red model from Sweetwater yesterday and opened it today. The color is more unripe-tomato-on-fast-food-hamburger red. Or tomato soup red. Definitely tending more towards the coral side of things. Not the shade of red I would choose in person. Would I rather have this new green color? 100% yes. But I got a 7 lb 11 oz unit, and who knows how long I’d have to wait to find one at that weight in Charger Green. Plus a $100 price jump. Ugh, guess it’s “red” for now.