SBMM Stingray Short scale

[534N]

the brite flats are half-rounds, which does seem to be about right. halfway between the mega zingy slinkies, and the deep dark labellas. i stitched the nut to a black graphtec and it doesnt seem to be having any problems since i originally installed it when i had the default slinkies

Ah, I may have to look into changing the nut as well. I noticed mine is a bit high. I think it’s slightly throwing off the intonation of the first couple frets but I could be wrong.
I have D’Addario half rounds on my PJ Mustang and they are a decent compromise. I’ll check out the GHS ones. Thanks!

 

[scrumpymike]

I still haven’t changed the stock strings. I don’t love them because they have kind of an ugly zingy buzz when I’m not plugged in, but they add a crispness that I’m starting to like a bit. Wondering if I should let them wear in or switch to something else. I have Labellas on my Mustang and they’re great but I feel like they might dull the Stingray bite too much. Are the GHS flats still crispy on top? Normally I don’t like that, but this bass has changed my mind. Also, the .108 gauge makes me wonder about the size of the nut slot. It fits without any modification? Thanks for any info you may be able to share.

I agree. I'm normally a La Bella flats guy but I'll stick with the originals for our next gig - whenever that is!?

 

[Doctor Morbius]

Ah, I may have to look into changing the nut as well. I noticed mine is a bit high. I think it’s slightly throwing off the intonation of the first couple frets but I could be wrong.

The low E on mine is also cut a bit high, but I'm letting it ride for now. At some point I'd like to buy a legit set of fret files and give it a "proper" cut.

 

[534N]

I agree. I'm normally a La Bella flats guy but I'll stick with the originals for our next gig - whenever that is!?

Ah, it's not just me that's starting to like some crispy zing on the top. The only thing is that I'm not sure I can get used to the feel of rounds under my fingers. After playing flats for so long, it doesn't feel that great going back to rounds. I'm going to throw my D'Addario half-rounds on it tonight and see if that hits the sweet spot.

 

[534N]

The low E on mine is also cut a bit high, but I'm letting it ride for now. At some point I'd like to buy a legit set of fret files and give it a "proper" cut.

Ah, yeah, I checked my tuner and it is off with the intonation a bit on the lower frets with my E string and even a little with my A as well. I feel like I can't complain though. This bass is well above my expectations with the quality of everything else. I'm going to fix it later. For now, I just want to play it as much as possible

 

[Joe Nerve]

I don’t love them because they have kind of an ugly zingy buzz when I’m not plugged in, but they add a crispness that I’m starting to like a bit.

Interesting that one person's ugly zingy buzz is another's aggressive awesomeness .

I too still have the stock strings on mine, and wound up buying another set for my MM Stingray. I never used to be a big fan of MM strings, but I really like them on these Stingrays. Think I'm going to stick with them, too. I've tried Fenders and DiDarrios on the other bass, and they were fine too - but, yeah... for now, I like the MMs best.

I'm not at all a fan of flats, but I could see their appeal for someone who might want to tame, darken and deepen the bass's potential. I might try them one day fer fun, but I've yet to put flats on a bass and keep them there. I put them on my HS Stingray for one gig, and couldn't wait to get them off. It was like wearing a painful pair of new shoes. Perhaps I needed to break them in ?

Rant over.

 

[RodRy]

I'm not at all a fan of flats, but I could see their appeal for someone who might want to tame, darken and deepen the bass's potential. I might try them one day fer fun, but I've yet to put flats on a bass and keep them there. I put them on my HS Stingray for one gig, and couldn't wait to get them off. It was like wearing a painful pair of new shoes. Perhaps I needed to break them in ?

Rant over.

Joe, what was it that bugged you about the flats? The feel or the tone? Just out of curiosity. I've got 2 basses with flats, one with half-wounds, one with tape wounds, and 5 with different types of rounds, so I play the field a bit.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Joe, what was it that bugged you about the flats? The feel or the tone? Just out of curiosity. I've got 2 basses with flats, one with half-wounds, one with tape wounds, and 5 with different types of rounds, so I play the field a bit.

I wasn't in love with the feel, though I could possibly get used to it. But it was more the tone. I like high end in my sound, and oddly enough... The tone that comes out of flats somehow kicks my tinnitus in more than roundwounds. Maybe a lower mid thing? Maybe just the way they sounded on my Stingray HS? Not sure.

 

[RodRy]

I wasn't in love with the feel, though I could possibly get used to it. But it was more the tone. I like high end in my sound, and oddly enough... The tone that comes out of flats somehow kicks my tinnitus in more than roundwounds. Maybe a lower mid thing? Maybe just the way they sounded on my Stingray HS? Not sure.

I found that when I first put flats on my short scale P-bass, it was like magic. Exactly the tone and feel I was looking for. But that didn't happen when I put them on my fretless Carvin. Killed the tone, and took away everything I loved about the sound of that instrument.

Either way, glad you have strings you love, and get to play that little beast. Is that the one you had the video of? From Christmas or your birthday or something? I recall that it cracked me up!

 

[Joe Nerve]

I found that when I first put flats on my short scale P-bass, it was like magic. Exactly the tone and feel I was looking for. But that didn't happen when I put them on my fretless Carvin. Killed the tone, and took away everything I loved about the sound of that instrument.

Either way, glad you have strings you love, and get to play that little beast. Is that the one you had the video of? From Christmas or your birthday or something? I recall that it cracked me up!

The one in the video is the MM. I have no videos with this one.

 

[534N]

Interesting that one person's ugly zingy buzz is another's aggressive awesomeness .

I too still have the stock strings on mine, and wound up buying another set for my MM Stingray. I never used to be a big fan of MM strings, but I really like them on these Stingrays. Think I'm going to stick with them, too.

The MM strings are growing on me by the day. I may end up throwing them back on after I try out a few different sets. I take back what I said about the “ugly” zing. It definitely has its uses and I like where it’s taking my creativity for a change. I don’t think I will put total flats on this one, though I do really appreciate Joe Dart’s Stingray tone.. so never say never I guess.

 

[dnp41]

I just ordered one! My first stingray. So excited

 

[pcake]

I just ordered one! My first stingray. So excited

awesome! do you have a scheduled delivery date?

 

[dnp41]

awesome! do you have a scheduled delivery date?

The site estimates 2-5 days delivery time. I ordered at Thomann.

 

[redstrand]

I might just put in a preorder and ride it out. With the Nordstrand coming in July it'll help to spread them out a few

 

[pcake]

The site estimates 2-5 days delivery time. I ordered at Thomann.

that's cool - can't wait to hear what you think of it.

here in the U.S., no stores have them in stock - my receipt says "Expected to ship by 2020-07-06", and that depends on how quickly EB/MM can ship them. they were around a month late with the last batch.

I might just put in a preorder and ride it out. With the Nordstrand coming in July it'll help to spread them out a few

might as well, although they may show up close to the same time... or not.

 

[redstrand]

that's cool - can't wait to hear what you think of it.

here in the U.S., no stores have them in stock - my receipt says "Expected to ship by 2020-07-06", and that depends on how quickly EB/MM can ship them. they were around a month late with the last batch.



might as well, although they may show up close to the same time... or not.

Just have to buy the wife a new shiny to distract lol

 

[pcake]

Just have to buy the wife a new shiny to distract lol

i AM the wife here, and the bass IS my new shiny

my husband isn't left out - he's a guitar player, but had a yen for a jazz bass, so i got him one for his birthday in april.

 

[redstrand]

i AM the wife here, and the bass IS my new shiny

my husband isn't left out - he's a guitar player, but had a yen for a jazz bass, so i got him one for his birthday in april.

Nice! My wife is awesome and enjoys me playing/writing music. She just gives my trouble when my shiny count exceeds hers

 

[dnp41]

that's cool - can't wait to hear what you think of it.

here in the U.S., no stores have them in stock - my receipt says "Expected to ship by 2020-07-06", and that depends on how quickly EB/MM can ship them. they were around a month late with the last batch.



might as well, although they may show up close to the same time... or not.

A couple of stores in Europe seem to have a few on stock. Although none which I have previously purchased anything. But I'll report back when I know more.