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SBMM Stingray Short scale

#1,101
It's been a few weeks since I got my Daphne Blue bass and I finally got around to doing a proper set up and installing a new set of Thomastik Infeld Jazz Rounds. This was my first time using the TI JR's. I've had the Flats on my L1000 for awhile now and I've used the TI Power Bass strings on my L2000 on and off for the last year or so. All I can say is I've found my new favorite round wounds. On the Sterling, they are nothing short of amazing. The clarity, dimensionality and weirdly enough, the remarkable sustain that notes now have on this instrument is nothing short of remarkable. These strings are really in a class by themselves. They make this
inexpensive bass sound like one costing several times more.

I am now a short scale convert. I love this damn thing. And, I've found another favorite string set.

Who knows, I had planned on picking up an American L2000 this year but had a hard time justifying it what with COVID-19 but if things shape up next year, maybe it will be a short scale Music Man instead. We'll have to see what colors MM offers next year. Something with a nice roasted maple neck might be hard to avoid. And you can bet if I do pick one up, it'll be strung with the TI Jazz Rounds!
 
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#1,102
Guess who’s SBMM shorty is getting black hardware courtesy of a brand new SBMM ray34HH!!!

If I wasn’t currently obsessed with acquiring short scales this bad boy would probably be a keeper but I still need a P and/or J for my arsenal before I start into HH territory.

This black hardware is gonna looks so sexy on the shorty. I couldn’t handle SBMM’s customer service telling me “No” when I tried to buy/trade hardware through them so I’m doing it the hard way ‍♀️


(how amazing would the shorty look in stealth tho? Come on SBMM!)

E5EAF758-0211-442A-BDD1-A2F94E72740F.jpeg
 
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#1,106
Hot Rats said:
Sweet deal on a B- Stock... $429.00

Sterling By Music Man Short Scale StingRay Daphne Blue
Click to expand...

I ordered this bass and paid for it, but 2 hours later, a sale associates sent an e-mail to let me know that Pro Audio Star have a special sale and for only $35 more he can send me a brand new Short Scale StingRay Daphne Blue in a sealed box under full Music Man warranty, not Used/B-stock/Refurbished/Open box.
 
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#1,107
dralionux said:
I ordered this bass and paid for it, but 2 hours later, a sale associates sent an e-mail to let me know that Pro Audio Star have a special sale and for only $35 more he can send me a brand new Short Scale StingRay Daphne Blue in a sealed box under full Music Man warranty, not Used/B-stock/Refurbished/Open box.
Click to expand...
Dang! :eek: I thought I got a good deal at $500.23 shipped after sales tax. I was one of the people who received a gig bag though. :thumbsup:
 
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#1,108
Doctor Morbius said:
Dang! :eek: I thought I got a good deal at $500.23 shipped after sales tax. I was one of the people who received a gig bag though. :thumbsup:
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Yeah, I'm still disappointed about the gig bag. I doubt my bass will ever leave the house but I think one of the earlier posters to this thread who got a Roadrunner hardshell case for 40% off from GC made out ok. I wouldn't mind grabbing something like that just in case I do take mine to play with friends.
 
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#1,109
Doctor Morbius said:
Dang! :eek: I thought I got a good deal at $500.23 shipped after sales tax. I was one of the people who received a gig bag though. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


Yea I think I paid $506.11 after tax and 2 day shipping and thought I got a great deal! I sadly didn’t get a gig bag tho which would have been a huge plus. The Ray34 HH I just grabbed came with one and makes the shortie feel extra naked. I wonder what Ernie Ball charges for a short scale hard shell case?
 
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#1,111
AjCalderon said:
Yea I think I paid $506.11 after tax and 2 day shipping and thought I got a great deal! I sadly didn’t get a gig bag tho which would have been a huge plus. The Ray34 HH I just grabbed came with one and makes the shortie feel extra naked. I wonder what Ernie Ball charges for a short scale hard shell case?
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Who has been fitting these basses into other cases? Seems like someone posted that some guitar cases fit.

Maybe we should have a list and make it sticky?
:D
 
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#1,117
I just notice one of the tuning paddles is loose. There’s a slight amount of rattle in the D tuning assembly. I’m going to try a bit of super glue to try and quiet it. To be honest, I’m not terribly impressed with these tuning gears. I think it’s time to explore a few options.
 
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#1,118
Spupilup said:
I just notice one of the tuning paddles is loose. There’s a slight amount of rattle in the D tuning assembly. I’m going to try a bit of super glue to try and quiet it. To be honest, I’m not terribly impressed with these tuning gears. I think it’s time to explore a few options.
Click to expand...

They're the one thing I'm thinking of replacing on mine. I don't have any looseness/rattles, but they aren't amazing. I feel like throwing on some Hipshots would be the most obvious improvement. Pots feel fine so far, bridge is good, love the pickup, no issues with the input jack.. been playing it a lot for the last 6 months or so.

I'm pretty impressed that the tuners are the one thing I'd change in this price range. With that, a bit of fret levelling and getting the string to string balance right with the pickup, I feel like this bass would be punching way above it's weight.
 
#1,119
I’ve been thinking about using the G&L lightweight tuners that are found on the US basses. From what I’ve been reading they are made by Schaller, as are the Music Man tuners with the main difference being the G&L’s aluminum posts.

The G&L tuners are $18 each in the G&L store which is an incredible bargain. I just have to see what else would have to be done to get them to work on the Sterling.
 
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#1,120
Hank Scorpio said:
They're the one thing I'm thinking of replacing on mine. I don't have any looseness/rattles, but they aren't amazing. I feel like throwing on some Hipshots would be the most obvious improvement. Pots feel fine so far, bridge is good, love the pickup, no issues with the input jack.. been playing it a lot for the last 6 months or so.

I'm pretty impressed that the tuners are the one thing I'd change in this price range. With that, a bit of fret levelling and getting the string to string balance right with the pickup, I feel like this bass would be punching way above it's weight.
Click to expand...

my tone pot has some scratchiness to it. It’s what is prompting me to preemptively change the pots and wiring.

but yes the tuners are the biggest place for improvement for sure. What’s interesting is the black ones on the HH have a little more stability in feel at least.
 

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