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Short scale Stingray!

#341
Merlo said:
This is the bass I’ve been waiting for my whole life. I played sterlings for years and couldn’t after a back injury. I really hope they make this a permanent model.
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I feel almost the same way, but only for the last 5 years or so :) .

I told my wife something the other day I never thought I'd hear come out of my mouth. I said.... and this is difficult to put in writing... "I think I've found my holy grail." I love the size, I love the feel, I love the sound, I love the weight, and I love that its passive, too. I can leave my bass plugged in all night, which is something I've gotten into the habit of doing.

I'll admit, to not be misleading, it doesn't sound like a Fender (that mellow round thumpy sound) - but that's what I always loved about MM (that classic Stingray sound), and I still have my Mustangs should I ever need or want them. Haven't needed or wanted them since I got this though. Im gonna guess that if I tweaked my amp a bit I'd be able to get those sounds out of the Stingray, too.

Played close to 20 shows already in a variety of spaces... and I'm still head over heels in love.

I'm good on basses for a while now :) . And I grant anyone reading this permission to stick it in my face if ya seem me gassing again :) ...

Das all.
 
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#343
Last update to my Sam Ash purchase. They offered me the choice between returning the instrument, or keeping it and taking a $300 refund. I took the refund. Today I got confirmation of the refund. It was for $321. They refunded the tax I paid on the $300 I was getting back. I realize $21 against $2,000 is pennies in comparison. But I thought it was a nice touch and a pleasant surprise.
Filing down the nut made a HUGE difference. I've wrestled the little beast into a fairly comfortable instrument, but the upper frets still keep the action too high. That's this weekend's fun.
 
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#347
Joe Nerve said:
I feel almost the same way, but only for the last 5 years or so :) .

I told my wife something the other day I never thought I'd hear come out of my mouth. I said.... and this is difficult to put in writing... "I think I've found my holy grail." I love the size, I love the feel, I love the sound, I love the weight, and I love that its passive, too. I can leave my bass plugged in all night, which is something I've gotten into the habit of doing.

I'll admit, to not be misleading, it doesn't sound like a Fender (that mellow round thumpy sound) - but that's what I always loved about MM (that classic Stingray sound), and I still have my Mustangs should I ever need or want them. Haven't needed or wanted them since I got this though. Im gonna guess that if I tweaked my amp a bit I'd be able to get those sounds out of the Stingray, too.

Played close to 20 shows already in a variety of spaces... and I'm still head over heels in love.

I'm good on basses for a while now :) . And I grant anyone reading this permission to stick it in my face if ya seem me gassing again :) ...

Das all.
Click to expand...
Joe
Thanks for all your words and video on this bass, definitely solidified that I need to have one. I‘m short and have small hands so short scales appealed to me before my injury. I always wanted a short scale Musicman for as long as I’ve played the brand. Years ago I asked Musicman if they’d consider making a short scale as I assume other people have and didn’t get a response, so I gave up on the idea and moved on to other basses. I’ve owned a Birdsong and a fender JB62ss. The Birdsong lacked what I wanted and put pressure right on my back injury despite weighing only 7 pounds. The JB62ss was one of the best short scales I’ve ever played but ended up having to sell it. I currently play a Brubaker JXB standard full scale that only weighs 7.5 pounds and balances perfectly and doesn’t hurt my back, but now I’m considering selling the Brubaker and a few other things to buy the short scale stingray. This is my dream bass so I hope I can afford one before they’re gone or they make it a permanent model.
 
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#349
Jvdben1 said:
Joe,
When you bought the extra pick guard, did you order a standard off the shelf one for a Stingray or is there a new size for the SS? I want a pearlized white one also. Thanks again!
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Mine came directly from MM, as did my bass. I have an artist deal with them (and no, I don't get basses for free :)), so my wife requested the extra pickguard when ordering. She knew I'd want to do that, cuz I always do.

Short answer - I don't know :).

If you want to get one from them, I know someone else in this thread did that somehow (the other person who posted the blue and white pix) - direct from Ernie Ball. I don't know who you would order from though.
 
#350
Jvdben1 said:
Joe,
When you bought the extra pick guard, did you order a standard off the shelf one for a Stingray or is there a new size for the SS? I want a pearlized white one also. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

And I'll add... if you DO get a new one, know that 2 of us who replaced the black with the white went back to the black :). In pictures, it looks awesome with white. In real life, for some reason it just looks odd. Toy like is the best description I can come up with. A pearloid one might different though. If you get one, I'd love to see pix.

I REALLY want this bass in black. Considering a paint job, though the blue looks killer under stage lights...

I really hope too they don't start making these in a variety of colors. I'm sunk if they do.
 
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#352
Joe Nerve said:
And I'll add... if you DO get a new one, know that 2 of us who replaced the black with the white went back to the black :). In pictures, it looks awesome with white. In real life, for some reason it just looks odd. Toy like is the best description I can come up with. A pearloid one might different though. If you get one, I'd love to see pix.

I REALLY want this bass in black. Considering a paint job, though the blue looks killer under stage lights...

I really hope too they don't start making these in a variety of colors. I'm sunk if they do.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for your help, your description and review of the bass helped me make my decision with my purchase. It’s great getting feedback from guys with your experience!
 
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#360
I set foot in a GC today for the first time in ages, and lo and behold - a burgundy SS Stingray hung on the wall. I got super excited, pulled it down and... GAS is gone. I was disappointed.

It suffered massively from GC abuse. The push/pull pot would not go back into the push position and the setup was atrocious. Those things aside, I absolutely dwarfed the bass. It has to be the smallest short scale I’ve ever played. I am a fairly tall guy with long arms (6’1” and a wingspan longer than that), so take it for what it’s worth. The neck is a broomstick and there’s no way I could rest my forearm anywhere against the body without subjecting my right wrist to an extreme angle while playing. The nut width feels a lot smaller to me than 1.5”, but that may also be due to the small front-to-back profile as well.

The controls were fun, and are a really cool deviation from the regular ‘Ray setup. Do I like them more than the old 2-band? Wish I did, but I don’t. I love the idea of a passive ‘Ray, but it’s not quite the same for me.

Given all that, it’s got potential. I can’t figure out why on Earth it’s $2k though. The new specials get a figured roasted neck, neo pickups and a preamp, and some really killer finishes. The SS doesn’t and you pay the same.

If you’re a smaller person and want a high-end bass, this might be your ticket. Otherwise, meh (in my very humble opinion as a regular EBMM fan).
 
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