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Should I do it?? Heavy modifying a Stingray5 Special or SELL IT?

dangomez66

dangomez66

Supporting Member
Dec 19, 2009
162
548
Redlands, Ca
#1
I am considering getting a wider custom neck made for my Stingray5, which will mean routing the body a bit.

I have a mint 2018 Stingray5 Special in charcoal sparkle. It has narrower 18mm string spacing and I prefer 19mm. It doesnt seem like much, but with the slimmer neck, it does feel a lot different than my main axe, an MTD 535.

The new neck would be a nicely figured roasted flame maple, without any official MM decals, of course. All-in, the cost is about $800, which isn't bad, considering. Might swap in a Nordstrand pickup to boot. And i can always sell the neck & old bridge to offset some of the cost.

WWYD? Should I mod it or sell it as-is?

Sale price: $1900 with ohsc
 

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#2
If you're turning it into a different bass altogether, just sell it and buy something with the pickup you want and a wider neck and bridge.

Or just learn to like it for what it is and don't worry about the string spacing. I used to think spacing was a deal-breaker when I was less confident in my abilities. Then I figured out that I could play anything if I liked other aspects of the bass. Now I have five 5 strings and a 6 string with everything from 17-20mm and it just doesn't even phase me when I play them. I'm aware of the differences, but it's such a non-issue that I don't even consider it.
 
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#5
Why not sell it and get another bass? You won't simply fall into a better neck than the MM. And regardless of the fact that you can't feel the 1mm difference, just knowing it's there will haunt you unless you change. So sell the Ray and use the money. If you route the Ray for a wider, albiet not as well made neck, you'll drop 70% off the value instantly should you wish to resell that.

Generally I am in the camp of "it's your bass, make it yours" but routing in a larger neck is outside that rationale.
 
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#6
As mentioned, I expect that such a drastic and irreversible upgrade would devalue the instrument. People interested in buying it would be expecting the original neck, which is probably one reason they’re interested in it to begin with.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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#7
dangomez66 said:
I am considering getting a wider custom neck made for my Stingray5, which will mean routing the body a bit.

I have a mint 2018 Stingray5 Special in charcoal sparkle. It has narrower 18mm string spacing and I prefer 19mm. It doesnt seem like much, but with the slimmer neck, it does feel a lot different than my main axe, an MTD 535.

The new neck would be a nicely figured roasted flame maple, without any official MM decals, of course. All-in, the cost is about $800, which isn't bad, considering. Might swap in a Nordstrand pickup to boot. And i can always sell the neck & old bridge to offset some of the cost.

WWYD? Should I mod it or sell it as-is?

Sale price: $1900 with ohsc
Click to expand...
You don't like the bass?
 
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#11
I'd sell it, that's a lot of money that could go toward something you'll really like. Or if you're putting together something from parts anyway, they'll be awesome parts with that much money in your pocket.

Awesome looking bass btw, shame it wasn't what you were looking for. Some of those EBMM finishes are insane!
 
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#17
Andre678 said:
Go for it. Its your bass make it yours. If you like the bass enough to consider this there must something good to it. To buy another bass with those specs would it be more expensive that what you are considering?
Click to expand...
I'm in this camp.
It's your bass, do what you want. If you are confident that the mods will be successful and result in a better feeling bass and save you money over a flip and purchase of another bass, it's a good move.

Let's be honest... most modern production line instruments are not solid candidates to be a retirement plan for the kids. Worrying about resale is moot if the final product works out and becomes a lifer for the OP. If this is the case, the bass will get passed on or sold after the OP is gone.

I totally get wanting the wider spacing. I have played Fender 5s from the jump, so playing a MM/G&L/Ibanez 5 felt cramped. Eventually, I did get somewhat used to the narrow spacing of my MM 5er, but still prefer wider spacing of Fenders.
 
#18
Sell IMO. I bought and sold about 6 different EBMM Sterling USA 5s and my main complaint was the G string being so close to the edge of the board. Looking back now, there were a couple I should have kept and just had a new nut cut and possibly could have swapped out the stock bridge for a Hipshot style A with the adjustable string spacing to bring in that G string a bit. But a new neck? That's a lot of bread IMO and you may not even like it when it's changed out. I remember the 19mm discussion years ago where a group of TBer's tried to get Sterling Ball to do a special run of 19mm SR 5s and they couldn't get enough to sign up for it - it was 100 pieces required IIRC....so it's still an issue for SR5 folks - you will like 18mm / that's all we make :laugh:
 
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