Stingray 5 Club!

[brushfirewolf]

Well sadly I ended up having to return Ray35...

But not so sad anymore... just ordered a Special 5 H in charcoal sparkle! Snagged this one "used" for under $1400. Hoping there's no major problems. Also my first ebony fingerboard.

 

[dave64o]

The ebony board looks fantastic on that bass!

 

[brushfirewolf]

The ebony board looks fantastic on that bass!

Yeah I have to admit- if I were buying new and had all the finish options available this would not have been my first choice but after I found it I couldn't stop looking at it. Pulled the trigger less than an hour after finding it.

This may be jumping the gun a bit considering it's used and it's possible it will be a complete dud and may not be a keeper, but anyone know where to find a decent replacement pickguard for the 5? Assuming I keep this one I would probably want to switch it up from black or at least have that be an option.

EBMM has some on their website for $75 and I know WD sells them for a similar price. Any other suppliers out there I may be missing?

 

[dave64o]

If EBMM hadn’t seriously cut the number of finishes you could get, that wouldn’t be my first choice either (my SR5HH is a honeyburst, sooooooo beautiful! ). But that does look really nice and is a finish I’d seriously consider if I were buying a newer model. And the ebony board is exactly what it needs. A rosewood board just wouldn’t look right, not sure a maple would either with the gray body and black guard. They made the right choice!

The only time I ever had a pick guard made, I went to WD Music. That was for an SX Jazz bass, not a a Stingray, but they took a tracing I did of the original and did a great job cutting a 4-ply tortoise shell for me. It was about 8-10 years ago and I think it cost about $70 then.

 

[brushfirewolf]

It's here and in perfect condition. Set up is spot on. All case candy in here, even the wipes! Lol. Plastic film still on the pickguard. I'm at work so I haven't gotten a chance to plug her in yet but.. wow. EBMM absolutely killed it with this 2018(?) revision of the stingray. This is my second Special. First was a 4 HH which I sold and have regretted ever since although I just dipped my toes in the waters of 5 string bass recently and now 4 strings just don't feel right. Can't see myself ever going back.

 

[moley6knipe]

Man alive that’s beautiful. Let’s be right: if you don’t want, need and constantly play a ‘Ray, there IS something wrong with you. Sweet purchase. I think still the Charging Green for me when it’s my turn.

 

[moley6knipe]

And yeah 5 string all the way. I’ve never looked back since I bought my first one which I dimly recall was an Ibby ATK

 

[brushfirewolf]

And yeah 5 string all the way. I’ve never looked back since I bought my first one which I dimly recall was an Ibby ATK

I never expected to like a 5. Been playing a 4 for almost 20 years now. I have large hands & long fingers so I've always gravitated towards wider necks. That might have something to do with how much I enjoy the feel of 5s, but having that B there really helped more than I thought it ever would. Plus I enjoy how much faster I can play the E now.

 

[moley6knipe]

Yeah. I couldn’t go back now

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

Well... About 2 weeks ago, I was walking through a local music store and saw an old, black, Stingray 5, sitting on the used rack. It was on consignment for $899.00. I tried to pass it up, but it was still there, this past Saturday. I could no longer stand to let it sit there. I called the store on Monday afternoon and asked them to hold it for me. Even they couldn't believe they had it tagged so low. I picked it up yesterday. I traded my Sterling Ray 35 and some cash. It's a 1997 and it has that Lush, big, fat, and dirty, sound like my 1988 Blueburst SR5. The Rosewood board does take some of the "edge" off. The $899 included a hard shell case. It was a bit grungy, but cleaned up nicely.

 

[selowitch]

The $899 included a hard shell case.

My friend, that is a killer score!! Wow.

 

[liverbird]

@Alan Ace Cooper That 1988 Blueburst SR5 gets me every time - fantastic!

 

[FeltTipPen]

Ernie Ball Music Man BFR StingRay Special 5 H Fretless Bass Guitar - Vintage Sierra Burst

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

Ernie Ball Music Man BFR StingRay Special 5 H Fretless Bass Guitar - Vintage Sierra Burst

Agreed! There was a 4 string version on the Guitar Center website. The flame on the 4 string neck was more dramatic.

 

[FeltTipPen]

Agreed! There was a 4 string version on the Guitar Center website. The flame on the 4 string neck was more dramatic.

That bass was a stunner!

And a 5 string version?? Seriously, this bass is killin' me!

 

[FeltTipPen]

Ball Family Reserve | Ernie Ball Music Man

Scroll down for EBMM's photos of this beauty

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

Ball Family Reserve | Ernie Ball Music Man

Scroll down for EBMM's photos of this beauty

Those.... and I am not fond of the "Ball Family Reserve" emails they send me! LOL!!

 

[Daniel Piper]

Been a couple of months since the last honeyburst pic in this thread and I won’t have it. Not on my watch.

Fresh fat beams going on today.

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

Been a couple of months since the last honeyburst pic in this thread and I won’t have it. Not on my watch.

View attachment 4086262 View attachment 4086263 Fresh fat beams going on today.

Such a great color!

 

[dave64o]

Been a couple of months since the last honeyburst pic in this thread and I won’t have it. Not on my watch.

View attachment 4086262 View attachment 4086263 Fresh fat beams going on today.

I second the motion! Here’s the pride and joy of my bass collection: