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Stingray 5 Club!
- Thread starter armybass
- Start date
Had a request for a few more shots of Tony's Barbie Flesh bass, plus a bit of background on how I ended up getting to play it...
There's a company in upstate New York, called Music Masters Camps, that have been running a "King Crimson" camp for around 10 years now, called the "Three Of A Perfect Pair" band camp. The camp is situated in Big Indian, New York, and has a large grounds with accommodation, camping facilities and a few (fully kitted out) barns and roadhouses where performances are scheduled. The camp is hosted by Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto, but there's typically other KC alumni there as well, such as Markus Reuter, Julie Slick, occasionally even Trey Gunn! (And some of their long-time sound-crew, such as Robert Frazza and Bill Munyon.)
So, I finally got to go to TOAPP camp in 2019, after saving up for a few years. During most nights of the camp, there are performances/jams happening at the "Roadhouse", consisting of campers and hosts. Although I actually took a Chapman Stick with me to play, I decided I'd rather play bass one night, so asked one of the co-organisers, Kevin Andrews, for a lend of his Stingray 5. (He's the guy in the photo.) He was happy for me to borrow his bass, but he made a comment that Tony's bass was just sitting there in a bag and that it would probably be fine for me to use that. After freaking out a bit, I asked him to make sure it was OK with Tony, he just asked and it was fine. So, yes, I spent the next 15 minutes checking the tuning and prancing around with it, taking extra care not to bump it into anything. Then I got up on stage and jammed out a 10 minute improv tune with a bunch of other campers. Oh, man, the bass sounded so warm and fat...it was ALIVE!!!
P.S: Kevin is the guy that runs Expanding Hands Music and produces the Funk Fingers, plus a few other things like that.
There's a company in upstate New York, called Music Masters Camps, that have been running a "King Crimson" camp for around 10 years now, called the "Three Of A Perfect Pair" band camp. The camp is situated in Big Indian, New York, and has a large grounds with accommodation, camping facilities and a few (fully kitted out) barns and roadhouses where performances are scheduled. The camp is hosted by Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto, but there's typically other KC alumni there as well, such as Markus Reuter, Julie Slick, occasionally even Trey Gunn! (And some of their long-time sound-crew, such as Robert Frazza and Bill Munyon.)
So, I finally got to go to TOAPP camp in 2019, after saving up for a few years. During most nights of the camp, there are performances/jams happening at the "Roadhouse", consisting of campers and hosts. Although I actually took a Chapman Stick with me to play, I decided I'd rather play bass one night, so asked one of the co-organisers, Kevin Andrews, for a lend of his Stingray 5. (He's the guy in the photo.) He was happy for me to borrow his bass, but he made a comment that Tony's bass was just sitting there in a bag and that it would probably be fine for me to use that. After freaking out a bit, I asked him to make sure it was OK with Tony, he just asked and it was fine. So, yes, I spent the next 15 minutes checking the tuning and prancing around with it, taking extra care not to bump it into anything. Then I got up on stage and jammed out a 10 minute improv tune with a bunch of other campers. Oh, man, the bass sounded so warm and fat...it was ALIVE!!!
P.S: Kevin is the guy that runs Expanding Hands Music and produces the Funk Fingers, plus a few other things like that.
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My 2004 SR5 arrived today. Very good condition, no dings/dongs. Bit of cleaning and setup. Plays and sounds amazing. Very happy with the purchase
Finally you have come to your senses. now you can put aside those Warwicks
Over 25 years ago, after much play-testing, I had to make the final choice between a Warwick 5 and my current SR5. I still have no regrets about it.
My Wicks are all 4s and pre '90. The EBMM are all 5s and after 2000. So no conflict of interest and for the sound they really complement on what I play.Finally you have come to your senses. now you can put aside those Warwicks
Over 25 years ago, after much play-testing, I had to make the final choice between a Warwick 5 and my current SR5. I still have no regrets about it.
I also took a family sofa-picture of the 5s 
Nice backsides too
Nice backsides too
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Here's the rest of the family - the black sheep club 
I stack them so my wife can't count them that easily
I stack them so my wife can't count them that easily
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I also took a family sofa-picture of the 5s
Nice backsides too
View attachment 4399012 View attachment 4399013
What a spectacular collection of basses. I could say something complementary about all of them individually!Here's the rest of the family - the black sheep club
View attachment 4399022 View attachment 4399023
Well then, if you’re not already a member, let me invite you to join the “Crappy Bassist with Expensive Gear” club. It sounds like you might fit right in with us! 
I think I have been thereWell then, if you’re not already a member, let me invite you to join the “Crappy Bassist with Expensive Gear” club. It sounds like you might fit right in with us!
Very, very excited to be joining the club soon! After buying a SBMM Ray35 (natural ash/roasted neck) a few months ago I decided that I love the stingray 5 so much that I wanted to find a EBMM SR5. Tough to find one that I can afford, being in my early twenties, but I found it!! If all goes as planned a week from today I’ll pick up a 1998 (ad says 96 but serial number came back as a 98) SR 5 in trans red with a black guard and maple neck. IM STOKED! Really want the ceramic pick up! My Ray35 was great but it really sounded more like a beefy J bass than a real SR5 and I want my stuff to sound aggressive as hell! I can’t wait to test it out and hopefully bring home to play many gigs!
I’m in desperate need for some tort. Been on TB since ‘07 and I have finally succumbed.
I have 2 95 models (I think but, I don't know how long they were in stock at Sam Ash) with the ceramic pup's. I've played these so much that I just can't connect with the tone from the Alnico pup's on the newer models. Yes the ceramics are very aggressive but, I tame it down by backing off the mids and bumping the bass a little when I need it. I can't get the same grunt and grind from the alnico's no matter how I set the EQ. I haven't played the neo's, how do they compare to the ceramics?
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HAVE YOU SEEN THE SR5 PRICES ON REVERB???? I'm thinking of putting my 2017 SR5 up for sale locally, because it's not getting used. It's lite, 9.1lbs and has a one piece ash body. Just wondering what would be a fair price for me to ask?
Thanks!
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WELL! I’m officially a member! But I have a question about my bass, if you please. I just brought home this late 90s SR 5 and she’s exactly what I wanted, the sound and feel is exactly what I was missing from my SBMM. The EBMM serial number database puts this bass as a March 98, the serial number is located on the bridge and is five digits with no letter preceding it. It has the older style neck plate with just the two ‘MM music men’ logo, no brand name on the neck plate. Most of the 98s I have seen online have the brand name and serial on the neck plate. Is 98 just the year they switched to that and mine happens to be before that? Thanks!! Either way, the neck feels much better and the pickup/preamp is just MORE, SO MUCH MORE! Thank you!
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Love the color! Someone else will have to answer about the neck plate.
