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Stingray Black or Sparkle, Musiciansfriend.com

#2
I just bought a Stingray 5 HH a couple months ago.... the colors are VERY confusing however if you call EBMM they are super helpful.
Im pretty sure the sparkly one is called Black Pearl... "Black" should be just a standard black. I went for egyptian smoke and love it. The maple board is wonderful and it plays really well. Totally worth it.
Not sure if youre looking at H, HH, or HS but Id suggest HH. A single H is great but the dual gives you a lot of very usable tones. Originally I tried out the HS because I thought the H in the neck would get in the way for popping but after playing one I found that all was well.
Either way... youll have an awesome bass.
 
#4
Visit this website to see the Stingray color options. There are three shades of black, but they are all distinctively named. "Black" is plain old gloss black. "Stealth" is matte finish black. "Sapphire black" is a deep charcoal with a subtle metallic sparkle, and my favorite of the three. MF should be using the correct names:

http://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/stingray.html

BTW, they play freakin GREAT. I've heard of people not liking Stingrays, but man, if you dig that in-yo-face tone it's very easy to dial in on one of these. Having said that, you can get much more standard tones out of it as well (especially if you select a multi-pickup configuration).

Enjoy your new toy!

On edit: You're right, the pictures at the MF link you provided are wrong. The one that's labeled "Black, maple fretboard" is in fact a picture of the Sapphire black. The one labeled "Black, rosewood fretboard" shows the basic gloss black. As long as you pick the correct color name from the drop-down selection box, you'll get the one you prefer.
 
#5
If you're on the fence about the sparkle...it looks awesome.

I bought my Ray used years ago, sight unseen, not knowing that there was a sparkle to my "burnt orange burst." It took all of ten minutes to fall in love with it :) plus girls kinda like it. "OOh ur bass is all sparkly canitouchitcanitouchyoudoyouhaveagirlfriendletsgosomewhere."

If only it were that easy ;) Color aside, I think you'll find the Ray to be a wonderful machine :)
 
#6
BTW, no dis on GC... but you can find a ton more interesting color options at www.basscentral.com. They're the biggest EBMM retailer in the country (world?), so they get lots of cool special editions in non-standard finishes. Check them out before you commit (unless you are already decided on black). Prices meet or beat GC as well. Plus, you can call the friendly guys down there in FL, and they will pull the actual bass that you're thinking of buying and talk with you about it over the phone.
 
#7
Thanks everybody!

Im really on the edge buying it, but as mentioned, I'm really on the fence to get it in sparkle or just standard black - Its a very bad picture of the sparkled one!

Im thinking of getting the standard Music Man StingRay 4 :)
- Everybody I have talked to have said "Go for it"

And I live in Denmark, but my cousin who lives in LA is coming home this christmas so he can bring the ray to me, It will be half price, because of taxes, and things generally are alot more expensive in Europe ;)

Btw. Im checking basscentral out now!

Thanks all!
 

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