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Stingray Classic - What to do?
- Thread starter jallenbass
- Start date
Personally, I'd get one of these (if I could find one in colour that I like better 
).
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From your OP, it sounds like it has what you want - great sound and great price
!
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From your OP, it sounds like it has what you want - great sound and great price
!
Does anyone know if a classic bridge with the mutes can be found used and if it would fit a Ray34? That's the biggest draw for me if I were to get a Classic Ray.
The only way u can buy those bridges are used and most I've seen were around 300,its the only piece I'm missing from my ray build
The mutes come up on ebay from time to time (I saw some only last week), but the bridges are much harder to get
.Having said that, I managed to order some parts directly from the UK MM distributor a few years ago (including two sets of string mutes and a 6-bolt neck plate c/w serial number). So, if you can find out who your local official parts distributor are, it might be worth asking them about the availablity of these 'Classic' bridge units
.
But would it actually fit? Or would it be one of those instances, like pickguards, where there is a slight difference that requires redrilling?
Personally, I'd get one of these (if I could find one in colour that I like better
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From your OP, it sounds like it has what you want - great sound and great price
That does sound very similar to what I'm looking for.
- Aug 21, 2003
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- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
What he said!
I have a SUB 5 active (2 band active preamp), a pre Ernie Ball Stingray (2 band active preamp) and a Stingray 5H (3 band active preamp). I've played the classic series but don't own one. My advice, buy used. These are all very well made basses, nothing shoddy here and very consistant in build quality, sound and feel from instrument to instrument. Decide which preamp you like best (2 band vs 3 band) they are VERY different tonally.
I personally like deep and dark bass with a strong punch and I get that in spades with my SUB and Vintage ray (both with 2 band preamps). I have to work harder at it with my 5H 3 band ray, it seems more mid focused. So I lean towards the 2 band preamps but others lean towards the 3. I do think the 3 band is a great match for the 5HH Stingray just not as happy with it in the single humbucker bass.
Used SUB is about $500
Used Stingray (with 2 band) may be hard to find but should be around $850. The 3 band will be easier to find and is about the same price used.
The Sterling is ok but is a completely different feel to me. The OLP new is about the same price as a SUB used but I'd hold out for the SUB or Sterling or Stingray vs an OLP.
Find a SUB. It has all the tone, plus its a lot lighter. The downside is the look may not be the most appealing.
FWIW, if I had the extra scratch, I'd take a Classic over the standard 'Ray any day. The mutes, smaller frets, 2 band eq, and gloss neck are absolutely worth it IMO.
FWIW, if I had the extra scratch, I'd take a Classic over the standard 'Ray any day. The mutes, smaller frets, 2 band eq, and gloss neck are absolutely worth it IMO.
I like the standard stingray with the two band eq. Mainly because I don't care for the slab body of the classic. I think the contoured body feels much more comfortable to play over long periods. If this isn't important to you however, the classic may be more readily available
Finally, if you decide not to go with SBMM or any Music Man product. Look for an Ibanez ATK. It does not sound exactly like a Stingray, but since you want the sound with less treble, an ATK will probably give exactly what you want for under $400 with very nice build quality to boot.
+1
Well, it would depend on whether or not your bass has thru-body stringing
. The old pre-EB ones and some of the Japanese market EBMM ones had thru-body holes, but most built since 198* don't have.1977:
1986:
2006:
Ray34:
As I think you can probably see, the mid-80s bridge with the string thru bridge design, should fit directly on to the later EBMM basses and the Ray34, as the holes appear to be in exactly the right places.
The Stingray 'Classic' though, has holes thru the body, just like the earliest 'Rays
.
Ahhh this fine fella again. Take your agenda somewhere else. Didn't you just buy an SR classic, or did you make that up too?
You are here for one purpose, and that is to bash EB. Ain't that right bigballz? (just using one of your former troll handles.)
Personally, my Stingray Classic 5 is the finest bass I've ever owned, and I've owned probably 100 basses over the years.
The two band preamp is something special, and to my ears, sounds better than the standard three band. I also like the styling better. With the mutes, you can make it sound as vintage as possible if that's what you're into.
I say pick up an extra job and get the SR classic.
fourstringdrums said:
The 1st thing that will be impossible is EBMM doesn't sell bridges. So to find one, someone would have to be parting out a Classic.
But to answer your question, yes you'd have to drill a bunch of holes. The mute plate is longer and those thumbscrews have holes in the body for them to go up and down when you set the mute pads up. Then you have to have the string thru-body holes and install ferrules. So you're drilling 8 holes total. Cool? it would be, but it would make more sense to just buy a used Classic.
jallenbass said:
For me it was the gloss neck finish and slightly smaller frets.
The finished necks dont get ugly-dirty like the raw necks( I get tired of maintaining the unfinshed ones), and to me feel less sticky. The smaller frets make it overall less metallicy.
Out of curiosity, why wouldn't someone replace the 3 band in a regular Stingray with a 2 band from Uncle Fluffy? You have more than enough holes for pots so that's not a problem. Just have to carefully document the removal process so that the original can be put back again if desired. It wouldn't be very expensive either. I know that wouldn't make it a Classic but still.
I'm confused as to who this Uncle Fluffy is?
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f222/pcbs-diy-clone-2-band-preamps-737117/
- Dec 28, 2009
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Sure can. On the Stingray Classic necks you get a choice of either birdseye or flame maple neck with a high gloss finish.
On a regular Stingray, your neck is going to be Select maple neck with a Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend finish.
With both basses you can choose maple or rosewood fretboard but on the Classics, if you choose the maple, then your fretboard will be either the birdseye or flame maple to match the neck. With mine, it is a birdeye maple and looks absolutely killer.
I love the regular Stingrays but when I compare them to the Classic Stingrays, it's like taking a luxury car that is a base model and comparing it to one with all of the extra goodies. It's just those little things that makes me like the Classics better. The string through bodies, chrome truss rod wheel, chrome battery cover etc.
