What is the best MusicMan StingRay Bass that you’ve ever played? Was it a BFR, a 4string or a 5? Was it an H, HH, or HS? Did you buy it and keep it? Do tell.
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StingRay Encounters
- Thread starter LadyLoveStingRay5
- Start date
They're all good...I like my sbmm stingray and play it regularly.
2EQ Fretless (2002) for me
Stingray is like Japanese Fender , I’ve never played a roughly made one.
I would like an unlined Fretless 5
There’s not many around. It took me nearly 3 years to get my 2EQ fretless
Stingray is like Japanese Fender , I’ve never played a roughly made one.
I would like an unlined Fretless 5
There’s not many around. It took me nearly 3 years to get my 2EQ fretless
I don't think I have tried a crappy one yet. Stingray specials are the best model I know of!
Played loads of pre-Specials and they ahve all been good. Some better than others but never a bad one. Probably more used than new, and some have been in atrocious condition. They've all been tempting one way or another but the only one I put down a deposit for on the spot was the '91 fretless 4H that instantly became #1.
I've come to the conclusion that I prefer sounds of ceramic pickups over AlNiCo, and also that I prefer either over the Special. The Special is very 'polite' to my ears, and I feel they have surrendered much of the StingRay character in pursuit of Vintage Fender tones, which seem to be the new Modern. Which is a shame because for playability the Specials have really raised the bar.
I don’t know if mine is Ceramic or Alnico
What do you prefer about the Ceramic Steve?
What do you prefer about the Ceramic Steve?
Clarity, transients and a generally more 'open' tone. There is also what I call 'linear dynamics'. It is not meant to be anything scientific, just that I find the ceramic pickup to be more closely calibrated to my touch. If I want a bit more or less of something, the pickup delivers whatever adjustment I make at the hand. It is a double-edged sword and I find AlNiCo is a lot more 'forgiving' in that sense.
My first 5 string was a stingray 5H that I will always miss. It was from 97 and had the ceramic pickup.
I have a special now and I prefer the more even sounding new pickup and preamp. I may be in the minority but I always thought the ceramic pickup was a little too aggressive. Especially in the high end.
with that said, I’ve never played a bad one. I think Music man has been making a high end bass masquerading as a mid priced bass for years.
I have a special now and I prefer the more even sounding new pickup and preamp. I may be in the minority but I always thought the ceramic pickup was a little too aggressive. Especially in the high end.
with that said, I’ve never played a bad one. I think Music man has been making a high end bass masquerading as a mid priced bass for years.
Here in Australia I've always considered them to be high-end production basses with a high price tag.
For e.g. When I bought my SR4 3 EQ brand new in '05 it set me back $3.25K.
My SR4 3 EQ fretless, purchased brand new in '07, was $3.75K.
These days, if you want to buy one of the new specials here, you won't get much change out of 5.5 - 6K
I bought a TRB6II off a guy early last year and asked him why he was selling. "Because I just bought this and need to re-coup some cash" he replied, while presenting a brand new SR5 special which had set him back nearly 6K.
Nice bass, but 6K? Quality/build wise I think they're in the same ballpark as an MIJ Yamaha BBP35 and you can buy one of those here for between 2.5 and 3K.
Stingray SR5s were equipped with ceramic pickups from 1997 (?) to 2008, when they went back to Alnico-equipped pickups.
I’ve had both, I loved the ceramic pups. I loved the aggressiveness and I could easily tame it when needed. But my current SR5 is a 2011 with Alnico pups. I call it a more polite sound than the ceramics, but I can easily make it more aggressive. No doubt it’s all Stingray tone all the time!
I’ve had both, I loved the ceramic pups. I loved the aggressiveness and I could easily tame it when needed. But my current SR5 is a 2011 with Alnico pups. I call it a more polite sound than the ceramics, but I can easily make it more aggressive. No doubt it’s all Stingray tone all the time!
I have never played a bad Music Man bass either.
the thing about EBMM is that they really don't miss very often.
i had two stingrays at one time. they were both amazing.
the stingray special was a really, really great bass. wish it came in a 6 string i could use.
i had two stingrays at one time. they were both amazing.
the stingray special was a really, really great bass. wish it came in a 6 string i could use.
I had an early 90’s 2EQ that was unbelievably good. I regret letting that one go.
Me, too. Mine’s from 1988 and I bought it sometime around 1993 when they weren’t quite so hard to find.
Like the other posters, I haven’t really run into any bad Stingrays.
The fretless is my favorite ray but I also have a pre-EB ‘78, a US SUB(which is a Stingray in all but name and an ugly paint job), an ‘87 EBMM Sabre fretless and they’re all great instruments.
I owned a ‘93 SR5 years ago. That was also an extremely good instrument which I’d probably still own if it had had a wider nut.
This one, a 1994 Stingray 3-band. There’s just something special about the mid-‘90s Stingrays. I bought this one new and it’s still one of my #1’s.
Like others have said, I don't think you can go wrong. I've never played a bad one, even the SBMMs are pretty amazing, especially for the price.
I picked up a SBMM Ray 5HH LE several months ago. I feel a little guilty having to admit that it has become my go-to and that the vintage Ric and my custom-shop Carving have been feeling rather lonely lately.
I picked up a SBMM Ray 5HH LE several months ago. I feel a little guilty having to admit that it has become my go-to and that the vintage Ric and my custom-shop Carving have been feeling rather lonely lately.
My favorite is my first, a 2004 EBMM Sterling. May not be a Stingray, but it’s easy enough to take the ceramic pickup by turning the treble down a single notch, and it sounds absolutely perfect with a set of Cobalt Flats on it. I had this bass for 16 years, sold it, and missed it so much I tracked it down and bought it again. Won’t let it go this time!
I've owned many in my day and a couple stand out above the rest.
- 1991 SR4, bought it in college. Natural ash, nicely figured neck, maple board, PRISTINE condition. Loved it, but was stupid. Sold it to buy a 7 string and I hated myself for that for years;
- 1989 SR5, drove 2 hours to buy this one, ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. I won't get rid of this one. Ash body, figured maple neck and board, plenty of honest play wear, but still looks clean. It's very light, it has the perfects sound blend of the old and new (it's a 5 with an alnico pickup), it's inspired me to build basses using it as a template in some regards.
They don't make them like this anymore, I tell ya. The golden era Rays are something to cherish, indeed.
- 1991 SR4, bought it in college. Natural ash, nicely figured neck, maple board, PRISTINE condition. Loved it, but was stupid. Sold it to buy a 7 string and I hated myself for that for years;
- 1989 SR5, drove 2 hours to buy this one, ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. I won't get rid of this one. Ash body, figured maple neck and board, plenty of honest play wear, but still looks clean. It's very light, it has the perfects sound blend of the old and new (it's a 5 with an alnico pickup), it's inspired me to build basses using it as a template in some regards.
They don't make them like this anymore, I tell ya. The golden era Rays are something to cherish, indeed.
