The EBMM SS is way out of your stated price range but might be worth a stretch. Mine quickly became my #1 and from all I can see, a lifetime bass.
To bring the recommendations back to something I'll buy... solid body, split single coil or humbucker only. I play mostly punk. Long scale P bass into DarkGlass B7K is home base
I have a wide mix of headstock configurations. No headless though. Maybe that's where I'm weird?Funny how my weird dislike is 4-in-line tuners. No Mustang for me.
As you know, more than one thing can be true at the same time.Pick up the Chowny CHB-1 after a week idle, and find it still in tune, or very close to in tune. Is it the Gotoh tuners, the Pyramid Golds, or just good fortune? Who knows.
I'm quite fond of my Sterling SS4. Plays well, feels short, and not bad balance. Good StingRay tone, but cannot hold a candle to the original Ray.Just the previous Fender Mustang PJ. I would consider it a "real" bass not intended to be your kid's first bass. I like the look of the Sterling SS4 but can't put my hands on one. Bass walls around here are pretty much the 20 basses they can't sell
I'm quite fond of my Sterling SS4. Plays well, feels short, and not bad balance. Good StingRay tone, but cannot hold a candle to the original Ray.
View attachment 7050718
Would love to have your StingRay and mine as A/B jam session experience. Not sure I know what a proper Ray sounds like, only that several have said that the short scales (with passive electronics) don't have the same sound.The Sterling is on my short list of possible additions.
To me, a proper StingRay is ....
:: evil grin ::
that's the way to get in a lot of trouble round these parts. lol. What's not in dispute is EBMM crafts very high quality instruments today. Stunning!
I have played other sires and they punch way above their price. If you want a PJ the U5 hard to beat.Yes and no. Stock it had issues but after some easy mods, fret level, setup... the big "problem" was neck dive. Where it sits on your knee means most of the weight is on the neck side compared to the back of the body.
As you know, more than one thing can be true at the same time.
I've got Pyramid Golds on the top of my list as the next new string I'm going to try.
I've got Pyramid Golds on the top of my list as the next new string I'm going to try.
Flats last forever, if you want 'em to.
Flats last forever, if you want 'em to.
Would love to have your StingRay and mine as A/B jam session experience. Not sure I know what a proper Ray sounds like, only that several have said that the short scales (with passive electronics) don't have the same sound.
This is my answer. Mustangs are great but the Guild does everything the Mustang does and more. And it feels a whole lot better too.The Starfire II is a lot more expensive ($1200-1600), though I was able to score a new one from A Big Online Music Shop for under $800.