Trouble with Stingray Special

[Nebadon2000]

I bought new in box Stingray Special 3 weeks ago; It came out of the Box in awful condition [bad back bow/pickup adjusted like ski slope G side to E]

I had to do 3 1/4 turns and 1/8 turn on trust rod to get .008 relief;
when I set Action to my preferred 5/64 E & 4/64 G many notes from 10th fret to 22nd 'Choked out' [not just buzzed]

I fussed with it for hours and had to use 7/64 & 6/64 to play clean at 6&5 EBMM suggested setting notes still choked out from frets 17 to 22 mainly on D & G strings

I realized I didn't give bass time to settle after first major adjustment so let it sit for 72 hours.

Came back to it re-did relief to .008 and now I can get a tad above my 5/54 & 4/64
spec; but I have to play very light past 17th fret and 18th & 19th fret on G string even with light touch still choke out somewhat. 20-22 fine

I still believe Stingray should be able to set even lower and play clean

That problem with 18th & 19th fret and awful out of box condition along with more time fussing with it than playing has me ready to return BUT fit and finish, weight, string bridge and neck alignment is perfect.

 

[Geri O]

I bought new in box Stingray Special 3 weeks ago; It came out of the Box in awful condition [bad back bow/pickup adjusted like ski slope G side to E]

I had to do 3 1/4 turns and 1/8 turn on trust rod to get .008 relief;
when I set Action to my preferred 5/64 E & 4/64 G many notes from 10th fret to 22nd 'Choked out' [not just buzzed]

I fussed with it for hours and had to use 7/64 & 6/64 to play clean at 6&5 EBMM suggested setting notes still choked out from frets 17 to 22 mainly on D & G strings

I realized I didn't give bass time to settle after first major adjustment so let it sit for 72 hours.

Came back to it re-did relief to .008 and now I can get a tad above my 5/54 & 4/64
spec; but I have to play very light past 17th fret and 18th & 19th fret on G string even with light touch still choke out somewhat. 20-22 fine

I still believe Stingray should be able to set even lower and play clean

That problem with 18th & 19th fret and awful out of box condition along with more time fussing with it than playing has me ready to return BUT fit and finish, weight, string bridge and neck alignment is perfect.

WOW! Makes me wonder about the conditions your Special was kept in at the dealer you bought it from.
My Special was perfect right out of the box. But I play the next string gauge up and when changed the strings to my preferred gauges, I had to tweak the relief a bit. But I was good to go and have been ever since (until I broke the B side of the nut with the bigger B string on the third night I had the thing!….. A little Super Glue, a little filing and I was back on business until the new nut arrived and I had it installed.

I’m really sorry to hear of your experience. We don’t see it often, but it’s happened to you and it stinks all the same. Perhaps the dealer’s in-house guitar tech can make some adjustments (if they have one) or they will be willing to exchange that Special for another one.

Best of luck getting that resolved!….

 

[Zooberwerx]

What are the manufacturer's set-up specs? The .008" relief is a little lean along conventional paths.

Riis

 

[Nebadon2000]

What are the manufacturer's set-up specs? The .008" relief is a little lean along conventional paths.

Riis

Business card I have tried business card, .010 and .012 worse; Music Nomad recommends .008 and I found it helped with lower action and playability

 

[Nebadon2000]

WOW! Makes me wonder about the conditions your Special was kept in at the dealer you bought it from.
My Special was perfect right out of the box. But I play the next string gauge up and when changed the strings to my preferred gauges, I had to tweak the relief a bit. But I was good to go and have been ever since (until I broke the B side of the nut with the bigger B string on the third night I had the thing!….. A little Super Glue, a little filing and I was back on business until the new nut arrived and I had it installed.

I’m really sorry to hear of your experience. We don’t see it often, but it’s happened to you and it stinks all the same. Perhaps the dealer’s in-house guitar tech can make some adjustments (if they have one) or they will be willing to exchange that Special for another one.

Best of luck getting that resolved!….

Got it from Guitar Center [was GC exclusive Burnt Apple] shipped from Musicians Friend;

The Guitar center tech is friend and helped get it playable when I went to return Bass after no luck on my own
but best he could do is as it is now; his setup lasted 1 day; I got it back to his work but his setup also needed extremely light touch for 18th & 19th frets on G String.

Tech setup was after I let it sit 72 hours and it settled[again my mistake from start not letting it sit]

 

[Zooberwerx]

I'd return it and move on. A new bass should not be a fight out-of-the-box and should certainly yield to customer set-up preferences (...within reason) with some semblance of playability.

Riis

 

[Nebadon2000]

I'd return it and move on. A new bass should not be a fight out-of-the-box and should certainly yield to customer set-up preferences (...within reason) with some semblance of playability.

Riis

I hear you; but I am fighting that impulse; It sounds great, chances of me using two frets in question is Slim, the perfect String alignment from bridge over pickups and on fretboard is important to me and hard to find in mass produced basses along with Great fit and finish in my preferred Burnt Apple [almost bought one in2019] that has been re-released as GC Exclusive with added headstock match.

I don't do much if any Slap or Tapping so super low action is not needed and I have found any lower than than 5&4 64ths affects Tone and playability for me in a negative way.

I am concerned about re-sale to someone who wants/needs super low Action and perplexed what would cause 18/19 frets to choke but not 20-22 also angry about condition sent out by EBMM obviously lack of QC or disgruntled employee.

I do not put this on GC or Musicians Friend it was just released about 6-8 weeks ago was in sealed box and stored where they store all their instruments for very short time

I put this on EBMM; Did email them twice with no response also emailed back in 2019 some simple questions also no response; Sweetwater helped there.

Not sure why EBMM has great CS/QC reputation ;but they do make a Great Bass; When I contacted Fender they responded was a hassle but eventually got done

 

[Matt Liebenau]

It sounds like a fret in the 18-20 area is high or has popped out of it’s slot a little. If you don’t have a fret rocker to check your tech friend probably does.

 

[Nebadon2000]

It sounds like a fret in the 18-20 area is high or has popped out of it’s slot a little. If you don’t have a fret rocker to check your tech friend probably does.

I thought of that also but all I had was Music Nomad Action/pickup height gauge used short side it covers 3 frets
no rocking or seeing light. Might have Tech check it

Link Removed

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I thought of that also but all I had was Music Nomad Action/pickup height gauge used short side it covers 3 frets
no rocking or seeing light. Might have Tech check it

Link Removed

That’s probably straight enough to tell if a fret is high. I still lean towards a fret issue but I’d have to have it in hand.

Nice avatar by the way. I just saw a few videos where Debbie Harry is still out there kickin’ it!

 

[Nebadon2000]

That’s probably straight enough to tell if a fret is high. I still lean towards a fret issue but I’d have to have it in hand.

Nice avatar by the way. I just saw a few videos where Debbie Harry is still out there kickin’ it!

I saw her first at CBGB's way back; Always been one of my favorites both talent and looks

 

[lethargytartare]

Echoing zoober -- return it. Try to get a straight replacement. That's not a cheap bass, is it? It sounds like a lemon.

"I am concerned about re-sale to someone who wants/needs super low Action and perplexed what would cause 18/19 frets to choke but not 20-22"

Another reason to return it. In good conscience you should only resell it (future you, that is) at a steep discount since it has a significant flaw -- a buyer should expect to be able to play every fret on the instrument. And if you KNOW there's a problem, but try to sell it without sharing that information, or downplaying it...well...that'd be kinda crappy. And unnecessary -- YOU don't deserve to be jumping through hoops to make a brand new bass MOSTLY playable :-/

"also angry about condition sent out by EBMM obviously lack of QC or disgruntled employee."

Or some other reason they might love to correct. If you just eat it and stay angry, you might miss out on a perfect chance for EB an MF to prove how good their respective customer service depts are.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Echoing zoober -- return it. Try to get a straight replacement. That's not a cheap bass, is it? It sounds like a lemon.

"I am concerned about re-sale to someone who wants/needs super low Action and perplexed what would cause 18/19 frets to choke but not 20-22"

Another reason to return it. In good conscience you should only resell it (future you, that is) at a steep discount since it has a significant flaw -- a buyer should expect to be able to play every fret on the instrument. And if you KNOW there's a problem, but try to sell it without sharing that information, or downplaying it...well...that'd be kinda crappy. And unnecessary -- YOU don't deserve to be jumping through hoops to make a brand new bass MOSTLY playable :-/

"also angry about condition sent out by EBMM obviously lack of QC or disgruntled employee."

Or some other reason they might love to correct. If you just eat it and stay angry, you might miss out on a perfect chance for EB an MF to prove how good their respective customer service depts are.

It will play all frets clean at recommended setup by EBMM

I am going to take Bass back to see if Tech at GC can diagnose problem [maybe just a fret in the 2 fret area needs attention etc.] if can't be fixed most likely will return it.

I haven't decided whether to have them get me another one[could be worse or same] or just refund and look for something else or just deal with 2 frets[ only time I might use one of them is Bass bit at end of Free's 'Alright Now' [19th fret]

If I were to decide to keep it 'as is' I would not sale it without full disclosure but in my mind this would be my last Bass most likely [turning 69 Saturday]

It is a Great Bass Overall and plays and sounds great; like I mentioned Fit, Finish, Construction Etc. are excellent

I did send EBMM Customer Service an Email 'let's say' explaining my displeasure on condition out of box and struggle with setup. MF has no guilt here I know they don't take Bass out box and inspect; since it was an EBMM I assumed it would be fine

PS: Chicago Music Exchange does have a Demo Sadowsky Metroline M/J for 30% off

But not sure I will like 1.5 nut width; played a Fender Precision 75' for 25 years with 1.75 nut and took awhile to get used to Precisions new 1.625 nut and Stingray has 1.7 which I feel very comfortable with.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Echoing zoober -- return it. Try to get a straight replacement. That's not a cheap bass, is it? It sounds like a lemon.

"I am concerned about re-sale to someone who wants/needs super low Action and perplexed what would cause 18/19 frets to choke but not 20-22"

Another reason to return it. In good conscience you should only resell it (future you, that is) at a steep discount since it has a significant flaw -- a buyer should expect to be able to play every fret on the instrument. And if you KNOW there's a problem, but try to sell it without sharing that information, or downplaying it...well...that'd be kinda crappy. And unnecessary -- YOU don't deserve to be jumping through hoops to make a brand new bass MOSTLY playable :-/

"also angry about condition sent out by EBMM obviously lack of QC or disgruntled employee."

Or some other reason they might love to correct. If you just eat it and stay angry, you might miss out on a perfect chance for EB an MF to prove how good their respective customer service depts are.

As to last paragraph sent EBMM now 3 emails finally after 2 weeks got reply asking for serial # Monday sent info no reply yet sent another email no reply

I don't think EBMM cares much
Yes I will most likely return and their CS has insured it won't be exchanged for another

 

[Geri O]

As to last paragraph sent EBMM now 3 emails finally after 2 weeks got reply asking for serial # Monday sent info no reply yet sent another email no reply

I don't think EBMM cares much
Yes I will most likely return and their CS has insured it won't be exchanged for another

I can't think of any manufacturer that I haven't been very frustrated with the customer service when communicating via email (except Mesa Boogie over buying a spare tube. No one should be surprised by that....)

I've always had great luck by calling them on the good ol' telephone. They either answer or return a call within 1/2 hour.

However, no one can blame you for returning the bass and feeling the way you do. Regardless of my experience, yours has been the pits,

 

[J Wilson]

Don't know where or how you're measuring that .008 clearance, but if that's what you 're shooting for with a capo'd first fret and the last fret held down, .008 at the seventh fret is exceptionally straight, so much so that unless the frets are perfect and the neck is very good, that's going to be very hard to achieve and live with unless you have an exceptionally light touch.

 

[J Wilson]

This would be how I would approach and adjust that Stingray, or most any bass actually.


Here's Dave Reaum, longtime, very experienced Toronto guitar tech, from his video channel 'Dave's World of Fun Stuff' adjusting a Stingray. Dave's also a longtime bassist himself.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Don't know where or how you're measuring that .008 clearance, but if that's what you 're shooting for with a capo'd first fret and the last fret held down, .008 at the seventh fret is exceptionally straight, so much so that unless the frets are perfect and the neck is very good, that's going to be very hard to achieve and live with unless you have an exceptionally light touch.

My Other Basses worked fine at .008[including SBMM Ray34] and every fret is fine on this Bass except couple notes on G and even higher up from those notes work fine [20-22 frets] some Stingray owners use less relief.

Business card recommendation by EBMM is .010; Tried that same problem; tried .012 same problem and with 2 latter couldn't get action anywhere near what I prefer for playability.

Music Nomand and many others suggest .008 for Bass

I play with average touch using light and Hard for effect sometimes.

I am hoping it is just a fret needs some attention or nut because I really like this Bass in every other way
why I still have and am trying to make it work.

I most likely won't ever need 18/19th fret on G BUT I will know, resale, how awful it came out of box, expectations for $2700 Bass, being ignored by EBMM Customer service way on Me and may make me not want exchange

With that said when I go to return if tech can get it straight I would gladly keep it.[no matter what relief he finds adequate]

PS First time I took in Tech set relief by feel; I measured when I got home it was .008 He did touch higher G fret extremely light and fast didn't notice problem with 2 fret until I actually Played them and even with what I consider a light touch they still buzz out and choke out with average attack.

 

[bulldean]

I'm glad I went with a Sterling Sting Ray.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I'm glad I went with a Sterling Sting Ray.

Don't get me wrong this Bass in all other ways is Great and many other users are completely content

Mine I would consider an 'Anomaly' and [bad] luck of the draw; causing me to emotionally act with with some anger and disappointment based on high expectations.

EBMM Customer Service finally contacted me; lets see