Which boutique brand will do a Stingray-style first?

[Fuzzbass]

The original premise of this thread begs a really interesting question and one I can't quite answer: WHY do people want to mod Fenders but not Rays? Modding Fenders seems like "the thing to do" and modding original Rays just isn't done. I'm gonna think about that one for awhile.

It's not true that Rays aren't modded. I modded both of my workhorse MusicMans, an '83 pre-EB Cutlass (bridge, pickup, preamp, D-tuner) and '89 EB Sabre (bridge, D-tuner). I see other modded MM basses from time to time... IIRC Gary Grainger added a P-bass pickup to his Ray.

It's not too difficult to figure out why Fenders -- especially P-basses -- are modded more than MMs. Here are a few reasons:

1. Back when the modding craze began, Fender ruled the bass market even more than they do now
2. Because of (1), direct replacement parts became common for Fender basses
3. Fender waited too long to offer a PJ model, active models
4. MM basses already have a preamp

 

[stflbn]

Regenerate Guitar Works new M-series seems to be Sterling like in size and shape to me.
Just drop a MM pickup and East MM Preamp in it and there ya go.

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[ghoulbug]

If the Stingray aesthetics are as important to you as tone, then perhaps you can get a luthier to assemble a parts bass.

I really hope I don't get them in trouble for this, but Guitar Mill is one place I know of that can mill you a Stingray body shape.

 

[bassramos]

You could Improve on The Fenders and that's why they were modded. What can you improve on Stingrays? They already come with Birdseye on the neck many times, THe ash bodies are gorgeous, the pickups and pre are already optimal. They have special editions with figured maple, unusual colors and tricked out electronics packages. They are built SOLID. THey have special anniversary models that look incredible. Damn they sound good. I have always preferred Musiman basses to most fenders I have seen. THey are already custom

 

[RCCollins]

not exactly boutique, but in a sense, g&L MFD humbuckers are "super MM" pickups - or at least, the successor to MM pups

 

[bassramos]

And this

 

[Fuzzbass]

Oh, I almost forgot. Here's my boutique Stingray, a Sadowsky P5 with Nordstrand MM5.2 pickup. It doesn't look much like a Ray because of the P-bass body... and it doesn't sound exactly like a Ray -- IMO because the Sadowsky preamp and MM preamp are different animals. However it sounds close enough to a Ray to fool most people.

Video that captures the tone fairly well:
http://www.youtube.com/user/5stringKen#p/u/2/YIYQVwDcg3M

 

[bassramos]

And this

 

[rojo412]

Hey, don't get me wrong... I've seen them do a lot of different configurations. But they don't do it unless THEY want to do it.

I can only imagine a request as simple as black hardware on a standard model to be met with a response like "Go **** yourself! We do what we want!"

That Sadowsky is the first I've ever seen like that!

 

[TapyTap]

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Z2 OVERVIEW

The Z2 is designed to capture the best qualities of the classic single humbucker tone. Then we increased the versatility by using two independent pickups mounted in a humbucker style array. The tone captures the classic mid-range and bottom end of the original but with a much more refined top-end and useful range of tones. The streamlined neck and body shape result in ergonomic perfection.
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I've never played one...but would love to!

 

[steamthief]

EBMM protects their patents, and rightly so. One of the members of their forum is also their intellectual property counsel. Here's a fairly recent lawsuit:

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[king_biscuit]

You could Improve on The Fenders and that's why they were modded. What can you improve on Stingrays? They already come with Birdseye on the neck many times, THe ash bodies are gorgeous, the pickups and pre are already optimal. They have special editions with figured maple, unusual colors and tricked out electronics packages. They are built SOLID. THey have special anniversary models that look incredible. Damn they sound good. I have always preferred Musiman basses to most fenders I have seen. THey are already custom

Most people modding Fenders are not improving anything.

 

[Fuzzbass]

That Sadowsky is the first I've ever seen like that!

Sadowsky has made at least one other bass with an MM pickup, but I believe mine is the only P-style Sadowsky with MM pickup.

It's important to note that the string spacing on my Sadowsky MM5 is wider than on the MusicMan Stingray 5. That's a big reason why I went with Sadowsky instead of MusicMan -- I love the tone of MusicMan fivers, but the string spacing is WAY too narrow for my comfort! (FWIW I believe string spacing options are equal for Sadowsky and MM four strings.)

I should also note that any Sadowsky NYC comes with their usual boutique price. Finally, Sadowsky doesn't offer the MM-style body shape, so they're not an option for those who demand the MM look. But I think the white bass is awesome... it's become my #1 bass for rock.

 

[rojo412]

EBMM protects their patents, and rightly so. One of the members of their forum is also their intellectual property counsel. Here's a fairly recent lawsuit:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

That's "NUTS!".... huh huh huh.

And I like your Sadowsky a lot, Fuzzbass, I think it's awesome! Your description is exactly why I asked why there aren't more builders attempting it.
String spacing is an issue with EBMMs, no doubt (though I like the narrower stuff myself)...
Weight can be an issue...
And the preamp isn't necessarily god's gift to basses around the world.
(I personally think the newer ones have a super harsh treble that needs to be squelched more often than boosted).

 

[Darkstrike]

Sadowsky has made at least one other bass with an MM pickup, but I believe mine is the only P-style Sadowsky with MM pickup.

The only other one I've seen was a 4 string Jazz, might have had a figured top.

 

[Carey]

We are thinking about this very thing.

We made a preamp that is as close to the original as we could. We put that and our pickup in an OLP 5 and compared it to a 78 Stingray that we have on hand. Pretty danged close. There's some youtubes of it out there somewhere.

So we want to do something in an original shape that is not a MM or a P, but is still in the ballpark. Have it be 19mm (for the 5) and include the preamp. I think it would be a lot of fun. Electronically it would be very faithful and should have the "sound".

Hopefully we don't stir up any issues with Ernie Ball. But I figure it's worth trying...

 

[rojo412]

Well there you go!

 

[stflbn]

So we want to do something in an original shape that is not a MM or a P, but is still in the ballpark. Have it be 19mm (for the 5) and include the preamp. I think it would be a lot of fun. Electronically it would be very faithful and should have the "sound".

You had me up until 19mm 5-string.

 

[Darkstrike]

We are thinking about this very thing.

We made a preamp that is as close to the original as we could. We put that and our pickup in an OLP 5 and compared it to a 78 Stingray that we have on hand. Pretty danged close. There's some youtubes of it out there somewhere.

So we want to do something in an original shape that is not a MM or a P, but is still in the ballpark. Have it be 19mm (for the 5) and include the preamp. I think it would be a lot of fun. Electronically it would be very faithful and should have the "sound".

Hopefully we don't stir up any issues with Ernie Ball. But I figure it's worth trying...

Ooh! I wanna see what happens with this!

 

[bassbenj]

I'd love to see a good 8-string (octaves) Music Man.

I'd kill for a 10-string (octaves) Music Man! But not enough demand to justify it, I'm sure.