The special is just what the name says. It is such an amazing bass.
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Which Music Man Stingray would you recommend?
- Thread starter Michael Rosen
- Start date
I had a stingray 4H special that was a *monster* instrument.
I stand by my review of it, one of the absolute finest mass-produced instruments i've ever seen. Nothing to pick at for quality. I honestly can't say a single bad thing about it.
it was lightweight, new pickup sounded amazing, played great, factory frets were perfect, it was a fabulous instrument.
I stand by my review of it, one of the absolute finest mass-produced instruments i've ever seen. Nothing to pick at for quality. I honestly can't say a single bad thing about it.
it was lightweight, new pickup sounded amazing, played great, factory frets were perfect, it was a fabulous instrument.
I second this opinion wholeheartedly.
I vote the special, theyre comfortable and light enough to play for hours.
Brand new out of the box my HH special was perfect, dead straight neck and hasn’t moved since I’ve had it. I prefer both pickups full on but every config sounds good.
Order from somewhere with a good return policy in case it ends up not being for you but I’m confident you’ll enjoy it
Brand new out of the box my HH special was perfect, dead straight neck and hasn’t moved since I’ve had it. I prefer both pickups full on but every config sounds good.
Order from somewhere with a good return policy in case it ends up not being for you but I’m confident you’ll enjoy it
Oh my God, all of these basses look superb, honestly, Music Mans are flawless, even by the looks of them. I've found four models which are truly close to my heart, but I can't decide lol.
The first one is an Ivory White Special with roasted maple fingerboard, the second one is a Powder Blue Standard with rosewood, the third's a Sunburst Classic with maple and the last one is the most beautiful of all, a Cardinal Red Standard with maple, which is a Premium Dealer Network thing. I don't know what that means though, do you have any idea?
Here are they, on pictures I've found around the internet:
The first one is an Ivory White Special with roasted maple fingerboard, the second one is a Powder Blue Standard with rosewood, the third's a Sunburst Classic with maple and the last one is the most beautiful of all, a Cardinal Red Standard with maple, which is a Premium Dealer Network thing. I don't know what that means though, do you have any idea?
Here are they, on pictures I've found around the internet:
If at all possible, you really should try and play a few. They are all excellent instruments with slight tonal and feel differences, and, as you can tell, everyone has their favorite. I have a regular H from around 2010 -3 band- that I love, but no one can tell you what you will love. Good luck!
Nice basses. The PDN is just that MM will sometimes do a special run (usually just a unique finish) and send it to 1 retailer. Right now, I believe Sweetwater has a special blue colour Stingray as a PDN and Music Zoo has a cool fuschia sparkle Stingray going on right now.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 4 H Special Music Zoo Exclusive Fuchsia Sparkle #F87489
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special 4 HH Bass Guitar - Pacific Blue Sparkle, Sweetwater Exclusive
Yeah, wish I could, but we have lockdown in my country in Europe, so there's no chance to try them all out sadly. I've found a Natural Standard too, it's also pretty sweet. These standards cost 300 bucks less too, could be a great deal, but I still hesitate, what if I miss out that Classic sound or that Special tone lol. Hard times
So basically these colors are unique? I really dig that metallic flakey red one with pearloid pickguard, so funky
So basically these colors are unique? I really dig that metallic flakey red one with pearloid pickguard, so funky
Yeah, I would guess that there aren't a ton of the red metallic flake one out there. I'm not sure how exclusive some of the PDN colours are for sure. I know with the BFR music man basses they usually only make 100 or so. With the vault basses on music-man.com, they sometimes only make like 10 of one colour. I just got one yesterday and they only made 5 of them in this finish.
Straight into a focusrite with a wee bit of compression.
Bass just sounds bomb straight out the box.
I think they all have their merits. Personally, I really like mine, which is a 95 1 pickup 2 band. To me, that's the essence of what a stingray is. I don't think the classics sound any better, and they don't have a contour. I Suppose the 2 pickup ones are more flexible. I haven't had a chance to play the updated ones for comparison
Ah, in that case I'd go for the red metal flake. Its a rare, beautiful color and you can always put some foam at the bridge or a pedal in front of it if you need a different soundYeah, wish I could, but we have lockdown in my country in Europe, so there's no chance to try them all out sadly. I've found a Natural Standard too, it's also pretty sweet. These standards cost 300 bucks less too, could be a great deal, but I still hesitate, what if I miss out that Classic sound or that Special tone lol. Hard times
Ah, in that case I'd go for the red metal flake. Its a rare, beautiful color and you can always put some foam at the bridge or a pedal in front of it if you need a different sound
You can also just get the kit from music man for the foam bridge mute things, although a piece of foam is definitely easier and cheaper.
You're getting a lot of contradictory advise here because really they're all great and the choice is just down to personal preference.
In general, I'd say the Specials are great if want lighter weight and a wider pallet of tones that can come closer to copping a Fender bass and a reduction in the harsh treble zing of some Rays.
If the zing's your thing, go with a funky pre-Special 3-band. The Smoothie will be, well, smoother, and the Classic and old 2-bands are great-sounding instruments that get that pre-Ernie vibe.
Personally, I'm partial to the Special because of the weight, rounder tone and superb workmanship. But I'm not sure EBMM ever made a bad StingRay. You can't go far wrong here.
In general, I'd say the Specials are great if want lighter weight and a wider pallet of tones that can come closer to copping a Fender bass and a reduction in the harsh treble zing of some Rays.
If the zing's your thing, go with a funky pre-Special 3-band. The Smoothie will be, well, smoother, and the Classic and old 2-bands are great-sounding instruments that get that pre-Ernie vibe.
Personally, I'm partial to the Special because of the weight, rounder tone and superb workmanship. But I'm not sure EBMM ever made a bad StingRay. You can't go far wrong here.
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PS -- I've owned a couple of 4HH Rays and still have one, and I'm not that wild about them. You'd think they'd give you a lot more options, but I don't think those options are all that useful. Just my opinion. You can always just solo the back pickup if you don't like the neck pickup tones, though.
Classic for me for that classic StingRay tone. Single H, 2 band pre, life is good!
