My black beauty.
Made and bought in 2001.
Made and bought in 2001.
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Which Music Man Stingray would you recommend?
- Thread starter Michael Rosen
- Start date
So I've came across an Old Smoothie in Mint Green. Not my kind of colour but it's growing on me. I know that it's the recreation of Fender's prototype but apart of that pickup what are the differences between this and the Classic? Do they have the same lacquered neck and the same 2 band EQ?
This is the one I'm talking about:
This is the one I'm talking about:
The preamp, although not the original 1976, is built around the 1976 design. The Classic SR4 preamp is different in that it uses the 1978 preamp design. The pickup has the original longer pole pieces. The Classic uses the shorter pole pieces which became standard around 1978.
I have an Old Smoothie and a Classic. Both are great Basses but there is a difference between them.
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I would like the color more with a white pick guard.
I would like that color much more with a white pick guard.
I would like that color much more with a white pick guard.
Behold my starry night short scale stingray!!!
Michael, I played the old smoothie below about 5 times.
I don't remember if it had a laquer finish on the neck, but the instrument sounds fantastic.
I was trying out P and J basses just to see if I wanted one, and the ones I played were very nice, but when I plugged in the old smoothie, I feel in love with it right away.
To me, it sounds midway between a Jazz bass and a Stingray.
I would have bought it, but I just couldn't justify buying it.
I recommend them highly.
The one I played is the same color combo as the one you're looking at.
Good luck.
Mike
I don't remember if it had a laquer finish on the neck, but the instrument sounds fantastic.
I was trying out P and J basses just to see if I wanted one, and the ones I played were very nice, but when I plugged in the old smoothie, I feel in love with it right away.
To me, it sounds midway between a Jazz bass and a Stingray.
I would have bought it, but I just couldn't justify buying it.
I recommend them highly.
The one I played is the same color combo as the one you're looking at.
Good luck.
Mike
Michael, I played the old smoothie below about 5 times.
I don't remember if it had a laquer finish on the neck, but the instrument sounds fantastic.
I was trying out P and J basses just to see if I wanted one, and the ones I played were very nice, but when I plugged in the old smoothie, I feel in love with it right away.
To me, it sounds midway between a Jazz bass and a Stingray.
I would have bought it, but I just couldn't justify buying it.
I recommend them highly.
The one I played is the same color combo as the one you're looking at.
Good luck.
Mike
I can confirm that it is a fully laquered neck, including the fretboard. It also has small mandolin frets which would be another difference between it and other MM basses.
Thank you.
Whatever this bass has, I like it.
Mike
They're definitely nice basses. I have one in the butterscotch finish. You can see it on the right side on the floor in this family picture:
Sterling as you can use the selector switch and get different tones. It’s a must for me when it comes to MusicMan basses.
Thank you! Unfortunately one of the Stingrays (the Old Smoothie) has since been sold as of a week or so ago. It was a great bass, but just not quite my style compared to the other Stingrays that I have.
Had a few Stingray before, all 3 band EQ's, a USA made Sterling, a Stingray Special 2018 as well. And now, I have a Stingray 2 Band EQ in natural colour..... she is the best of all, being the simplest model of all too!!! What a great slap tone it has!!! There is just something different with that one I cannot explain it! All choices are good choices no matter what when talking about Stingray basse, which are super well built!!!
Wow that's awesome, congrats! I'm also leaning towards the Classic too. Can I ask you how much the slab body bothers you compared to the newer models?
Does not bother me either way, it is just that the 2 band EQ I have now has been the best in Tone and feel. The new Special ones are amazingly well built, but hey to each his own.
So I've found my love after months of searching and years of working and saving money, here it is - Music Man Stingray Classic in Vintage Sunburst 
I'm the happiest guy on Earth right now
Also, I want to thank you guys for all the help here, it's such an amazing community!
As I said, I cannot express how I love the tone of this beautiful beast, that classic Stingray sound is what I was looking for my whole life. I've set up the action and adjusted the truss rod, now it plays like a butter. Other than these simple adjustments, everything on this bass is perfect: the neck is beautifully lacquered, the slab body is absolutely gorgeous and comfortable, the bridge is stable, the mute foams are fantastic additions for some funky stuff, and the 2 band EQ is just beyond amazing.
Not the greatest pictures because of my phone, but I tried, here they come:
I'm the happiest guy on Earth right now Also, I want to thank you guys for all the help here, it's such an amazing community!
As I said, I cannot express how I love the tone of this beautiful beast, that classic Stingray sound is what I was looking for my whole life. I've set up the action and adjusted the truss rod, now it plays like a butter. Other than these simple adjustments, everything on this bass is perfect: the neck is beautifully lacquered, the slab body is absolutely gorgeous and comfortable, the bridge is stable, the mute foams are fantastic additions for some funky stuff, and the 2 band EQ is just beyond amazing.
Not the greatest pictures because of my phone, but I tried, here they come:
Attachments
Beautiful!.......Just like mine, but I swapped the black pickguard with a white one but I do occasionally swap it back to the stock black. But hey swapping the pickguard does not make it into a better bass, just the tone of that beast speaks volumes!
Oh yes, I will do the same, I've ordered a white and a white pearloid already, but this black is also amazing. This color combination is the most vintage I can think of
Here's my 2016 with a plain white pick guard, but the stock black looks great too!
