Why do we sell our Musicman Stingray?

[Commreman]

Years and years ago I had a '77 (purchased new). Root Beer with a maple neck. Nice looking axe!

The tone was great. The issues that I had were that the neck never really felt quite right, and there was a defect in the string through bridge whereby it ate E strings for lunch, breakfast and dinner. I would literally break an E string every three weeks on a gig. NOT cool.

I got a great deal on my '64 P sometime around 1983 or so, and the Sting Ray started collecting dust. Years later, a good friend of mine (we sub for each other in each other's projects) begged me to sell it to him. I did. I was never sorry, nor did I look back. YMMV.

 

[Bassmickeyd]

I feel your pain. I had to sell my '79 Stingray in 1989 to settle an enormous phone bill that someone who was visiting my flat ran up. Aaaaaarrrrrrrgh! I think I'm just about over it now.....

Was his name Andy? ....... I had that happen to me once but what saved me from the poorhouse was that Andy had no one in the 20-odd countries, he called, that would speak to him for more than 3-minutes. ...
Most were less than 30-seconds long. People heard him say "Hello!" then hung up.

I sold my 77-Musicman when it was time and my ear was tired of that sound. ..... Though I nearly bought another one a few years back, but I came to the conclusion I've got plenty of good basses already.

 

[BagelBruin]

Can we all agree you either love them or hate them?

 

[Bassmickeyd]

Can we all agree you either love them or hate them?

I don't think it's as cut and dry as all that. ........ I prefer MM Rosewood over their Maple boards. ..... I like the 3-way EQ but I only set it at one position and leave it there. ..... So, if I owned a new one I'd have the EQ permanently set to those dents and hard wire it to stay that way.
So, it's not love or hate, its preference.

 

[BagelBruin]

I don't think it's as cut and dry as all that. ........ I prefer MM Rosewood over their Maple boards. ..... I like the 3-way EQ but I only set it at one position and leave it there. ..... So, if I owned a new one I'd have the EQ permanently set to those dents and hard wire it to stay that way.
So, it's not love or hate, its preference.

Touche!

 

[Infidelity]

I sold 2 stingray (pre-EB and classic) in a year and a sterling. Its not me..

 

[John D Harris]

Can we all agree you either love them or hate them?

Seems that the majority of the players out there fall into one of these two camps.

I have a '97 SR5 w/Rosewood fb and alder body -- heavy, but killer tone (IMO).
I play mine 90% of the time using the single-coil+phantom setting, boost the low end a bit, and love it.

 

[Infidelity]

Seems that the majority of the players out there fall into one of these two camps.

I have a '97 SR5 w/Rosewood fb and alder body -- heavy, but killer tone (IMO).
I play mine 90% of the time using the single-coil+phantom setting, boost the low end a bit, and love it.

Single Coil pretty much sums it up as a jazz bass esque..

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I loved my 2EQ when I was playing around the house. Took it to practice and it disappeared in the mix. So I sold it and I'm sticking with my Jazz or P bass variants. Just personal preference though.

 

[malcolm.mcintyr]

I haven't owned another bass since I got my pre-EB Stingray in '84. I have gigged every week in that time, and the Stingray does me fine because I like to be heard. Been through a lot of amps though.
I can't understand the complaints about the neck profile. Mine is a maple and seems thinner profile than any P-bass I've tried.

 

[zachbass02]

I'm going with "temporary insanity" for the answer to this question. I'm currently on my third SR5 in 6 years. I get rid of one, then pick one up again down the road. Me thinks I should keep it forever, but guess what, I've got it listed FS right now. still thinking of keeping it.

 

[BagelBruin]

I know I love my Stingray5 HH so much. I have never done studio work with it, but in some live recording we have done, I was very pleased with it (and the direct out on my Ampeg STV 4).

I'm also young and brash. I feel like I can knock down a building when I'm holding my Ray. I own two other basses, and they are both P-Basses. I like them too, just not as much.

But I can agree, it weighs a lot, but not as much as some Les Pauls my brother plays. He's got one which weight around 15 pounds!

 

[Funkfaker]

I'm selling my 5 string StingRay, but I'll keep the 4 string. In all honesty, the Fender P gets used the most, but the SR sits perfectly in many mixes.

In fact, the 5ver is one of the best recording basses I've ever used. If it weren't for the CallowHill Junk 5 on it's way, I'd keep it. But the 4 banger definitely stays.

 

[someparts]

I can't understand the med/high EQ bandwidths on them: Not many basses of this category sounds so harsh and clanky with all the controls fully open, but in the other hand ANY Stingray and in particular the 80's and 90's beforehand mentioned sounds superb with the controls at the center position and a bit of lows enganged.

This is just dead on info about the 3-band EQ setting on my early 90s SR4.

 

[kenfxj]

I loved everything about my 5-string Ray except the sound so I sold it to finance other gear. I sold my Ric to help finance a year of ASA Gold softball for my daughter. I miss that Ric but softball is paying for college so it was well worth it.

 

[puddin tame]

Thats not cool to say. Obviously you dont have kids......

yeah not anymore he doesn't, jerk

 

[GregC]

strange, I thought this would be recovering stingray sellers support group. Turns out its more of a stingray hate fest. unsubscribed.

Can we all agree you either love them or hate them?

It's amazing how some use the word "hate" to describe any expressed distaste, even if it's just for one element of a bass. So dramatic!

 

[Funkfaker]

I can't understand the med/high EQ bandwidths on them: Not many basses of this category sounds so harsh and clanky with all the controls fully open, but in the other hand ANY Stingray and in particular the 80's and 90's beforehand mentioned sounds superb with the controls at the center position and a bit of lows enganged.

That's one thing I don't understand. The treble control on the 3band is super clanky. Also the reason why I usually have flats or halfrounds on the bass.

 

[tim0391]

I'm glad EB is doing their Classic series now with the two-band pre-amp and finished necks. I tried one and liked a lot but I won't be buying it because I've got that sound and more with the East preamp – plus its in a gorgeous mahogany 30th Anniversary Stingray.

NO!! say it isnt so! u modified a 30th anniversary IMHO it is the finest ray ever made, and resale value for the future will only go up!

I have 2 rays my 30th fretless, and a 4 banger. Hopefully buying a 5er this year too. I love my stingray, and my stingray loves me

As for the preamp mod....each to there own I suppose!!

 

[badboy1984]

I have a 3 Band EQ Stingray, even if i cut all treble and max boost bass the tone is still super clanky. I just want a fat warm growl tone.

I heard lots of ppl like the 2 band but hate the 3 band stingray. I think is to do with the 3 band preamp ......

Someone hear suggest installing a john East preamp. I think i will buy the John East to see are their any different. At one point i think is the pickup but i think is more to do with the preamp .....