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Why do we sell our Musicman Stingray?

#102
I sold due to the common complaints about the single H 3 band stingray. I couldn't play it without clank. I believe that is a technique thing because people are playing Stingrays everyday without that horrendous metallic gnashing. I can't do it. My attack is too rough. I also could not get the G string to work. It completely evaporated in the mix. Again people everywhere play stingrays and the G strings work for them. I sold mine and the new owner does not have these issues. I do not have these issues with my Jazz Basses.

To the poster about the hatefest - go to the EBMM group, post about a dead G string and watch the carnage begin!
 
#104
Billy3000 said:
The clank is just inherent in stingrays.
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If mine clanked, I would not play them. Ask Pino. Ask Tony Levin. Ask all those guys who are playing Stingrays on Nashville recordings - does Craig Young sound "clanky" on those Jewel recordings? Does Tony Levin sound "clanky" at any point?

Seriously. "Clanky" is a state of mind and a decision that you make. Is it not? Because I was listening to "You Belong To Me" in the car and thinking - and I might be wrong, you listen to it and tell me - that it's all about what YOU want.

The bass doesn't tell me what to do. I tell it what to do.
 
#105
I've had a transition "Flea" bridge 'Ray, but I didn't care for it's sound. And I also didn't care for the look of the 5ers or the super close bridge string spacing. Now, I have one of the new Classic 4 string Rays and I'm totally in love! It must be the 2 band pre. Either way, the sound combined w/ the vintage tinted BEM neck and board have me hooked DEEP! I may have to try a 5er classic soon and see if I think I can get used to the spacing.
 
#106
bovinehost said:
<Professional endorser name dropping SNIPPED>

Seriously. "Clanky" is a state of mind and a decision that you make. Is it not? Because I was listening to "You Belong To Me" in the car and thinking - and I might be wrong, you listen to it and tell me - that it's all about what YOU want.

The bass doesn't tell me what to do. I tell it what to do.
Click to expand...

No, clank is not a state of mind. It is a characteristic of the Stingray bass. I believe it is the technique applied to playing it that produces the clank, but it's real. Again, an EBMM advocate blames a less than desirable characteristic of an EBMM bass on the owner - not on the bass itself. The 3EQ single H stingray clanks. Sorry. Yes, players play them everyday with their technique and they don't clank. They're better players than me. Or different but not necessarily better. Or worse but not clanky on a 3EQ single H stingray. Doesn't matter which. I personally don't like the instrument for that reason. It's 'clanky' in MY hands. I really don't care how it works for Tony Levin or anybody else. NONE of my other basses have ever been 'clanky' with my technique except the single H 3EQ stingray. I owned a few of them. They're all the same. It's occurance in many player's hands suggests that it's more than 'a state of mind' for those experiencing it. More accurately it's a poor choice of instrument for some players so we ditch the thing! The HH stingrays don't clank. The 2EQ singles don't clank. The 3EQ singles DO. The OP asked 'Why do we sell our Stingrays ?'. For me and many others, THAT'S WHY.

State of mind.... LOL!!!
 
#110
Here is a photo that would get me burned at the stake for heresy over on the Ernie Ball web site.

The look of this bass kept me from selling it but the pre-amp made me actually want to play it again.

I don't have any audio clips but here's a picture of the John East pre-amp in my 30th Anniversary Stingray. No harm done at all. It's totally reversible &#8211; not that I have any plans to sell it.

I got the three band model so that I wouldn't have a useless jack on the side of the bass.

The bass and treble eq shapes are supposed to replicate the pre-EB two band pre-amp. The mid band is sweepable and can be shut off completely, but I find it to be useful, too.

With the original preamp I found I just didn't like what it it did, whether it was with subtle or extreme settings. This preamp is so much more responsive &#8211; and no clank, unless you want to dial it in.

Stingrayeastpre-amp.jpg
 
#111
Before I forget, I was apparently listening to Elvis Costello when I wrote the above song title. The song in question is Jewel's "You Were Meant For Me" (radio version). The bass line is by Craig Young, the instrument is a 3EQ single H Stingray. I can find out the color if you think it's important.

BobKos said:
No, clank is not a state of mind. It is a characteristic of the Stingray bass.
Click to expand...

Okay, "state of mind" is a bit over the top, but hey, I was having martinis last night. You know how it goes. You start making these grand, swooping, ridiculous statements in order to make a point and next thing you know, someone loses an eyeball.

I still don't buy it as some kind of inherent characteristic. Can I make mine clank? I guess I could if I strung it with zingy roundwounds, dropped the action as low as possible and turned my right hand into a twelve pound ham - sure, I could do that. I could also get the same (clanky) results from doing the same thing to my Jazz bass.

Don't get me wrong. I hear clanky and know it can be done. It can even work, I suppose, for certain people with bloodsucking insect nicknames. Gosh, remember those early Yes albums with Chris Squire on his Ric with rounds and the treble just CRANKED? Solo some of those bass tracks and prepare for clankage. I was young, then, and totally bought into that tone, by the by. Not so much now.

BobKos said:
I believe it is the technique applied to playing it that produces the clank, but it's real.
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Well, is it an inherent characteristic of the instrument or is it technique? If it were as you say, "The 3EQ single H Stingray clanks, sorry", then your opinion is that it's a characteristic of the bass. But then you also say it's technique. I don't even know how to argue with you, and I'm not drinking martinis. (Later, though, if you're up.)


BobKos said:
Again, an EBMM advocate blames a less than desirable characteristic of an EBMM bass on the owner - not on the bass itself.
Click to expand...

I'm more of a religious figure than an "advocate" but let's not get overly picky about terminology. I'm just saying a bass is a tool, like a hammer or a robot with a death ray. No, wait - let's stick with a hammer. Or maybe a bandsaw. You know, never mind on the tool thing.

The upshot is that everyone will find certain basses to their liking. I like Music Man basses. (The crowd gasps.) I don't find them limiting, clanky or uncomfortable and God knows my technique is somewhat less than perfect. You'll think the same thing about - I don't know, Fender Precisions or Modulus or F basses or whatever. And to this, I say, "Good for us!" Find what works and make good bass noises!


BobKos said:
I really don't care how it works for Tony Levin or anybody else.
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I say that's very hard to argue with. I watched Michael Manring a couple of weeks ago at NAMM and found it absolutely mind-blowing, but I don't (read: CANNOT) do that so it's pointless for me to rush out and buy the bass he's using. So I'm with you there. If Stingrays don't work for you, that's that. So maybe I'm not a religious figure after all. Dang.

BobKos said:
More accurately it's a poor choice of instrument for some players
Click to expand...

And you know what? I've always said "To each his own." Play what blows your skirt up! Absolutely. I do have a minor niggle with the idea that a 3EQ single H Stingray has the clank installed at the factory, but people say a lot of things on the internet.

BobKos said:
The OP asked 'Why do we sell our Stingrays ?'.
Click to expand...

I've sold a few, but generally it was to buy Bongos or a Big Al or something.

Anyhoo, more coffee is in order.

Jack
 
#112
badboy1984 said:
The bass really put me off when practicing myself or playing at home, but it always sound great with the band ..........
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I find this to be common with Musicman instruments. They sound ok standalone but fantastic in a mix. My theory is they way they handle low mid frequencies is the secret.
 
#113
I'm sure there are ways of getting rid of that clank by putting some flatwounds on it, setting the eq flat on the amp and bass, whatever kind of tricks you want to try. But none of those get the sound that I want from a bass. Don't get me wrong about the clank on a stingray. When I bought it that was WHY I bought it, that's what in my mind was the stingray tone, and a lot of my favorite bassists at the time were playing stingrays and getting tons of that clanky sound in their tone. I really did like it, I just outgrew it, and realized that I could get the tone that I wanted without the clank on a regular passive bass. I bought a P bass then a J bass, and then fell in love with a Ric, and had to sell the Stingray because I couldn't justify letting it sit in it's case any longer, and because I needed a lot of money to buy the Ric.
 
#114
When I start this topic off on the forum i did actually plan to trade/sell my Stingray. After playing it several times today I start like it again for some reason ...... I think I will regret of selling it because the bass play and felt nice plus it was my hard earn cash to buy this .......

I think I will order a set of John East stingray 3band pre on my stingray to see what it sound like, i think it will be a good result. My Fender Jazz and Warwick corvette 5 string all have John East on and it always give me good tone easily.
 
#116
Paul M said:
Here is a photo that would get me burned at the stake for heresy over on the Ernie Ball web site.
Click to expand...

Well, it's not the John East forum, is it? But in any case, I know some people over there and they say that old moderator guy is trying to keep the burning at the stake to a minimum.

Paul M said:
...no clank, unless you want to dial it in.
Click to expand...

So now "clank" is an option! I love it.
 
#118
bovinehost said:
Well, is it an inherent characteristic of the instrument or is it technique? If it were as you say, "The 3EQ single H Stingray clanks, sorry", then your opinion is that it's a characteristic of the bass. But then you also say it's technique. I don't even know how to argue with you, and I'm not drinking martinis. (Later, though, if you're up.)


Jack
Click to expand...

OK Jack - you're dissecting my words into syllables, but you're conveniently overlooking sentences. I clearly stated NONE of my other basses have ever been 'clanky' with my technique except the single H 3EQ stingray. Why is that difficult to understand? Not all basses are optimal for all playing styles. Care to slap a Gibson EBO? Me neither. And if I were primarily a slap player and I owned an EBO, I would sell it. Make sense? Well, I sold my stingray 3EQs because they don't work with my technique. Same difference. It's the bass AND the technique. Please recall the OP of this thread.

And yes - clank is an inherent characteristic of the 3EQ stingray. You know it to be true. You tow the company line for Sterling Ball, and you do a very good job. I hope he rewards you well. But you know I'm right. Martinis or not.
 

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