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The Special range is definitely more consistent, and the build quality is excellent, but to me they've somehow engineered out the soul of the instrument, and they don't sound anything like the original pre-EB Stingrays. But then what does??

Rick bought my Fender Precision and was an absolute joy to deal with. Friendly communications and the fastest payment I have ever received! I would be more than happy if he wanted to buy anything else from me in the future!

I remember listing my USA Ray on here for about £500 a decade ago. Not a single bit of interest... Thank goodness... Would have seriously regretted letting it go, especially for pennies. I paid £750 for it with hardcase etc in 2011, great price for a USA ray.

Talk about things moving and changing rapidly... I started to learn to play euphonium in October. Initially, the tuition was with the beginners' group with the training band. It is significantly harder work and slower to learn than sax or cello. My big advantage is I already read music and I'm an experienced musician so I don't have most of the issues that add extra challenges to beginners. I started private lessons as well just before Christmas - had about four now - which helps a lot. I'm now playing with the training band, not the beginners' group - I'm the only one that's been asked to move across (some of that is I've been more consistent in attending...). There are notes I can't play as they're beyond my current range. I either read down an octave, or omit them. A couple of weeks ago, the MD messages me 3 hours before rehearsal and says: can you take the rehearsal tonight and conduct it? I have stood in before in various groups and I did do a conducting component at summer school last year. Then I get asked would I consider taking on the conducting post at another band in the area? So, some long phone calls, a visit from the band leader and a long chat, I go to the band's rehearsal last Wednesday and now it seems I'm the conductor of the band in Appleby... I've spent this week trying to find videos (with correct arrangements) of their current list of pieces - not entirely successfully - and I've been marking up scores. Good job I'd already signed-up to the conducting part of the this year's summer school...

I'd say higher for the Stingray Specials, as they seemed to correct the 40 year old 'weak G' problem. I believe those instruments from 2018 onwards to be far superior.

Ian bought a pedal from me. Quick payment and overall just an easy transaction! Thanks again!

It very much depends on what vintage you’re looking for @Supernaut. To some degree the spec is also a factor. H, HS, HH, Piezo, SLO, Ltd Ed etc

I've been using the La Bella IAH version of the Super Polished on my Lionel and they are very nearly perfect but I'd like just a smidge more tension for the short scale. So I've ordered some of the original Super Polished as the tensions are a little higher. I've no doubt their tension would be too much for me on 34 scale (the IAH are pushing it) but hopefully this will work! With a bit of luck the strings will arrive before the weekend.

It doesn't seem so long ago that £800 was the going rate for a pukka full fat USA Stingray and you could pick one up on BC most weeks... I said 'seems'! I'd be surprised if there are many around as cheap as £1200 and I'd expect a regular/non-special to be closer to £1500.

What? No one can offer me any advice?

FWIW: I paid 1500 for a 2013 Classic 2eq last week. Good but not perfect condition Actually the best sounding Stingray i've ever had IMO

Thanks dude. I'm coming to the conclusion that it would be enough for me. There seem to be enough people using both the older and new versions with good results. There is a similar discussion on TalkBass right now, and one guy is gigging the N300 and reckons it is more powerful than the older version because of the more conventional eq controls, as much as the extra 50 watts.

They sound quite nice as well. I've had zero chance to wind them up due to various things, it'll probably be the weekend before I can try.

I am suspicious that the US Specials will go up, and the mids will get all the really heavy wood that nobody wants, especially as the Specials are now close to the same weight as the old versions. So much for the new "lightweight redesign" they started with.