grayn

Stunning bass and nice write up.

I had a Goodfellow, back in the day, which was amazing but this looks even better.

Congrats.

5 hours ago, gary mac said:

 Good to see that shape of headstock

Totally agree, I really dislike G&L's usual headstock shaping.  This looks so much better.

Tone wise, I like both pickups with series switching.  Cool bass.

Gorgeous bass but think the control plate could have gone too.😎

Certainly has a cool, industrial look.

Westone knocked out some very decent stuff, back in the day.

Congrats.

5 hours ago, Muppet said:

There's an extension cab in the for sale section,  just sayin'  (not mine before you ask!) 

Apart from the obvious volume benefit, this and the combo stacked looks awesome. 

 

Sure would be a great match.

I'd have to put them side by side though, I'm too scared of pulling a stack down.

Unfortunately I can't pair the Rumbel with my Mark Bass 2x10, as it's 4 ohms.

10 hours ago, GreeneKing said:

Wondering whether it would be up to the main gigging role with the extension cab?

TBH, I think the Rumble 500 could easily handle gigs without another cab.

It's a loud combo, with a great tone.  It would be pretty awesome with another 2x10 0r 1x15 though.

I've been using the same bass rig for gigs/rehearsals, for quite a few years now.
Gallien Krueger head through a Mark Bass 2x10 cab.
It's been a great set up and impressed folks with it's sound.
Light though it is, I can't be bothered to lug it up to my music room, when not in use.
So, when I want to play/practice bass, I usually play acoustically.
More recently I've been playing a lot more at home, so figured it was time to get a practice amp.
No shortage of choice or perhaps too much choice.
Then I started thinking, perhaps I could get a combo that would be good/loud enough to be a back up, to my regular rig.
The most obvious choice would be a 2nd hand Mark Bass combo and I saw a nice 1x12 combo on Gumtree.
But unlike basses, that I'm very happy to get preowned, I'm always a bit dubious about getting 2nd hand amps.
I know it may be foolish but you never know what they've been through.
Anyway I decided to visit my mate Tony's shop, in Keighley.
Which cut the combo choices to 2; Blackstar Unity or Fender Rumble.
He had a few different sizes in each but I quickly took a fancy to the Fender Rumble 500.
Nice and compact for a 2x10, rediculously lightweight and very straightforward controls.
Gain to control input, Master for output, 4 band EQ, plus 3 mod buttons and a 2 control, overdrive section.
Very unlikely to ever use the overdrive but it sounded pretty good, if you like that sort of thing.
The 3 push/push mod buttons are Bright (high frequency boost), Contour (mid scoop, with extra bass & treble) and Vintage (compressed, smooth and vintagey)
Funnily enough, when I first switched the amp on, I didn't notice the Vintage button was down.
And I thought blimey, this sounds like some old 70s amp, which I didn't really like.
Like the overdrive, I'l not be using the Mod buttons but I can see how they could be very useful.
Remembering that this is a relatively low cost amp, I was pretty impressed with the sound.
I took my Musicman Stingray Special to try it and kept the controls on bass and amp, mostly flat, at 12 o'clock.
That flat setting sounded pretty good and after some minimal amp and bass control tweaking, started to sound very good.
I got the amp up loud, in a large environment and was pleased with how everything kept clean aand nicely controlled.
This is a pretty loud combo and to my ears seemed well capable of handling gigs.
As an initial comparison to my gigging rig, I think the Fender is a little cleaner but didn't quite have that direct, punch in the chest feel, my main rig had, when I first tried it.
Overall though I think this Rumble will be a great practice amp and a very capable gigging combo.

9 hours ago, Grahambythesea said:

I have it’s 2013 predecessor, same great pickups, bridge and hardware. Brilliant sound range, great neck and also lightweight. The anti-Gibson mafia just won’t try these and just demonstrate prejudice.

Anti-Gibson mafia?  I don't like the sound of that.  Can you imagine the size of gun you could get in a bass case!!

Congrats, it looks very nice indeed.

Does this mean that Gibson have finally built a decent bass?

Oh yeah, that bridge looks the business, as does the confused grain.

Love that Modulus.  Seriously jealous.

On the subject of the new Fender Jazz Flea bass, I played one recently, in Inca Silver and really liked it.

Great feel, build and sound.  Can't ask for more than that.

1 hour ago, drTStingray said:

Congratulations - nice colour. I've had mine over 12 months and still loving it. You'll find the bass has less natural compression and a completely different mid range from the previous 3 band model. They really are great basses in all respects. They will still do aggressive Ray if you want though - and quite usable with the mid fully boosted.

The amount of boost available in the pre amp (if you want it) is similar to a Bongo. 

Thanks for that.  I was wondering how to describe the difference in tone, although less natural compression wasn't something that seemed apparent to me.

Have to listen out a bit more at the next band rehearsal.

Never had a Bongo., although great they are just too ugly to my eyes.

Always fancied a Big Al though.

13 hours ago, Tankdave said:

How's the neck-dive or lack of with the new lighter tuners?

 

As already said, I've had a lot of EBMMs over the years and never experienced neck dive and the balance on this Special is perfect, IMO.

13 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Is chopper blue metallic or flat?

still not 100% on these new ones, but damn this looks good

It's a flat blue, with gloss finish.

19 minutes ago, songofthewind said:

I love the look and sound of these, but baulk at the specified nut width.

Would someone be able to explain the significance of why the actual measurement differs from the published specs?

Thank you.

No idea about discrepancies in measurements but I can recommend you get your hands on a Special, I think you'll love that neck.

12 hours ago, pineweasel said:

I’d be interested to hear about the tonal differences between the old Stingray and the Special. I’ve read that the Special is a bit mellower, overall, with a little less of that Stingray snarl.  

I can understand that opinion but the Special still has that edgy growl, IMO.

Until I use it with the band I can't compare totally but think the Special has a similar tone but perhaps with a little more clarity.  But the differences are subtle.

I returned today, to one of my old, favoured bass places, Promenade Music in Morecambe.
Used to go there every few weeks but hadn't been for 2 years.
Anyway, Gary's still working there and is a great bloke for loads of friendly, knowledgable chat and a cup of tea.
Had a hankering for another 4-stringer and after some discussion, we more or less narrowed it down to 3 basses.
A Marleaux Consat Custom 4 (used), a Fender Flea Signature Active Jazz Bass, in Satin Inca Silver and a Musicman Stingray Special, in Chopper Blue.
The Marleaux is a superb bass, with a classy, hand made feel and quality woods.
The only part that didn't impress me was the pre amp, it just didn't seem to deliver, to my ears.
I was a bit dubious about the Flea Jazz but I have to say, I think it is a great bass.
I reckon Flea told Fender to take a JB and make as much like a Stingray as they could.
And they've done a bloody good job, IMO.
Very solid and resonant, really well built and a rather good pickup.
The only changes I'd make would be a 3 band EQ, instead of 2 and a slightly wider string spacing at the bridge end.
I would have been very happy to bring it home with me but as the title suggests, the winner was the Stingray Special.
Now I already have a standard 2014, EBMM Stingray, with a single HB and 3 EQ, that I reckon is great.
So why get this as well, other than the usual excuse of permanent GAS?
To me, there enough differences between the 2 Stingrays to give enough of a different playing experience.
The Special has a slightly different pickup, with Neodymium magnets and an 18 volt pre amp, to deliver even more bassy goodness.
The gorgeous, roasted maple neck feels a tad narrower, with slightly more rounding off, of the rosewood fingerboard's edges and lovely stainless steel frets.
The tuners are definitely nicer, with a more 3D ergonomic, comfy feel to them and the body is rounded at the neck heel to improve one's upper fret playing experience.
Also, overall the bass is a little lighter.
So does all this make the Special better than my old Stingray?
Probably yes but I do so enjoy my older model, it's not going to be left on it's stand.
I really like the Chopper Blue coloured body, with the pearloid white pickguard, black pickup and chrome hardware.
This is a pretty bass and definitely feels like it's got all the iconic, classic aspects you have to have in a Stingray.
Yet it's subtle improvements feel like a natural evolution, with no revolution needed, thankyou.
I'd test driven this beauty through a rig very similar to my own and so am looking forward to the next band rehearsal.

Specifications:
Model: StingRay Special
Size: 13-1/2" wide, 1-5/8" thick, 44-7/8" long (34.3 cm wide, 4.1 cm thick, 114.0 cm long)
Body Wood: Select Hardwoods
Body Finish: High gloss polyester
Bridge: Vintage Music Man® top loaded chrome plated, steel bridge plate with vintage nickel plated steel saddles
Scale Length: 34" (86.4 cm)
Neck Radius: 11" (27.9 cm)
Headstock Size: Only 8-3/4" (22.2 cm) long
Frets: 22 - High profile, wide, Stainless Steel
Neck Width: 1-5/8" (41.3 mm) at nut 2-1/2" (63.5 mm) at last fret
Neck Wood: Select roasted maple neck
Fingerboard: Fretted - Rosewood
Neck Finish: Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
Neck Colors: Standard – Natural with finished headstock
Tuning Machines: Custom Music Man, lightweight with tapered string posts and ergonomic clover design
Truss Rod: Adjustable wheel - no component or string removal
Neck Attachment: 5 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting; Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets
Electronic Shielding: black plated aluminum control cover
Controls: 3-band active preamp with 18 volts of headroom; vol, treble, mid, bass
Pickups: Standard - Single Humbucking with Neodymium magnets.

That is such a cool looking bass and the hi mass bridge just adds that finishing touch.

Congrats all round.

A few years back I had a herd of basses but more recently I whittled them down, until about a year ago I was left with just one.
A Sandberg California II - VT4, that I gig in my blues-rock band.
Very recently I got myself a MusicMan guitar, which reminded me how good Musicman gear really is and got me thinking about another bass.
I've had 3 Stingrays in the past, the most recent being an HS model.
A wonderful bass but I found the fingerboard just a little too wide.
Anyway a friend of mine who owns a smallish guitar shop locally had had some EBMM basses over the last few years and had just one left in stock.
It had been in a while because most of the local bassists, like the rest of the UK, seems to love Fender above all else.
So it was already at a very good price but then my mate offers me it at cost.
Now that's an offer I couldn't refuse.
So now an all black, with all maple neck Stingray 4, is sitting in my music room.
All I had to do was lower the action by a tiny amount and this beauty is ready to go.
What I love about this bass, is the absolute simplicity of it's one pickup and 3 knob EQ system.
Getting that solid Stingray tone to how you like it is a real doddle, then it's just down to your fingers and imagination.
Top quality build and finishing just give you a bass that will fit with any occasion.
Looking forward to the next next rehearsal/gig.

Update.

I finally go this sixer to a full band rehearsal, last night.
I'd bottled out before, as we had gigs coming up.
Anyway, apart from a couple of times, when my fingers got a little lost, the sixer was a resounding success.
The Nordstand pickups have a lovely growl to them, with a thick, full sound that still has the bite, to cut through the mix.
Managed to use the sub bottom-E notes, on a couple of songs, to great effect.
Even got up to the high-C string, for a couple of trills.
And most importantly, no hand strain.
Tha band loved it and so did I.

Thanks guys.
The newbie sure is a looker.
I put looks 3rd in my priorities,
2nd is tone and with these woods and fabulous Nordstrand pickups, I'm loving it.
1st is feel and after just a few hours of playing, I'm finding my way around this bass, very nicely, thankyou.

I'd been hankering for another 5-string.
Even put an ad in Basschat for a decent fiver.
Last saturday I went over to Promemnade Music, in Morecambe.
Spent a couple of hours, trying a bunch of quality basses, including Pedulla, Shuker, Cort, Fender and Warwick.
But I couldn't make my mind up and went home, empty handed.
But whilst there, I'd had a very quick go on a Cort A6, 6-string.
It didn't feel as hard to play, as I'd feared.
So a seed had been planted and I returned to Prom again, today.
There were 4, very promising sixers to consider.
The Cort A6, a Yamaha TRB1006J (both new), a custom, US Carvin & an Ibanez SR1206 (both used).
After a lot of time playing all 4, acoustically and amped up, I narrowed it down to the 2 used models.
Both were really nice to play and had great tone.
The USA Carvin was twice the price and was a real class act, with great woods, finishing and hardware.
It even had locking tuners.
The Ibanez is a discontinued model and was in, as new, condition.
Although very differently styled, the wood combinations of wenge, bubinga, mahogany and ovangkol, reminded me a little, of Warwick.
That, with the top class Nordstrand Big Single pickups, created a gorgeous sounding bass, with a very comfy neck.
I don't really like switches on a bass but the active/passive and mid-boost switches are useful.
So the Ibanez came home with me.
Housed in a rather nice, hard foam, Ibanez case.
You also get a rather nifty, swiss army style, multi-tool.

My apologies for the pics., I found the satin finish hard to photograph, without getting annoying reflection.

Lovely bass.
I have wondered why they call such a high quality bass, The Basic.

GLWTS.

What a beauty.
GLWTS.

Very cool score.
Luv the red with maple neck.

Squiers are just very good instruments.

[quote name='Pedro1020' timestamp='1486665299' post='3233714']
I must admit, it does give it a classy look. Imagine this with a tortoise shell or black pickguard mmm.. all in all a lovely bass. I'll have to try one sometime.
[/quote]

Mmmmmm....yes, with a tort scratch plate and cream covers for the pickups..............very nice.
How about a matching headstock?.