drTStingray

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1412104389' post='2565741'] 'Pre-EB Guys'? As an owner of a Pre-EB Stingray, I can report certain factual things about my bass. The neck is very slim (to my taste), the treble control adds a very high frequency fizz to the sound (fab for slap and general livening the sound if needed) it's not unduly heavy and plays like butter. I've had some EB Stingrays and liked the mid control, but the necks have not been the same and they don't give that very high frequency with the treble control. [/quote] Hi 4strings, I used the 'pre EB guys' moniker to avoid using the nasty 'f' word ....... I think you'll find the EB Classic Rays have the neck feature you describe (theyre 7.5 in radius compared to the regular 11 in radius), and the 2 band should give that shimmering treble sound. I used to own a pre EB (from new)and one in decent condition is a great instrument - indeed I wish I'd bought the inca silver mentioned above, a few years back. Love my Classic Ray though.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1412112720' post='2565886'] I would be tempted by another pre EB ray if it was in mint as new condition and if it was Inca Silver even though I would not really use it enough, it is [u]the [/u]best colour IMO. [/quote] But extremely rare - I once found such a beastie - it was immaculate with a white pu cover and hadn't started to go green, as they sometimes do - the one that got away as it were ......... I found out white pu covers were an option until around 1977 - which I guess is why Alan Gorrie has one on a natural bodied Ray on an AWB DVD I have. I had a 'Back in the day' conversation with my son a couple of days back and he was asking me what bass colours were popular in music shops in the late 70s and particularly pre EB Rays (I was a fan back then also). My recollection is that until the mid 80s the only ones I ever saw in shops or otherwise were natural, sunburst (not as common) and black (I saw one - in the hands of the bass player from a band with a number 1 single). I didn't even know they made brown, silver or white ones until about 15 yrs ago!!!

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1412108808' post='2565805'] This should help anyone with Stingray GAS. No, they're not for sale! [/quote] Cripes Mr Hackenbacker ........ a NAMM 100th!! The others are pretty good as well.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1411988821' post='2564507'] That's one funky bass! Is it weighty? [/quote] It's quite light to be honest - feels lighter than my Classic Ray (which is 9 3/4 lbs). Gig on Saturday so I'll be able to compare sounds and feel better.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1412018625' post='2564983'] why the hurt? you have yours, I have mine, and we're allowed to disagree [/quote] Just so long as we all understand that Messrs StingrayPete and McNach are right 😉 😃 If I was going to spend £400 to get a soundalike StingRay I think I'd buy an SBMM version - at least I would get the rest of an approximation of the StingRay experience ........ or maybe a used USA built Sub. Crikey if it's good enough for one of the late James Brown's bass players, it's good enough for me!! And of course the pre EB guys can have their view, just like those that tell you a battered 63 P bass is worth £8k, and is that much different from a new AVRI P bass (also nearly £2K) - they will certainly both shed paint by merelyly standing in a decent wind - whereas your Mexican P bass won't, and sounds pretty similar to me - I don't get it with them but I sure do with Stingrays. But that's the bass guitar market for you!! To the OP and others with Stingray GAS, go and try some - if you can get your hands on a Classic Ray to try out then do so. All those little details like the figured maple necks and chrome truss rod wheel just add to the overall feeling of playing a quality instrument.

Yes they should've spoken to you and sorted out what was happening. To not do so is a failing in communication and common courtesy -unfortunately all too common in my experience in groups (and with some musicians - and often the ones with the most challenged musical skills) - it sounds to me like you're unhappy with what they've done so if you went back their actions and the threat of it happening again could always be a problem. Have your time off and then set out on a new project - you could always start a new Police tribute band, particularly as you're playing the lead part - although the guitarist and drummer would also have to be good to carry it off.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1411767418' post='2562735'] Hadn't I done so? I'm sure I had in that I-never-understood-people-and-their-NBDs thread. The Bongo is said to be due in December. [/quote] Oh yes, so you did!! Did you order the Bongo during the extra ordering window recently?

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1411712805' post='2562072'] Enjoy the gig, I'm sure it will sound superb and be a pleasure to play. [/quote] Thanks (and to everyone else's comments) - I've been playing it through my ABM500 at home and it really sounds great. I said it before but the Neptune blue version of the Classic MMs has an oil and wax rather than lacquered finish - this makes for effortless movement up and down the neck.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1411744948' post='2562500'] Nah, you'll soon get bored with that. Chuck it my way and I'll give you a couple of quid for it out of generosity [/quote] Kind offer but it won't be going anywhere lol 😑

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1411738645' post='2562420'] Neptune Blue and a flamed, roasted maple neck? I don't understand the taste that some people have... But each to their own, I guess. Congrats, Dr. T! That's one of the finest ones right there. PS for the uninitiated: I'm a sucker for these, as Dr. T knows very well. [/quote] Thanks - and you should post a pic of your Neptune blue SR's headstock - droolworthy neck - when's the Bongo due?

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1411623443' post='2561195'] That is a beaut. Love the roasted maple. Worth the wait by the looks of it. [/quote] Yeah definitely worth the wait - nearly four months 😩 I'm really liking the sound of the 2 band EQ with 2 pick ups and the different coil selections. The roasted maple neck is oil and wax finished so is super smooth - headstock is matt varnished. The finish changes dependent on lighting. I have a wedding gig at the end of the month so will be using this bass for it. I can't wait. The bass is very rare as a mahogany bodied Sabre.

Mahogany body, roasted maple neck with nice flame, and neptune blue finish - this stunner turned up today. It sounds fabulous also - very focussed sound - selecting the bridge humbucker and single coil neck pick up, with the 2 band EQ, produces the classic MM 2 band sound with a little more warmth and bottom end - it was worth the four month wait

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1411152455' post='2557114'] Yes indeed. The technical term is the "F**k yeah!" feeling. It has been scientifically proven that only Stingrays can deliver this. [/quote] +1 - that phrase sums it up perfectly - it's happened to me twice - once when I went to Jones and Crossland in Birmingham in about 1980. Played a new Stingray in sunburst for about half an hour and even though I really wanted a natural one, had to have it. It was £375 (no hard case). I still went to music shops, more out if curiosity or with mates, and remember going to another one (Musical Exchange I think) and tried out a new fangled active Precision. The sound particularly and also the feel/playing fit confirmed I'd made the right decision with the Ray. The second time was in 2003 when I decided to buy a 5 string. Played a load of different models but playing a trans orange SR5 in the Bass Cellar really made me smile. Eventually I bought a natural SR5 brand new (btw it was less than £1000 with a hard shell case ;-). )!! The price ws far cry from my about to arrive Sabre!! Anyway Pixiechick23 I suggest you go and try some and see what you think.

Pino - always been fabulous in my view - this shows his chops well - crazy Stingray sound and fretless all at once http://youtu.be/ClMU4oxag60

[quote name='dincz' timestamp='1410799014' post='2553290'] This is the best I can do so far [url="http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/dincz/media/P1000240_zpsf5a25ef8.jpg.html"][/url] So what pickup do you recommend? [color=#ffffff]?[/color] [color=#ffffff]?[/color] [color=#ffffff]?[/color] [/quote] What about a proper Stingray pick up? Available on Musicman-UK website as spare parts (as are various EQs).

Mr Levin with Peter Gabriel - complete with Shadowsesque walk!! Great bass part and great groove. http://youtu.be/05TVDCWRBog

Fabulous - thanks for posting the video.

Yeh big fan of them and especially the first two albums. Absolutely the classic chill out music. Interesting that on the second album there is a different bass player on a handful of tracks - they sound quite different to me, lacking that light and airy bass part feel of the other guy - but perhaps with more of a groove. The first two for me are classic albums of that era and genre.

[quote name='jhk' timestamp='1410460897' post='2549759'] ................................[size=5][b][i]+1.......also previously with joe cocker(my first fretless precision was bought from him in 1973)......... also worth a mention was felix krish with SFX...........john reed with SOX...........[/i][/b][/size] [/quote] Bloody hell - you not only met him but bought a bass off him. Definitely not Brit Funk (the genre started in about 1980/81) but perhaps blue eyed soul (as groups like AWB were termed). But Alan Spenner was fabulous - very audible and famous as the bass player with Roxymusic on songs around the time of Avalon, playing a Wal. He's also on the original soundtrack of Jesus Christ Superstar - fabulous playing.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1410617734' post='2551306'] George Anderson's playing from Shakatak is much better in the mix of there fantastic music too be honest. but he's one of the UK greats imo. i did enjoy (in parts) his playing here. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snm_KxSKPY8[/media] [/quote] Oh yes - loved their work. Another player who used a Stingray back in the day. I think the biggest Brit Funk band and most famous Brit Funk bass player has been missed out here - Level 42 was on that circuit and Mark King is just an awesome bass player - I've seen them three times - 1981 (Bham University bar), 1990 (Ipswich Regent) and 2010 ish (Eastbourne Conquest), They were mesmerising each time. Another Brit Funk band from this era was Freeez.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410534998' post='2550532'] Well obviously, the one that sounds best would be the maple one [/quote] Yeah I know what you mean. They'd both sound fabulous, I reckon Pete, but slightly different. The rosewood being a little darker sounding and in particular less extreme when really playing hard. The maple is, in my view the classic Stingray look so I'd vote for that over the rosewood from purely the angle of looks.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410454618' post='2549639'] I dont think the body wood makes much difference, it has been said that you can screw a MM pickup and a 3 EQ to a piece of floor board and as long as the pickup is in the right place for the bridge and scale length it will sound like a stingray, I think there is some truth in it. [/quote] I've heard the same - however I beg to differ. The bridge and scale length make a major contribution IMO - you can hear that basic Stingray tone acoustically. There is just more snap to the acoustic sound than say a Precision or Jazz acoustically - this must provide the foundation to the resonant sound projected by the pick up and EQ. Then consider the Stingray 5 (standard version) - the body and neck are bigger and correspondingly the whole resonance is deeper than a 4. I know I'm treading into contentious waters here and there are those who will tell you construction materials make no difference to the sound of an electric bass. However I'm pretty sure if someone blindfolded me and gave me two Stingrays to play, one with maple and one with rosewood fingerboard, I could tell which was which after a minute or two of playing!!

[quote name='ern500evo' timestamp='1410443030' post='2549490'] They had poplar bodies, I've got one,a blue pearl and maple fretboard 2010 model. Before I bought it I sent the serial number to AJ at MM and he confirmed that it was part of a limited run they did for strings and things, poplar body, limited finish choice and gig bag instead of a hard case. The original owner of mine paid £1050 for it new. [/quote] Cheers for that - did AJ say the whole run was poplar or just yours? Anyway the same as a US Sub in that context - my blueburst 93 is poplar or maybe alder (per AJ) also - to my ears they're sightly smoother than an ash version. The original selling price when launched was £999 - I've seen them for various prices since - don't ask me why - it happens with lots of instruments sitting in shops. There are still some around in shops (Knighton music had one last time I looked).

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410352666' post='2548427'] Not quite so simple as that! Ebmm did a range about four years ago I think called the 251 or something, two eq only, no hard case, poplar body and less colour options to choose from they were around £1050 in the UK compared to £1300 for a regular two eq or £1400+ for a three eq. They may have only been available in the UK though, I'm not sure. I use an angled Jack on all my basses. [/quote] They were called 133 which I think was part of the EBMM manufacture code. Basically a red, white or blue Stingray with a gig bag for £999 (when they first marketed them) - Stings and Things celebrating 50 years working with Ernie Ball company in the UK IIRC. I don't recall them having a different body wood - all Stingray and Sterling variants have been ash at least since the USA Subs ceased in about 2005 - except one or two specific limited edition runs with mahogany bodies. As regards 3 band/2 band comparison the underlying sound is pretty much the same. The 3 band can be easily adjusted a With the mid range knob for those moments when the guitarists or keyboard players feel the need to fill all the sonic space...... however the 2 band makes a fabulous sound and just lifting the upper mid EQ on the amp can compensate for the situation above. As you turn down the EQ knobs on the 2 band you get more mids also! The 3 band also has clever filters that dial out boomy frequencies - you can also get 3 band basses with additional piezo pick ups at the bridge - they add a whole extra dimension if you're lucky enough to come across one.

Another duplicate post - pl delete - iPhone went mad!!