dub_junkie

I recently got a Special and there is a lot to commend it, particularly when compared to StingRays that preceeded them that were heavy and seemed to lack some of the hand finishing/detailing. I had a 2010 black/rosewood 2EQ that was like that. They were to my mind,and recollection, getting more and more like that pre 2018 Special which probably necessitated the rethink/re-jig of the model. However my '96 blueburst Stingray 5 is to my mind nicer than my Special. Probably not built to the same tolerances but the neck has softer more radiused edges and this gives it a more appealing feel in the fretting hand. The birdseye neck looks better than the plain roasted maple as well. And there's the fact that my 5 still retains a lot of what I used to ogle at and drool over in the late 80s/ early 90s when I would go to Denmark St and salivate at Rose Morris who always had some amazing looking Musicman basses. The Ernie Ball models then had some ridiculously figured necks and the see thru finishes were lush. Those were my favourite EBMM, the ones from that period.

Hi Billy it's a 34" scale length Link to the bass and spec: https://acguitars.co.uk/project/053g-j-type-5-34/ Cheers Keir

Met Robert at a train station in rural Scotland yesterday morning and traded StingRays. Robert is a stand up guy and couldn't have been more helpful throughout the deal (logistics etc) Was good meeting with you Rob. Really pleased you're happy with your new bass, I am too. Keir

Picked up a new Graft 5 in the Frostbite finish today directly from Alan at ACG HQ. Absolutely loved it from the moment I pulled it out the very nice gig bag. Acoustically felt and played just right and plugged in I was taken aback at the wide spread of tones from a passive bass. Bridge pickup can honk with the best of them and it does the hollow two pickup slap tone supremely well too. Can't wait to start using it with the band! Also had a look at some Retro B Standards with coloured figured tops and East preamps. They were superb and something I will be investigating further. Picking up a used Krell 4 string turned me onto the brand. Glad it did 😍

Beautiful bass. Droolsome spec! May it serve you well. Keir

Bought Wayne's Cort Elrick NJS5. Superb bass that sounds incredible in a band setting. Rehearsed with it half an hour after picking it up and will be gigging it this Saturday. What will it be I get next from Wayne? Always a great guy to deal with. Thanks again mate!

I paid £1100 for a Classic StingRay four years ago, and also £1250 for my first Classic Sabre.

I would always choose a StingRay over a P bass. But I'd always choose a Sabre or USA Sterling over a StingRay. Love StingRay 5s above all others though. They're my favourite bass.

USA SUB bass as well

Just bought Wayne's very lovely Sterling Ray35. He's always got nice basses to entice me and it doesn't help that his house is on the way to my band rehearsals and most of my gigs! Thanks again Wayne the Sterling is lovely and I'm going to use it Wednesday night. Until August's deal is concluded!......

Beautiful!

Did a trade deal with Paddy for his Lakland 55-02. Third swap/trade deal we have done and each has been easy and painless to do. Absolute top fella, always a pleasure to do business with you Paddy. Cheers Keir

I really like the G&L 4 string headstock. The 3 +2 headstock isn't as nice as the 4+1 they had on the L-5500.

I'm looking forward to seeing the five string. Be interesting to see what changes they've made. Still really liking mine and can see me putting a deposit on the five.

I owned a pair of Ray25s. Both were really nice and are both on my list of "why did I sell that?" Well I guess it was because I then got back into the Ray35s and then full circle to the full fat USA SR5s but I'd easy have another 25 as they're different enough with the 2EQ and slab body to warrant having one. Your blonde one with maple board is the best looking combo on these imo and parallel is definitely the way to go!

Elegant looking bass. Never owned or played a Bacchus, hopefully one day.....

Can't speak about the other two, as capable as they no doubt are, but the StingRay 5 is such a good five string imo. My overriding feeling about them is I can't help but notice how well they sit with everything. My own personal choice is for the basses with the ceramic pickups as opposed to alnico (a little bit more bite imo). I'm consistent with this as I prefer the USA Sterling tone with ceramic to a 3EQ StingRay 4 which is alnico. I have three StingRay 5s - all ceramic - '96 blueburst fretless, '05 Buttercream LE and an '05 Rolls Burgandy. I don't have any experience of the neodymium pickups on the StingRay Special 5 other than on Bongo 4 and 5 strings I've owned and liked. Together with the 18v on the Specials, it's going to be a different sound from the old style 9v preamp but I'm sure the core tone is still there. String spacing is a bit tight for some and the B and G strings are close to the fingerboard edge which requires a bit of adaptation. Pre 2018 they can be weighty so be sure and ask. For all that I think they feel solid, dependable and how a industry standard production bass should feel. They also have a superb sounding B string for a 34" scale length and I find them inspiring to play.

If you can't stretch a bit to a used Ray 35 I'd hang on for a Tribute L-2500. I got to play the one Waynesworld on here was selling (now sold) as I was originally going to buy it, then committed to an ACG build in the interim. The neck on it was lovely, didn't feel overly chunky and I would have no problem getting through a gig or extended playing periods with it. I've owned a few L-2000 and Asat basses (both USA and Tribute) and like with the MFD pickups and triton electronics. Versatile instruments and definetely a Swiss army knife bass. Sound can be a bit dark/organic sounding if you're used to more hi-fi sounding basses and they definitely have a 'grind' about them. Harder to find are the M2500s which is much the same bass but with an 18v preamp, 3 band EQ and a blend control rather than the switching. The pickups are also wound a bit less than the L series so sounds a bit more generalised/neutral sounding. I had an M2500 which I really liked and on reflection should have kept.