Gimme an A! (Cliff Williams Stingray)

[Doctor J 1,771]

Nice to see Cliff getting some recognition, a very underrated bassist. Few sit quite as deep in the pocket as he.

Edited September 29 by Doctor J

[Lozz196 4,392]

Def, the master at providing a solid foundation, and understanding the need to keep out of the way when you have a genius guitarist. Could probably say the same of Malcolm Young as well.

[theyellowcar 23]

EB are really going for it with the signature models at the moment!

[BassApprentice 472]

They've finally realised how print money. 

Whilst most signature models are divisive, it's enough to push some fans of said artists over the edge and pay the premium for the model. 

That's a pretty one though! 

[AndyTravis 5,946]

Factory relic stingray classic...

mhmm.

[Lozz196 4,392]

It’s certainly ignited my Stingray lust again. Never had a 2eq Stingray, may well look into that as love the playability of the Stingray but the 3eq ones I’ve had I just couldn’t tame the Rayness, maybe easier on a 2.

[kyuuga 105]

Personally I dislike signature basses. I think they're just marketing moves and having someone's "signature bass" doesn't make you play or sound like them. And it's certainly not very different from having a regular bass of the same kind (which is what exactly the signature bass was before it touched the player's hands).

I loved Musicman's approach of "no signature pieces" when it came to their basses, it really struck out to me because everywhere I looked (*ahem* Fender) there seemed to be a ton of signature basses which provided virtually nothing new from normal basses.

HOWEVER, I do understand that companies need to make money and signature basses for them are almost "guaranteed" sells, especially when it comes to a giant band like AC/DC which has millions of followers. And I think MM took a first step into the signature world with their Joe Dart Musicman Bass which was quite refreshing (different from any Stingray/Sterling bass) and they made few copies - very overpriced, but still...

I just hope they don't go the same way as their guitar deparment which is bloated with signature models from players who I had never heard of (nothing against them, just saying) and they offer virtually nothing different.

All the power to Musicman though, it's their company and I'll support them as long as they don't go out of their way to create signature pieces just for money and leave the original basses behind (ex: Fender between the late 2000's and now...the Mexican Precision bass was severely left behind while they kept creating innumerous signature models for no reason).

Edited September 30 by kyuuga

[jezzaboy 628]

Cliff is the man for me. He is such a modest guy but plays exactly what is needed for the song, which for me is what bass playing is all about.

 

[Doctor J 1,771]

All downstrokes. Nice 😎

[Cuzzie 2,925]

17 hours ago, kyuuga said:

Personally I dislike signature basses. I think they're just marketing moves and having someone's "signature bass" doesn't make you play or sound like them. And it's certainly not very different from having a regular bass of the same kind (which is what exactly the signature bass was before it touched the player's hands).

I loved Musicman's approach of "no signature pieces" when it came to their basses, it really struck out to me because everywhere I looked (*ahem* Fender) there seemed to be a ton of signature basses which provided virtually nothing new from normal basses.

HOWEVER, I do understand that companies need to make money and signature basses for them are almost "guaranteed" sells, especially when it comes to a giant band like AC/DC which has millions of followers. And I think MM took a first step into the signature world with their Joe Dart Musicman Bass which was quite refreshing (different from any Stingray/Sterling bass) and they made few copies - very overpriced, but still...

I just hope they don't go the same way as their guitar deparment which is bloated with signature models from players who I had never heard of (nothing against them, just saying) and they offer virtually nothing different.

All the power to Musicman though, it's their company and I'll support them as long as they don't go out of their way to create signature pieces just for money and leave the original basses behind (ex: Fender between the late 2000's and now...the Mexican Precision bass was severely left behind while they kept creating innumerous signature models for no reason).

Not all Sig models (across different companies) are just production models with a name tagged on, they are different. Doug Wimbish Spector has its own neck profile, Sandberg models have subtly different pick up placements and bits compared to the ‘standard’ model it is based on.

For me, I’ll assess something on its merits sig or not

 

This bass looks cool - congrats to him

Edited October 1 by Cuzzie

[Musicman20 111]

Most of the 'signature' models by Musicman (guitar side) are extremely unique, and are not pre-existing designs. Even the artist versions of say the Stingray guitar have significant changes.

Examples:

 - Albert Lee SSS/HH,

 - St Vincent - HH or Mini HHH.

 

[Bleat 306]

Not a fan of the Stingray bass but am massive fan of Cliff's no nonsense solid playing. In fact he did some pretty interesting lines on Back In Black and For Those About To Rock. He's the main reason I took up bass in the first place. He thoroughly deserves this recognition, none more deserving  IMO. 🤘 

[jezzaboy 628]

I wonder how much?

£3500 ish?

[drTStingray 623]

It looks like it may be an exact copy (3 bolt, headstock truss rod) - in terms of price, given that Fender charge well over £3500 for the team built Pino Precision, then a similar price for one of these, which is easily as good if not better than a team built CS in terms of quality and comparative level of manual input would not be out of order, if this rather than a Precision tickles your fancy -  we'll have to see what it retails for. 

All very interesting - and talking of Pino, how far from the Cliff Williams 79 to a well known fretless sunburst 79? Mmmm (not that I have any info - just wild day dreaming). 

I also happened on the spec of the Mike Herrera signature Stingray and mistakenly thought it was a special blue paint job on a standard 2 EQ Stingray - it's not - the electronics are different - wired straight to the Jack socket, bypassing the EQ. So an interesting twist and all these signature models are different from standard (including the John Myung six string). 

 

Edited October 2 by drTStingray

[hiram.k.hackenbacker 3,298]

Looks like they ran out of neck bolts as well as paint in the spray shop. I do love a Stingray, but I think I’ll pass.

[warwickhunt 351]

20 hours ago, drTStingray said:

... in terms of price, given that Fender charge well over £3500 for the team built Pino Precision, then a similar price for one of these, which is easily as good if not better than a team built CS in terms of quality and comparative level of manual input would not be out of order, if this rather than a Precision tickles your fancy -  we'll have to see what it retails for. 

Any Musicman picked straight off the production line will be as good/better build quality than 'team build' CS Fender bass.  I've yet to see or hear of a Musicman that wasn't superbly finished and put together. 

Oh and I'm no fan-boy with a Musicman bass to sell or to inflate the value of; I've simply owned a few of them in my time and they are (very) well put together.  ...in fact I may retract this statement as I'm trying to source a reasonably priced USA Sterling at the moment.    

[pineweasel 173]

23 hours ago, drTStingray said:

I also happened on the spec of the Mike Herrera signature Stingray and mistakenly thought it was a special blue paint job on a standard 2 EQ Stingray - it's not - the electronics are different - wired straight to the Jack socket, bypassing the EQ. So an interesting twist and all these signature models are different from standard

It’s a bit cheeky to charge an extra few hundred dollars to leave out the preamp and controls!

[Jack 539]

27 minutes ago, pineweasel said:

It’s a bit cheeky to charge an extra few hundred dollars to leave out the preamp and controls!

You're paying for the dentistry not the electronics. 

[EdLib-3 75]

2 hours ago, Jack said:

You're paying for the dentistry not the electronics. 

That's the most pristine, least DIY punk rock set of gnashers I've ever seen.

[AndyTravis 5,946]

10 hours ago, EdLib-3 said:

That's the most pristine, least DIY punk rock set of gnashers I've ever seen.

4 seconds. That’s all I could listen to. Teeth 😂

[Jack 539]

18 hours ago, EdLib-3 said:

That's the most pristine, least DIY punk rock set of gnashers I've ever seen.

 

7 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

4 seconds. That’s all I could listen to. Teeth 😂

I'd strongly encourage you both to see past those beautiful American pearly whites and give Goldfinger a go, one of my favourite bands. Feldman is a great frontman and there's some nice bass parts too. Punk rock is a lot prettier than proper punk. 

[Lozz196 4,392]

On 29/09/2020 at 22:51, Lozz196 said:

It’s certainly ignited my Stingray lust again. Never had a 2eq Stingray, may well look into that as love the playability of the Stingray but the 3eq ones I’ve had I just couldn’t tame the Rayness, maybe easier on a 2.

Well just to update re this, have managed to score a 1987 2eq in my favoured black/maple colour scheme on the ‘bay. 

[AndyTravis 5,946]

5 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Well just to update re this, have managed to score a 1987 2eq in my favoured black/maple colour scheme on the ‘bay. 

Saw one earlier £500 BIN £1000

hope it was that one?

[Lozz196 4,392]

19 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

Saw one earlier £500 BIN £1000

hope it was that one?

That’s the one Andy

[AndyTravis 5,946]

3 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

That’s the one Andy

Great, really pleased for you mate - what a beauty