Pino Palladino Signature Stingray

[Bass Direct]

5 hours ago, BigRedX said:

 

The one that Bass Direct are talking about is £5999

For the Icon version, yes

[Hellzero]

First of all, the Icon (relic) Pino Palladino model was made in 15 copies, not 10!

 

Second, his original model had a non correct value treble pot of 500 kOhms reversed log instead of a 1 megohms reversed log, giving less treble and a tad bit more mids, hence his slightly different tone.

 

Third, the bass comes in a premium G&G case with a black shell and gold fur lining.

 

Fourth, the body is poplar, not ash (or alder, which was rare in pre Ernie Ball models), like many of the 1979 models.

 

Fifth, there's no information about the opamp used in the preamp, which should be an LM 4250 CN, and nothing else to recreate the original tone, alongside tantalum capacitors.
 

Sixth, good luck to find a 1979 fretless Stingray these days (mine was found by a friend who knew I was wishing to have one and at a silly price).

 

https://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/pino-palladino-icon-series

 

That said, if I was looking for another fretless Stingray, I would buy the Pino Palladino Artist model as the price tag is decent for what it is, just check the price of the Artist Jaco Pastorius and you'll understand.

 

https://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/pino-palladino

[Musicman20]

1 hour ago, Steve Browning said:

Surely the dealer buys blnd?

Yep, and you get what you get!

[Misdee]

The volatility of the dollar exchange rate might be a factor in some retailers pricing. They might be erring on the side of caution in predicting future rates.

 

There's two parts to the equation when it comes to these basses. One part is marketing and the other part is the reality of what you are actually getting for your money.  The relic basses are part of the marketing. The production models are the substantive bit. The Pino Palladino association is very much part of the marketing, but it's also what has defined the actual bass you are being offered. Essentially it's a nice '70's style two band Stingray with considerable attention to detail but also benefitting from modern improvements in manufacturing. To me it's a lot more appealing than the Retro Stingray. 

 

I can't see what's to get upset about a Pino Signature as an option, especially when lately there has been a slew of signature models for bassists whose main claim to fame is having a high profile on YouTube/social media ect. They are not significant recording artists either as sidemen/women or band members. In  contrast, if PIno doesn't warrant a signature bass who does? 

 

 

 

 

[Misdee]

8 hours ago, Kev said:

Not even a special (though has many of the features), but my 2016 PDN is in a completely different league to any older StingRay I've tried, and the 2018 Special I owned was much of the same.  Admittedly I've never played anything pre 1990 odd I don't think, but I can imagine my feelings would be the same.  But that's a whole other convo/argument 😅

In my experience you've got just as much chance finding a nice  EBMM Stingray as vintage one. It just depends what your personal preferences and priorities are.  I've played loads of pre-EBMM Stingrays, and I used to have one back in the late '80's/ early '90's. I used to play the EBMM versions in shops at that time and to me they were better in every way to my vintage Stingray, which was essentially still brand new when I bought it from a shop in L.A. I would've cheerfully done a swap. Mine had a slight scratch in the lacquer on the back from a zip or belt buckle but was otherwise mint. It was light, too. I didn't realise at the time how rare that was for a Stingray.

 

I've got a Stingray Special nowadays and it's a fabulous bass. Suits my needs for what I want from a 'Ray, and I prefer the tone of the new pickup and preamp to the vintage versions. Still sounds like a Stingray but a with a  slight bit more richness and warmth in the mids even with the EQ flat. Improved playability too. I love it.

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Misdee

[Kev]

8 minutes ago, Misdee said:

In my experience you've got just as much chance finding a nice  EBMM Stingray as vintage one. It just depends what your personal preferences and priorities are.  I've played loads of pre-EBMM Stingrays, and I used to have one back in the late '80's/ early '90's. I used to play the EBMM versions in shops at that time and to me they were better in every way to my vintage Stingray, which was essentially still brand new when I bought it from a shop in L.A. I would've cheerfully done a swap. It had a slight scratch in the lacquer on the back from a zip or belt buckle but was otherwise mint. It was light, too. I didn't realise at the time how rare that was for a Stingray. 

 

I've got a Stingray Special nowadays and it's a fabulous bass. Suits my needs for what I want from a 'Ray, and I prefer the tone of the new pickup and preamp to the vintage versions. Still sounds like a Stingray but a with a  slight bit more richness and warmth in the mids even with the EQ flat. Improved playability too. I love it.

 

I think a good deal of it with the newer 'Rays is the necks.  I adore the roasted maple and ebony board, feel fantastic to play.

 

Obviously doesn't apply with these Pino models!  But they're very much not aimed at me  

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, ezbass said:

They are exceptional basses, if you don’t mind the relic finish (I don’t mind at all). Great playability and stunning tone from the SD custom pickup. 

 

If it was Sherwood Green relic I would have no hope!

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Third, the bass comes in a premium G&G case with a black shell and gold fur lining.

 

My Precision came with a leather finished period correct c&g case. While very nice, it's very heavy and unless on a totally flat surface it twists and you can't close the locks.

 

Rrp now £409(!) 

[Hellzero]

@Stub Mandrel, my post was meant to set the record straight, because people were claiming false assertions about this signature model...

[Kev]

I heard they're going to do another run of 1000 of the limited edition ones over Christmas and ask an extra £3k for them, I imagine to cover the factory's winter fuel bills.

[Stub Mandrel]

58 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

@Stub Mandrel, my post was meant to set the record straight, because people were claiming false assertions about this signature model...

It was just an observation that a G&G case can be a significant element of the total cost (10% of the standard model) and also that all that glisters is not gold.

[acidbass]

I'm happy that he has received the recognition for his contribution to fretless playing but really that sound now is super dated, similar to the whole Mark King thing. It'll no doubt appeal to those who harbour 80s nostalgia, doctors and lawyers with plenty of wall space.

 

I guarantee there will be a Sterling version released in about a year, priced around the £1200 mark.

[Linus27]

9 hours ago, acidbass said:

I'm happy that he has received the recognition for his contribution to fretless playing but really that sound now is super dated, similar to the whole Mark King thing. It'll no doubt appeal to those who harbour 80s nostalgia, doctors and lawyers with plenty of wall space.

 

I guarantee there will be a Sterling version released in about a year, priced around the £1200 mark.

 

I wouldn't say fretless sounds dated. Pino obviously has his sound which he's showcasing here but in the hands of another player, its going to sound totally different. 

[Stub Mandrel]

More to his sound than just the bass.  Octaver certainly and a bit of chorus.

 

It may evoke an era, primarily the association with Wherever I... but I don't think that sound dates.

 

Mind youn Pino can sound like that on a fretted bass.

[Grassie]

On 09/07/2025 at 14:44, Terry M. said:

I remember Bass Direct had some limited edition Stingrays some years back and they were priced lower than regular Stingrays. From memory it was because they only came in red or blue (possibly black also),had a gig-bag rather than the usual hardcase, had a 2-band eq and...was poplar-bodied! I have no personal issue with poplar but find it interesting it was used on a cut-price Stingray and now on this Pino re-issue. I wonder if his original was made of it. I've owned poplar basses and it's never bothered me tonally I might add. Ok Google just helped me out,the Stingrays I mentioned were known as "Limited Edition 133" . Bass Direct had a couple back in roughly 2014 and they well under a grand,about £850 or so.

I think I have one of these limited edition ones, and given what you’ve said about them, I may well have paid over the odds for it….🥺

[Bass Direct]

2 sold already...

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, Grassie said:

I think I have one of these limited edition ones, and given what you’ve said about them, I may well have paid over the odds for it….🥺

If you bought it used then unfortunately you might have done. I've seen them on the used market for the same price as the "regular" Rays.

Edited 4 hours ago by Terry M.

[snorkie635]

49 minutes ago, Bass Direct said:

2 sold already...

To Pino and Mark King?

[Bass Direct]

 

7 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

To Pino and Mark King?

Why would they want them... 

[gjones]

On 09/07/2025 at 17:34, Machines said:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good

 

In Scotland it's called 'Fur coat and nae knickers' . 

[snorkie635]

9 minutes ago, Bass Direct said:

 

Why would they want them... 

to play down the Dog and Duck at Open Mic Night?

[Grassie]

Just now, Terry M. said:

I might be off on the exact price but you paid less for it than one of it's hard-cased siblings right?

I bought it used earlier this year from Bass Bros. Candy Apple Red, 2eq, soft case, 2010 model…:

 

£1500

 

😬

[Terry M.]

2 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

to play down the Dog and Duck at Open Mic Night?

You're killing me today 🤣🤣

[Terry M.]

2 minutes ago, Grassie said:

I bought it used earlier this year from Bass Bros. Candy Apple Red, 2eq, soft case, 2010 model…:

 

£1500

 

😬

The Bass Gallery sold one a while back for a similar price also. If it's any consolation you'll get your money back if you decide to offload it.

[Bass Direct]

10 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

to play down the Dog and Duck at Open Mic Night?

Very good