2019 Fretless Stingray...Deal of the Year!!!!

[GregP]

Is it just me or is it absolutely freakin' fantastic that we can get this beautiful BFR product for the same price as a Bongo HH?! Thank you, EBMM! :-)

Ball Family Reserve | Ernie Ball Music Man

[strummer]

It is indeed an amazing offering, but mostly I'm happy it wasn't fretted or I´d be in real trouble...

[bovinehost]

It is indeed an amazing offering, but mostly I'm happy it wasn't fretted or I´d be in real trouble...

Word. That thing is unbelievable.

[strummer]

Is it just me or is it absolutely freakin' fantastic that we can get this beautiful BFR product for the same price as a Bongo HH?! Thank you, EBMM! :-)

Ball Family Reserve | Ernie Ball Music Man

So are you getting one?

[bovinehost]

So are you getting one?

No sir. I've learned my lesson with fretless basses.

I do, however, have a new Music Man instrument on the way!

(It's got frets.)

[GregP]

So are you getting one?

It's beautiful but I've already found a bass that fits me perfectly....My Caprice :-)
The stingray is a fabulous instrument but the Caprice's 1.5" nut width and neck profile just fits me so much better. I even like it better than the Sterling's neck :-P

[danny-79]

Beautiful looking bass, grain in the wood is amazing, it doesn’t look real almost.
Fretless isn’t my thing but players out there who are have some nice offerings coming their way

[Tollie]

I definitely want one of these fretless StingRays. I will get one as soon as possible.

[glocke12]

We are talking about the roasted flame maple fretless? I was in Sam ASh in Manhattan about a month ago, played it on a Saturday for almost an hour. Stayed up all night thinking about it. Went back the next day and used some "creative financing" to purchase it.

Its an amazing bass, my first music man also. I wasn't sure about the bridge only pickup at first as I like a deep bass sound at times but Im able to get sound out of it Im happy with.

[DrMatthewCross]

Currently not a fretless player, but I'd grab one of these of course. Man, it's stunning.

[Golem]

Not merely eye candy ... it's "wood porn" !

=================================

OTOH, reading my own sig line, I count a
dozen FL MM's ... not a loser in the bunch.
So, I'd easily recommend this new one to
any player, for any purpose. All versions
of FL MM's are insanely versatile. I fail to
understand why FL is no longer a normal
option anymore :-( Anywho, don't miss a
"last chance" at getting a new one !

[Golem]

Its an amazing bass, my first music man also.
I wasn't sure about the bridge only pickup at
first as I like a deep bass sound at times but
Im able to get sound out of it Im happy with.

FL is different ... stating the obvious ... and a
major difference is the effect of PU location.
I share your concern about a "deep" sound,
but with FL the stand SR4 1H PU location is
not really a "bridge-only PU". In the realm of
FL basses, it's hardly a bridge-hugger.

Browse the web and look at some dedicated
FL bass designs, rather than FL basses that
are just normal fretted designs but minus the
frets. You'll find plenty of FL-specific basses
with dual PUs, with BOTH of them crowded
up against the bridge ... way closer than the
PU on your new MM :-)

Years ago, I could never understand why MM
basses were so highly regarded. Every time I
messed with one, it was way too brite for my
taste. I knew there was a niche for brite tone,
but couldn't see the MM as a general purpose
bass. AND THEN ... I encountered my first FL
Stingray, and bought it, on the spot !

Here's an example, dual PUs both located in
the space corresponding to the empty space
between your MM 1H PU and the MM bridge.
Thaz a 25 "fret" neck, so those PUs crowd the
bridge more than you might initially estimate.
I have exactly such a bass but I would NEVER
want the fretted version !