Recent Corona Experience & Stingray

[MondoKen]

Well I just concluded round two of trying to find a nice bass from a company in Corona that makes basses and guitars. I went through this last summer and got frustrated trying find one that met the quality of my Sterling HS. I guess it's like going from Angelina to Rosie. Anyway, I tabled my search last summer. Well three weeks ago I got enticed by a new model bass that comes with a very nice SKB ATA case. The store had just got it in two days earlier. I got home with it and noticed a straight line on top of the body than ran the whole length of the body. I sent an email to the Corona customer service department and their response was:

"The line you distinguish on this body is likely simply the join line for the two pieces of wood being utilized for the body spread. The only real cause is that the body wood may have shrunk slightly due to environmental conditions, thus causing the paint to sink in and show the join line you illustrate here

We appreciate your support of xxx Musical Instruments"

Did I miss something, no mention of this actually being a manufacturing problem? So I tried a second one which was also only a couple of days old. Loose tone knob--which I tightened. But I also found too many dents and dings so I returned it. Last night I got my third one in the mail. It was a beautiful Blizzard Pearl color. Well let's see. I opened it up and what did I find. Significant finish issue on the first fret, another loose tone knob, frets that stuck out and dug into my hand and a faulty volume pot that was on, sort of on and off.

I really wanted to have one of these American delights. I had even ordered three books about the bass, bought a model of one, a keychain of one and a special strap. All going back to the vendors.

My sweet wife said, "Why do you keep waisting your time on the xxxxxr? You really like your Sterling. Go ahead and order the Stingray." Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. I ordered a white one with rosewood and shell. BTW, Musician's Friend has a deal going where they will instantly knock $150 off of an online order of $1,000 or more. I can't wait.

Do you think the quality of brand F has gone down or could it really be that we never noticed the quality issues until higher quality equipment came out?

Good job Musicman!

[Big Poppa]

Mondo

How can I throw stones at the people who are entrusted with Leo's legacy? Oops, maybe that is kind of a telling comment in and of itself. This is a question.....Do you think that they understand that they are custodian of Leo's masterpieces?

These guys do a fine job of makin a boatload of instruments and I am a fraction of their size and could never get there. It's easier to do what I do on my scale.
As I have said before I wish that they would understand their power and position and the responsibility to move the instrument forward that accompanies their leadership position that has provided for them so well... In other words spend money on R&D that doesn't involve a can of paint.....

What did you pay for these basses? Is it a fair comparision?

I think that Fender makes it easy for Lakland and others. Dan probably ASSEMBLES a better Fender than Fender makes. Look at those retail prices.....Whoa

Let me repeat this for the TB crowd,. I love Fender Basses grew up with them. Still have the fire engine red v necked gold anodized pickguard P Bass my dad gave me when I was 15.......

[MondoKen]

FYI, I met you in Dallas several years ago.

I paid $1,100 for it shipped from Musicians Friend. In contrast I have ordered my new Stingray at their normal price less an instant $150 savings leaving a net price of less than $200 more then the bass being returned. Generally it seems that the Musicman runs about 25-30% more than the F Bass, so yes it's probably not a fair comparison. But it's kind of like supersizing for a few cents more.

Baa Baa, I feel myself becoming one of the faithful flock, but you guys really make a great bass! Perhaps it's due to the fact that you are in touch with your customer base. I am really looking forward to my white Stingray! My wife will tell you that my Sterling is the only piece of musical gear that I never complain about. It was worth it to her to agree to a couple hundred more for the Stingray to shut me up!

[Big Poppa]

great....I have to look at the big picture and am amazed that they can do a half a billion dollars or whatever with little new product. SOmebody is doing something right

[timmy5strings]

My sweet wife said, "Why do you keep waisting your time on the xxxxxr? You really like your Sterling. Go ahead and order the Stingray." Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. I ordered a white one with rosewood and shell.
Good job Musicman!

That sure was a hell of a plan to get your wife to okay a StingRay !

[Ken Baker]

How can I throw stones at the people who are entrusted with Leo's legacy? Oops, maybe that is kind of a telling comment in and of itself. This is a question.....Do you think that they understand that they are custodian of Leo's masterpieces?

Some people with Fender may well realize what they hold in their hands. But let's face it; Leo's history left Fender when CBS bought the company. Leo's continual desire to tinker and move forward now lives in two companies - EBMM and G&L. So while Fender may be custodians of Leo's masterpieces, Leo's legacy lives on in SLO and Fullerton.

As I have said before I wish that they would understand their power and position and the responsibility to move the instrument forward that accompanies their leadership position that has provided for them so well... In other words spend money on R&D that doesn't involve a can of paint.....

As you know - there's a difference between thinking with your heart and thinking with your wallet. Only YOU know how much you were sticking your neck out with the Bongo, but you were indeed thinking with your heart. You BELIEVED in it. That says something right there.

Ken...

[the unrepentant]

I rather want a fender bass, but i'll be honest, i've never known customer support like EB's. Most really do suck, i found gibson are less than helpful most of the time, their customer service doesn't know anything about half of the instruments in their sub companies eg tobias and can't even answer simple questions about them. Ah well, MM all the way!

Also BP, did you ever meet Leo Fender? I was just wondering, not trying to make you feel old or anything!

[fly]

had a P bass..........was really nice.....no complaints.

got robbed............they took all my guitars and basses..........bastards.

ended up with a Sterling H.........and i will never go to another company for any future basses.

except acoustic eh.........tough to find an Earthwood.


EBMM.....best damn basses on the market......even if it is at a smaller scale.


you keep makin' beautiful instruments BP.........we'll buy them.

[paranoid70]

I still think Fender makes great amplifiers.

[Aussie Mark]

I still think Fender makes very good tube guitar amplifiers.

Fixed it for you.

[shamus63]

While I do keep a P-Bass ('89 MIJ) around for certain gigs, I personally feel that Fender's consistency went out the door after around '99 (MIA's, that is).

As far as EB/MM's go, I can still pick up any Stingray or Sterling from any era and (short of a set-up) get that solid and reliable feel that we've all come to love and expect in an Ernie Ball/Music Man bass. Bongo's, too.

In fact, I have more trust in a new EB/MM than just about any other new bass hanging on the walls.

[the unrepentant]

aye, i tried out a couple of fender rumble amps and they sounded decent for the price, but i had to go with the ampeg tbh...

[slow roasted]

I rather want a fender bass, but i'll be honest, i've never known customer support like EB's.

There are companies that make that style of bass both over on your side of the pond, and here in the U.S.. I use several copies "assembled" ( that's how I've heard it described 'round here anyways..) here in the states. They work great, and I don't have to deal with a company that is difficult IMHO to communicate with.

[the unrepentant]

There are companies that make that style of bass both over on your side of the pond, and here in the U.S.. I use several copies "assembled" ( that's how I've heard it described 'round here anyways..) here in the states. They work great, and I don't have to deal with a company that is difficult IMHO to communicate with.

Yeah but that would be pretty expensive i'd imagine, i can really only budget for a mexican jazz. Anyways, enough of the fender talk from me XD i dunno what my next move will be but i can guarantee it won't be soon with summer and download festival 08 coming up!

[Mr Light]

great....I have to look at the big picture and am amazed that they can do a half a billion dollars or whatever with little new product. Somebody is doing something right

Hmm... Could it be because everytime you turn around, they are acquiring a new company? (ie. SWR, Gretsch, etc.)