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Stingray Story

This is a discussion on Stingray Story within the Music Man Basses forums, part of the Gear Talk category; Hi all! Once I found this great forum I thought I'd share with you guys as well. A bit long ...

  1. #1
    umax is offline Registered User Newbie
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    Stingray Story

    Hi all!

    Once I found this great forum I thought I'd share with you guys as well. A bit long I know...

    As a kid I started playing saxophone. Many years went by in brass orchestras. When I first joined a rock band it didn't take long before we cooperatively agreed the band needed as bass player more than a sax player. I borrowed an old bass and immediately fell in love with the instrument.

    After a few year in the late 80s with a very oddly shaped and thick necked Martin & Co electric bass (any of these still around?) I finally got around to buying my dream bass, a new -90 black SR4, black pickguard with rosewood board. Spent 4 years with nearly a gig a week having so much fun. Never tried any other bass like this.

    In 1994 I found out that university and intense musical adventures did not match and I had to get a day job. The other band members also left university and moved back to their home towns - the Mayflower Street Band was no more. As it happened I started a family at that time as well and this together with the new apartment in another town, needed cash.

    Going through our inventory, we had to take the painful decision to put an ad in the newspaper for my dear Stringray.

    The sale went through and I almost wept when the young man left my apartment with my Bass in his hand.

    The years went by, the family grew bigger, we moved around, went abroad for a few years, had a farly successful professional career in a business very much not music related. Never did I forget the music and the pain of letting go of my bass only grew bigger over time.

    Some time ago I was asked by a couple of collegues of my wife, if I could fill a vacant position in their newly formed band. A was a bit hesitant at first, but could of coarse not resist; borrowed a bass and had a go.

    The audition went very well and we all went away from the session happy. I was now in a band again. But I had to get hold of an instrument. Most of my spare time was spent checking out what local stores and ads had to offer. Nothing could be found that even closely resembled the black Stingray. Not within my budget anyway.

    A few weeks later I happened to visit another town and followed my, now normal , procedure of browsing all music stores, when it suddenly happened.

    There, on the wall, I saw something interesting. A black Stingray, black pickguard, rosewood...I had to take a closer look. "- We just got it in", the salesman standing next to me said.

    The feeling! Every dent! Every scratchmark! Small marks from the hipshot detuner. IT HAD TO BE IT! MY STINGRAY! 8 years later! After double checking the serial number I was sure.


    Do you think I bought it?


    /umax who will never ever sell gear again

  2. #2
    Mobay45's Avatar
    Mobay45 is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Well, tell us. Did you?

    Just kidding. Welcome to the forum. Post a pic of your "beloved" Stingray the first chance you get.
    Starting to think about returning to bass playing in the very near future.

    Larry

  3. #3
    bovinehost's Avatar
    bovinehost is offline Moderator Lord Bongo
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    Very cool story. I lost one of my basses for about a year and never expected to get it back - but I did.

    But eight years? And you don't know where it was or what it was doing during all that time and THEN you find it?

    Unfreakingreal.

    Yeah, we need photos of THAT bass, to be sure.

  4. #4
    scottbass71's Avatar
    scottbass71 is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Great story just goes to show it was meant to be!!!

  5. #5
    mike not fat is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by bovinehost
    Very cool story.
    Yes, like those love stories that had to end at a time and then start again several years after, to last 'til the end. Very beautiful. Enjoy your bass !

    MNF

  6. #6
    Pruitt is offline Registered User Newbie
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    Man, that's a great story! Congrats on getting that Stingray back. I'm glad I never parted with mine during the 10+ year bass playing hiatus I recently returned from!

  7. #7
    Urwordsbreakmed is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    haha thats great Im happy for you

  8. #8
    JB1
    JB1 is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Great story man.

    I'm never parting with any of mine. I have enough regret over selling lesser basses so lord knows what losing my 'rays would do to me

  9. #9
    Dees's Avatar
    Dees is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    That's just great!
    you were very lucky, and being a bass player is your destiny

  10. #10
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    I imagine umax on a beach and its kind of foggy.... hes walking slowly... then he sees something, off in the distance, sitting next to a rock weeping softly... its his StingRay!!!!

    He shouts out "StingRay! StingRay!" StingRay looks up, wipes a tear from its pickup pole and starts to run toward umax shouting "umax! umax!!" It's slow motion....as they get closer to each other they can see each other more clearly -- the music leaps into a romantic interlude and they embrace, it is Love again! The sun shines and reflects off of the strings and umax sees himself in the tuning key -- once again, a happy man...

    [giggle]

  11. #11
    Beth's Avatar
    Beth is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    ok, now you guys think Im totally weird... sorry bout that.. must be the pre-lunch delerium...

  12. #12
    umax is offline Registered User Newbie
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    Red face

    Quote Originally Posted by Beth
    I imagine umax on a beach and its kind of foggy.... hes walking slowly... then he sees something, off in the distance, sitting next to a rock weeping softly... its his StingRay!!!!
    Didn't mean to sound that romantic in my posting. Maybe I got a little carried away re-experiencing the events...

    Have you told your marketing department about your skills?

    /umax

  13. #13
    phatduckk's Avatar
    phatduckk is offline Moderator
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    that is an awesome story ... congrats on getting your first born back

  14. #14
    Mobay45's Avatar
    Mobay45 is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Beth, you should try your hand at romance novels.
    Starting to think about returning to bass playing in the very near future.

    Larry

  15. #15
    Beth's Avatar
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    heh heh heh... thank you!!!

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