Boogie.Man
Well-known member
I've been on a bass buying binge lately. I purchased a StingRay SLO in Black Magic Crystal / Rosewood and followed that with a StingRay Classic in Surf Green / Rosewood. I've also always had a fondness for a certain German made bass named after a sports car. I had heard that the production on the model was shifting to Korea, which was disappointing many fans of that brand. I had had several of these in the past, so my desire for another one suddenly shot up and I started an Internet search.
An individual in my town purchased the whole inventory of the German company's former USA distributor. I stumbled across him this week and was lucky enough to score a NIB 2 year old model. I was actually able to choose from four of this model picking one with a beautiful grain. I was the first person to touch it since it left Germany. Finally, I was able to purchase it at the distributor's cost (roughly 1/3 of the going retail price) because the owner of the business had lost his real job and has to pay back the loan on the inventory. He's nervous sitting on the inventory. That's the good part for me, anyway.
Beautiful bass? Yes. Well made? Yes. Once-in-a-lifetime price? Yes. Do I really like it? Yes. How does it compare to my Sterling and StingRays? Close, but no cigar! I had forgot why I transitioned away from this brand to Music Man several years ago. I prefer the Music Man products by a clear margin. The necks on my StingRays and Sterling just seem so perfect. And nothing sounds better to me than the growl of my SLO Special StingRay through my Mesa Boogie Walkabout. The German one has a distinct sound which to me sounds a little more like my Sterling HS but more HiFi sounding. I will keep it but if I ever cull the herd, it will be the first to go.
I posted my find on the forum sponsored by the German company. I knew that there were some good opportunities for fans of that brand. I was trying to help, like when I have posted Music Man finds at my local GCs on this forum. i.e. I came across a Classic StingRay in Surf Green and birdeyes maple neck that just came in at one of the GCs. I posted this and someone out of state was looking for one and quickly called and purchased it. I was glad to be of help. A couple of them thought that I was a spammer. Oh well, at least I tried.
An individual in my town purchased the whole inventory of the German company's former USA distributor. I stumbled across him this week and was lucky enough to score a NIB 2 year old model. I was actually able to choose from four of this model picking one with a beautiful grain. I was the first person to touch it since it left Germany. Finally, I was able to purchase it at the distributor's cost (roughly 1/3 of the going retail price) because the owner of the business had lost his real job and has to pay back the loan on the inventory. He's nervous sitting on the inventory. That's the good part for me, anyway.
Beautiful bass? Yes. Well made? Yes. Once-in-a-lifetime price? Yes. Do I really like it? Yes. How does it compare to my Sterling and StingRays? Close, but no cigar! I had forgot why I transitioned away from this brand to Music Man several years ago. I prefer the Music Man products by a clear margin. The necks on my StingRays and Sterling just seem so perfect. And nothing sounds better to me than the growl of my SLO Special StingRay through my Mesa Boogie Walkabout. The German one has a distinct sound which to me sounds a little more like my Sterling HS but more HiFi sounding. I will keep it but if I ever cull the herd, it will be the first to go.
I posted my find on the forum sponsored by the German company. I knew that there were some good opportunities for fans of that brand. I was trying to help, like when I have posted Music Man finds at my local GCs on this forum. i.e. I came across a Classic StingRay in Surf Green and birdeyes maple neck that just came in at one of the GCs. I posted this and someone out of state was looking for one and quickly called and purchased it. I was glad to be of help. A couple of them thought that I was a spammer. Oh well, at least I tried.
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