Which bass to choose ?

[gobnew]

Hi,

I've got the choice between this :
MUSIC MAN STINGRAY 4 HH RW SBK - Cyberstore International Français

and this :
Music Man Sting Ray LTD. 2006 4-String

What do you recommand ?

 

[mammoth]

The single H beauty!!!

 

[ekb16b]

yeap, i agree go for the single H

 

[DTG]

single H is sweet and its the 06LE which is very sweet indeed

 

[DTG]

you should really go for a Sting Ray 5 they are just about the best bass in the world

SAY NO TO BONGO !!!!

 

[adouglas]

SAY NO TO BONGO !!!!

What was that? What did you say? Why, I oughta.....

Given the choice between those two Stingrays, consider that gold hardware doesn't hold up well over time. The plating inevitably wears off (having owned a bass with gold hardware I know this first-hand).

The HH would give you more tone options.

The H is sexier.

If you can, go try a Bongo. Worry not...the tingling sensation you will feel as you strike the first note is only the Mind Control Rays. They're harmless.

 

[EBMM7181]

You should get a TRANS TEAL StingRay.....

 

[ptg]

I know a lot of you love the single H, but adouglas hits the nail on the head.

1. More tone options
2. The gold will wear off and when it does, it's not pretty

Either way, though, it'll sound great!

 

[adouglas]

You should get a TRANS TEAL StingRay.....

He can't.

The production slots for Trans Teal are occupied. They're building the one that you're eventually going to buy once you realize your mistake.

 

[1Echo]

I know a lot of you love the single H, but adouglas hits the nail on the head.

1. More tone options
2. The gold will wear off and when it does, it's not pretty

Either way, though, it'll sound great!

+1

Though I'd go for a Bongo.

 

[martin shane]

I would say single H

 

[gobnew]

Thank you for all these answers.

It's hard to make a choice, on the one hand I like the way the 2006LE looks like with matching headstock and Gold HW, on the other hand I like the possibility of having a multi tone with 2 humbuckers...

You told me that the Gold could leave. Is it true all the time or it happens for a few instruments ?

 

[adouglas]

Gold plating wearing off...it's the nature of the beast.

Gold doesn't stick to anything all that well over the long term. This is one reason why gold jewelry stays shiny, because nothing sticks to it. It's also very soft relative to the base metal onto which it's plated, so it wears faster. If you have a gold-plated knurled knob, the gold will wear off the raised bits long before the raised bits themselves start to wear. the same goes for all sharp edges. Bridges, edges of tuning posts, you name it.

Long, long ago, I worked for Tiffany's (yes, that Tiffany's). One of my jobs was in the silver department. (I was also the elevator boy. They still have elevator boys to this day. Gotta love the tradition in that place.) Tiffany's, in addition to making really nice jewelry, makes really fine silverware.

You can get certain patterns of Tiffany silverware in what is called "vermeil" (ver-may), which is gold plated onto sterling silver. Gaudy as all get out, only bought by the nouveau riche, sultans and mobsters who don't know any better and are impressed only by the fact that they have gold-plated spoons. It was common knowledge that the gold would wear off long before there was significant wear to the piece itself. So you eventually wind up with a half-plated piece, with all the high spots worn through and all the low spots still filled with gold. Tacky. You want lasting classiness, go for pure silver.

(Tip: If you want to impress your significant other, buy some Tiffany silver jewelry. Unique, gorgeous, classy, and amazingly affordable. Avoid almost all Tiffany clocks...they're ordinary plastic quartz clock movements in expensive cases.)

On guitar hardware gold plating doesn't acutally look all that bad as it wears. You know how old or heavily used guns look as the bluing wears off the edges, leaving the underlying steel showing through? It's like that. But it DOES wear. Count on it.

 

[nashman]

Thank you for all these answers.

It's hard to make a choice, on the one hand I like the way the 2006LE looks like with matching headstock and Gold HW, on the other hand I like the possibility of having a multi tone with 2 humbuckers...

You told me that the Gold could leave. Is it true all the time or it happens for a few instruments ?

You COULD have both ...

[http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/20015-allllllllll-right-then.html

If you look after the gold hardware ... clean/polish etc. it won't be a big deal. I have heard of people coating with clear shellac.

 

[Dean217]

Gold plating wearing off...it's the nature of the beast.

My experience is similar. Although I'm a bass player, I double on guitar, and my main guitar for the past 14 years has been a Gibson LP Studio with gold hardware; even with limited use, the gold has worn off in all areas of contact. Stay away from gold if the guitar is a "player."

 

[HELLonWHEELS]

Anybody else notice how crazy those prices are?

 

[Ole Man Blues]

+1

Though I'd go for a Bongo.

+1........

 

[SLUGGO]

The gold will fade to a degree. But it should maintain a "tint" of gold. If you go that route, minimize shining up the gold but wipe off sweat and dirt as you go and it should minimize the effect over time.

Whichever bass you choose....you cant go wrong with the tone!

 

[Caca de Kick]

Schaller uses very tough gold plating on their tuners (which I hear is the factory MM tuners). I have an '82 P* with factory gold Schaller hardware and they still look great with very minimal tarnishing, there's no worn-off, and this was a players bass. The trick is to simply wipe it off, no chemicals or abrasive cleaners.
I wouldn't be scared of the gold.

As to which bass? If I only had one StingRay, it would be a single H, it's always been my 1st choice.