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Short Scale StingRay

Should I.... (30th content)

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Tim Gray

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Jan 11, 2008
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New to the forum. I've had an '83 Stingray (pre EB) for about... 8 years now. It's a great bass, but I don't play it quite as much as I should - I go through spells where it's my favorite of my 2.

I was in GC last week and played a 30th SR4. Holy crap! It blew away all the other EB's there that I played (Stingrays and Sterlings). I'm seriously tempted. Tomorrow I'm going back with my '83 to do a little comparison. If the 30th wins, then I'll be seriously tempted to sell my '83 for the 30th.

You guys think this is silly? And if not, what's a good price for an '83 in excellent shape - natural finish, clear pickguard, maple neck?

Also, the 30th is marked $1750. However, I know it's been hanging on their wall for quite some time (heck, it's 2008, not 2006!), so I'm guessing I'll be able to talk them down a bit. What do think a good offer would be?

Thanks!
 
TNT

TNT

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Tim,

DO NOT sell the 83' - vintage rarity & value, you'll regret it!!!

Now, go get the new one - you're overdue!

Seems like they just keep gettin' better those MM guitars and basses, don't they!:)
 
timmy5strings

timmy5strings

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Get the 30th ! Although I would definitely like to hear somebody's A/B comparison soundwise of the 30th to a "stock" Stingray. I'm not sure its been done, at least that I've found or read somewhere. How does it differ or compare ? I just know mine is a punch machine :D
 
RobertB

RobertB

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Tim Gray said:
Also, the 30th is marked $1750. However, I know it's been hanging on their wall for quite some time (heck, it's 2008, not 2006!), so I'm guessing I'll be able to talk them down a bit. What do think a good offer would be?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Before closely inspecting a 30th at a GC in my town, I was about to take the deal of $1600 they were offering, based on the same thing you described - it had been out on their floor & handled alot since they received it in 2006. But then I realized it had a few bad bruises & so bailed on it & found another one. But just so you know, you can get 'em that low, or maybe even lower.
 
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Tim Gray

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Bought new strings tonight for my bass. Going to the store tomorrow. I don't have the cash to buy it straight up at the moment, so I'd either flip mine on the 'bay, put it on layaway (haven't done that since I was like 6), or maybe try to work it into a graduation present :)
 
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Tim Gray

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This one is actually pretty clean. No real scuff marks. It does have one blemish near the bridge. It looks like the finish is slightly bubbled right at the edge of the bridge - it doesn't look like damage that would happen in the store. Besides, if I can knock $50 off for that AND I like the way it sounds, I feel like I'm ahead.

Anyway, if I get it, I will be playing it. So it won't be clean forever. Besides, my main bass is not what one would call pristine.

How consistent sounding are these basses? I like the idea of actually putting it head to head against my SR and others in the room and seeing if I really like it the most. But I might end up buying one from somewhere else online, and I won't be able to listen to it then...
 
oli@bass

oli@bass

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Tim Gray said:
I'll be seriously tempted to sell my '83 for the 30th.

You guys think this is silly?
Click to expand...

Yes. Utmost. Get the 30th but keep the '83! It's a 25 years old bass. Some more and it will count as "vintage". Could be your old age assurance!

Tim Gray said:
How consistent sounding are these basses?
Click to expand...

Well... they're made from woods. How consistent are woods?
Every one is a bit different, but given the high quality of EBMMs in general, none will be bad, just ... different. But, if the bass you can test really is good sounding to you, then I would rather go with that than one I've not played.
(That said, I've bought sight unseen and was not disappointed)
 
T

Tim Gray

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Jan 11, 2008
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oli@bass said:
Yes. Utmost. Get the 30th but keep the '83! It's a 25 years old bass. Some more and it will count as "vintage". Could be your old age assurance!
Click to expand...

That's what the other bass is for. The '54 P. :D

I'll report back tomorrow after I go noodle on the 30th again for awhile with my '83 as a comparison. Though in the end, I guess it wouldn't hurt to own 3 basses...

I actually like the idea of that. And the 30th is sufficiently different from my current SR that I could justify it (mahogany, rosewood fretboard, color, 3EQ, string through body, etc...).
 
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Tim Gray

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Yeah. Really trying to avoid that mindset though. Two basses is totally understandable. Three, maybe. After that, I'll have 40 and you guys can commit me to the looney bin.
 
oli@bass

oli@bass

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Tim Gray said:
Yeah. Really trying to avoid that mindset though. Two basses is totally understandable. Three, maybe. After that, I'll have 40 and you guys can commit me to the looney bin.
Click to expand...

Resistance is futile!

sevenofnine.jpg
 
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