Hi Guys and questions for my first LTD SR4

[phil421]

Hi guys,

First I'd like to say hello, great forum here to get plenty of MM info.
I have always been a more 7ender guy and I am looking now for my first stingray.

I have been after few models and do not know the exact differences except what I already read on the forum.
I'd like to purchase a 2-Eq ray, and have been offered different models.

My questions concerning those 2 basses:
The first one is a 93 teal Maple board with "foamed" bridge.
The second one is a 2-eq 97 german Ltd run (i.e the Redhot one mapple board).

So here are my questions.
- how does the bridge old vs new affect the overall sound of these ray?
- Should I expect to get pretty much the same sound on those 2 (2-Eq, maple board, ...) or will I get different instrument (97 vs 93)?
- More specifically, does someone here have info about these redhot LTD (Wood, 1 or 2 piece body, special specifications, ...). Is the Ltd edition tag only refer to the Special color?
- to come back to that color, it looks to me that this hotred is basically a fancy way to call a candy red? Is is really a unique color?

I have also been offered a "good price" on a german LTD black ebony SR4.
I have heard that those are (expect the color) the exact copy of the 30th w an ebony board and w/o the 30th logo. Mahogany body, string through the body, etc... is this right? should I expect that one to be a true stingray (soundwize)?

I hope someone will find the courage to read the entire post and help me in the process of getting my first SR.
Cheers,

P

 

[Chuck B]

Welcome aboard, phil!
I've read the entire post, yes I did
I don't think that you will get a much different instrument 93 vs. 97.
Afair I've read a review of the red 97 and they had called it CAR...

 

[rhythmCity944]

Those are all nice finds for Stingray basses. Personally I would go for the black stingray with the ebony board if I had to choose. Tough choice though sicne they are all great basses. If you cannot buy all three I suggest you go with the one that your heart tells you to. Also the black LTD is the newest of the bunch and least likely to have a lot of wear and tear. Even with the mohagany it is still a "true" Stingray. It will sound just a little bit different but I think you will still be happy with it. If I found one in the states I'd probably go and buy it.

Between the '93 and the '97, the bridges will not make a difference in sound of the bass. The '93 has the added option of the foam mutes. Some people like the foam mutes, others do not have a use for them. I personally like the trans teal color over the red and that would be my deciding factor between those two since they would sound almost the same plugged into an amp.

Just follow your heart on this one. Play all three if you can and then decide.

 

[oli@bass]

- how does the bridge old vs new affect the overall sound of these ray?

Not at all. However, the newer one does not have the mutes, so you can't have the muted sound. But that is generally a non-issue.

- Should I expect to get pretty much the same sound on those 2 (2-Eq, maple board, ...) or will I get different instrument (97 vs 93)?

The 2-band and 3-band preamps sound and react different, but the 3-band can get pretty close to some of the 2-band sounds. The 2-band generally sounds a little fatter and more compressed especially with the bass and treble controls dimed, which is what a lot of players (wrongly) refer to as the "trademark StingRay sound".

Check out my http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/42214-stingray-sound-examples.html

- More specifically, does someone here have info about these redhot LTD (Wood, 1 or 2 piece body, special specifications, ...). Is the Ltd edition tag only refer to the Special color?

In that case, it seems to be a standard 2-band StingRay with a special colour. Most of the limited editions are just about the colour, but sometimes there are other goodies added such as special inlays, special hardware (gold, black), special fretboard woods (ebony) and special body woods. But every limited edition is different.

I have also been offered a "good price" on a german LTD black ebony SR4.
I have heard that those are (expect the color) the exact copy of the 30th w an ebony board and w/o the 30th logo. Mahogany body, string through the body, etc... is this right? should I expect that one to be a true stingray (soundwize)?

It's not a copy of the 30th, but it shares some features.

The 30th has: Mahogany body, high gloss finished birds eye maple neck with rosewood board, string through body bridge, crimson red finish.

The Ebony Edition has: Mahogany body, standard wax finished maple neck with ebony fretboard, string through body bridge, black finish with matching headstock.

Again, check out my http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/42214-stingray-sound-examples.html

I don't think you can go wrong with either of them. The '93 Teal surely is a nice almost vintage bass, the RedHot is reminiscent of the classic preamp, and the Ebony Edition has a kind of "Thor" vibe (y'know that ol'guy with the hammer) to it. If I had to have only one, I'd go with the Ebony, if I could have two, I'd go with the Ebony and RedHot, to cover a lot of StingRay tonal territory.


If you have a chance play them, do so, and take the one that sounds best to you.

 

[cellkirk74]

I would take the ebony. You will be happy with it. If not, you can easily sell it.

 

[drTStingray]

A couple of other thoughts -

The 93 will likely have a highly figured birds eye maple neck - will not affect sound but cosmetically, appeals to some of us here.

The 93 is in teal trans which is a nice colour, and only recently discontinued, which generated quite a few comments here.

Whilst respecting what Oli has said, the mutes do provide potential for a whole new sonic palette - OK you can add an aftermarket mute to a bass, but the MM design mute assembly is a cool design and allows a range of levels of muting. I use them a lot on my Classic 2 band (but not my fretless, coincidentally also a 93).

The 3 band EQ gives a wider range of tone possibilities, although the 2 band has some great (and classic ones) - and if you have an amp with mid range EQ, you cann dial in anyway if you need it.

All that said, I'd be very tempted by that ebony edition................

I would be pleased with any of them

 

[Chuck B]

I would take the ebony. You will be happy with it. If not, you can easily sell it.

Can't imagine that anybody is not happy with a Ray

 

[Steamthief]

I had a standard SR4 and now have a 30th Anniversary, which I believe sounds better due to the mahogany body. Go with the ebony!

 

[phil421]

Thanks guys for the help,

unfortunatelly the 93 trans teal does not have the bird eye neck, otherwise it would be alreday mine.
I like the 97 HotRod, but got the bad impression that this "hotrod" color is just another way to call a candy red (CAR as mentioned earlier). So why then it is a Ltd??
For the Ebony, it would have been my 1rst choice if 1- price was not that high 2- the head not color matched and 3+ if I was not such a big fan of maple freatboard, Now I am starting to conside rthe classic, but I am still attracted by that ebony....

Will keep you updated guys,
P

 

[Chuck B]

but got the bad impression that this "hotrod" color is just another way to call a candy red (CAR as mentioned earlier).

I just don't understand why the impression you have is a bad one?

 

[cellkirk74]

For the Ebony, it would have been my 1rst choice if 1- price was not that high 2- the head not color matched and 3+ if I was not such a big fan of maple freatboard, Now I am starting to conside rthe classic, but I am still attracted by that ebony....

P

At least 3 is not an argument because Ebony has an attack quite equal to maple.

Take the ebony and try to get a better price (bring cash)....

 

[Chuck B]

At least 3 is not an argument because Ebony has an attack quite equal to maple.

But it doesn't look equal to maple

 

[phil421]

I just don't understand why the impression you have is a bad one?

Not a bad impression, but more a feeling that this special edition is not that special as you can get these "cheap" candy red 2-Eq 133 UK series.
So I don't get the point about why this one is a ltd edition.
having said that I like that color a lot as well as the bass.
Now with all these comments, I just get torn about the situation:

ebony or maple? I agree fell is pretty much the same, look is black or"white".


the LTD Ebony is damn expensive here in the EU, and I can get 2 rays for the price of the ebony. ... 2-eq and 3-eq for example or both a maple and rosewood ...

If my 73 LPB pbass is sold by the end of the WE, I'll go for the ebony, otherwise either I'll wait or go for a used 2-eq.

Will update you about the situation guys, ...
thanks again for the help.

 

[Chuck B]

As far as I remember those red ones were a special run for Europe or Germany only back in 97...

 

[phil421]

As far as I remember those red ones were a special run for Europe or Germany only back in 97...

yes that's what I was thinking untill I saw that:

Music Man StingRay 133 Series Candy Red Bass Guitar on eBay (end time 01-Oct-10 17:26:57 BST)

that:
Music Man Stingray 2eq - Musicman - Bass Guitars - Knighton Music Centre

and that:
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 133 Series Bass Guitar Candy Red (M/N) - Absolute Music UK Online Store

So ...

 

[oli@bass]

So ...

These were made in 2010 for the UK distributor and are only special in that they are without a case and at a lower price.

In '97 the Red Hot was a special run made for Germany. Could be that the red is different from the regular Candy Red. There's another German forumite "FunkyPunky", with a Red Hot. Would be great if he could chime in about the details of that edition.

About the LTD runs: Sometimes they are special colours, sometimes they are regular colours that are discontinued, and I think sometimes they can be a colour that appears as a regular colour later on (I think Radiance Red was one of those).

 

[phil421]

About the LTD runs: Sometimes they are special colours, sometimes they are regular colours that are discontinued, and I think sometimes they can be a colour that appears as a regular colour later on (I think Radiance Red was one of those).

What's what I am suspected, I have contacted ernie ball customer service to check whether they could come with an answer...
Not it will change much, but I am really curious...

P

 

[FunkyPunky]

In '97 the Red Hot was a special run made for Germany. Could be that the red is different from the regular Candy Red. There's another German forumite "FunkyPunky", with a Red Hot. Would be great if he could chime in about the details of that edition.

Thanks, Oli

What can I say about that RedHot 97er ltd that I own? Well, its finish is different to those solid finishes you see on non-ltd runs. I'd say the REDHOT finish is a bit darker and therefore a lot harder to photograph although I haven't had the chance to a/b them directly. Otherwise, it's a standard 2-band StingRay with a special colour and a really great sound.
I'll never sell mine