... who got rid of their Reflex because of the ergonomics of the instrument?
Hi, all. Long time lurker, first post. I currently own 2 EBMMs, a Stingray 4H fretless & a Reflex 4HH. Previously owned a 'Ray 4HH SLO & a Bongo 5HH. This initial post is about the Reflex. I've owned it longer - and probably gigged it more - than any other bass in my current stable, but it's been on the bubble several times over the years. Which is where it is again, mostly for ergonomics. My left shoulder gets more sore towards the end of a gig with the Reflex than it does with any of my other basses. The way it hangs on a strap gives it a longer reach to the nut. Plus, the frets are - at least until I mentally & physically 'recalibrate' - in a different place than where I expect them to be. And since my Stingray FL is unlined, having my left hand know where to go instinctively is critical .. and is constantly being messed with as I change back & forth.
There is much I like about the Reflex, which is why I've kept it as long as I have. But the availability of several EBMM basses near me - any of which would require me to sacrifice the Reflex - is what's driving the dilemma I'm facing.
FWIW, the cover bands I'm require some versatility. One plays the 'radio hits' from the 50s to today. Bobby Darin/Elvis to Bruno Mars/Justin Timberlake. Another one backs a female singer who just kills it on Aretha, Whitney, Diana Ross, etc. Third band backs a female duo that does the doo wop/oldies scene.
First up is a Stingray 4H SLO w/ 2-band EQ. (I'm gravitating to a preference for 1-1/2" nut widths, although 1-5/8" is still on the table.) SLO nut width = win, and my other EBMMS have either been 3 or 4-band; never a 2.
Others under consideration (w/ a short blurb on each): Bongo 4HH - several NOS available near me, didn't really bond with my 5-string, but the tone was killer. Never been a fan of painted necks, but the Bongo was an exception. 1-5/8" neck not #1 choice, but I could handle it. Might be too "out there" for some of the genres listed above. Tone-wise, their versatility could pull it off. Looks-wise, I dunno.
Classic Stingray 5H - don't know if I want to sink that kind of $$ into a 5-string again. Not a fan of gloss necks, but like the painted-neck Bongo above, the Classic EBMMs I've played have a more agreeable gloss coating, so I wouldn't rule them out. Would help considering several of these vocalists do songs in different key(s) than the original recordings. Plus, the one I'm looking at is used & mint, so I'd save some $$.
A shop also has an Old Smoothie & a Classic Sabre. Didn't really bond w/ the Smoothie and never really gave the Sabre the time of day, but that might change this weekend. I just missed out on a used Classic Sterling, so I wasted about a week of obsessing over that one.
Right now, the Stingray 4H SLO is probably what I'm leaning towards, with (oddly enough) the Bongo not far behind. The Bongos have the older clover tuners instead of the newer ones like on my Reflex.
Of course, I'm sure a lot of Reflex owners out there also play other basses, so I think if they can adjust to the ergonomics, so can I. It's a sweet jack-of-all-trades bass, which is why I've used it often. I think if it was all I played, I'd adjust to the fret "positioning" and maybe avoid the shoulder soreness, as well. Sorry for the long post, but I'm really at a loss trying to decide which direction, if any, to head. Thanks.
Hi, all. Long time lurker, first post. I currently own 2 EBMMs, a Stingray 4H fretless & a Reflex 4HH. Previously owned a 'Ray 4HH SLO & a Bongo 5HH. This initial post is about the Reflex. I've owned it longer - and probably gigged it more - than any other bass in my current stable, but it's been on the bubble several times over the years. Which is where it is again, mostly for ergonomics. My left shoulder gets more sore towards the end of a gig with the Reflex than it does with any of my other basses. The way it hangs on a strap gives it a longer reach to the nut. Plus, the frets are - at least until I mentally & physically 'recalibrate' - in a different place than where I expect them to be. And since my Stingray FL is unlined, having my left hand know where to go instinctively is critical .. and is constantly being messed with as I change back & forth.
There is much I like about the Reflex, which is why I've kept it as long as I have. But the availability of several EBMM basses near me - any of which would require me to sacrifice the Reflex - is what's driving the dilemma I'm facing.
FWIW, the cover bands I'm require some versatility. One plays the 'radio hits' from the 50s to today. Bobby Darin/Elvis to Bruno Mars/Justin Timberlake. Another one backs a female singer who just kills it on Aretha, Whitney, Diana Ross, etc. Third band backs a female duo that does the doo wop/oldies scene.
First up is a Stingray 4H SLO w/ 2-band EQ. (I'm gravitating to a preference for 1-1/2" nut widths, although 1-5/8" is still on the table.) SLO nut width = win, and my other EBMMS have either been 3 or 4-band; never a 2.
Others under consideration (w/ a short blurb on each): Bongo 4HH - several NOS available near me, didn't really bond with my 5-string, but the tone was killer. Never been a fan of painted necks, but the Bongo was an exception. 1-5/8" neck not #1 choice, but I could handle it. Might be too "out there" for some of the genres listed above. Tone-wise, their versatility could pull it off. Looks-wise, I dunno.
Classic Stingray 5H - don't know if I want to sink that kind of $$ into a 5-string again. Not a fan of gloss necks, but like the painted-neck Bongo above, the Classic EBMMs I've played have a more agreeable gloss coating, so I wouldn't rule them out. Would help considering several of these vocalists do songs in different key(s) than the original recordings. Plus, the one I'm looking at is used & mint, so I'd save some $$.
A shop also has an Old Smoothie & a Classic Sabre. Didn't really bond w/ the Smoothie and never really gave the Sabre the time of day, but that might change this weekend. I just missed out on a used Classic Sterling, so I wasted about a week of obsessing over that one.
Right now, the Stingray 4H SLO is probably what I'm leaning towards, with (oddly enough) the Bongo not far behind. The Bongos have the older clover tuners instead of the newer ones like on my Reflex.
Of course, I'm sure a lot of Reflex owners out there also play other basses, so I think if they can adjust to the ergonomics, so can I. It's a sweet jack-of-all-trades bass, which is why I've used it often. I think if it was all I played, I'd adjust to the fret "positioning" and maybe avoid the shoulder soreness, as well. Sorry for the long post, but I'm really at a loss trying to decide which direction, if any, to head. Thanks.
