FTR and because I feel like spouting off, my first Stingray was somewhere around 1978 and I was reticent to accept it (until I took it to rehearsal). It had a BATTERY. What wizardry was this? FTR, I finally found out what happened to that bass; it ended up with the guy from Dire Straits. So it goes.
I fooled around with a few in the early 80s. They were so close to what I wanted, what I remembered about my first Stingray, but not quite. And then things changed. Sterling bought the joint, although I didn't know him then, and lured Dudley away from his "real job" and that's when things really solidified.
I was not a fan of the bullet truss rod. They fixed that - quite nicely. I never liked the micro-tilt. It was scrapped. The Stingrays and then the Sterlings and the Stingray 5s became what they are now - better in all respects, which I know annoys some fans of the 70s Stingrays, but I'm old enough to remember when they were new and I might even know what I'm talking about. It could happen. Write it down! Modern-day Stingrays are much better instruments than the B00 models Leo and company built. You could never count on those to be consistent. May the deity of your choice bless Leo's geeky pocket protectors, of course.
And there is simply no other manufacturer that does what Music Man does, which is put great tools in the hands of musicians at what is still a very decent price point, given the quality and consistency. Every now and then, to my great happiness, they build a Bongo. Or a Reflex. Or a Big Al. I have those. Like many of you, I'm sorry the Reflex and the Big Al didn't make the cut, but they were - are - killer instruments and now we have collectors items, so THERE.
And now we get the passive basses. WHAT MORE CAN WE ASK FOR?
Oh, wait - I know. The PDNs. Crazy Emerald Green Sparkle Bongos and Starry Nights and roasted necks and - it's a long list. The Anniversary models. The most beautiful Stingray 5 ever built: the 20th. Special runs. Crazy Dargie Delights with martini inlays.
And now the 40th Anniversary Stingray, the Old Smoothie, which is even better than the 30th SR4, that crazy mahogany monster. Even. Better. And sure to comfort those who pine, somewhat foolishly, for the 70s Stingrays. This is far beyond those old beasts.
I can get nostalgic, too, but I like to think I still see things clearly. I wouldn't trade my 40th for a B00, I promise.
So all these things, we get. The bottom line is a harsh mistress and things fall by the wayside. I miss some of those finishes, too. Probably Sterling does, too. (Not the Heinz finish.) I even miss what this forum used to be, really, although it could be way more - time-consuming. I have other adjectives which I will keep to myself, but it WAS a lot of fun at the time. Times change. The market changes. Belts tighten.
I used to say this a lot: "I never lose my sense of wonder."
I say it again: "I never lose my sense of wonder."
Thank you, Sterling, and Scott and Brian and Dudley and Aziah and Derek and everyone else, many of whom are no longer appearing in this film. This is all still just so damned awesome.
Jackie
