• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan
Short Scale StingRay

How did this happen? Radical change in taste

D

dje31

Active member
Joined
Nov 15, 2010
Messages
32
It's weird how EBMM has warped my perception and tastes in recent years...I'm thinking I may have been unknowingly abducted by aliens, perhaps probed, and given treatments that have altered my tastes.

Purely in an aesthetic sense, I used to hate (that may be too harsh a word) pickguards, exposed pole pieces, chrome hardware, big open cloverleaf tuners, and flashy colors, preferring the "exotic furniture with strings" look. EBMMs weren't anywhere on my radar, and now I'm lusting for three of them.

First it was a Sterling 4HS...then a Bongo 4HH...now a Big Al 4SSS. One's too many, and a thousand's not enough.

Gotta hit that Lotto/PowerBall thing...

Doug
 
Last edited:
ivbenaplayin

ivbenaplayin

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
688
I started with a 20th Anniversary SR5 HH, then I got abducted by the bongoloids... believe me, you're doomed! ;)
 
Mr.Mow

Mr.Mow

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
60
Location
Melbourne, Aus
I was strictly a Fender guy, always wanted a white Stingray though (black guard, unmatched head, rosewood neck) after watching the anime series Beck.

Finally got my first stingray (silver, maple board, HH), love it, the dynamics and response to finger style playing really impresses me, from nice punch, to heavy grind to soft and bloomy.. Impressed by the engineering and attention to detail as well.

Now have a classic (blue, RW) and another HH (white, RW) on their way :rolleyes:

I still love my other basses, but these will have a permanent place with me, been a real eye opener for me..
 
D

dje31

Active member
Joined
Nov 15, 2010
Messages
32
Part of this process has been the TalkBass thread, "if you could only have 10 basses."
Sorry if it's a conflict of interest between websites:

if you could have 10 and ONLY 10 basses... - TalkBass Forums

Maybe it's the crappy economy...maybe it's adulthood/parenthood...trying to get the most bang-for-the-buck...

The first time I listed my choices, 1 of 10 (10%, for those keeping score) was EBMM, with the Sterling 4HS. Nine months later, I'd added the Bongo and Big Al, shooting up to 3 of 10 (30%).

Then again, maybe I was abducted...?

I just hope they at least bought me a drink, or told me I was pretty, before probing me...
 
JayDawg

JayDawg

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
1,880
Location
Sterling, Colorado
I remember back in the 90's, I was at my local Guitar Center and I played a Stingray. At first I hated the bass. It was much heavier than the current brand I owned, it had a much wider neck , it had chrome hardware and I hate chrome hardware and at the time I did not like the tone. The tone was due to very dead strings but at the time I could not figure out why the bass was so expensive. I knew a lot of bassist used the basses but I could not figure out why? I remember seeing Michael Anthony play his and I liked the tones he was putting out on the Van Halen albums but I thought his was probably some custom done bass with extra goodies that gave him a better tone. Fast forward to about 5 years ago. The senior pastor at our old church was also a bass player and had a Music Man Sub. I actually really liked it. It had a great tone and it was not as heavy as I remember the Stingray that I played probably 10 years prior. The more I saw his bass the more it grew on me. With the style of the Music Man basses, the chrome hardware fits and looks good. I also really started digging the versatility of his bass compared to the brand that I owned. Earlier this year I wanted to buy more gear but wanted to get some other basses that were of a different brand that I had been using for the last almost 20 years. I decided Music Man would be my first. I traded for a Sterling 4H on here shortly after joining the forum and fell in love with that bass. I could not believe how well that bass played. Needless to say, I was sold on EBMM basses. I planned on buying more and that was when my wife got diagnosed. Pretty much everyone on here knows what BP did for my family and we will be forever grateful. The Stingray Classic that I had made is not only gorgeous but I love the tones that this thing produces. When I joined here I also discovered the Bongo bass and thought it was ugly. I couldn't figure out the popularity of the bass. I had made a comment about it and BP responded back to me to give it time and it would grow on me. Sure enough, it did. I bought one from Bass Central without having ever played one and before I received it, I order a Roasted Bongo as well. When I got my Bongo in, BP was right. That is now my main bass. I love the thing and cannot wait for the Roasted to arrive. I want one more Stingray Classic and then after that, in maybe a year or so, I might look at buying a Game Changer if funds permit it.

Needless to say, I am yet to be disappointed with anything EBMM related. My other basses hardly ever get played now and that is because I simply don't want to stop playing my Music Man basses.
 
D

dje31

Active member
Joined
Nov 15, 2010
Messages
32
Anybody else have a similar epiphany? A sudden, inexplicable change of taste or interest?

I blame the Bongo...it's the EBMM gateway model...the epitome of the slippery slope. You hate it, but you can't help but look at it...then you obsess over having one.

Though in truth, I wanted the Sterling 4HS first.
 
Movielife

Movielife

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Messages
1,340
Location
North West, UK
dje31 said:
Anybody else have a similar epiphany? A sudden, inexplicable change of taste or interest?
QUOTE]

Pretty much. Ive always liked Rays, and Ive always played various '7enders', but the QC on most Fenders is just not that great.

I tried the Big Al 4 SSS, and liked it so much I ordered 2!

I have quite an exciting set of orders due :)

I must admit, im VERY tempted to get a Bongo 5HH.
Click to expand...
 
adouglas

adouglas

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
5,592
Location
On the tail end of the bell curve in Connecticut
syciprider said:
It's funny, I go to GC to try gear but I always go straight to the EBMM cache anyway.
Click to expand...

Same here. Whenever I'm near my local GC I go in just because I'm in the neighborhood.

Usually the visit consists of strolling back to the bass nook, observing that there are no new EBMMs, and walking out. If there's something new I'll give it a spin.

Every time I visit I look around at all the other basses and just go "eh."

These things have really spoiled me.
 
adouglas

adouglas

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
5,592
Location
On the tail end of the bell curve in Connecticut
dje31 said:
It's weird how EBMM has warped my perception and tastes in recent years...I'm thinking I may have been unknowingly abducted by aliens, perhaps probed, and given treatments that have altered my tastes.

Purely in an aesthetic sense, I used to hate (that may be too harsh a word) pickguards, exposed pole pieces, chrome hardware, big open cloverleaf tuners, and flashy colors, preferring the "exotic furniture with strings" look. EBMMs weren't anywhere on my radar, and now I'm lusting for three of them.

First it was a Sterling 4HS...then a Bongo 4HH...now a Big Al 4SSS. One's too many, and a thousand's not enough.

Gotta hit that Lotto/PowerBall thing...

Doug
Click to expand...

The Mind Control Ray machine appears to be performing flawlessly.

hypno2s.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Soundhole Covers
Top Bottom