Making the Jump

[szaretsky]

OK, I did it, I sold my '78 Stingray (that I've owned since March of 1978). I'm a bass player with small hands and I was never comfortable playing the Stingray. Until recently, I never realized that there were different size bass necks. (There are standards for basketball courts, etc.; I just figured that all bass necks were the same size.) I recently played a J-style bass and realized that I needed to get out more. It felt a lot better in my hands than the Stingray did, but... the sound just wasn't there. What to do?

So -- thanks to the urgings of a lot of people, I went to Bass Central yesterday, played and purchased a new Sterling. (Thanks to Mike and Ed; they were great!) It's everything my old Stingray was and less (thinner neck, smaller body) and more (more sounds, more playable.) In fact, my old Stingray seems tired in comparison to the Sterling. Hopefully in a new person's hands it'll come back to life.

No offense to Stingray players; when you own an instrument for nearly 30 years, it becomes a part of you and I loved my bass. But I feel that in a way, because of my hand size, it kept me back. I'm 47 now, but I think that I finally have the chance to make some real progress as a bass player. Now if only I can find some other musicians around here.

Thanks to EB for not only carrying on the tradition, but making it so much better.

 

[Randracula]

Congrats on your new purchase!

 

[TSanders]

OK, I did it, I sold my '78 Stingray (that I've owned since March of 1978). I'm a bass player with small hands and I was never comfortable playing the Stingray. Until recently, I never realized that there were different size bass necks. (There are standards for basketball courts, etc.; I just figured that all bass necks were the same size.) I recently played a J-style bass and realized that I needed to get out more. It felt a lot better in my hands than the Stingray did, but... the sound just wasn't there. What to do?

So -- thanks to the urgings of a lot of people, I went to Bass Central yesterday, played and purchased a new Sterling. (Thanks to Mike and Ed; they were great!) It's everything my old Stingray was and less (thinner neck, smaller body) and more (more sounds, more playable.) In fact, my old Stingray seems tired in comparison to the Sterling. Hopefully in a new person's hands it'll come back to life.

No offense to Stingray players; when you own an instrument for nearly 30 years, it becomes a part of you and I loved my bass. But I feel that in a way, because of my hand size, it kept me back. I'm 47 now, but I think that I finally have the chance to make some real progress as a bass player. Now if only I can find some other musicians around here.

Thanks to EB for not only carrying on the tradition, but making it so much better.

Welcome, and thanks for the great post. This should be stickied in the FAQ under the "whats better, pre EB or post EB question".

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Did you keep details of your old bass...serial number etc

 

[Randracula]

Did you keep details of your old bass...serial number etc

What about pics?

 

[szaretsky]

Oh yes - photos I have plenty of (and the bass doesn't ship out until tomorrow so I'm going to take more) and I have the serial number memorized. B010371 -- I also did the complete check out to confirm age -- thanks Gav, your site is wonderful.

 

[Randracula]

Oh yes - photos I have plenty of (and the bass doesn't ship out until tomorrow so I'm going to take more) your site is wonderful.

Will you share them with us...............please

 

[szaretsky]

Sure - there are pictures at http://www.atdes.com/stingray/

 

[shamus63]

Great pic's, Steve! I love how the Maple FB mellowed with age.

BTW, is that a brass nut, or just a well-worn in stock nut?

 

[szaretsky]

It's a brass nut and believe it or not, it came with the bass when I bought it. I think that the store may have changed it before putting it on the rack, but the bass was new when purchased.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Hi szaretsky

Re B010371.

Yup. I already have a file on that baby and thanks for the kind words.

 

[Dr Stankface]

That's a gorgeous Pre-EB. I can tell you keep great care of your instrument. That Sterling will serve you well.

Andrew

 

[Figjam]

Sterlings >.

enjoy

 

[Golem]

Sure - there are pictures at http://www.atdes.com/stingray/

Gawjizz Ax!! On one hand it's great that you dig your new Sterling and someone new gets to play your old Ray. OTOH it's a shame you couldn't clone the Ray and hang it on your wall after playing it for 30 yrs. Life is so unfair.

 

[Bill]

Yeah, that old 'Ray is BEAUTIFUL! I'd love to have an old 'Ray like that. Of course, my current SR4 looks pretty much like that, but mine is 27 years younger! It doesn't have the same charm as the '78 'Ray.

Congratulations on the new EBMM!

 

[szaretsky]

MM Serials Site

Hi szaretsky

Re B010371.

Yup. I already have a file on that baby and thanks for the kind words.

Gav,

Let me know if you need any more information about the bass. I still have it here, although it's about to get packed for its transatlantic journey today.

And, as a fellow website builder, I really appreciate how well thought out your site is. Made it very easy for me to verify the bass' age before selling it. I knew I bought it in '78, just wasn't sure when it was built until checking out your site.

Yeah - it'd be great to keep it, but why keep something that I don't enjoy playing when something newer and better awaits.

Thanks again!

Steven