My Stingray isn't the easiest bass I have to play...

[philthygeezer]

...but it's the one I enjoy most. Why? It's heavier and the neck is chunkier and slower than my Sterling, it's not as dynamic or flexible as my Bongo, and it doesn't have the booty of my P bass.

Every time I pick her up, knowing that the action is where I carefully put it weeks ago and that she's still in tune, look at that gorgeous honey burst and fret a few notes to hear that sweet, growly, thumpy music she makes, I fall in love a little deeper.

This bass thing is more than specifications and point by point comparisons: that's like trying to figure out which man and/or woman you're going to fall in love with by comparing personal ads. I could have owned 50 Stingrays before this and not feel any attraction to one of them. Music and musical instruments are about love and spirituality. This one has comfortable conversations with me and I like how she thinks. She and I are kindred spirits. She knows how to say what I feel.

 

[paz117]

I feel the same way dude. I know its said a lot on this forum but THAT BASS IS NICE!

Mine seems so boring now...

 

[AnthonyD]

Booty of your P Bass?

Seriously, that'a a beautiful bass. And I completely understand the "connection" as I expect most other will! Enjoy!

 

[Jazzbassman23]

Philthy,

You sound like me except that I'm contemplating selling my Ray to make way for a 2PU Sterling. My Bongo has taken over the first chair from the Sterling while the SR5 and SR4 sit in the background waiting their turns which rarely come. Keeping the Ray because "everybody should have an SR4 on hand" seems to be losing its allure as EB keeps putting all of these amazing choices at our fingertips. But with a four-five month lead time for the new two pickup models, I at least have time to decide whether to keep or eBay it.

 

[Bassplyr]

Beee-yooo-tiful bass!!!

 

[mr_omerta]

I've had a few buddies who don't play Stingrays tell me that they really hear their mistakes when playing mine. Has anyone else been told this? I took it as a compliement!

Two of them that come to mind play Warwick and Alembic. I roomed with the Alembic player for a semester in college, I'd always catch him playing my Stingray and not his Alembic!

 

[Joshua]

Very cool thread.

I have been, and probably always will be, a 60's J guy. Both of my clones are top of the line examples of that design, and will always hold a place in my heart.

That said, I always wanted a 'Ray, and sold a beautiful high end fretless to get mine. No knock on that bass, it was (and I'm sure still is) a wonderful bass that served me well for years. But I have never received a bass thru any transaction before that was as "perfect" as my 2 band 'Ray.

I remember opening the case and being surprised by the "vintage" yellow tint of the natural finish. I was trying to copy a friends pre EB model, and this one did that visually to a "t". Construction? Perfect. And not many people know that I've repaired thousands of instruments (yes, that's 4 figures), so I've seen the best and the worst, and most everything in between. The tone? EXACTLY what I wanted. Warm, organic, bridge pickup love.

And the biggest surprise? I expected it to have heft, which it does, but the balance is superior. Makes wearing the heavier axe much easier on this thin guy.

Kudos on a one of a kind bass!

 

[Squozen]

That bass is gorgeous.

I just fitted regular EB strings to my SR4, and I am still completely intimidated by the instrument, to be honest.

 

[bovinehost]

One of these days I will hit the lottery (not likely as I don't play it) or get a job and I have to get myself another Stingray 4.

I really miss having one around.

 

[DR. Cheese]

If yu want a Stingray with neck that feels small, play a SR5. I compared mine to a couple of Laklands, and the neck feels tiny compared to them. My SR5 is also fast and plays like butter. Heck, why have I been thinking about a Bongo 5 SC/H?

 

[bovinehost]

I have a Stingray 5 - the much-discussed Heinz the Wonder Bass. What I'm really missing is a death-ray keep-it-simple Stingray - something either horrifically ugly and beat up or something with flames.

Well, either way, believe me, it's a ways off but I'll get there.

 

[Psycho Ward]

Beautiful Bass!

Like Joshua I too have a place for the J design and have several of them hanging on the walls.

My EBMM SR5 though is in heavy rotation here. It's THE 5 string and I'll never sell it. I look forward to the coming Bongo, I expect it to be THE 4 string.

There is a noted bass builder in town thet builds a 3 string and I swear I'm thinking about getting one.

 

[smallequestrian]

Man, the Stingray i just picked up is a player. I am amazed by the tone of this thing. Not really what i was expecting at all.

 

[tkarter]

I hear the love but for those of you devaluing your SR5s I accept PMs.


tk

 

[phatduckk]

tiz a nice bass ... and i feel ya. i actually feel like my basses have personalities, kinda like my friends. i turn to a different one for different "things" ... but like a best friend, i can just sit around with my Sterling, kick its ass and just have fun

 

[stretch80]

I've had a few buddies who don't play Stingrays tell me that they really hear their mistakes when playing mine. Has anyone else been told this? I took it as a compliement!

Two of them that come to mind play Warwick and Alembic. I roomed with the Alembic player for a semester in college, I'd always catch him playing my Stingray and not his Alembic!

A Ray DOES make everything stand out -- its so alive, and with its high end. I just did a session with my SR5, and yikes! I heard everything. The engineer dug it though. It didn't get lost in the mix!

I have a 76 P-bass that I love too, but the SR5 ends up being #1 for most gigs...

 

[shamus63]

'79 Sabre w/Modulus Graphite Neck...

I just scored this well-worn beauty Sunday in trade just as I was setting up for a gig!


Yep! Gave up a year-and-a-half-old Lakland Skyline 55-01 (Natural Ash) in straight-swap as I was getting the last of my equipment plugged in.


WOW! None of my P-Basses, or even my past 2 Stingrays gave me such thump and ballsy Rocco-tone! I felt old-school from the opening note!


I'm not even going to refinish it...it's got the funk!

Full-size image: [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kcanzoneri/79MMSabreBass.jpg"]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kcanzoneri/79MMSabreBass.jpg[/url]

 

[shamus63]

...but it's the one I enjoy most. Why? It's heavier and the neck is chunkier and slower than my Sterling, it's not as dynamic or flexible as my Bongo, and it doesn't have the booty of my P bass.

Every time I pick her up, knowing that the action is where I carefully put it weeks ago and that she's still in tune, look at that gorgeous honey burst and fret a few notes to hear that sweet, growly, thumpy music she makes, I fall in love a little deeper.

This bass thing is more than specifications and point by point comparisons: that's like trying to figure out which man and/or woman you're going to fall in love with by comparing personal ads. I could have owned 50 Stingrays before this and not feel any attraction to one of them. Music and musical instruments are about love and spirituality. This one has comfortable conversations with me and I like how she thinks. She and I are kindred spirits. She knows how to say what I feel.

Damn! That is one of the best descriptions of the man-and-instrument relationship that I have ever had the pleasure of reading! Dead-on!

Wish that was my quote!

 

[Musicman Nut]

I really suggest trying a 3 band Stingray Bass, it'll have the kick you need for sure,
I own many of these basses and i refuse to buy anything over 8 Pounds, Not into heavey basses at all.
Dave J

 

[midopa]

No wonder your collection is all like six pounds and such! And here I thought you were just really lucky. Well, you're still lucky, having 70+ EBMM basses and all, but finding rare ones and light to boot? Yow!