NBD (#1): Madallion Gold SR5Hp

[nervous]

NBD (#1): Medallion Gold SR5Hp

This just in. I took a chance on eBay with this amazing unlined fretless SR5Hp. It's still in just about new condition. Exceeded my expectations on all my initial inspections. Plays great and just is a beauty to look at.

This one has been through here before:
http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/52926-nbd-stingray-5-fretless-medallion-gold.html

 

[jlepre]

Congrats! I've always loved that color combo. I once had an unlined Bongo HH/p 5er.

 

[Tollywood]

Stunning! I love the look and feel of a fretless...enjoy!

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[MattOfSweden]

Looks fantastic, and wow what a sweet late Xmas to have this and the Dargie SR5 arriving at the same time!
Enjoy, StingRays are totally wonderful fretless.

 

[nervous]

Spent a few minutes changing out the strap buttons to Schallers (side note #1: EBMM is the first company I have found to use REAL strap button screws. They first I have not had to change out). As is the norm I go everything with a careful eye and I really can't believe the condition of this one. For a bass of nearly 11 years old to still look new is astounding. I was going to put some pressure wounds on it but as it is right now it simply sings. The main reason for me to do a change out was to give the fretboard a once over for wear and conditioning but I had a Wonder Wipe left open from the DD1 cleaning so I just loosened and worked under the strings. To my amazement I found no appreciable string marking on the fretboard. Just fantastic. (side note #2: the Wonder Wipes are really good. My first time using them and they were impressive. I'm sold.)

I also feared buying an unlined board because I am just not a fretless player. But I am almost finding it easier to get around than a lined board. Almost as if there is less thought and more instinct at work. I think I am going to enjoy this one very much.

It's put a bigger smile on my face than the Dargie and THAT really surprised me.

 

[Golem]

`

SR5Hp-FL !!! Love them so much I have two, a really fine
one and a beater. Very jealous of yours being unlined cuz
thaz rather hard to find [in my experience so far]. Both of
mine have lines. Unlined 4-strings are much easier to find
[so natcherly I got a coupla them as well].

Don't worry over becoming an FL player. If you fail, sell it
to ME !! But you should expect to catch on rather well. FL
is NOT the exacting thing that some believe. Fretted axen
do not play perfectly in-tune notes all over the scale, even
when carefully tuned.

Just keep in mind that if it sounds good, it IS good. Each
note you play on FL or fretted necks is imperfect, but you
have the ability with FL to lean each imperfect note into
the direction that fits best with the preceding note so you
SOUND good, even though an oscilloscope would show
that your almost never dead on. Just be "well tempered".

Acoarst it takes some practice, and don't be embarrassed
to put some temporary markings along the edge [use soft
"artist's sketching" pencil or graphite "sketching stick"]. I
use nail polish, and it's very durable yet still removable if
I choose to remove it or change it.

And have a blast, ENJOY ! Viva los piezos !

 

[nervous]

`

SR5Hp-FL !!! Love them so much I have two, a really fine
one and a beater. Very jealous of yours being unlined cuz
thaz rather hard to find [in my experience so far]. Both of
mine have lines. Unlined 4-strings are much easier to find
[so natcherly I got a coupla them as well].

Don't worry over becoming an FL player. If you fail, sell it
to ME !! But you should expect to catch on rather well. FL
is NOT the exacting thing that some believe. Fretted axen
do not play perfectly in-tune notes all over the scale, even
when carefully tuned.

Just keep in mind that if it sounds good, it IS good. Each
note you play on FL or fretted necks is imperfect, but you
have the ability with FL to lean each imperfect note into
the direction that fits best with the preceding note so you
SOUND good, even though an oscilloscope would show
that your almost never dead on. Just be "well tempered".

Acoarst it takes some practice, and don't be embarrassed
to put some temporary markings along the edge [use soft
"artist's sketching" pencil or graphite "sketching stick"]. I
use nail polish, and it's very durable yet still removable if
I choose to remove it or change it.

And have a blast, ENJOY ! Viva los piezos !

Thank you fro your words of encouragement. I always enjoy your thoughtful posts and usually learn a little something as well. It's funny, I learned some details about this very bass when you posted in another members NBD thread when they owned it back in 2012! And I think the fretless thing is actually coming along quite nicely. I have owned a few but never quite felt like I was getting anywhere until now. Not sure if it's my age or the bass. Probably a bit of both.

 

[nervous]

BTW, what are you preferred strings on the fretless Stingray? I am not sure what is on here now (feel roundwound though) and have a new set of GHS Pressurewounds that I will probably give a shot just because I have them in my hand. Is there a lively EB half or flat that you like?

 

[73jbass]

Pressurewounds are great for fretless. Easy on the fingers and fingerboard.

 

[Golem]

..............
I think the fretless thing is actually coming along quite nicely.
I have owned a few but never quite felt like I was getting
anywhere until now. Not sure if it's my age or the bass.
Probably a bit of both.

There seems to be a sorta voodoo thing, which may be at play
here. Farz I can tell, it's about the mix of contributions to tone
as contributed by string choice, PU and other electronics, and
maybe even the bass's construction and materials. What I've
encountered most definitely is that certain individual basses
can be particularly forgiving to being played by myself, who
certainly does not have "Golden Ears", while other basses can
particularly challenging /uncooperative. Put emphasis on that
"certain individual basses". Maybe certain brand/model basses
might also be more forgiving or more challenging, but it's not
anything I can say [would need multiple seemingly identical
basses and very scientific observations .... not happnin].

Anywho maybe it's age, maybe the bass, very likely both.

FWIW, I've never encountered a downright uncooperative MM
FL, piezo or not. My most amazingly cooperative FL, a bass
that almost seems to have onboard "pitch correction", is my
Godin A-4, with TI flats. I also have the earlier Godin model
[IIRC it's just called "EAB"]. It's certainly no special challenge
to play in tune, but neither does it seem to have the "magical"
pitch correction that I experience with the A-4. Really, I ought
to say "My A-4" rather than "The A-4" cuz, like, who knows ?