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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Picked up a second Stingray at GC over lunch...

S

SgtThump

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jongitarz said:
It's a different piece of wood.
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Do you mean a different kind of wood (alder vs. ash)? I noticed that the MM website simply says "select hardwood" or something for the body. Do they use woods other than alder and ash? Do they use ash on basses with solid colors like this graphite pearl bass?

Chris
 
TSanders

TSanders

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According to Scott Ball ash is used on all EBMM basses (minus the Bongo). If there is a difference in weight, thats more than likely the reason they sound a bit different. EBMMs are very very consistent sounding basses from one to the next, but its easy to find subtle differences between two.
 
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SgtThump

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ebmuscmanlvr83 said:
According to Scott Ball ash is used on all EBMM basses (minus the Bongo). If there is a difference in weight, thats more than likely the reason they sound a bit different. EBMMs are very very consistent sounding basses from one to the next, but its easy to find subtle differences between two.
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ALL Stingrays are ash? I didn't realize that... Intereseting. I'd bet there's at least 1 lb difference between these two basses. It's immediately noticable when you pick them up. Unfortunately, I don't have a way to weigh them. :(

Also, I wouldn't really call the differences in tone "subtle." I can easily hear the differences. They both sound great, but definitely different!!!

Chris
 
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SgtThump

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I just did some searching around on this forum and found a post from Derek at MM about body woods. Apparently, they have created at least a FEW Stingrays with poplar or alder bodies, but 99.99% of all Stingrays have an ash body. I'm thinking this black Stingray I just bought used has a body made from something other than ash.

I'm telling you guys, it's much lighter and different sounding than my other Stingray, which I'm guessing has an ash body. The weight and tonal differences are very obvious.

Interesting!!!

Chris
 
bovinehost

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I'd guess they're both made from the same type of wood. Wood just isn't that consistent between harvests.

I have two Bongo fivers, same electronics package, same everything except paint. One weighs about a pound more than the other....same body wood, though.
 
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SgtThump

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bovinehost said:
I'd guess they're both made from the same type of wood. Wood just isn't that consistent between harvests.

I have two Bongo fivers, same electronics package, same everything except paint. One weighs about a pound more than the other....same body wood, though.
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Oh really? Interesting. I really don't "care", because both of my SR's sound fantastic. I actually like the fact that they sound different, but great. I just like to know as much as possible about my stuff.

Thanks!

Chris
 
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Dargin

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I didn't say every Stingray has been made of ash. Although I have have not seen or heard of one going out recently that hasn't been ash. If your bass is Natural or Translucent it is most definitly ash.
 
bassmonkeee

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bovinehost said:
I'd guess they're both made from the same type of wood. Wood just isn't that consistent between harvests.

I have two Bongo fivers, same electronics package, same everything except paint. One weighs about a pound more than the other....same body wood, though.
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Same here. My Black Sapphire Bongo 5 (the serial number next to yours, if I recall) weighs about 1-2 lbs more than my white fretless--and I don't think all of the weight is coming from the frets. :D
 
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Dargin said:
I didn't say every Stingray has been made of ash. Although I have have not seen or heard of one going out recently that hasn't been ash. If your bass is Natural or Translucent it is most definitly ash.
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The "graphite pearl" bass is an '04 model and it's heavy as heck! The "black" bass is an '01 model and it's pretty light. Probably at least a pound lighter than the '04 model. Maybe even more... They sound quite a bit different too. I mean, they both sound great, but the heavier '04 model with a rosewood board has more low mid stuff going on and is smoother sounding overall. The '01 black model with a maple board has more "zing" and punches through better.

There are more differences between these two that are affecting the tone other than the fretboard wood. I've heard slight differences between rosewood and maple boards, but this difference isn't really slight to me.

Chris
 
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SgtThump

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bassmonkeee said:
Same here. My Black Sapphire Bongo 5 (the serial number next to yours, if I recall) weighs about 1-2 lbs more than my white fretless--and I don't think all of the weight is coming from the frets. :D
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Really? Same basses but 1-2 lbs of difference in weight? Interesting...
 
bovinehost

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Dat's what I'm saying. These two basses, for example:

boNgoF.jpg
greenbongoG.jpg


Unless black sapphire paint is heavier than the green stuff.....but yeah, the black one's over a pound heavier.

It sounds better, too, which annoys the crap out of me and my belief that weight has nothing to do with tone.

Well, not "annoy". I love that bass.
 
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SgtThump

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bovinehost said:
Dat's what I'm saying. These two basses, for example:

boNgoF.jpg
greenbongoG.jpg


Unless black sapphire paint is heavier than the green stuff.....but yeah, the black one's over a pound heavier.

It sounds better, too, which annoys the crap out of me and my belief that weight has nothing to do with tone.

Well, not "annoy". I love that bass.
Click to expand...

Man, I've been one of those folks that think the Bongo's are the ugliest things around. But after visiting this forum for a short while, I want one. lol!!!

I imagine that one of these days (and knowing me, it will probably be soon), I'll decide to keep one of these Stingrays and trade off the other Stingray for a Sterling, Bongo, etc... Just to have something different. I'm bad about that.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm digging the tone from my lighter bass a little more. :)

Chris
 
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SgtThump

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bassplayer7770 said:
And here I am still waitin' for some Canucklehead to send me some $$$ so I can pay off my Sterling... :( ;)
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I already said this, but knowing me, I'll be looking to trade ONE of these Stingrays for a Sterline, 5-string Stingray or a BONGO in the very near future. :)

Chris

PS - I guess I keep mentioning that to see if there's any interest from anyone. lol...
 
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