• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Pittylabelle

Member
Joined
May 10, 2012
Messages
8
Location
Germany
Music Man - StingRay

Manufactured: January 17th, 1989
3-band EQ active electronics
Serial No.: B027260

I got my old Music Man Ernie Ball bass out again and fitted it with a new tortoise pickguard. The exact color designation is "translucent teal" original with a transparent pickguard.

I really wanted a green bass at the time and was thinking of something like "British Racing Green" or something like that and the only green bass from Music Man at the time was this one.

I never really liked the transparent pickguard, because a striking design feature of Music Man basses is this oval pickguard which, in my opinion, doesn't really come into its own in transparent. That's why I was looking for a pickguard that contrasts with the green body and the pickup and ended up with this one in tortoise.

Music-Man-1.jpg

Music-Man-2.jpg

Music-Man-3.jpg

Music-Man-4.jpg
 
Last edited:

4enima

New member
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
4
I'll leave you with some pictures of my Music Mans so far
It all started with a USA SUB that I bought as a student:
Stingray SUB.png
The saddle was replaced with the compensated nut and the neck was completely stripped of as it had peeled off like sunburn over time. It was also much more pleasant to play afterwards

after playing various basses from Yamaha, Sandberg & co. over the years, I decided to go for the dream bass Stingray 5H. I sold many of my cheap basses to be able to buy this one:
Stingray 5.png
Since then it is the main bass in my bands and most frequently+regularly played, even if some basses will follow here in the list. This is the one!
 

4enima

New member
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
4
After a few years with the Stingray 5H, I was able to get hold of a fairly new Stingray 5HH Special:
20200911_162147.jpg
Although the feel, playability and weight are significantly better, the sound unfortunately didn't satisfy me in the long term and I had to let it go a short time later....

... because I was able to buy a NEW Reflex 5 HSS from a warehouse/showroom stock that has long since been discontinued:
20230314_131013.jpg
top workmanship, already had the Ultralight tuners (there are some models that have the encapsulated Gotoh-like tuners).
Super versatile sounds and simply beautiful to look at. However, it was sold last year because it wasn't played often enough

A short time later, I also came across an affordable BigAl 5, which completed my dream team at the time:
20230919_171246.jpg


2MM.jpg
 

4enima

New member
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
4
This was followed by a somewhat larger gear rotation...

I had a great sounding Sabre for 1-2 years, but in the end it was too heavy for me and I now only play 5-stringers:
20220917_140410.jpg

I also got my hands on another 5HH Special and fell in love with the charcoal sparkle paint... unfortunately the problem with the sound remained and it was allowed to move on:
20211031_111438.jpg

The 4-string SUB was also allowed to leave me at some point, but a 5-string was added in the meantime, although it later had to make way for another Stingray 20230919_172955.jpg
 

4enima

New member
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
4
At some point I added a Sterling 5HS, which is still in my collection. I find the HS sounds great in comparison to the HH sounds of the Special, which never quite convinced me
20230919_171444.jpg I recently painted it with a pearl effect spray foil. This means that the paint is completely reversible and can be removed again 20240318_163229.jpg


I fell in love with the little shortscale toy at a german bassist meeting. I'm surprised at how bright the bass sounds, even with passive electronics.
The normal "Sterling by" basses didn't really convince me otherwise, but this one is fun!
20230919_172419.jpg
I would have liked dropped copper better in this colour, but it was available at the time
 

Psychicpet

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Messages
3,933
Location
Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada
Hello all, a prodigal has returned!! After a few basses, and much life, (stints working for Fender and then Dingwall), I couldn't be happier having my hands back on an amazing MM instrument!!

This week I celebrated my 50th birthday and my lady got me back on track and set up for this next half century with a Sterling by MM Pete Wentz signature!!! I was so blown away when I first tried this one out a couple months back and wouldn't shut-up about "how amazing this bass is, makes me miss my Music Man's bad!".

Well, that was heard and picked-up upon as she went back a week later and bought it. When I went to play it again I saw it was gone from the shop wall and was not surprised as this thing is insane for the price. Thanks Brian, Big Poppa and crew for continuing to provide tools that work, inspire, and KICK ASS!! ;)

Yours truly,
Psychicpet

(NO modifications planned or needed on this puppy...my Moustache on the Mona Lisa days are far behind ;p hehehehehehe)

IMG_5492 copy.jpg

AE227329-6FC8-453D-A76B-36D1ED90ABEC.JPG

IMG_5483 copy.jpg

IMG_5491 copy.jpg
 
Top Bottom