dave64o
Well-known member
From the top:
- 2019 Stingray Special 5HH in Vintage Tobacco Burst and aftermarket tortoise shell pickguard (I still have the original white)
- 2011 Big Al 5SSS in Metallic Red
- 2007 Stingray 5HH in Honeyburst (my FAVORITE Musicman finish!)
My first Musicman was a 2006 Vintage Sunburst Stingray 5HH, which I loved and helped shape my appreciation for Musicman basses. But it was pretty heavy, about 11 pounds, and when I found the Honeyburst, which was an even prettier finish to me and also only 9.5 pounds I sold the Sunburst to buy the Honeyburst. That Honeyburst was my clear #1 bass for a lot of years - until I got my Special. They then became my co #1's, similar enough to love them both but different enough to make it worth keeping both. Then, about a year ago, the Big Al practically fell into my lap and I had bought it immediately before I had time to think about it. Glad I did. I'm still blown away by the versatility and by the quality of that versatility - there's not a bad tone in it.
They are my three co-number 1 basses and get the large majority of my gig time. I can't pick a #1 from them so I'm happy to let them share that designation. If I had to pick a favorite, it's always the one I'm playing at that time.
I'm incredibly happy with these, but I sometimes sort of GAS for a Stingray Classic 5 and a Bongo 5HH or 5HS (if I could find an HS ...). It would also be interesting to add a Sterling 5 as well, but my Honeyburst is from the era when the Stingray 5's had the preamp and the ceramic pickups from the Sterling 5, so I kind of already have one.

- 2019 Stingray Special 5HH in Vintage Tobacco Burst and aftermarket tortoise shell pickguard (I still have the original white)
- 2011 Big Al 5SSS in Metallic Red
- 2007 Stingray 5HH in Honeyburst (my FAVORITE Musicman finish!)
My first Musicman was a 2006 Vintage Sunburst Stingray 5HH, which I loved and helped shape my appreciation for Musicman basses. But it was pretty heavy, about 11 pounds, and when I found the Honeyburst, which was an even prettier finish to me and also only 9.5 pounds I sold the Sunburst to buy the Honeyburst. That Honeyburst was my clear #1 bass for a lot of years - until I got my Special. They then became my co #1's, similar enough to love them both but different enough to make it worth keeping both. Then, about a year ago, the Big Al practically fell into my lap and I had bought it immediately before I had time to think about it. Glad I did. I'm still blown away by the versatility and by the quality of that versatility - there's not a bad tone in it.
They are my three co-number 1 basses and get the large majority of my gig time. I can't pick a #1 from them so I'm happy to let them share that designation. If I had to pick a favorite, it's always the one I'm playing at that time.
I'm incredibly happy with these, but I sometimes sort of GAS for a Stingray Classic 5 and a Bongo 5HH or 5HS (if I could find an HS ...). It would also be interesting to add a Sterling 5 as well, but my Honeyburst is from the era when the Stingray 5's had the preamp and the ceramic pickups from the Sterling 5, so I kind of already have one.
