question about my 77 stingray

[roree]

Outside of the electronics, what are the major differences between modern stingrays and my old one. I played a new MM at Guitar Center and it seemed lighter and a bit thinner. Sounded fine, but I still like three knobs instead of four. Maybe I just love that '77 to death.

 

[Musicman Nut]

Outside of the electronics, what are the major differences between modern stingrays and my old one. I played a new MM at Guitar Center and it seemed lighter and a bit thinner. Sounded fine, but I still like three knobs instead of four. Maybe I just love that '77 to death.

Well This is my take and Only my personal opinon,

I have owned probably 70 or more of the music man Basses from 1976 to 1979.
I Loved them Til Ernie Ball Took over in 1984. I was just so used to tweeking them I got used to it.
Ernie Ball Made to contoured Body, in some cases lighter and 100% true necks, You will not find a straighter neck in the music business Period.
The preamps- Music man Preamps from the 70's had weak Caps and a lot of the time the opamps died an early life. Ernie Ball makes the same 2 band just with better ratting caps ETC, so they don't fail hardly ever.

If you ever found a Ernie Ball Music Man with a 2 band pre and they still make them and tried one you'd be very impressed.
Plus EB uses a bigger fret wire which does give you a bit more sustain on notes.
Ernie Ball made a tighter neck slot so the necks never moved and now with the 6 bolt plates they NEVER move, yours will move no matter how tight you have it.

The 70's- 1 out of 25 we're great basses
Ernie Ball- 1 out of a thousand might be a dud
Quality control on an Ernie Ball- Is like a one on one builder. INCREDIBLE
The 70's- not very good, and the 1980's to 1984 even worse.
Hope this helps.
DJ

 

[Aussie Mark]

As well as Dave's comments, modern Stingrays have the nifty truss rod adjustment wheel which some forumites rank as more essential than toilet paper. Also, the battery is now accessible without the use of a screwdriver. The overall quality assurance is the biggest difference you'll notice if you pick up several pre-Ernies and several post-Ernies and compare them.

 

[thunder]

musicman nut and aussie mark are correct. also the paint on the pre musicmans are inferior they crack and chip. time its worst enemy.the necks are also coated with some kind of clear finish (i forgot what its called). many of the pre balls you find dead spots on the neck. but i too love them to death. compared to the fenders of that era. the pre-balls are still superior. (thats my story and i'm sticking to it!)

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

In addition to the above, the Pre-EBs have a rounder fretboard (7.5" radius) where as the EBs have a flatter fretboard (11" radius). IMO the flatter is more desirable.

If you prefer the 2 band, then the current 2 band is the same circuit as the Pre-EB but also includes a protection resistor to prevent the IC chip from being zapped due to guitar lead short circuits.

 

[Slapfest]

I certainly cant argue with what others here have personally experienced.

I dont see it quite the same.

I've owned two '76 'Rays, and a sr5 and a 3 band ebray.

I'm not a novice, by any means, but I must be dead unlucky.

The sr5 was absolutely appalling. It was only when I bought a different 5 string, that I realised I would have to pay more attention to making sure the B string was sufficiently muted at times, so it didnt start to ring in sympathy.
Nothing would make the sr5 b string do anything but go donk...forget the muting
Much later on, (thinking that all things were equal these days) I bought a 3 band on ebay, and if the tone that it had, was the signature MMRay tone, I wouldnt play one.... It just sounded a little harsh and nasty.

So I went back to what I knew originally (76), and that was definitely the tone that pushed my buttons...no question.
Please dont get me wrong...I have no real axe to grind here, I think you guys are all great, here......its just what I heard with my old ears.

Perhaps I should take Dave's suggestion, and give a 2 band EB a try.

I cant draw the short straw 3 times...can I?

 

[silverburst]

The six-bolt neck is a huge improvement in my opinion. I have a modern 2-band (3-knob) Stingray 4, and it sounds killer

 

[Caca de Kick]

I too have a newer 2 band and it sounds amazing. I also own a few preEB's which are great too.

But on the SR5...I've owned a few along the way, but for some reason just couldn't love them the same as my StingRay 4's. But it was the dual pickup SR5 that hit me upside the head! That 5 string gets me the sounds I've been looking for in a 5.

 

[Slapfest]

But it was the dual pickup SR5 that hit me upside the head! That 5 string gets me the sounds I've been looking for in a 5.[/QUOTE]


...... interesting .... ... I'll have to try one of those, too