Re-issue Stingray's, yes or no?

[mathewsanchez]

I've dabbled with 4+n string basses, and while they do have some cool characteristics, I just never seem to escape the gravity of a good 'ol 4 banger. My motto in response to the "extended range bass" concept is, "explore more with 4!".

I only said the six string thing out of interest. I have the same views that 4 strings is enough.

I doubt i'll ever buy anything with more than 4 strings unless I become insanely rich and start collecting basses, but then i'd just buy everything.

 

[Kristopher]

Well, the pickups from the old ones sound a bit different, don't they? It would be interesting to combine the old pickups and old headstock decal with the new trussrod wheel and six-bolt neck. It would look and sound vintage enough (to me).

I'd get one because I've got a friend who I like to work with sometimes who is all about reel-to-reel tape recorders, tubes, and everything made before the 80s. I think I'd be able to get a Stingray by him as long as it looks like it it's at least 30 years old.

 

[Duarte]

I likes the sound of that. But we could always do that ourselves couldn't we...parts come up on ebay sometimes. It should be a natural 2-bander though.

Have the 2 band pre-amps changed since the early days?

 

[bovinehost]

Have the 2 band pre-amps changed since the early days?

Not really. They used to be epoxied, and thank the FSM that's no longer the case.

 

[timmy5strings]

FSM = Fat Sexy Momma

I love the sound of the 2 bands on the S.U.B., I have been dreaming about that sound lately since I played one, I think(?) it's the same as a StingRay. Nice fat and full, with a little burp to it. I can't locate a SR 2 bander to try without buying. If I find one and it sounds that way, it's coming home with me.

 

[bovinehost]

FSM = Flying Spaghetti Monster!

Sorry, I forgot where I was for a minute there.

 

[oli@bass]

Such an offering would be no better than the modern SR4 but who cares,
It would be a must have for me (and I'm sure there'd be a long waiting list)

+1, unfortunately.... I was soooo close to buying that totaly mint "stored under the bed" vintage burst '78 'Ray on eBay the other day. But 2200 was a bit steep, and after all, it's an old bass...

...however, I think all the changes on the StingRay have made it just a better instrument. So if I want the vintage sound, I'd rather go for a new with maple neck and 2 band EQ... a 2008LE would be nice and classy for that...

That would depend on the car.

+1 -- with nice roaring R6 in the front, you don't need no stinkin' CD player

 

[MrMusashi]

hehe.. and this is the bass side of things
imagine if it was on the other side.. coff coff.. skinny stringers.. pfff

if i was to buy a pre eb it would be because i wanted a pre eb.. not a copy (which imnsho reissue gear is!)

MrM

 

[Caca de Kick]

Like mentioned before, EBMM doesn't need to, the StingRay is still a top seller.
Also like mentioned again, you can still get the 2 band eq (which is also my favorite) so no need for a reissue when they're essentially still making it. (just look at the picture under my name)
The only thing I wish I could get is gloss finished necks.

I have several of both EB and preEB's. I love them all. Honestly, the weights are no different. My '07 2eq StingRay is very much like my '78 and '81 StingRays.
Vintage StingRays are not hard to find...I can easily find them. But EBMM is doing just fine keeping with the forward direction they're going.

 

[Slapfest]

Have the 2 band pre-amps changed since the early days?

I believe that from '78 onwards, the preamp was essentially the same as todays 2 band, however the '76 and '77 preamps were each different again.
Also, the earliest Stingrays had the 'long pole' pickup magnets that were much longer than the later, shortened version. Both the early pickups and preamps were altered due to some problems that occasionally arose, but I have had 3 very early 'rays and never had those problems, ( lucky, I guess)
I'm also believe that the quality of volume and tone that an electric bass produces when played unamplified, will directly translate through to the quality of the amplified sound. Of course the pickups and preamp will magnify and shape the instrument's inherint sound, but if that sound was only average to start with, the result might not be as good as on a better naturally sounding instrument.
For many many years I practiced while casually watching television, with the sound up at normal level, just sitting on the couch with good old B001013 unplugged. It always sounded great and had a big, loud natural sound.
I have owned many other basses since (some very high priced custom jobs, too)
and have never been able to get the same result.
I dont think it has anything to with the manufacturing, Maybe its the wood.
We have chopped down a lot of the great 'old growth' forests at a huge rate, and paerhaps that is a factor, I'm no expert, but I DO know what I heard.

 

[Slapfest]

Have the 2 band pre-amps changed since the early days?

I believe that from '78 onwards, the preamp was essentially the same as todays 2 band, however the '76 and '77 preamps were each different again.
Also, the earliest Stingrays had the 'long pole' pickup magnets that were much longer than the later, shortened version. Both the early pickups and preamps were altered due to some problems that occasionally arose, but I have had 3 very early 'rays and never had those problems, ( lucky, I guess)
I'm also believe that the quality of volume and tone that an electric bass produces when played unamplified, will directly translate through to the quality of the amplified sound. Of course the pickups and preamp will magnify and shape the instrument's inherint sound, but if that sound was only average to start with, the result might not be as good as on a better naturally sounding instrument.
For many many years I practiced while casually watching television, with the sound up at normal level, just sitting on the couch with good old B001013 unplugged. It always sounded great and had a big, loud natural sound.
I have owned many other basses since (some very high priced custom jobs, too)
and have never been able to get the same result.
I dont think it has anything to with the manufacturing, Maybe its the wood.
We have chopped down a lot of the great 'old growth' forests at a huge rate, and perhaps that is a factor, I'm no expert, but I DO know what I heard.
At one stage I had a '76, a '78 and an '80, and I was fairly 'green' on the bass, but all my band mates and I could tell, that at volume, the '76 had more 'cut' in the lower mids, that gave it a great presence, when the other two 'rays were getting swallowed in the band noise. So I do believe the earlier basses were a cleaner, rounder, and more present sounding bass than the later years.
But people will tell you of many problems the pre-eb's had, and thats true, they did.
I have experienced flaky finishes, but nothing major that would stop me from prefering them.
But to be fair, modern 2 band 'rays are very rare here in Australia, so I have not been able to compare, unfortunately.
But after a few years of trying expensive basses that didnt always do the whole job for me, I found another '76 Stingray and got the same great sound that I had for 20 years from my original one.... which was especially pleasing after a dissapointing experience of buying and selling a used modern 3 band, due to its poor sound ( probably got a bad one ).
I agree with the earlier post that put his preference for a re-issue '76.
Radio knobs, preamp, the works. After all, it was the first model of a bass that made huge leaps in all aspects of the instrument.
I realise that I'm in the minority, and thats fine.
As long as were all getting a sound that makes us happy, and helps to bring out your best, the differences in hardware arent that important, I guess.
But one mistake I will never make twice, is selling my '76.

That ends the sermon. Please grab your hymn books now and sing a bad song, out of tune.

 

[oli@bass]

I'm also convinced that the pieces of woods used, and natural tone of a electric bass are an important contributing factor for its amplified tone.

That given, I'd bet a re-issue would not sound the same as an original '76, simply because the woods used then are not available anymore.

 

[Duarte]

That was a great lesson. Cheers!

 

[Lynottfan]

I really like the original MM Rays and have tried a couple, nearly bought one, but to me the updates to the EBMM Ray have continued to make it the best off the peg bass money can buy, I want the updates, the 2 hum model is a stunning tool, mine is earning its money all the time. Original or new, for me I would go for new.

 

[Paul_C]

sadly, my Bongo (F12175) is, as far as I'm aware, a 2004 model - will there be a 2003 reissue at some point ?

 

[rhythmCity944]

I've played pre-EB Stingrays and they did nothing for me...I have a 2002 2EQ ray and i just love that bass and is by far (at least to me) a better bass guitar than the pre-EB rays...my main and favorite bass to play is my '89 Stingray 3EQ though, I just like the bass as a whole, the look, feel, and tone...it's actually my lightest stingray yet has the biggest amount of punch out of all my stingrays. It doesn't take much for that bass to cut like a knife in the mix. I have a thing for those late 80's stingrays

 

[rogerbmiller]

I'd be all for reissues.

I love some of the older designs. Specificaly, the 1992-1995 basses with the mutes and the "Flea" bridges (dead straight string allignment).

I am also a huge fan of the strings through body era-- the B00 and B01 basses. There is something about the tone and response that is unique to those basses.

 

[the unrepentant]

No... they folks at ernie ball spent 32 years refining the stingray, why would they make a reissue?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Todays 2EQ Sting Ray is essentially a refined Pre-EB with more consistent quality.

The Pre-EB has a rounder 7.5 inch radius fretboard, a 3 bolt neck (4 bolt from 1980), a slab body and a 2EQ pre-amp which, from around 1978, is the same for subsequent years (but epoxy deleted 1979).

Ernie Ball has added the tummy contour and made the fretboard flatter (11 inch radius). Although the early EB Ray has a 4 bolt neck, it now has a 6 bolt with capstan wheel truss. The 2EQ pre-amp is exactly the same circuit as the Pre-EB from around 1978 except the protection resistor is now included on the pre-amp circuit board (a Music Man out-board modification from around 1982). The shape of the circuit board has gone from rectangular to crescent moon which makes the board more secure. The pickup is bassically the same as the Pre-EB (with shorter magnets) except the coil windings are now more consistent. Pre-EB pickup windings varied which maybe explains why perhaps one Pre-EB sounds better than another. I've probably missed some other refinements but from the top of my head, that's mainly it.

Putting all that aside, a Re-Issue would be great...like buying a brand new MGA sports that went out of production years ago

 

[Freddels]

I'm no expert but have they changed that much that a re-issue would be so different than what can be ordered today? Have the neck profiles changed much (if any)?

Maybe a bridge with mutes on it but that's about all I can think of at the moment.