I have a very early Stingray 5 that is between 11 and 12 pounds but it sounds incredible! I may be in the minority, but weight has never been a huge issue to me. I started back in my early teens with a Peavey T-40, talk about a boat anchor. I guess anything else is light compared to it. No complaints from me here.
- Thread starter Jim C
- Start date
JayDawg
Well-known member
I had no idea you were selling it. It's all good though. The EBMM company as well as Bass Central, where I purchased both my Classic that is being built right now and the Dargie, were kind enough to donate the entire amount of money from my Classic that is being built to our Relay for Life team. I wanted to get another Music Man that way both of those companies could make some money off of me and I could give something back to them. Last night was our Relay for Life and it was a huge success. We are booked for next years event and they are all very anxious to see the bass next year. We also have some other shows we are looking at doing in the coming months so things are really starting to take off. If I am in a position to get another Music Man used, I will definitely get a hold of you. I freaking love that Sterling that I got from you in April. It gets most of my playing time.
2ndBassGuitar
Well-known member
I am glad it found a good home.
Jim
Jim
Musicman Nut
Well-known member
Everyone is different, Some say if it weighs this it won't sound good or whatever.
I prefer Light basses and have since i was 7 years old, there's good sounding ones and bad sounding ones and it's a blast hunting down the light ones that just sound great. So to each is own. Just find what works and go with it.
2ndBassGuitar
Well-known member
I hope for YOUR sake, that you don't have an EBMM bass on order.
BP has a CRAZY sense of humor ya know....
Does that mean he is part Canucklehead?
I guess where my frustration lies is the inconsistency with weight for the same model with the same specs.
I've bought and sold many instruments over the last 35 years that included a 58 burst.
Currently own 6 Fenders basses (range from 1960 - 1973) as well as 4 high end Japanese basses.
All of these are between 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 lbs.
After reading here and looking at what's available new (Bass Place site) it looks like a new Ray is between 9 1/2 - 11 lbs, although after searching it looks like they have been made anywhere from 8 1/2 - to over 13 lbs.
Considering the quality of the design, finish, production tolerances and assembly, I wish that body material tolerances would be tighter than 50%.
Big Al also seem to have wide weight variations.
Now longer have the time to "hunt" for the holy grail of basses and wanted to buy a Ray that was lighter.
Looks like the option would be a Bongo as they look to be consistent and light weight with the basswood body; can one be ordered with the 2-band EQ?
I suggest a limited run of Stingrays in basswood; can't imagine that tooling, machining, or assembly would be affected anymore than other special runs.
How about you factory guys; 500 posts and you haven't chimed in!
Is my info correct?
I've bought and sold many instruments over the last 35 years that included a 58 burst.
Currently own 6 Fenders basses (range from 1960 - 1973) as well as 4 high end Japanese basses.
All of these are between 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 lbs.
After reading here and looking at what's available new (Bass Place site) it looks like a new Ray is between 9 1/2 - 11 lbs, although after searching it looks like they have been made anywhere from 8 1/2 - to over 13 lbs.
Considering the quality of the design, finish, production tolerances and assembly, I wish that body material tolerances would be tighter than 50%.
Big Al also seem to have wide weight variations.
Now longer have the time to "hunt" for the holy grail of basses and wanted to buy a Ray that was lighter.
Looks like the option would be a Bongo as they look to be consistent and light weight with the basswood body; can one be ordered with the 2-band EQ?
I suggest a limited run of Stingrays in basswood; can't imagine that tooling, machining, or assembly would be affected anymore than other special runs.
How about you factory guys; 500 posts and you haven't chimed in!
Is my info correct?
Jim I hesitate to tell you this (because I love playing her when I am there) but there is a Natural Finish Maple Boarded Stingray in the Raleigh, NC Guitar Center that is just under 8.8 lbs. She has a Black Pickguard and is a Single H 3 Band. She is a GREAT bass and I have played her EVERY time I go into that store for the last few months!! I have one just like it that is about the same weight and it is perfect for me. The one in the GC is one that has been there in the store for a while and I KNOW it can be had for a VERY good price! I should know because I bought her one time and ONLY returned her because I had another one in exactly the same color and configuration....I even left the Straplocks on it when I returned it!!! She has been there for a while and needs a good cleaning and some love but the TONE is just smoking! PURE SEX! I actually PREFERRED the 3 band on this bass over the 3 Classics they had to compare to!! The setup was fabulous when I took her in and I preferred the way she sounded with the bass side of the PUP dropped a bit and the treble side raised just slightly but everything is just fantastic. If you are interested call the Raleigh, NC store and ask for a guy named Michael Thrower and tell him T-3 (Tee Three) sent you...(Stands for Thomas the third..I know but I knew people would wonder!) If you need the number drop me a PM and I would be glad to hook you up. She really is a special Stingray!!
Peace,
T
Here is a link to a fairly poor quality video that was done by the drummer's sun at a Concert in the Park series we did in Wilmington a few weeks ago.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1284027229427
This is one of a few different gigs I did with that bass before I returned her...Hope it works. The HUGE Stingray tone is undeniably evident even in such a poor quality recording. This was done on a cheap Photo/Video camera basically picking up my NEXO PA....I am the guy in the black hat that never looks at the camera. It was VERY small stage setup and I had next no room at all so I could only play turned to the side for fear that the guitarist would destroy his original 63' Strat on my Ray (or Vice Versa!) and YES that is a bad note I hit at :50!! LOL...I am trying to adjust the drummer's monitor for him and play at the same time...Doesn't always work well...
Peace,
T
Here is a link to a fairly poor quality video that was done by the drummer's sun at a Concert in the Park series we did in Wilmington a few weeks ago.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1284027229427
This is one of a few different gigs I did with that bass before I returned her...Hope it works. The HUGE Stingray tone is undeniably evident even in such a poor quality recording. This was done on a cheap Photo/Video camera basically picking up my NEXO PA....I am the guy in the black hat that never looks at the camera. It was VERY small stage setup and I had next no room at all so I could only play turned to the side for fear that the guitarist would destroy his original 63' Strat on my Ray (or Vice Versa!) and YES that is a bad note I hit at :50!! LOL...I am trying to adjust the drummer's monitor for him and play at the same time...Doesn't always work well...
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coastie72
Well-known member
I won't ever buy anything else other than an EBMM. The only thing I would change is the cases. Very expensive bass but the case is lacking a lot!
JayDawg
Well-known member
Really? I actually thought the case that came with my Sterling was built really good. I've got other hardshell cases for my other basses and in all honesty I thought the Music Man hardshell case was the best constructed out of all of them.
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
Do those Fender have preamps, batteries and 3 or 4 pots with metal knobs?
The Fender bridges don't have much mass at all compared to EBMM bridges.
A Musicman humbucker weighs a lot more than a P bass pup or a pair of Jazz pups.
There's your answer as to why EBMM basses weigh more than Fenders. It's not really a mystery and certainly not rocket science.
But they don't all weigh more and it's not the total weight that frustrates me; it's the wide variance in weight from bass to bass that was made in the same time period.
Tommixx; thanks very much for the info; have never bought a keeper bas without playing it first but who knows. I don't really have much experience regarding 3 band EQ and am probably prejudice as I have read here that many prefer the 2 band. Glad to hear that you have actualy had a 3-band bass (or two) that you actually preferred over the 2 band.
Let's see; drive from Maryland to North Carolina, hmmm.
So, until a basswood Ray is released I will have to find a flukey, used featherweight, or check with shops that list the weights of new basses.
Then again; I could always reshape a Bongo into a miny Ray with that bandsaw in the shop
Tommixx; thanks very much for the info; have never bought a keeper bas without playing it first but who knows. I don't really have much experience regarding 3 band EQ and am probably prejudice as I have read here that many prefer the 2 band. Glad to hear that you have actualy had a 3-band bass (or two) that you actually preferred over the 2 band.
Let's see; drive from Maryland to North Carolina, hmmm.
So, until a basswood Ray is released I will have to find a flukey, used featherweight, or check with shops that list the weights of new basses.
Then again; I could always reshape a Bongo into a miny Ray with that bandsaw in the shop
ZiggyDude
Well-known member
You don't like the case? I actually thought the Bongo case is pretty good. Granted - it is not a hand made G&G with all the trimmings. But there are a lot of advantages:
• It does not have those metal feet pressed into the material. These eventually got knocked or ripped off. On a plastic case often taking part of the outer wall with it and on wood just leaving a gash. The EBMM case has the feet molded in.
• The ridges going along the outside of the case prevent the hinges and latches from coming in direct contact. As example, with the Ranger I used for many a year I would slide a case over the wheel well on each side. The hinge of the case would slide across the plastic of the bed liner. Eventually there were scratches and grooves worn into the bed liner almost all the way through. Granted – we are talking thousands of jobs over many years – but it happened. And I was being careful!!
• Having the nameplate on the case is a nice touch
• The bass all but snaps in place in the case and is very secure. This has to protect it in shipping and normal transport. I had a custom made Moser shipped to me in a custom G&G case a couple of months ago. UPS broke it. But I also blame the case some as the fit was not so tight.
OK – maybe a compartment with a cover would be nice. Either that or get me a case in purple and silver
• It does not have those metal feet pressed into the material. These eventually got knocked or ripped off. On a plastic case often taking part of the outer wall with it and on wood just leaving a gash. The EBMM case has the feet molded in.
• The ridges going along the outside of the case prevent the hinges and latches from coming in direct contact. As example, with the Ranger I used for many a year I would slide a case over the wheel well on each side. The hinge of the case would slide across the plastic of the bed liner. Eventually there were scratches and grooves worn into the bed liner almost all the way through. Granted – we are talking thousands of jobs over many years – but it happened. And I was being careful!!
• Having the nameplate on the case is a nice touch
• The bass all but snaps in place in the case and is very secure. This has to protect it in shipping and normal transport. I had a custom made Moser shipped to me in a custom G&G case a couple of months ago. UPS broke it. But I also blame the case some as the fit was not so tight.
OK – maybe a compartment with a cover would be nice. Either that or get me a case in purple and silver
Moondog
Well-known member
My Current MM Weights:
'92 SR4 9lb 0oz
'94 SR4 9lb 10oz
'00 SR4 9lb 5oz
'05 SR4 9lb 1oz
'10 Classic SR4 9lb 14oz
'10 Classic SR4 10lb 4oz
'10 Big Al 4H 9lb 0oz
Not too much variability considering the added mass on the Classics...
'92 SR4 9lb 0oz
'94 SR4 9lb 10oz
'00 SR4 9lb 5oz
'05 SR4 9lb 1oz
'10 Classic SR4 9lb 14oz
'10 Classic SR4 10lb 4oz
'10 Big Al 4H 9lb 0oz
Not too much variability considering the added mass on the Classics...
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Moondog
Well-known member
" • Having the nameplate on the case is a nice touch"
Nice but I think the name plates need stronger adhesive - they keep coming off - on all three of my new '10 cases . . .
unless my kids are trying to peel them off when I'm not around?
Nice but I think the name plates need stronger adhesive - they keep coming off - on all three of my new '10 cases . . .
unless my kids are trying to peel them off when I'm not around?
2ndBassGuitar
Well-known member
Did they really make the Big AL and Classics in 2000?
oli@bass
Well-known member
Many is a vast exaggeration, given that the StingRay was produced some 25 years with the 2 band and 3 band preamps as options, and the 2 band was ordered a lot less than the 3 band.
Maybe my http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/42214-stingray-sound-examples.html help you to decide. I'd go with Tommixx suggestion.
Moondog
Well-known member
Yes, as an exclusive EBMM VIP, I generally get a sneak peak 1st offering instrument ~10 years prior to commercial introduction . . . you should see the new 20th Anniversary Bongo (scheduled for release 2023), I love this thing!
DJBenzBass
Well-known member
Is that the Purple one made for Brett Favre's retirement party in 2023? Amazing bass, and I'm sure Brett will appreciate you waiting to show it off until his party.
Caca de Kick
Well-known member
Jim,
I had a 2007 blue dawn LE SR4 that I ordered with a 2eq, and it came in at 8.3 lbs! Was absolute wonderful to play all night long. I wished I hadn't let that one go, but when the wife was out of work I had move some things.
Definitely call shops and ask for weights. You'd be suprised they will do it for you.
I had a 2007 blue dawn LE SR4 that I ordered with a 2eq, and it came in at 8.3 lbs! Was absolute wonderful to play all night long. I wished I hadn't let that one go, but when the wife was out of work I had move some things.
Definitely call shops and ask for weights. You'd be suprised they will do it for you.
