Movielife
Well-known member
The EBMM Ray 5.
What is it to me?
Long story i’m afraid!
Since I was a wee young bass player (approx. 13-14 years old, now 31) I always loved the Musicman Stingray 4. Back then, it was all about the single H, and it pulled me into the world of Musicman quality and tone.
I’ve never once, in that 16-17 years between then and now, been without a Musicman, apart from when I sold two to BUY two more! That was only a few months though, so all is forgiven!
I remember the same store I bought my first Stingray 4 H (now sold on, which was a mistake) had a natural Stingray 5. Back then, I believe it was the ceramic version, single H.I don’t think I ever tried it. I used to go in, and say ‘if I ever go back to 5 string basses, it has to be Musicman’. When I say ‘go back’, it was purely because I tried a budget 5 string for about 6 months and hated it! I didn’t, to be fair, give it time, and back then I was all about the punk with plectrums! A fiver just slowed down my ridiculously fast plectrum strumming.
So, it was written (sorta) in the history books that Movielife AKA Gareth WILL try a Stingray 5, when he goes back to 5 string basses.
Fast forward to around 2010. I’d started to appreciate more and more funky/soul/pop music, and guess what, that low B might just come in handy! What’s wrong with having two persona’s of playing? Eg, get the Ray 4 H out with a pick for my alternative/punk bands, and get the 5ers out, with virtually all finger style (which really did attract me to 5ers for some reason) for anything more pop/soul/funk related.
What do you think I ordered? You are damn right. Stingray 5. In the coolest spec (IMO) ever, White/Tort/Rosewood in HS format.
The bass arrived almost 2 years ago. Super lightweight for a Ray 5! Since then, I have built up quite a brilliant collection, and I am lucky enough to be able to own these basses in this current economy.
On Saturday, I finally had some ‘bass time’. I have moved to a city, and started (finally) on my career. We have had to move house twice in a month to get somewhere that was suitable. I now have a nice place, and my girlfriend has let me use the large spare bedroom for storage, but mainly as a bass room (with a few guitars intruding). All my gear is now unpacked, and I finally had some time to get a bass out, try out my new Genz Shuttlemax 9.2, and get the Ray 5 HS out as well.
I lost track of time. Must have been 3 hours! I was in my element tweaking the Ray 5 HS EQ and trying out the pups for different tracks. I learnt a few songs, worked on a few songs I play on my 4 string basses, and felt my 5 string playing came along leaps and bounds just in a few hours. The brilliant weather we currently have has left the neck of the bass in a perfect setup. Get this. After moving house TWICE, in everything from soaring heat to cold rain and wind, and obviously moving all my gear, the Ray 5 HS is STILL in tune.
This is my ‘goto’ 5er, and I hope to spend a few hours with it a week getting to know the extra string, pups, and EQ a little better. I’ve got two bands that are in the works, and the 5 string will be perfect (in fact, their current player who is leaving plays a Ray 5!).
Next, I need me a set of those new fangled Cobalts. Must admit though, these current Slinky’s are still stock from when the bass was built, and they still sound great. Despite the Big Al 5, Sterling 5, and soon to be Bongo 5, the Ray 5 is still totally amazing.
No wonder it is an industry standard and amazing seller.
What is it to me?
Long story i’m afraid!
Since I was a wee young bass player (approx. 13-14 years old, now 31) I always loved the Musicman Stingray 4. Back then, it was all about the single H, and it pulled me into the world of Musicman quality and tone.
I’ve never once, in that 16-17 years between then and now, been without a Musicman, apart from when I sold two to BUY two more! That was only a few months though, so all is forgiven!
I remember the same store I bought my first Stingray 4 H (now sold on, which was a mistake) had a natural Stingray 5. Back then, I believe it was the ceramic version, single H.I don’t think I ever tried it. I used to go in, and say ‘if I ever go back to 5 string basses, it has to be Musicman’. When I say ‘go back’, it was purely because I tried a budget 5 string for about 6 months and hated it! I didn’t, to be fair, give it time, and back then I was all about the punk with plectrums! A fiver just slowed down my ridiculously fast plectrum strumming.
So, it was written (sorta) in the history books that Movielife AKA Gareth WILL try a Stingray 5, when he goes back to 5 string basses.
Fast forward to around 2010. I’d started to appreciate more and more funky/soul/pop music, and guess what, that low B might just come in handy! What’s wrong with having two persona’s of playing? Eg, get the Ray 4 H out with a pick for my alternative/punk bands, and get the 5ers out, with virtually all finger style (which really did attract me to 5ers for some reason) for anything more pop/soul/funk related.
What do you think I ordered? You are damn right. Stingray 5. In the coolest spec (IMO) ever, White/Tort/Rosewood in HS format.
The bass arrived almost 2 years ago. Super lightweight for a Ray 5! Since then, I have built up quite a brilliant collection, and I am lucky enough to be able to own these basses in this current economy.
On Saturday, I finally had some ‘bass time’. I have moved to a city, and started (finally) on my career. We have had to move house twice in a month to get somewhere that was suitable. I now have a nice place, and my girlfriend has let me use the large spare bedroom for storage, but mainly as a bass room (with a few guitars intruding). All my gear is now unpacked, and I finally had some time to get a bass out, try out my new Genz Shuttlemax 9.2, and get the Ray 5 HS out as well.
I lost track of time. Must have been 3 hours! I was in my element tweaking the Ray 5 HS EQ and trying out the pups for different tracks. I learnt a few songs, worked on a few songs I play on my 4 string basses, and felt my 5 string playing came along leaps and bounds just in a few hours. The brilliant weather we currently have has left the neck of the bass in a perfect setup. Get this. After moving house TWICE, in everything from soaring heat to cold rain and wind, and obviously moving all my gear, the Ray 5 HS is STILL in tune.
This is my ‘goto’ 5er, and I hope to spend a few hours with it a week getting to know the extra string, pups, and EQ a little better. I’ve got two bands that are in the works, and the 5 string will be perfect (in fact, their current player who is leaving plays a Ray 5!).
Next, I need me a set of those new fangled Cobalts. Must admit though, these current Slinky’s are still stock from when the bass was built, and they still sound great. Despite the Big Al 5, Sterling 5, and soon to be Bongo 5, the Ray 5 is still totally amazing.
No wonder it is an industry standard and amazing seller.
