live near a shop with Dingwalls - go and try some. Try the stuff you are interested in too. decide for yourself after playing it.
Maybe they are right, but if they aren't I doubt they will complain if you go "I tried them, the Stingray 5 was way better, then I found this one secondhand" or something.
If they do have problem with that, then maybe they aren't that great ppl to be in a band with.