drTStingray

Not sure what horrendous is but last time I ordered one (a Stingray Special HH) it took 8 months. I suspect it may now be longer. Has anyone been seeing the You Tube videos about Guitar Centre stores running very low on guitars and manufacturers not being able to meet demand? This is presumably all resulting from the pandemic (and the business models of various organisations collapsing owing to the recession ensuing).

I noticed this the other night on one of those BBC compilation programmes - this one was on reggae at the BBC - it's Dave and Ansell Collins with their no 1 hit on TOTP in 1971, Double Barrel, when their fan base would have ranged from West Indian, to first generation skinheads, to townies (previously mods) and teeny boppers. Of great interest is the bass guitar - a fiesta red pre CBS Jazz with matching headstock, mint scratch plate and a very dark rosewood board - at one point in the video you can see the battered bottom edge of the lower horn showing what appears to be white paint - interestingly a very similar indeed Jazz with similar damaged paintwork with the same colour under was at Andy Baxters for some while a couple of years back - I wonder if it was the same one? https://youtu.be/UQNPiUuU58Y

@Chopthebass you should have asked to try a John Myung signature Bongo - six strings on the same neck profile 😬 he seems to have no problem with the design even with 6 strings. Seriously, which shop did you try the new 'Classic 5HH' in? I might be interested!!!

The easiest drop in replacement is the correct EBMM 3 band EQ unit - which they would normally sell you on receipt of the broken one - suggest you email their customer services for details.

Accepted 👍😏

He also mentioned in his view, using flatwounds also assists. As we all know using flatwounds is now a legal requirement for bass 😂😬 I wonder if any of those experiencing this have found that assists? Interestingly the 3 band Stingray EQ originated from the same period as the development of the SR5 - the only difference really is the series/ parallel/single coil switching ability of the SR5. And yes the series version is fatter sounding (more mids) which would help the G string sound. Some early MM Sabres with 3 band EQ have SR5 printed on the board.

The science says this (for a 2 band) - which confirms what Sterling Ball said, but only when you fully boost the bass and treble on 2 band Stingrays. I know we've got used to septuagenarian world leaders with bleached and nicotine stained hair poo pooing science in favour of rumour and rhetoric but you can't deny these frequency charts. Next thing, some of you'll be telling us the world's flat because Mr Farage and a few businessman cronies say so often enough that people start to believe it!!!

You're misunderstanding - I'm not saying they don't have this issue - my contention is whether it's the bass or some other issue.

Interestingly, his G and L basses have adjustable pole pieces.

Thanks for this. Did the replacement electronics improve things for you? Another potential point of interest is whether you had 2 or 3 band versions and maple or rosewood boards? I have noticed the rosewood board versions sound darker. I also have Stingray 5s and a Bongo and agree with you - they don't have this characteristic (and the Stingray Special doesn't). Btw the hearing point was meant to be a little tongue in cheek - I did mince play in a band with a guitarist with serious hearing issues who used to complain about the bass being too loud - until he got a wireless device and listened from the back of the room at sound check - he never complained again and said he was astonished. His guitar sound was probably the most shrill I've ever heard - presumably because he couldn't hear treble.

A possibility - but why would so many people not think it is. Nobody has ever produced any scientific evidence to suggest these basses generally have that characteristic - I had a Stingray in around 1980 and this was never considered an issue - the popped G string sound was as good as anything around and far and away better than the woolier sounding Fenders of the time. I think the issue here is how some people are managing, through a combination of things, to achieve this.

Definitely - they're my favourite basses and in my view, one of the best designs ever - helped (with a few other makes) drag people out of the sloppy 60s thinking, when recording was on 2 track and 4 track and major concerts were performed (either completely or partially inaudibly) using 30 watt back line amps and vocals through the building's PA system!! And the bass really was just boom (if heard at all). You'll have to enlighten me - who is this person or character you're talking of?

I'm sure yours was real as far as you're concerned (interested to know the model and year of bass you are describing and when you had it). Along with a large number of other people, I don't have a problem with G strings not sounding prominent enough on a Stingray. I have or have had probably as many Stingray basses as people who complain on the internet about this, and have not encountered this or indeed any great variability in them in any respect - indeed the quality of EBMM instruments is high. My conclusion is their perception of a G string on any bass not sounding prominent enough may be fundamentally different from mine for a big range of reasons, largely not to do with the bass itself - there are so many variables in this:- 1) Hearing issues (tends to affect the higher frequencies and accentuate the lower - mine are fine - had them tested very recently as what we subject them to regularly damages hearing). 2) Look at the science of the EQ of a 2 band Stingray - it's posted earlier in this thread - and clearly shows if you boost fully the treble and bass it scoops frequencies in the G string range. The 3 band EQ gives you more control over this. I hear people say 'but I set mine flat' - how do you know what's flat on a 2 band Stingray? It's not necessarily the centre even if you can work out where the centre is. 3) Take care with your set up and your pick up height - follow the factory settings for optimum performance of the bass. 4) EQ - this is a mine field, especially when you add in EQ on the amp (and then the FOH). Do you engage amp filters that cut out some frequencies? There've been plenty of posts in this thread explaining how problems can occur and how to overcome them (even though some of us don't agree with some of the suggested solutions) - if you follow those then you shouldn't have a problem (presuming you don't have damaged hearing, don't engage certain amp filters that auto scoop everything etc etc etc) - but ultimately, if you don't like the bass's characteristics, then sell it and move on. That's what I did with the Precision with (to my perception and other band member perceptions) bad dead spots. Not an issue if you're constantly playing in E and A but major in C etc.

Yes - I had a pre CBS Precision - horrendous dead spots on the G string at C (fret 5), C# (fret 6) and D (fret 7). It meant I had to play lines involving those notes on the D string higher up (which seems to be how some of the 60s players got over the same problem on similar basses). This was not an EQing problem (as issues a handful of people with Stingrays have do seem to be). However rather than periodically whining about their problem, why they don't just alter their playing style/position to avoid the issue, or simply buy a different bass - it really is reminiscent of young children moaning about something periodically (or constantly)....... 😬 and really just as irritating. I have to say that my Musicman Stingray Classic is one of the best bass guitars I've ever played - the quality of the whole thing is just superb. A pity you don't seem to be able to buy new ones any longer - but great for existing owners as the values will increase 😏👍

Madonna did a whole song referencing it (or vice versa) IIRC - sort of big bandesque type of thing!! I find the discus limbering up jobby just a little distracting as well! Ditching resulting from 'Higher Authority' instruction, perchance lol 😬

I'm pretty sure the 55/01s I tried out in the early 2000s had the name across them but maybe my memory is playing tricks - pretty sure I've seen it on some Warwicks as well.

V nice - looks like you had pro photos taken there!! I thought Spidey was limbering up for a discus throw - but obviously not! 1975-80 tank colour?! 😊

I go along with this as well - I recall Lakland 55-01s etc had Bartolonis in the MM position at least, with the name embossed across the cover (although in some lights it was virtually invisible) - presumably the $50 uplift was for the embossed cover 😬 (Joking of course 👍😄).

Aha - perfect for those using Ampeg refrigerators!! However you need a crane to load it in!! What's more to the point, what has happened to @Happy Jack 's avatar - I rather liked the twirly, spanky one 😂👍

You should email Ernie Ball Customer Services regarding the screws (or Strings and Things, their Uk distributor) - as I understand, they've sent the screws which adjust over the full length to other owners on request. That said, the hollow saddles have been around since 2010 (when the Stingray Classic was introduced). I think the shorter threaded screws are a new matter. As you probably know, it's best to get the relief right and adjust the curve of the fretboard/neck using the excellent truss rod wheel before trying to lower the saddles to the deck. You may find that does the trick. Ive managed to get the action on my Specials low enough (in combination with truss rod adjustment) to get a low enough action which doesn't compromise being able to play reasonably hard when wanted. I've never noticed this factor (shorter bridge saddle screws) on my Classic or Old Smoothie (also hollow saddles). Presumably the hollow saddles contribute something to the sound and resonance and also are lighter.

Lakland Jerry Scheff signature (discontinued)

Do they all come with the chrome covers or only the white one?

Well they (EBMM) have issued quite a number of special edition Bongos with different body woods (I can think, off hand of alder, mahogany and possibly ash variants), different finger boards and neck woods - you could look for one of these used one, or just wait for a limited edition that suits you. Apparently the economics of making instruments with a series of custom elements, as a factory scaled operation is just not there (as possibly born out by the fact other than very standard variants, if you spec a Custom Shop Fender instrument it will most likely be 'master built' and command an appropriately high price - Fender being a huge enough organisation they can do this). Glad you have a conventional Bongo - they are great fun - mine is slightly non standard as it has a piezo (no longer offered) 👍

I was quite surprised how similar these sound. I wonder if the Stingray would sound closer to the Fender if it had a maple board (the Fender's electronics are largely a 2 band Stingray copy using proprietary parts afaik). I suspect they'd sound more differentiated in a live setting.

I recall this type of thing happening - the band I was playing in played at a sports bar which was populated by a range of largely middle aged people getting more and more drunk - having already played Signed Sealed Delivered a rather noisy chap kept shouting play some Tamla Motown so our singer (who was probably as drunk as some of the audience and didn't take fools lightly) introduced the next song as for him and we played Blockbuster by the Sweet. The guy who kept requesting Tamla shouted thanks after it (it actually went down a storm with the audience)!! 😂 Another example of stupid things said by people to musicians - a drummer asked me why I don't play a Precision - I suggested he should take care of his own playing as when he came to my house the previous night, I knew it was him knocking at the door as the knocking slowed down 😬👍 😂 and anyway where are his roto toms and synth drum (we were playing late 70s/early 80s disco)!! This is all v tongue in cheek btw 😏 I have come across drummers who've complained of other musicians not considering them to be fellow musicians and have been quite sympathetic (however this may relate to occasionally people coming across drummers who appear to be practising building a flat pack shed 😂)