I also suffered with Stingray post GAS disappointment
Fancied a stingray for years, since seeing Pino playing his fretless one in the 80s, then Flea but never got around to trying one out.
Last year I saw one at a good price and bought it on the spot. All I can say is I'm glad it was cheap, it was such an anti climax playing it. It was a classic 4 I think. I later tried a US SUB and much preferred that strangely.
I still would like to try an older pre EB just to see, as there must be more to them than the one i had, and I am a huge fan of the Stingray sound.