Terry M.

The 55-02 I tried had an excellent set-up but it's not the first one I've tried in stores that had a (to me) dodgy sounding open B string. Other Laklands I've tried have had decent sounding Bs so it really is a case of kissing a few frogs so to speak.

So today I was in Guitar Guitar Birmingham and tried a Lakland 55-02 and a Darkray Stingray 5. The Lakland had a neck to die for,wow! The open low B however sounded (to me) atrocious. This whole "needs a 35" for the B to sound good" stuff means very little to me anyway if anything. I (now) understand there's a trim pot on the LH3 preamp to control this but the volume drop between active and passive modes is almost comical to me and this one was no exception. The Darkray SR5 I admit I didn't have a clue what the controls apart from the volume bass and treble knobs did. I could NOT get it to sound like a regular Stingray but again that was most probably user-error on my part. It also wasn't set-up great. The open low B sounded glorious to my ear though and the weight was good.

Thinking about this is making me wonder why EBMM bother to even gloss the headstock really. My Ray35 is unfinished all the way from headstock down and I can't see anything wrong with that.

I remember when this was on here because I have the bolt-on Broadneck version as well as a through neck Broadneck Streamer Stage One. Wouldn't be without either of them. I had to get to know the Thumb ergonomics but once it clicked...

I feel the same way with regards to the deliberate ageing trend we're witnessing on instruments. Imagine being charged more for a new vehicle that the factory bashed about a bit! 🤣

I'm with you on this. The gloss poly finish (in my opinion) on the back of necks is horrid.

That would be me. I've walked away from buying basses due to them having piezo pickups. It really is horses for courses 🙂

I've tried several 55-02 Laklands in stores and have to admit that the volume drop when in passive mode is holding me back somewhat.

While we're on this topic does anybody know why on the back of the Stingray headstock there's a "line" separating it from the neck? I've always wanted to know. Not sure if this applies to pre Ernie Ball models.

The SBMM branding was launched in 2008. Like you I prefer 19mm spacing but somehow I'm all over the neck on my Ray35 without as much as a thought.

I hear you on the SR5 price. Have you ever tried a SBMM Ray35? I recently acquired an early used example and as far as I'm concerned it's a Stingray made in Indonesia and sporting a different headstock logo. I've own EBMM SR5s in the past for reference.

Did you make those modifications and if so was there a discernible difference before and after? I ask because as mentioned previously my Ray35 (no mods) is all the way Stingray to me through and through as-is☺️

Was there ever an EBMM SR5 with 19mm bridge string spacing? Someone on here once said it was a thing briefly before being discontinued.

As in it might get in the way of one's technique rather than a lack of technique?

Can't play with my rings on,too uncomfortable both physically and mentally. Even my watch has to come off.