Ander87

Such a nice story, so happy for you @AndyTravis

Haha! That is probably true aye… for some 10 hours a week 2 specials are plenty 😅

Hm I can relate to that! I had the #1, the immediate #2/backup/similar but different, and #3 was the odd one out often on tour/sale/trade or something quirky like a short scale for when packing tight for a gig etc. you may be onto something my friend… Go and convince my wife to keep the limelight now that I’ve 2 ray specials in ha!

you know you may well be onto something here... but those 4 would need to fit in my hangers - we've talked about this Luke, it's a complicated design lol! Plus, I've agreed with the missus to lock my budget for gear and can only do trades now, can't let these two go. Still, the principle of 4 may well make sense haha!

Haha @Piers_Williamson he is indeed! Duke is his name… and we’ll if it was on his quality as a guardian I’d have no basses left ha!

That macaroni pie took me to heaven for a second - and here I am, doing intermittent fasting - thanks @neepheid

My small in numbers, mighty in power basses.... above sofa so close enough! I've realised the moment I have a 3rd bass one of them starts not being played... Then I feel bad and want to downsize or reinvest into upgrading other gear or... Wouldn't discard a 3rd at some point, but how do you guys do it?

I think this is a good summary of our own moral financial justifications and budgets lol

For the record I have played basses from £100 to 3k£ plus. Been a fool anytime I buy new, especially on the higher end basses. Thanks to that I own basses that I would not buy nor recommend buying new… because I personally can’t justify that expense. Loving every perfect bit of them though lol, honeymoon period, there is no better 😁 to answer the question, I would often have a top end bass and others a bit cheaper as backups, that would end up being the primary as my #1 would end up being a case queen. Since playing more often live and having a more reasonable budget, I have both my basses in the same price range and plan to use both of them evenly.

Hm…! I’ve always liked pricey basses. Of course I am all gassed up and coming from guitars playing them for a while I knew I wouldn’t settle with mediocre basses. I had a long time in the 1700-to-3000£ range but there was a point where I couldn’t justify that much invested in just a hobby. Fast forward into 2 gigging bands I realised that a decent £1k bass is more than enough and I needed the variety… I had 3 basses in this range and loved them so very much. Throughout all that time I’ve been a warrior of ‘all basses above £1500 are pointless’ whilst also saying ‘the two basses I regret selling are my MM SR5 Special and my Alpher Mako5’… I had a recent change to scramble my gear budget and get a SR4 Special (I play 4 strings exclusively and just one band now) and I feel more at home than ever… like reuniting with an old friend. So much that I took the chance to own a second Special in a different setup. I bought them second hand and know I wouldn’t pay the retail price they ask for them new these days… but after having contradicted myself ever so often, I feel the budget for gear is something that is SO relative and so hard to justify… … I’ve had people with collections of basses that do play quite limited, same as an absolute bass wizard that played a billion times better than me whilst playing a Squier bass. … End of the line, play what makes you happy and you can afford without compromising other areas of your life. Ander.

Hm! Interesting debate! The basses I’ve had most have been limelight P basses and Stingrays. Having gone from sandberg, headless Ibanez’s, custom boutique basses… Limelight Precision 4 - Stingrays 4, so far. I may need that short scale Ray to settle the score 😂

Hmm! You’re more than welcome to give it a try if ever interested - it is same width but definitely shallower and modern in profile, shallower thanks a vintage jazz neck for example too. Also smoother but that’s down to the gunstock oil & wax finish that can surely be replicated if you know what you’re doing. I just love mine, all aspects of it! Loved the Sterling ray I sold you but the neck was digging on me a bit more than I wanted. Ander.

I’ll bother you again to try one of my specials for yours someday bud 😂 looking lush!

The situation is more aggravating in the U.K… looking at £2.8k for a new US ray Special…… Jesus. Just about 3 years ago they were £2.3k!! New stock for gear has skyrocketed madly tbh.

Fair enough…! For me the extra bit was worth it but also I traded in a lot of gear etc. I’ve been on a 3-4 bass business and realise I can treat myself to 2 top basses and call it a day - I’m just hoping I don’t get gassed up, cause those Sterling short scale rays are sweeeeet…!

Ugh! Like I said I would NOT buy a SR Special new. I would not lol. Also somehow the new US ones have a ‘select hardwood’ for body that I did not like reading. And uglier colours if you ask me haha! The generation of mine is swamp ash. Pity most of that gen’s colours are discontinued. I love the Sterling ones… Maybe that first gen has an edge over, or maybe not. Surely not enough to justify 3x the price new… … I’m well happy I got mine and maybe I’m reminiscing that my first proper bass was a SR5 Special and have been in love since… they have more headroom and more comfortable than the Sterling Ray34 I had mid last year. I think they’re worth it 2nd hand. But then again I can’t justify more than 2k in a single bass, and that’s something I’ve learnt through having 2k+ instruments…! Like many folk here, I’ve learnt the hard way that all the good things end up turning up 2nd hand if you’re patient enough.

By the end of the day, the reality is MM folk will tell you to get MM as much better than Sterling rays, Sterling Ray owners will tell you theirs is as good as the US stuff. Go out and play. And enjoy it!

Hm! I find the profile on the specials a bit skinnier and faster - YouTube says the same and I concur compared to Sterling’s Ray34

what he said. I may sound biased but having had both and basses from £500 to £3000 I find the SR Specials are the most premium from my experienced overpriced, like any top end bass especially these days - but second hand, totally worth the 300£ ish more than the regular Stingrays. If it’s for your no1. bass and you can afford it, get the SR Special 2nd hand. If you want a Stingray tone without breaking the bank or are on a budget, the Sterling is a very, very respectable bass. BTW, having had the last generation for both I can say the Sterling ray34 neck feels chunkier and ‘digs’ into the phalanges more than the MM SR Special. Best, Ander.

It really is something else, cheers @horrorshowbass! took them both to rehearsal today, the grey one is a bit rounder in tone (heavier weight?) and thicker sounding with the flatwounds, but I also love the aggression and definition of the copper one. I’m very happy with them, long may it last! Pickguards should arrive next week, I’ll report here…! Ander.

Hm. I’ve had both. An Stingray Special 5, then years later a Sterling Ray34 that I modified with an Eastman pre and Aguilar pickup… … now I’m back to two Specials. They’re just plain the best basses I’ve ever had, these specials are truly special. Much as the Sterling is a great great bass, these are better. I wouldn’t pay 3k new for them as they are now, but you can find them for the 1700 range. Best basses I’ve owned. I wouldn’t spend that much on a bass that’s not my primary and if I was, say, a fender guy, the Sterling would be more than enough. Having said that, the best Stingray is a Stingray Special 😁 Best, Ander.

mate it’s surreal, thanks! the dropped copper ain’t too shabby either - hope the video below loads…! IMG_0392.MOV

Bonding time restringing... Flats for the starboi, rounds for the copper Ander.

Ian bought my Hipshot BT3 Xtender - super quick and serious buyer, to the point and reliable payment. Would most definitely recommend! Ander.

Sold my Limelight Charcoal Frost to Andy recently - top chap to deal with, solid communication and accommodating couriers inbound and outbound to the bass' new home. Hope you enjoy it bud, it's a jewel! Ander.