Ander87

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.

Also, I've noticed most bongo's bodies lose colour intensity compared to the neck... this one is still going strong, such good nick!

This is such a happy story! made in 2004.... Andy it may be the actual same eh? Brian you're a hero!

What do you do when you rehearse? If you stop and start again when rehearsing it is defensible that the same happens live.... We just don't stop for anybody over rehearsal - that is priceless to recover!

Bass with gigbag Strap, 2 cables, power lead and Eich T900 fits in the gigbag alongside picks and ear plugs HX Effects If I can/logistics I'll bring my Barefaced Big Baby 2. That is all I have not counting on my other bass! Very important for me to have 'only' what I need - that's how I afford to get the basses I like most, otherwise my budget is spread into too many things...! Ander.

You are probably more than "good enough" to gig! This sounds like 99% of bands out there doing pub gigs, and I do not mean that as a disparaging comment at all, just that we all make mistakes. Two of my old bandmates came to watch my new band last week, I made TONS of mistakes, guitarist did too, they said the only way they knew was from the apologetic looks we were all giving each other across the stage. Just because a band is gigging doesn't mean they're a highly polished and well rehearsed unit. Mistakes do happen - you're bound to - I play in a punk rock band and I nearly ALWAYS make a bum note mistake or two, through the set. Long as you recover or is just that, a blip, you're good. Also, the audience will not notice - even if you tell them where... Live performance is not about perfection but about engagement and having a good time, and putting in the work to make sure you recover from those minor blips if they happen, swiftly!

Having said above that music is just for oneself etc etc.... it is really nice when someone recognises you from a videoclip or gives you the nod or thanks for the music whilst loading out....!!! My little heart...

Hm, this is interesting. Some 6-7 years ago I told my wife, passing through New Cross Inn blasting music, 'I'd like to play there some day' - I had no idea of the scene and had never been in a band. I know it's a small joint (part of the international circuit tho) in London, but that goal got ticked last Monday, and did my proudest performance. I've been too familiar with forming bands, looking for bandmates, creating songs, frustrations from others personalities and egos, the band coasting.... semi-dissolving, getting rid of a band member.... seeing that the rest don't push to do what we've got to do... and simply, I am TIRED of leading a band - I've realised it's a role that makes me feel like I've a 2nd job. Having said that, whilst NOT looking for a band at all, the desperation of this band to find a bass player led to me learning a setlist and being a permanent band member in 2 weeks. I felt very positively challenged to learn the songs and get on to stage again.... and I was in love with the silly gigs jokes and drives to, like you said, play in front of 20 drunk folk. I have performed in a sold out Scala show (1200 people) and felt the same rush. I think that music is an egotistic exercise in many ways - what I'm saying is that I play for myself and to enjoy myself, and have finally found a band where I am a contributor rather than the only leading person. Very few of us get to live from this and have a whole nother life besides this - just make sure you enjoy the ride. Ander.

If anyone is into specific trades.... Withdrawn - What was I thinking!!!??? There's not better (for me) than these Specials - I'll pop cobalt rounds on the coppery, flatwound cobalts on the starboi I will treat myself to a couple pickguards, B/W/B matte for the sparkle, White pearl for the Copper.

I played around with the pickguards today. Ended up reverting to the original ones. You’ve seen before the matt black… The copper with black pickguard really works, but I prefer it on the sparkle, even better than the black matt… may venture with a pearloid pickguard at some point for the dropped copper.