Greg.Bassman Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) Hi all. Ok so, I have my sights set on a Stingray. I've recently received a quote from Musicman for a 'Stingray 4 SLO Special [b]H - 2 Band[/b] EQ' in natural finish... for £1600. I was quite surprised by this price, as I've noticed that you can pick up a Stingray, of the same spec, for £1099 from most retailers (see link). Fair enough, they're not 'SLO Special's, but all other criteria applies. Surely, a change in neck profile doesn't justify a £500 price jump? I wondered whether there may be a difference in material, build quality etc between the ones available in store (compared to special orders). Anybody out there that can shed some light on this? or is it simply a pricing mistake on MM's part? (or is it [i]me[/i] missing something here?! lol) [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/music-man-stingray-2eq-black-rosewood/71480"]http://www.gak.co.uk...-rosewood/71480[/url] Edited January 13, 2016 by Greg.Bassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg.Bassman Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) Yes hiram. It's not really 'custom' per se though; the 'SLO Special' (38mm nut) is an option that anybody is welcome to opt for. Not too many standard retailers (PMT, GG, GAK etc) chose to stock them though, hence why I've had to order from Ernie Ball themselves. Edited January 13, 2016 by Greg.Bassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) [quote name='Greg.Bassman' timestamp='1452696894' post='2952539'] Hi all. Ok so, I have my sights set on a Stingray. I've recently received a quote from Musicman for a 'Stingray 4 SLO Special [b]H - 2 Band[/b] EQ' in natural finish... for £1600. I was quite surprised by this price, as I've noticed that you can pick up a Stingray, of the same spec, for £1099 from most retailers (see link). Fair enough, they're not 'SLO Special's, but all other criteria applies. Surely, a change in neck profile doesn't justify a £500 price jump? I wondered whether there may be a difference in material, build quality etc between the ones available in store (compared to special orders). Anybody out there that can shed some light on this? or is it simply a pricing mistake on MM's part? (or is it [i]me[/i] missing something here?! lol) [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/music-man-stingray-2eq-black-rosewood/71480"]http://www.gak.co.uk...-rosewood/71480[/url] [/quote] Stingrays are around the £1400+ mark these days, I believe. There was a special price for a batch of them in a limited number of colours (black, and I can't remember what else) that sold without the hard case for around £1000. I guess the one in the link is one of them. A natural finish Stingray hasn't sold for £1000 in quite some time... So I think you've been quoted current prices. edit: actually, natural Stingrays seem to go for £1600-1800 depending on the shop, so it does seem that your quote is consistent with shop prices. Edited January 13, 2016 by mcnach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg.Bassman Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 Amazing, cheers mcnach. That certainly clears a lot up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameltoe Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1452704424' post='2952661'] Stingrays are around the £1400+ mark these days, I believe. There was a special price for a batch of them in a limited number of colours (black, and I can't remember what else) that sold without the hard case for around £1000. [/quote] Was it Teal? My local music shop had a stack of Teal/Rosewood Stingrays in stock last year for £995 or thereabouts. 'Cheapest in U.K' so they quoted. They still had one in there before Xmas, but always Teal and rosewood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 [quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1452713590' post='2952839'] Thought so. I asked them to put a bass together for me a little while back and they told me to do one. It wasn't anything they couldn't have coped with: white, maple board, gold fittings, SLO neck, matching headstock. The reply was "We don't make custom instruments". Fair enough, but it's just one more variation of the 100's of different specs they already do. [/quote] I looked into getting a Musicman Luke guitar with a maple fingerboard instead of the usual rosewood - they just would not do it for me, despite the fact they make loads of guitars with maple fingerboards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 G&L know how to do things properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenjames Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I've got one of the 'bargain' ones. I love it! I got it in 2014 on Black Friday, 15% off so I paid £950. I think there are still a few of them in the shops. 2EQ, very limited choice of colours (black, red and blue IIRC). Mine's 2EQ, black on black. No frills - no birds eye on the neck and no mutes (as I think you get on the Classic). 1 humbucker. But I think it's got everything that matters: same pickups as the more expensive one and the same sound, feel and build quality. Same bridge, tuners, nut etc. Decent soft case but I never use it. It even comes with a good servicing kit. Honestly, unless you need another pickup or _really_ want a mid on the EQ, I can't understand how it wold be worth spending any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 [quote name='chickenjames' timestamp='1452728612' post='2953013'] I've got one of the 'bargain' ones. I love it! I got it in 2014 on Black Friday, 15% off so I paid £950. I think there are still a few of them in the shops. 2EQ, very limited choice of colours (black, red and blue IIRC). Mine's 2EQ, black on black. No frills - no birds eye on the neck and no mutes (as I think you get on the Classic). 1 humbucker. But I think it's got everything that matters: same pickups as the more expensive one and the same sound, feel and build quality. Same bridge, tuners, nut etc. Decent soft case but I never use it. It even comes with a good servicing kit. Honestly, unless you need another pickup or _really_ want a mid on the EQ, I can't understand how it wold be worth spending any more. [/quote] do you remember if they did maple fingerboard ones or were they all rosewood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treb Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) The price jump for a natural may have to do with body wood selection and matching. Still quite a bit more money though. chickenjames nails it IMO, the bargain models offer eveything you could want. A black and rosewood Stingray has that workhorse aesthetic appeal you can't deny. If you want a better/nicer spec Stingray check out Esse Music in Italy. In 2015 they had and sold a few SLO's. A recent price hike has made them less affordable though. Perhaps you can order your dream Stingray through them? The Sterling (ebmm not sbmm) I bought there last summer was considerably cheaper than most other retailers, if they even stock the Sterling. Very few do, I got lucky with my vintage sunburst & rosewood one. Edited January 14, 2016 by Treb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburstjazz1967 Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 The cheaper ones without the hard case also have Poplar bodies which is cheaper and softer than the typical ash used on the normal ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenjames Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) mine is exactly the same as this one (but it's not mine IYSWIM) [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Musicman_SR4_H_Black.html"]http://www.bassdirec...R4_H_Black.html[/url] it says 'ash'. I'm not 100% sure but I think they're all RW. Mine says it was made in 2010 so it must have been in the shop for a couple of years. It had a pretty nasty setup on it when I bought it, too low and buzzy for me but it's lovely now :-) Ed: I notice though that the gak listing http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Musicman_SR4_H_Black.html says "select hardwood" rather than ash - so perhaps bassdirect have made a mistake. Edited January 14, 2016 by chickenjames Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I think considering how easily you can pick up a used StingRay for around £800 on here, the new ones represent poor value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treb Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 [quote name='Machines' timestamp='1452772242' post='2953261'] I think considering how easily you can pick up a used StingRay for around £800 on here, the new ones represent poor value. [/quote] Hmmm, you have a point there. But only if you want a used Stingray. Used Sterlings are almost as rare as hen's teeth 'round here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 [quote name='Treb' timestamp='1452772941' post='2953275'] Hmmm, you have a point there. But only if you want a used Stingray. Used Sterlings are almost as rare as hen's teeth 'round here. [/quote] There's one for sale right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburstjazz1967 Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 [quote name='Machines' timestamp='1452772242' post='2953261'] I think considering how easily you can pick up a used StingRay for around £800 on here, the new ones represent poor value. [/quote] You can say that about anything including all the basses in your signature, if no one buys new you can't buy used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 [quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1452777933' post='2953371'] You can say that about anything including all the basses in your signature, if no one buys new you can't buy used. [/quote] True, but there isn't currently a shortage of 2nd hand StingRays. Bongos appear quite frequently too. It's the same scenario for Warwick, very high new prices but a extremely good value 2nd hand market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenjames Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I looked at like this : yes of course it's cheaper to buy used. I could have had a used one for about £800 in a shop. Or a new one for £950 I'd decided before I bought it that this one is going to be a keeper - so it's not much extra really to start as the 1st owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) I think you've got a great deal - I paid £1600 for my 2007LE Stingray new (and ordered via the distributor) in - you guessed it - 2007. As for the '2nd hand ones represent better value', no they don't if you want a brand new instrument in a brand new case, in the exact colour spec, neck spec and pick up spec you want. It's rather like the argument about new and used cars - as soon as you drive your new car away it loses a shed load of money in depreciation. But that is not the point, there is nothing like a brand new car (or bass) in my opinion. So going back to my 2007LE Stingray, the only way to get one was to order it - and I wanted that specific model and colour. So for me it represented good value and did exactly what I wanted. As someone has already said, if nobody bought new items there would never be any used ones to buy...... I can understand there being people around who would only buy used, but come on, give the OP a break - there has never been any realistic comparison between used and new prices (except vintage, which is a whole different kettle of fish!) The OP wants an SLO neck profile which is even rarer!! Going back to used ones, im quite interested in getting a late 80s/early 90s Ray in one or two colours (including vintage sunburst) - I've seen one vintage sunburst in about five years of looking and that was sold within hours - it all depends what spec you want - stingrays are common on the used market but is such a range of spec that waiting for exactly what you want can take years!! Edited January 14, 2016 by drTStingray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg.Bassman Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 This is great guys, cheers to all for your feedback! I will certainly take all into consideration (if and when) I make my purchase. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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