Music Man Dark Ray

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

If I was still playing Stingrays regularly, I might be interested, but since I’m not, I’ll be able to save myself who knows how many £1000’s by avoiding these.

If I was in the market for one, I certainly wouldn’t be going for the Granite Stone colour (limited to 100 pieces worldwide apparently) and why doesn’t the Obsidian Black version have a MHS?

https://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/darkray

Edited June 22, 2021 by hiram.k.hackenbacker

[ern500evo]

$2499 according to the link to Dubaldo Music. Funny enough, I’d just been watching a demo that someone had posted on the DG Facebook page. 

[eude]

That sounds awesome, however Josh can pretty much make anything sound good, he's a hell of a bass player!

Eude

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

16 minutes ago, ern500evo said:

$2499 according to the link to Dubaldo Music. Funny enough, I’d just been watching a demo that someone had posted on the DG Facebook page. 

Which probably translates into £3499 🙄

[Supernaut]

Gave up on EBMM after a couple of new basses I received had questionable QC. 

[fretmeister]

Onboard FX are a bit silly. Have to stop playing to make a change. That's what my feet are for!

[LukeFRC]

only making 100 mind. 

[ern500evo]

1 hour ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Which probably translates into £3499 🙄

With only 100 available, the price doesn’t really matter, not much chance of getting hold of one even if we wanted to! 

[drTStingray]

The 100 is the limited granite stone colour - which is available in The Vault so can be bought internationally - apparently Andertons have the black one on their site.  The Vault version won’t have retailer’s mark up (which seems to be quite considerable these days - and very variable dependent on who you’re using). 

I think it sounds pretty awesome but I’m not a metal player or even approaching being one 😂

The modes are easily switchable with the blade switch (as he appears to do in the video). 

I would imagine this will go down well with some parts of the market. 

The black version is the regular one. 
 

Edited June 22, 2021 by drTStingray

[Kev]

Interesting partnership, would have been much more obvious if Darkglass has teamed up with Dingwall or Warwick for this.

Swear I heard some kind of modulation effect in the little teaser they put out last week, so kinda disappointed it just seems to be a stripped down Alpha Omega pedal built in to a regular black hardware Stingray.

Still, its cool, and doesn't seem to be any more expensive than the already crazy new Musicman prices.  So the 100 is just for the grey one?  I was going to criticise why they felt the need to artifically build demand by restricting it so much, but if the black is just in regular production, I think it's a cool addition to the lineup.  And it's called a Dark Ray, which is awesome.

[ern500evo]

It’s showing on Anderson’s website, but when you click on it, you just a a ‘product not currently available’ message. 

[Kev]

Looks like they haven't ran out of the 100 on the Musicman website yet...

Wonder what the battery life will be like, powering that circuit and the LED ring?

[thodrik]

Quite cool as a concept and saves a pedal if you are playing a 'drive pedal always on' type of gig. I think Manson did a Matt Bellamy guitar with inbuilt ZVEX fuzz or something. 

Not something I need, or necessarily something I want, but certainly something I would like to try.

[Kev]

To be honest, the more I think about it the more I want one! 😂  I'm surprised it isn't a massive upcharge on the standard price, or at least doesn't seem to be.  Maybe it is the dealers that make all the money off them after all.

[Rich]

1 hour ago, Kev said:

And it's called a Dark Ray, which is awesome.
 

OK, I've got to ask... why is it?

[ern500evo]

Can’t help but think that it would’ve been even more awesome on the stealth finish Stingray that they did 

[Kev]

33 minutes ago, Rich said:

OK, I've got to ask... why is it?

Why is anything?  Just think it's a great name.

[Chiliwailer]

 

4 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

and why doesn’t the Obsidian Black version have a MHS?

 

Ooof - and have to fork out more 💰for a lighter coloured logo...?

[Eldon Tyrell]

I like the name, the look and the sounds. Not sure about the LED ring though. I mean, isn't the 3-way lever telling me if I am in clean, alpha or omega mode? There are just three modes, not too difficult to distinguish, right? 
Anyway, maybe I am wrong and the DarkRay and the LED lights will be a true game changer 😎

[Muzz]

'How much more black could this be? And the answer is 'None. None more black.''

[Kev]

6 minutes ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

I like the name, the look and the sounds. Not sure about the LED ring though. I mean, isn't the 3-way lever telling me if I am in clean, alpha or omega mode? There are just three modes, not too difficult to distinguish, right? 
Anyway, maybe I am wrong and the DarkRay and the LED lights will be a true game changer 😎

I mean yeah, a game changer it is not.  Matt Bellamy and Mansons were putting Zvex effects in guitars what must be 10-15 years ago, and its hardly took off.  But still, I can definitely see the appeal to players who really don't want to deal with pedalboards but need distortion.  For those with pedalboard setups, i'm not sure what it brings to the table over having one of the pedals.  

[Eldon Tyrell]

1 minute ago, Kev said:

I mean yeah, a game changer it is not.  Matt Bellamy and Mansons were putting Zvex effects in guitars what must be 10-15 years ago, and its hardly took off.  But still, I can definitely see the appeal to players who really don't want to deal with pedalboards but need distortion.  For those with pedalboard setups, i'm not sure what it brings to the table over having one of the pedals.  

The "game changer" is referring to something else, not the new technology 😉 

[drTStingray]

The other interesting thing here is the 2 band, super clean sounding EQ - but still with the unique fat sounding slap/pop sound. 

Clearly aimed at metal bassists - i think it’s quite an interesting departure. Bright red or bright blue I might be even more interested. 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Just put one in my basket.

£2576.67 all in. Not as bad as I thought.

Mmm. Probably won’t keep it, but would be interested in trying one.

88 left and counting.

[fretmeister]

Darkglass innit.

 

There'll be the Ultra version in a month for an extra 20%.

Edited June 22, 2021 by fretmeister