Finally! Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

[Devers95]

Not the catchiest of names but the opportunity to get custom ordered Stingrays is now available and way overdue! 

 

Unfortunately I'm selling off basses currently but I'm excited to see what people get. 

 

Anyone going for it or considering it? I love that roasted flame maple necks are an option. 

Edited April 3, 2024 by Devers95
Add small detail.

[neepheid]

It's a no here - EBMM prices long since disappeared over a horizon I'm not willing (or frankly able) to follow.

 

Had a quick play with the configurator though, that was fun.

Edited April 3, 2024 by neepheid

[lidl e]

Im out of the new bass game, but i do love a 4 string natural MM.

[MartinB]

It instantly beats the Fender Mod Shop because it lets you have a headstock that matches the body 🤩

[AndyTravis]

This used to be called

 

”Buy a musicman bass”

 

I’ve been out for years - won’t buy anything new by them again.

 

I used to love doing special orders for people.

 

even did one myself at one point.

[Cato]

Configured an aproximation of my dream 'ray.

 

Natural, no frills apart from a tort guard.

 

I'd have gone with a 2 band EQ if it was an option but it's not.

 

$2800.

 

I can't imagine the £ price will be any less than that, especially with shipping to the UK and import taxes.

Edited April 3, 2024 by Cato

[AndyTravis]

Also, the bridge and body for the new ones still knock me sick. Personally…

 

 

[Cato]

On the positive side fretless appears to be option, which I don't think has been the case for production Rays for a few years.

 

 

 

[bubinga5]

I would way rather have a used 90s SR5.. 

[Grahambythesea]

Not appealing & way to expensive.

[Ed_S]

I would have liked to see either weight relief as an option, or the ability to choose a target/maximum weight for the finished bass. My SR5 Special is a comfy and nicely balanced 8.3lb, but there's an identical one currently available off the shelf advertised at 9.4lb, so I'd be reluctant to order a custom build without being able to specify that my dream bass is a light one.

 

I'd also like to be able to choose to have the satin finish they use on the back of the headstock continued all way down the neck, rather than the oil/wax finish. I mean, it's fine and I've got a little bottle of the recommended stock wax to take care of it, but I wouldn't actively choose it over a finish that requires no maintenance.

[StingRayBoy42]

10 hours ago, bubinga5 said:

I would way rather have a used 90s SR5.. 

There's one on Marketplace. Not mine I hasten to add!

[toneknob]

I've just managed to put together a nice $3.5k bass. I think I prefer the F Bass equivalent (of building a custom bass that is, and spending money I don't have)

 

The colours look a bit off though. Had to google what the actual finish would look like, turns out Seafoam Sparkle is not quite what I had in mind for a gentleman of my vintage

 

[toneknob]

Here's the downside though after conversion from USD:

 

back to Basschat Marketplace then.

 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Basic price for my spec was $3,700. I think I’ll pass on that.

[LeftyJ]

Some cool options there that weren't previously available to lefties, like the slimmer and narrower SLO Special neck profile on 4-strings, and twin pickups (previously only available through the Vault in very limited quantities), and the SR5 was unavailable to lefties ever since the regular Stingray was replaced by the Stingray Special. So I'm glad we get those back.

 

But the prices are wild! As much as I love Music Man's quality and attention to detail, I'm not willing or able to pay that much for one. I had a Stingray 5 that I really liked (but that tone just isn't for me) and I own a rather lovely Silhouette Special guitar (and owned another one previously) that I absolutely adore but would never pay $3000 for. 

[stonevibe]

It looks like some option prices don't make sense. For example, does having no fret mean an upcharge? Surely, it costs less? 

[acidbass]

Why do they never make basses in normal White or Olympic White?  Strewth!  

[Woodinblack]

My all gold stingray 5 came in a shade under 4k. But no option to pick a bongo!

[TheGreek]

Not enough options to build a "real " custom  - no neck through option for a start. 

Buy an old one!!

[Nebadon2000]

On 03/04/2024 at 15:39, Cato said:

Configured an aproximation of my dream 'ray.

 

Natural, no frills apart from a tort guard.

 

I'd have gone with a 2 band EQ if it was an option but it's not.

 

$2800.

 

I can't imagine the £ price will be any less than that, especially with shipping to the UK and import taxes.

They have Natural Retro 2 Band sure you could find Tort guard only 3200 in USA but not sure it has that 50 cent Miracle chip from the 70's in preamp😀

[LeftyJ]

14 hours ago, TheGreek said:

Not enough options to build a "real " custom  - no neck through option for a start. 

Buy an old one!!

 

The Stingray neck-through was shortlived, it disappeared when the Stingray Specials were introduced: StingRay 5 Through Neck | Basses | Ernie Ball Music Man (music-man.com)