Music Man StingRay 5

Second hand purchase, Parks Music, Western Australia, $2000 (approx $1400 US).
I went in looking for prices on a 2x10 or 4x10 box and walked out with this. Wasn't looking or even thinking of buying a 5 string Stingray - yes wanted a Musicman, yes wanted a 5 string. Tried it and had to own it.

what can you say? It's a Musicman

The neck: As a 5 string this neck plays better than many 4 string basses that I've owned/tried and after a few minutes it felt like I'd played this bass for years.
I'm not much in to slap/pop playing but a fellow bass player (who owns pre EB Stingray and Sabre basses) picked it up and was straight in to his funky "Louis Johnston" riffs and delivered high praise for the neck (and an offer to buy the bass - cheeky bugger)

The sound: truely awe inspiring! Even on my practice amp (a 60 watt Berhinger) it boggies. Through Labsystem, Hartke and Marshall amps it delivers solid lowdown punch, the relativly long scale neck give the low B "extra" string usable tone and clarity

It packes a lot of bottom end and the actives give it useable bright (and some times excessive) top end.

Though a chorus unit you get an A1 deluxe tone for just about any style of music that grooves.



excesive boost on treble produces too much sharp "stabbing" top end, roll it back, use with care or pull it in with compression and/or deep chorus

Lack of usable middle range tone meens it doesn't "sing" like say a rickenbacker does. So if you're after a more front and center rock & pop oriented bass sound (Beatles/Who) it maybe not your number one choice.

Body weight's a little light and it (the body) vibrates excessivly. Doesn't feel as solid/stiff as one would expect for a top of the line unit like this (see below).

Almost but not quite A1, a high B+ or a straight A maybe. I guess this bass is mid/late 90's and doesn't feel as solid/stiff as the earlier Musicmans. feel & quality is not up there with my Rickenbacker or even Washburn basses.

This all comes down to the body - it just doesn't feel as solid and stiff as it should, when played hard and loud (think "The Clash" punk thrashing) it vibrates enough to cause slight but noticeable intonation changes.

If <insert deity/mythological hero of choice> played bass this would be his stick.
If it weren't for the slight intonation issue when playing extra hard I'd rate it a perfect 5/5







This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Purchased this used by way of EBay for $900 delivered to my door with case. I tried one of these in a music store and just had to add one to my arsenel.

Even though it was "used" it smelled and looked new. I love the smell of a new guitar...even better than that of a new car! I really liked the feel of the neck and balance of this guitar. It had a more mellow voice than that of the Warwicks I own. It has an even level, volume wise, from string to string. Lovely color and gloss finish. Also love the ability to adjust the truss rod without having to remove any cover!

Not a damn thang! Even has a drop in battery compartment. She's a keeper!

Although "USED" it looked and felt new. Not a scratch or mark on it. flawless construction and finish. The knobs have a "solid" detent that allows for a great feel when adjusting the 3 band EQ. I'm almost afraid to take her out and subject her to the venues I play in.

I will keep her as a family heir loom. One great guitar and shows that Made in the USA still can be a good thing.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Made in USA I believe.

Body Wood: Select hardwood
Body Finish: High gloss polyester
Bridge: Music Man chrome plated, hardened steel bridge plate with stainless steel saddles
Pickguard: White
Scale Length: 34 inches (86.4 cm)
Neck Radius: 11 inches (27.9 cm)
Headstock Size: Only 9 inches (22.9 cm) long
Frets: 22 - High profile, wide
Neck Width: 1-3/4 inches (44.5 mm) at nut 2-3/4 inches (69.9 mm) at last fret
Neck Wood: Select maple
Fingerboard: maple
Neck Finish: Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
Neck Colors: Natural
Tuning Machines: Schaller BM, with tapered string posts
Truss Rod: Adjustable - no component or string removal
Neck Attachment: 6 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting
Electronic Shielding: Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum lined pickguard
Controls: Single Pickup, 3-band active preamp; vol, treble, mid, bass
Switching: Single Pickup - 3-way lever pickup selector
Pickups: Standard - Music Man humbucking with alnico pole pieces and hum canceling phantom coil

A lot of people stay away from these because at face value it looks like a very simple no frills bass. This is simply not true. This makes for a great recording bass because of the very responsive 3 band EQ, so that's why my studio got one to use as a primary recording bass.

UTILIZATION

Pretty much everything on here seems to be top notch. I was afraid the bridge might be cheap but it's one of the best ones I've seen on a bass in this price range. The finish on the neck is pristine...I think gun oil and it makes it super super easy to play. I wish all my necks had this type of finish. The body shape and neck shape are great for sitting down or standing up playing. One thing I looked for when I was looking at basses was the comfort level and this was definitely one of the more natural players. It just feels more playable to me than the Fender stuff. Action and setup were a breeze. Plays great. I really have no complaints. The tuners seem fine. I really really like the look too. Nice and low profile. It's a players instrument.

SOUNDS

I will admit I was skeptical about just how versatile this would be with just one humbucking style pickup. Sure, with all the eq flat it sounds nice, but it's very much its own thing. Fortunately if you tweak the EQ you can get about any sound you want from it. For those wondering, yes it can get that Chili pepper growl. But it can do a lot of stuff. If you want the sub bass thing it can do that very very well. It also gets a great mid heavy cut that a lot of basses just can't eq themselves into. It is probably the most usable active EQ I've ever had. If the strings get old this bass loses a lot of tone for some reason. So change your strings every 3 months at least.

OVERALL OPINION

I really like using this to record but I also wouldn't hesitate to take it on tour. Everyone who comes into the studio and plays it is really impressed with how smooth and comfortable the bass is, and usually they want one afterwards. The value is really impressive. This feels like it should be in the 2k range. Finish is very nice. Just an overall bulletproof bass. No issues.

Well I glue myself:
Made in USA,
22 frets,
a dual microphone with slecteur 3 positions,
musicman the bridge is fixed
Conventionally can adjust the volume, and the 3 band active qualisation.
the handle is vissbr /> Regarding the species is the ash body, the neck is maple and have a rosewood fingerboard (the maple fingerboard exists)

USE

The handle is a real rgal, soft and soyeu. It offers exceptional comfort (for my hand): flat but not too close, not too tight, it can well press the strings without fatiguing hand. the access to the treble is really very good including the desti- nations most recently boxes
Ergonomics is the Gnrale top: the bass is really very well balanced and both held low as tall, standing or sitting. The strings naturally fall on the right hand.
However wood is of great quality that is a 5 string and ca feels on the scale. Without falling into excesses, a set of two hours seems long standing who is not accustomed.
Sound good? yeah we live branch and its typical velvety leaves of musiman

SONORITS

I practice quite a rock is up to Mtal and everything passes. finger mdiator or slap, everything remains perfectly defines.
It perfectly rlve the nuances of the attack. This high precision of the instrument moitive the improvement of the game under pain of a little deaf sounds.
Branch on my Laney a bit cheap I t very pleasantly surprised by the result, it sounds good and if goes without flinching the Celestion 15 "
By playing with the knobs, and micro config amp via the Digitech, versatility is, you come out of the clacking sounds that I expected (pleasant surprise, as a fan of the stingray, j like him send slamming other time).

NOTICE GLOBAL

1 month utilisatation intesive,
The game slap is pure happiness, both in the comfort mmerge the sound.
I tried a classic jazz bass, precision, Ibanez Soundgear and I play on a Corenne warwick.
Knowing that I have invested close to 2000 euros in (new home musik produktiv), I would say qule report is not exceptional. But here, only mm knoweth to do gem and I have found no alternative for this sound. This is totues these qualities lowers Note 9.