Really grateful to get your straight-on impressions of this model. I just back-ordered a SR Special 5 HH. As I wait, I’m gathering your/others’ info, plus trying other basses to make sure. I have also found the same quality issues (incl. mystery string buzz) in the MetroLine (German) Sadowsky 4’s at the $3000 +/- price point. Had to send them back. Agree on materials cost-cutting and possibly lower-skilled luthiers on the builds. I’ll let you know what happens with the new StingRay. Thanks again. JM
Honestly I think those new Stingray specials play and sound fantastic I own one now and am about to pull the trigger on a double humbucker one. But I totally agree wood wise they should be freaking honest about what they use especially regarding those hideous prices. Tenx for your insight and view points😎🤘
Awesome review on the Stingray Special 4HH. I have a 4H Special in Burnt apple Red and it is an amazing instrument. No fret buzz for me and mine was advertised as ash so I guess I got lucky. Then again, I did buy second hand. Paid $1750 six months ago and prices are continuing to climb: if you want one, buy one now!
Thank you for the review. I wasn't aware of the poplar wood issue. I have three pre-2018 Stingray 4Hs and love them. They are top quality works-of-art. I've been toying with idea of getting one of the new 'specials'. (Like the sticker on the back by the way).
If your neck is completely flat/straight then you are likely to get some fret buzz. Your neck is supposed to have a very slight forward bow (relief) so the strings have room to vibrate without contacting the frets too much. I suggest following the manufacturer's recommend setup procedure to get the best results.
Really good review my guy, I’m 33 and have been playing bass since I was 13. I have a sterling music man and have been consider a official music man for years. I’m still gonna hold off and stick with my sterling and American P bass.
That’s very concerning about the wood substitution. Looks like they are saving the ash for the natural finishes and using poplar for anything solid. A positive, before I go negative, is poplar is light and in abundance. The downside is it’s not a hardwood in the same way ash is and is more on the soft side. Poplar trees grow very quickly making their wood very cheap. To me this is concerning considering the price of the basses does not reflect this substitution.
I heard Stainless Steel frets are lighter and stronger. ... I have an 2018 Specical 4HH with an Enony board and blown away by the quality and craftmenship EB has achieved with this model. ...
I have that same bass in different finish, rosewood fretboard, and it does have the HH pickups. Die hard Stingray players claim that it is the single pickup configuration that gives the true Stingray sound but I personally like the versatility of having the two humbuckers. I set my bass in the number 3 position i.e. both humbuckers in parallel with the EQ set flat. You were right about the price of the new Music Man basses. Mine was $3,500. Ouch. I will say that it is very responsive so how you play it really comes through.
ugh fret buzz, yes thank you for letting me know. i didn't want to blow that much on something that's more like an ibanez. they are known for fret buzz. sorry, i am ocd too and screw that!
That was a great price! But I can see it leaving a bad taste in your mouth about the body wood. I love the roasted maple neck too. The color was gorgeous. This was the most comprehensive review on this bass I have seen. How was the weight? 👍👏👏👏
Great review. Instant sub! I recently bought the Sterling Stingray 5HH. My first Musicman style bass. I love the sound and versitility with the dual humbuckers. I have to save up for an actual Ernie Ball. Is there a difference in sound between the Sterling versus the Ernie Ball?
Thank you! Yes there is a difference in sound. The Ernie Ball has a tighter low end and better mid range from the pickups and more tone shaping possibilities. Ernie Ball did a lot of work on making the 18 volt preamp really useful. The Sterlings are great though. I own one and cannot believe how great it plays and sounds. I'll be doing a review on it soon. Thanks again and happy playing!
Great Review. Thanks a lot. I'm going through something similar now with a brand new Special 4H. Buzzing on the A string on frets 1 to 3, and D string in lots of spots. Had the store do a setup but nothing changed so I'm going to return it I think, reluctantly, because it's gorgeous, but that's too much $$$$$$ almost four grand Canadian!
I've heard of and experienced fret leveling issues on the lower end basses-- unbelievable you had that issue on the top model as well. REALLY disappointing to hear...
THIS IS NOTHING!... HOW CAN YOU SHOW AND TELL ABOUT GREAT BASS... AND DO NOT PLAY AND DO NOT SHOW SOUND ????????????????????????????????? ????????????????? THIS IS MADNESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLAY THE SOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SWITCH THE TONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHOW IT SOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because I don't have a way to record the bass other than through the cell phone mic. It would sound like crap and not represent the sound of the bass at all. I'm working on getting an audio interface to do some better reviews with good sounding bass.
My SR HH 4 string in snowy white on order, its advertised as selected hardwoods, which is a shame. In England they are a lot more expensive, mine £3049 quid, around 3770 dollars.
Thank you for this very complete review !! I was really looking for more info about the wood. Did you get more info about how rare would be a truly ash model ?
honestly most sting rays ive ever played have a bit of a buzz in my opinion they get the best action and playability too these basses are real easy to play string tension on these basses are incredible a littlte buzz doesnt bother me if the bass plays easy i have been playing fenders for years and i usally level frets past the 12th to get action real low its not always the case but on some fenders ive had to.as far as playability the feel and the sound by the way i play thru vintage ampeg svt the sting ray sound massive and i absolutely love the HH
What a great review! I didn't even realize it was 17 minutes long until it was over but you have a great to the point message that pulls people in. Well done sir.
I bought a rickenbacker 4003 that way but clanky on 8th fret G string.... makes me also wonder how places overcharge for instruments they boast are superb ... it pisses me off. i was thinking about getting the jackson they made that looks like a rickenbacker for 700 I heard they are decent basses...except that pointy headstock they have
There is a caveat to the "ash" wood body claim by Ernie Ball. The natural finish basses are generally always ash. The painted basses are not. They are generally mahogany, but these days a lot of them are mystery wood. Poplar is extremely cheap and abundant, but as an example, the cheapest crap set of drums you can get is made from poplar. That's a pretty poor substitution for a $2000 + instrument. I have 2 Stingrays and I love the sound, but yes their quality control is garbage lately. Luckily my issues were things that I could fix on my own with little research, but should not happen on an instrument in that price range.
Ernie Ball bass guitars are poor quality now. I bought two stingray special HH’s and returned both for the EXACT same reason you had problems. The fretwork is poor, poor, poor. Ended up buying a MTD bass and can say the build and quality control is first rate. I won’t fool with Ernie Ball bass guitars again. I own four different brands of bass guitars and the Ernie Ball brand was the only one I had problems with not once but twice.
