| Author | Message | ||
| hodge
Junior Username: hodge Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2002 |
are there any players out there, with any information of the above basses.thanks.. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1645 Registered: 2-2006 |
I don't have a Stingray (used to own a late 70's Stingray but it was trashed before I got it)but I do have a Sabre Fretless I bought new in late 1978. Great bass. What kind of info are you after? Olie | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1646 Registered: 2-2006 |
 | ||
| artswork99
Advanced Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 236 Registered: 7-2007 |
Stephen, A bit of information... http://www.howtoslapbass.com/1980-stingray/ http://www.ggjaguar.com/stingray.htm | ||
| terryc
Advanced Member Username: terryc Post Number: 363 Registered: 11-2004 |
Great basses, electronics are not as subtle as Alembic systems(although they may be better now). Solidly made and played by so many great players, Bernard Edwards used one on all the Chic records, in fact he never changed the strings on his for years.. A classic instrument | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1230 Registered: 10-2003 |
Great basses. | ||
| danny_bryant
Junior Username: danny_bryant Post Number: 18 Registered: 9-2007 |
The ole Stingray. Chris Hooks, who is a member here swears by the things and I tend to lean towards the late 70's models myself. It just seems like the new models are too bright but they sure do have a hell of growl to them. | ||
| white_cloud
Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 65 Registered: 11-2007 |
Had a Stingray back in the day. Very good sounding reliable bass..kind of like a muscle bound supercharged 70's precision. Recorded very well. Not a vast range of tones like an Alembic, but BIG sound all the same! | ||
| 5stringho
Intermediate Member Username: 5stringho Post Number: 167 Registered: 11-2006 |
Hey, Stephen! I have 2 StingRays, a 2000 model 5-string my Honey bought me for my 40th, and a "Transition" Stingray 4 I bought new in 1986. Has an Ernie Decal on the headstock, but everything else is original MusicMan parts, even the neck and body were probably leftovers. Thay ARE wonderful basses. My Excel is sorta like a MM, on Steroids! They're Solid, great sounding, and WORKHORSES. They sound big, full, can be real bright, and clear. I still use the pair probably 80% of the time for gigs. Gonna be tough to put 'em down when the new baby arrives  Nice Bass, Olie!! Mike, Tho | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1298 Registered: 12-2002 |
did somebody say stingray??? http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OEtNg_QTi8o | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 709 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here's mine, a 1996 20th Anniversary edition.  I've owned several Stingrays, including a Stingray 5. This is the only one I kept. All the rest I traded up for Alembics. Rami ;) | ||
| white_cloud
Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 66 Registered: 11-2007 |
Beautiful bass, looks like a funk machine!!Wonderful figure on that maple top wood! I always prefered maple finger board on stingrays as well. Sweet | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 710 Registered: 6-2002 |
It definitely sounds great! I have a soft spot for these limited edition instruments - I also have limited anniversary Fenders and Gibsons. They're the ones worth keeping. They hold their value as well. Rami ;) | ||
| white_cloud
Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 67 Registered: 11-2007 |
Yes, absolutely agree! What is your personal favourite amongst your collection Rami? | ||
| hankster
Intermediate Member Username: hankster Post Number: 135 Registered: 6-2004 |
I have a '78 or "79 Stingray that I bought at Valley Arts in Los Angles in 1979. I love it, and used it for everything under the sun until I got my SJ a couple of years ago. Great sound, great balance, a bit of a battery hog it seemed to me, but it's a great bass. Rick | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 711 Registered: 6-2002 |
My all time favorite Bass. We go back a long way together so it's the one I'm most attached to. I think she's an '81 or early '82. Super rare.  | ||
| white_cloud
Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 68 Registered: 11-2007 |
Wow, I have never seen a Fender jazz quite like that one! The gold hardware is super cool. Fenders are due a lot of respect, in my mind they set the precedent by designing and building the first "real" factory basses! Lets face it most basses to this day are still merely variations of the Fender theme! I look upon Alembic in the same way..The Alembic was, and still is, the first serious custom handmade active bass. It could be argued that everthing handmade since is a variation on the Alembic theme! | ||
| 5stringho
Intermediate Member Username: 5stringho Post Number: 169 Registered: 11-2006 |
Here's my current #1, a Y2K natural finish StingRay5. Best Present I ever got Thanks again, Honey!! Now if I can talk her into a new Series 2 for that upcoming 50th... BCooool, Mike, Tho | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 714 Registered: 6-2002 |
Ever since I saw this: http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_alembird.html It re-ignited my interest in the Gibson Thunderbird. My biggest issue with the T-Bird is the difficult access to the upper frets. I manage by modifying my technique. I think for a passive Bass, it's one of the best sounding ever. Great sustain, big powerful tone and super solid fundamental. I especially love the super tight string tension. I think it's overpriced, but awesome nonetheless. Rami ;) | ||
| white_cloud
Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 78 Registered: 11-2007 |
I agree Rami, I think that Gibson basses on the whole are overpriced. I was never a fan of them, much preferring Fender and Rickenbackers. Dont get me wrong, I always loved the look of them, but often found the sound quality to be poor. I have to say though that the thunderbird IS the best sounding Gibson bass! And that custom on the link looks AWESOME! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1238 Registered: 9-2002 |
I dreamed of a Thunderbird as a kid. First time I strapped one on, I realized why you see a picture of one when you look up 'neck dive' in Webster's. What a joke. Remember kids, to paraphrase a way overworked slogan, "Only good is Gibson enough"! The beginning of a dynasty that included various and sundry monstrosities like EB3's, Grabbers, and RD Artist (!) basses. Not to metion wrecking Steinberger, Tobias, and Trace Elliott. J o e y | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1241 Registered: 10-2003 |
Does It Really Happen?, by YES, is a prime example of stunning Thunderbird bass tone. Release, Release is another great tune that showcases all that is good about those basses. Of course, Chris Squire and a new set of Rotosounds being recorded by Eddy Offord might have something to do with it as well... I had a '76 Thunderbird, that was a beautiful instrument, albeit heavy and neck-dive-y. It sounded great played alone, but I could never get it to cut through to my satisfaction in a band setting, and ended up not owning it (and apparently not missing it either) at some point.. I'd love to have it back, of course, if for no other reason than nostalgia.. John | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1242 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oh, and Joey, I *LOVED* those RD Artist basses! Yeah, they were back-breakers in the most literal sense, with necks as big as fence posts, but they sounded great! John | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 716 Registered: 6-2002 |
It's definitely not for everybody, but I've grown to appreciate it nonetheless. Unfortunately, Gibson doesn't put as much effort to designing Basses as they do Guitars, and anything successful (such as the Thunderbird) seems to happen by accident. I like the 9 piece Mahogany and Walnut neck that gives it stability and strength. Tonally, it's warm and deep with super sustain. Great Bass, a little esoteric though. I love it. Rami ;) | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 587 Registered: 11-2003 |
Gibbies ... I have a '77 RD Artist, '81 Victory Artist, '87 Thunderbird, and a '74 Ripper. The RD is in a class by itself, way ahead of its time. Neck is chunky, but it's fun to play. Very bright (I guess Maple body/neck will do that), but I like bright. The Thunderbird is the exact opposite. Dark, unless you eq the snot out of it. Great neck, lousy upper fret access. The Victory weighs a ton, but surprisingly balances well on a strap and is not an issue. Lots of nice tones, too. The Ripper is the total surprise; nice neck, light, and cool, vintage tones. The rotary switch is a bit limiting, but I love jamming to vintage Chigago on it (I remember the Gibson ad with Peter Cetera from the '70s). Gibbies are underrated in many ways, IMHO. They're not the greatest, but they certainly have their merits. Alan | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1245 Registered: 9-2002 |
Here, a disclaimer in the interest of full disclosure: I bought, brand new, back in the day, a natural-finish Ripper and a sunburst RD Artist. There, I confessed it in public. Where's the Excedrin? J o e y | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1246 Registered: 9-2002 |
I think it's amazing that Mr. Fender's MusicMan four was widely accepted in its' original time, and that 25 years later, the StingRay Five is THE defacto five string for LOTS of guys. It's always interesting that these basses, the 'update' of his original designs, could be simultaneously so successful while the original Jazzes and Precisions were/still selling like hotcakes. J o e y | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 718 Registered: 6-2002 |
I had a Stingray 5. I loved the quality but there were things about it that I didn't like. It had a bit too much midrange for my taste and I found the B string a bit floppy. I also wasn't crazy about that large pickguard. Although the guy who I sold it to was SO in love with it, I got back almost the full price I bought it for. I say good for him and I wish him many, many years of enjoyment with it. A great Bass to be sure, but not for me. I put the money toward an Alembic Excel 5 Vermillion top with upgraded electronics.  Now, that's more like it! Rami ;) | ||
| white_cloud
Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 79 Registered: 11-2007 |
NOW THAT IS DEFINITELY MORE LIKE IT!!!!!!! I LOVE IT | ||
| hankster
Intermediate Member Username: hankster Post Number: 136 Registered: 6-2004 |
I love the Ripper. I used one on loan for some sessions in the late 70's, when I was having trouble getting the sound the client wanted on my Les Paul bass. I fell in love with it - great, clean, versatile sound, nice to play. Rick | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 719 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey Rick, There's a cool '75 fretless Ripper for sale here: http://www.williesguitars.com/index.cfm?sector=user&page=products&MMID=9 At $795, it's alot more reasonable than what any other similar era Bass sells for. Rami | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 720 Registered: 6-2002 |
I should make a slight correction. This Bass should be up there on my list of all time favorite Basses as well. This was my first ever Alembic and what made me fall so in love with all Alembic products and the wonderful people who make them.  Still the best sounding and growliest fretless in the world - If Jaco was still around, I think he'd love it too. Rami ;) | ||
| hodge
Junior Username: hodge Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2002 |
thanks to everyone, for their input regarding the pre ernie ball stingray. | ||
| 5stringho
Intermediate Member Username: 5stringho Post Number: 185 Registered: 11-2006 |
Hey, Hodge! Glad you found the info helpful ;] Have fun! Mike, tho |
