advice needed on new MM stingray

redwingxix

redwingxix

Oct 21, 2015
1,394
3,807
4,551
51
detroit
#1
I know this is going to sound pretty whiny so feel free to let loose about my "problem". Two weeks ago on kind of whim I picked up a Stealth Black Stingray 4HH ( I believe it is a 2016)off CL for a very good price. My main bass is an Amercian deluxe fretless Jbass and I wanted to get something with frets both for a change of pace and for the different sound so when this popped up I snagged it. Gave it an honest effort and while the sound is definitely what I was looking for, I cannot get comfortable with the neck. My understanding on these is that the SLO neck is going be much closer to what I'm comfortable with and probably what I should have waited to get my hands on. This bass is in true mint condition, the guy I bought it from said he only played it for an hour and it looks to be the truth. not a scratch, mark, ding or even anything in any of the recessed areas, truly looks to be factory fresh.

Anyway, my dilemma is do I keep trying to play it and get more comfortable and risk lessening the condition it is in or do i just keep it cased and work on selling it or trading for something that fits me better. I should add that an instrument like this is not a small purchase for me so if I am moving on I want it to retain as much value as possible. I mean I'm not missing my house note for it, but I can't get another bass until I sell or trade this one. Any thoughts, advice or personal experience input would be appreciated. Thanks, folks.
 
#2
In 2010 I switched to Music Man after using Ibanez Soundgear basses for almost 20 years. Ibanez Soundgear basses have very thin, fast necks. When I first transitioned over to Music Man basses, the necks felt very uncomfortable in my hands simply due to Ibanez Soundgear necks being so thin. I stuck with them though and pretty quickly was able to adjust. Now they feel normal to me and when I occasionally play my Soundgear basses, the necks feel almost to thin.

I am now switching to Sadowsky basses and am interested how they will feel when compared to my Music Man necks.

With you, if you keep playing the Music Man, you will adjust to it and it too will seem normal to you.
 
#4
Its a different bass and will feel different than what you are used to. As Jay said above, keep playing it and you will adapt. I've gone from a G&L SB-2 (jazz sized neck) to Stingray to SLO Stingray, each felt very different but easily adaptable. The SLO neck is jazz sized at the nut, but not jazz thin front to back. Although it is smaller than a standard stingray neck, it doesn't feel like a jazz neck to me.

Ibanez necks are small, but I would think your 5 string would be the same rough dimension as your stingray. Sounds like a great find, I would invest some time and get used it. There is nothing small on a Stingray, that's one of the charms of them.
 
#5
I'd give it some time... as long as you're not playing it 'hard', I don't think you'll lessen the value of the instrument (especially if you got it at a decent price).

Enjoy it, while you do have it, be it a month or a decade.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrentSimons
#6
Definitely won't play it hard, but I also don't want to use it a band practice either. I never noticed until somebody asked me about a Epi Wildkat I was selling, but the neck of my Jazz bass really reeks like smoke. It's bad enough that when I open the case I can smell the thing before I even pick it up. But I guess that's to be expected when you have five smokers in a basement for hours on end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back