Thank you for tuning in! Today we are checking out the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special 5 string in a lovely black and gold finish. This bass has quickly become my number one when gigging and I have used it heavily over the past 3 months (you will see some scratches on the pickgaurd from this in some shots). Let's check out the features and most importantly the thunderous tone this bass can provide.

Recording is simple, bass plugged into Focusrite 4 with no added eq or compression. Some pickup variations are slightly louder than others so I tried to smooth them out using only a slight audio gain of 1 or 2 db to level out the audio. You are hearing what this bass will sound like plugged into your favorite DI or DAW workstation.

Unleashing the Thunder: Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5-String Bass Review"

"Hey there, music lovers! Welcome back to our channel. Today, we are diving deep into the world of low-end frequencies with the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special 5-String Bass. So, let's get ready to unleash the thunder!"

"The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5-String Bass is an iconic instrument known for its powerful tone and impeccable craftsmanship. Ernie Ball has added a few welcomed changes with this newest version of the stingray special and I feel this bass is a great addition to any bassist's arsenal. Let's start by discussing its design and construction."

[Design and Construction]
"The StingRay 5 boasts a sleek and ergonomic design, featuring a contoured ash body that feels comfortable on your shoulders during those long gigs. The newest version of the stingray special features lightweight hardware and Ernie Ball claims that they have shaved close to 1 pound off of the overall weight of the instrument. The bass feels weighted nicely and sits well on the shoulders without neck dive. The roasted maple neck features a rosewood fretboard with a natural smooth finish and rolled fretboard edges. The back of the neck is stained using what Ernie Ball calls a gun stock oil finish. The neck is incredibly smooth and the palm of your hand can really move around the back of the neck with no restrictions. The high-quality hardware and attention to detail in the construction make this bass a true work of art.

[Tone and Versatility]
"Now, let's talk about the sound. The StingRay 5 is equipped with dual humbucker pickups that deliver a thunderous low end, punchy midrange, and crisp highs. Featuring a 5-way selector switch, this bass brings a wide variation of tones. The 5-string configuration provides that extended range, allowing you to explore new musical territories. Whether you're playing funk, rock, or metal, this bass can really handle it all. This bass features a lot of tonal versatility so I will do my best to move through most of the available tones in a timely manner. I will start with fingerstyle, then will move on to both a pick and thumb tones. Lastly, we will visit the slap tones. I will note what pickup selection is used. We are focusing on pickup variations so I will keep the eq flat for most of the playing portion of the video unless notated in the description marked on each clip.

[Playability]
"One of the standout features of the StingRay 5 is its exceptional playability once you get it set up to your liking. I purchased this bass from a local guitar center and my particular model was setup with both high action and the neck that needed multiple tweaks. Once I performed a few tweaks, the bass plays like a dream and quickly became my main gigging bass. The neck profile strikes a perfect balance between comfort and speed, making it a joy to play complex basslines and chords. The 21-fret design with a smooth cutaway where the body meets the fretboard gives you plenty of room to explore the higher register.

[Final Thoughts]
"In conclusion, the Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5-String Bass is an absolute beast of an instrument. With its top-notch craftsmanship, powerful tone, and excellent playability, it's a bass player's dream come true. My main gripe was how badly set up the instrument was. I can't place the blame fully on Ernie Ball as Guitar center is known for taking an instrument out of the box and hanging it on the wall for sometimes months at a time with no care until purchased. I was able to get a small discount so this made the purchase price a bit easier to swallow. 3 grand puts this bass out of reach for a lot of players and that is my primary gripe. While you are getting a top-notch bass, I feel they could cut us musicians a small break. Make sure that you check with your local retailer as they should have no problem giving a 10-15% discount now that the market is a bit more saturated.
To summarize, Whether you're a seasoned pro, or just a few years into your bass journey and want to spoil yourself, this instrument will exceed your expectations. if you're looking to unleash a tone monster, the StingRay 5 is the way to go!"

#bassreview #musicman #bassist

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