Question: Early 90's Stingray - high action?

[Rob Riley]

Hi,

I've got an early 90's 4 string Stingray which I love but I recently took it for a fret dress and 'pro' set up expecting it to come back playing like a dream. Instead it came back with disappointingly high action. More disappointingly, the guy was very pleased with what he'd done making me wonder if that's as good as it gets. I bought the bass 2nd hand and I expect several people have had a go at setting it up over the years and balls'd it up (myself included) hence my decision to pay to have it done. Unfortunately it still doesn't play anywhere near as well as the newer ones I've played in shops..

Has anyone else got an early 90's 4 string model and if so, how successful have you been at setting it up? My strings are 45,65,85,105 but will consider going lighter if it will help.. Also can anyone recommend somewhere good to get it set up in London/South East England?

Thanks in advance..

[mynan]

Welcome to the forum.

I'd say your best bet would be to take it to someone who really knows what they are doing. A good tech should be able to set it up to your preference. Not saying that you'll get the lowest action on the planet...some of that has to do with playing style, but a good tech should be able to get it reasonably low.

[Grand Wazoo]

Take it to Chandler Guitars in Kew Gardens, they set up my StingRay5 like a dream, low action, perfect saddle intonation, the lot!

And when I picked up my new Bongo from them a couple of weeks ago, they gave it a pre delivery set up and this also plays wonderfully.

Address: 300-302 Sandycombe Road, Kew, Richmond TW9 3NG
Tel. 020 8940 5874 Ask to speak to Leon he's the guru in there.

[the unrepentant]

nooooonononono, take it to the gallery in camden, those guys really know their stuff and they provide excellent service

[Musicman Nut]

Originally Posted by Rob Riley

Hi,

I've got an early 90's 4 string Stingray which I love but I recently took it for a fret dress and 'pro' set up expecting it to come back playing like a dream. Instead it came back with disappointingly high action. More disappointingly, the guy was very pleased with what he'd done making me wonder if that's as good as it gets. I bought the bass 2nd hand and I expect several people have had a go at setting it up over the years and balls'd it up (myself included) hence my decision to pay to have it done. Unfortunately it still doesn't play anywhere near as well as the newer ones I've played in shops..

Has anyone else got an early 90's 4 string model and if so, how successful have you been at setting it up? My strings are 45,65,85,105 but will consider going lighter if it will help.. Also can anyone recommend somewhere good to get it set up in London/South East England?

Thanks in advance..

Most repair people shouldn't be repair People to be honest, their idea of a fix is to polish frets raise the action and charge $80 and say man this worked out great, lol.
Music Man Basses are the easiest basses to do frets on and set ups. So again I suggest always know the repair people your dealing with. Good Luck.

[57fenderjazz]

I would set it up for you, if you lived closer. If you can't find someone to set it up right and you can afford shipping, ship it over and I will set it up for free.

[Caca de Kick]

The first thing I would do is go back and tell him the setup sucks and is worse. He should either redo it or refund it.

[bovinehost]

Originally Posted by Musicman Nut

Most repair people shouldn't be repair People to be honest, their idea of a fix is to polish frets raise the action and charge $80 and say man this worked out great.

Ain't that the truth. Friend of mine brought his Squier Jazz over here yesterday. (He's a guitarist, really.) I think he paid 189 bucks for it. Factory rounds (!), action too high, the usual stuff. String change - 5 minutes. Truss adjust - 2 minutes. Wait half an hour, have some coffee, check it again - done. He said, "I didn't realize how I'd been fighting it."

It ain't rocket science if I can do it, believe me.

[chilix]

you can always do a quick check to source the problem of the high action. If you hold the 1st fret and last fret, what does the bow in the neck look like? what does the bow look like between the 8th and last frets if you hold the string down? Maybe the saddles are set too high...

I do all my own set ups and believe everyone when they say that these are the easiest basses to set up. All you need is a couple allen wrenches, a screw driver, feeler guages if you want to get precision and go to town.

I'd take the bass back to the guy, tell him so, and then find someone who knows what they are doing. Currently my '88 SR4 is getting a new nut cut and installed at the only place I trust in this city for guitar repair besides myself. A little hole in the wall place but all this guy does is guitar repair and he'll set up the guitar as best as possible and to client preference.

[oli@bass]

Last thursday I picked up my '88 fretless from a local luthier. It was there to get the fretboard levelled, the g string tuner fixed and setup with EB Group III flats. Before, it was ok to play but I thought of flipping it at the next occasion. Now, it has low action like no other and sings and growls with mwah lik there's no tomorrow. It will probably stay forever!

Those late '80s and early '90s EBMMs are great, they might just need a little love and care (levelling work and a good setup). After all, they've been around for almost twenty years!

[chilix]

Those 4 bolt Ernieball Musicman Stingrays are the best in my opinion. I own 3 and hoping to get a couple more by the time summer rolls around...20 years old and they still play great, something about the necks on them just fit right...

[57fenderjazz]

A'int that the truth!

[Rano Bass]

Take your bass to somebody who knows better, i think your repair guy is not that good.
I used to have a 90 Stingray and i still kick myself for selling it
Stingrays from that era are really good, the only thing i don't like is the trussrod adjustment at the headstock but everything else is great IMO.

[barginkov]

i agree with chilix, i have a 84, and 2, 89's also about 8 early 90-93, and they all sound amazing, but i think the late 80's neck one piece maple w/ skunk stripe have a special feel to them, all my basses have the glossy finish on them, except the late 93 and my 2, sr 5 i love them all

[chilix]

Originally Posted by barginkov

i agree with chilix, i have a 84, and 2, 89's also about 8 early 90-93, and they all sound amazing, but i think the late 80's neck one piece maple w/ skunk stripe have a special feel to them, all my basses have the glossy finish on them, except the late 93 and my 2, sr 5 i love them all

just something about them feel right...put a new nut on my '88 trans teal and just set it up with a quick rod adjustment and played it at rehearsal...love it...by the summer time I'll be on the hunt for a 4 bolt SR4 in trans blueburst preferable with rosewood and i'll be content for a while...stingrays look so good in that color just haven't found the right one yet