Original.Musicman stingray bass.

[rami]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

NOW THAT IS DEFINITELY MORE LIKE IT!!!!!!!
 
I LOVE IT

[hankster]

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