Sometimes, a company will reissue an instrument and they get it all wrong. Now there's no need to name any names here, but I'm sure you all know at least one botched attempt to worship at the altar of the almighty dollar. In the case of the mighty Stingray, we think Ernie Ball got it right. In fact, you might even say that they raised the bar on the old, vintage 'Rays a bit. I saw this bass from across the room at the Dallas Guitar show and made a beeline for it as fast as my short legs would carry me (Lee always complains because he says I walk too fast anyway). The first thing that struck me was the richness of the sunburst color and when I got close enough to really take in the crazily quilted and birdseyed neck, it was a sealed deal in my eyes. This was all before I even has the chance to plug it in, but because I've always been addicted to the two- band EQ on the pre- EB versions of these basses, my expectations were high. When I got it back to the 'Elkcave and headed to the SWR corner of my office, I was pleasantly satisfied that we had yet again picked a winner and that this bass was a number one, supremo, king of the mountain piece. It's tone, beauty and vibe makes me think for a second that I... might... want...to...keep... it...and that's when "the look" comes my way and I get a cold chill in my spine. It's the look from the "One Who Walks in the Night" and I'm quickly reminded that I already have a rack of "favorite new basses". Ah, it's always the struggle between the collector and the dealer in me, if you know what I mean. It's probably for the best or we'd be covered up in basses around here and the name of the company would be Ray's Basses, Bait and Taxes...Give us a call or shoot us an email on this killer Stingray today!