First gig with the Stingray HS

[T-Mac]

Well, this long time Fender-guy took the plunge and played my SR4 HS at a classic rock gig last night. Now I've had Stingrays in the past, but they all had the dreaded wimpy G string output issue, so they never made a gig appearance. My new HS doesn't have this problem, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Leading up the the gig, I'm going through all the switch settings, EQ settings, taking notes on what would be appropriate for each song, etc.

I get to the gig, get set up, and we sound check. I go through all the setting I had intended to use. Which setting did my band mates overwhelming like? Yep, classic Stingray setting.

Good thing I got HS model right? At least I can use that other pickup for a thumb rest!

[UnfortunateTony]

Sometimes that classic Stingray sound is all you need man It's why I decided to go with a Musicman SUB rather then a high-end variant. I fully admit that the more expensive models sound FAR superior, but the only time I pull the SUB out is when I want a classic Stingray sound, which it does perfectly. Moral of the story: Sometimes there's a reason they call it a "classic" tone.

[martyonbass]

I'm also a longtime fender guy. I recently acquired a Stingray HH and was planing on using only the classic bridge pu for my sound. It really sounded great live. However, I couldn't help but tryout the other combinations and found that the center position (both PUs) put out a really nasty, unmistakable, cruel slap. Don't now how the HS center position sounds though.

I love this bass and will enjoy getting more out of it in the future. Still love me old fenders but I think I'll put them down for a while.

[Joe Nerve]

Just broke out my HS for a rehearsal tonight. Been using my Big Al exclusively. If I had to for some reason give up one of those basses I'd have a really rough time. Big Al can pretty much do anything, but I still feel more at home on the wider stingray neck. Anyhow, I have suspicions that my Stingray may be wired differently than most as I hear a lot of people say that the center position on the switch iss the one that kills. With mine, there is no doubt that the 2nd position to the left is the fullest, richest, warmest, thickest thing the bass has going. Center position is a bit thinner and flatter sounding. More tame. I almost always use it in the 2nd position, but of course have to pull out the Classic H sound every now and then. I like the singled bridge also. Bla, bla, bla... great bass. I once ABed it with a mid 70s Fender jazz that a guy in a band I was in kept insisting I try. It was his bass. He was dumfounded at the difference and never bothered me again. Not hatin on Fenders, probably has a lot to do with my playing style and the passive/active thing - but the difference was crazy.

[martyonbass]

I believe your #2 position from the left is your is your neck pu and one set of coils from the bridge humbucker ( the coils farthest from the bridge). That should be pretty close to a all on Jazz setting. Your #1 setting must be very P friendly.