Fender American Jazz Bass vs. MusicMan Stingray 4

BeastBassPlaya · #1 04-26-2011, 09:35 AM

Hi I am debating between 2 very great basses. A Fender American Jazz Bass and a MusicMan Stingray 4. Money isn't the issue. I love the Jaco Growl and the tones of the Jazz bass. But I also love the Slapping tone Flea has. I play both Jazz and Fusion extensively but Love to play Funk too. HELP ME OUT!!!

dougjwray · #2 04-26-2011, 10:18 AM

Well... do you have access to a guitar store where you could play both and form an opinion that way? (Although they do sound different, both will work okay for what you want them to do...)
Or, if "money isn't the issue", buy both.

BigOldHarry · #3 04-26-2011, 10:24 AM

If you haven't played them, you're only going on pictures and the opinions of others. I wouldn't buy (new, at least) until I could play.

solarplexus · #4 04-26-2011, 11:16 AM

I have tried both recently. 2 American Jbass and 3 Stingrays. I like the look of the Jazz better, but the rest was all Stingrays. For me, money was an issue, so I ended up buying the best bang for my buck I could find for semi-pro gear. Ended up buying a Yamaha BB1024X which was better all around and less expensive.

I'd go for the Stingray though, being a Fender man for many years, after their many clunkers of Jbasses, Pbasses, American, Mexican you name it, I don't trust them anymore. However, like the others said, always try before you buy, then you will never go wrong.

BeastBassPlaya · #5 04-26-2011, 12:29 PM

Ive played them both extensively at guitar shops and they both sound amazing. I'm essentially a Jazz and Rock player but they both sound great in different ways.

groove pump · #6 04-26-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeastBassPlaya

Hi I am debating between 2 very great basses. A Fender American Jazz Bass and a MusicMan Stingray 4. Money isn't the issue. I love the Jaco Growl and the tones of the Jazz bass. But I also love the Slapping tone Flea has. I play both Jazz and Fusion extensively but Love to play Funk too. HELP ME OUT!!!

Unless you're going to play slap-happy all the doo-dah-day (and half the night), I'd say try playing the 'Ray for a while using good ol' fingerstyle, too. See if there's enough range in the tone from it that's useful for you or else you might be getting into a sort of one-trick pony, right?

I've got an older MM Sabre, which has an unreal slap sound... but I don't slap much at all. It's got a pair of humbuckers though, so I can get some different tones with it and they're all quite useful. My other bass is a parts Jazz bass that sounds and plays great for me, too. Open up the tone a little and it's a beautiful instrument for slapping.

Lots of J-basses are great because their sound has growl and it "cuts" nicely, but many of them are also ideal slappers. If you were to try both a Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller Jazz, you'd probably hear a significant difference, though. To my ears, the Geddy has the growl while the Marcus is the better "slap-stick".

The GREAT news is that you're looking at two wonderful options and to a large degree, there's no wrong answer. One issue that I think is no less important than anything else is the fit of any bass you're looking at. If you can spend some time at a shop with them, you'd be smart to play them on a strap for more than just a minute or two so you can see how they settle in on your shoulder. If the fit is wrong for you, you're sort of stuck with it and that can spoil the fun.

If the Stingray is a little on the clunky side, you could compare it with a slightly slimmer, trimmer Sterling. Both are potentially dynamite and have plenty to offer. My only other thought concerning an American Jazz is that you take your time to shop around a little bit. My "Franken-Jazz" has a solid Warmoth neck that I ordered to my liking and it's on a nice body with strong pickups. The whole thing was crazy cheap and I've never found a domestic Fender that seemed as good sounding or playing for me.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of J-basses around. An American may be completely blissful, but you might like to look around before you take the plunge.

madmic · #7 04-26-2011, 01:11 PM

What kind of bass do you have now?

BeastBassPlaya · #8 04-26-2011, 01:15 PM

I have a Mexican Fretted Jazz Bass and a Squier Fretless Jazz Bass...

EndlessNameless · #9 04-26-2011, 01:17 PM

I vote Stingray.

BigOldHarry · #10 04-26-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeastBassPlaya

Ive played them both extensively at guitar shops and they both sound amazing. I'm essentially a Jazz and Rock player but they both sound great in different ways.

Good - you've done some homework. And you are right - different sounding... in the store.

In the mix, you would be *amazed* how similar they sound. No matter - if you can't afford both, pick the one you like better.

Suggestion: Check out the EBMM Sterling - it's a bit more of EBMMs "J bass". I like the Sterling more than the Stingray, myself. (And I'm not talking the cheap offshored EBMM "sterling" brand, I'm talking about the model of bass).

yellofury · #11 04-26-2011, 01:22 PM

I own both a Fender Jazz and a Musicman SUB (also have a Stingray on its way via trade)
and both as you probably already know are different animals.

You have a Mexi Jazz already and if you have a solid MIM thats not a complete dog, I dont see why you cant green light the Stingray.

BeastBassPlaya · #12 04-26-2011, 01:22 PM

Both the quality on both Fender and MusicMan are unbelievable...I've been a Jazz bass guy and I don't know if I should move away from that. I mean JACO!!!

madmic · #13 04-26-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeastBassPlaya

I have a Mexican Fretted Jazz Bass and a Squier Fretless Jazz Bass...

Then I would go Stingray (or the budget Sterling series) all the way ,you already have a decent Jazz.

Good luck!

Melvin7822 · #14 04-26-2011, 01:29 PM

You'd be surprised how much versatility you can get out of a StingRay with your fingers and the EQ. So if you do get a StingRay, do yourself a huge favor and become really familiar with EQ (a little goes a long way).

BeastBassPlaya · #15 04-26-2011, 01:53 PM

I Mean I love the MusicMans dont get me wrong. I just cant get the jaco tone out of a MusicMan and that is making this so much harder

portlandguy · #16 04-26-2011, 01:56 PM

Go with the Jazz, if it does not say Fender then it is not a bass.

yellofury · #17 04-26-2011, 01:59 PM

You dont try to get the Jaco tone out of a Stingray.
You will never be happy trying to pursue that route.
Use your Mexican Jazz for that tone and really embrace the Stingray for the tones it is able to do.
I love both type basses for their individual flavors

however, if you are looking to "upgrade" go ahead and get the American Standard Jazz
and sell/trade your MIM Jazz and get yourself a used SUB or SBMM Ray34/34ca

BeastBassPlaya · #18 04-26-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by portlandguy

Go with the Jazz, if it does not say Fender then it is not a bass.

Good Point...I mean Jaco used fender for a reason

icehead · #19 04-26-2011, 02:02 PM

Get both. I have a Old Guild Pilot 5 string for rock and a '73 Fender Jazz for reggae.

BeastBassPlaya · #20 04-26-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehead

Get both. I have a Old Guild Pilot 5 string for rock and a '73 Fender Jazz for reggae.

I can only get one