Sterling Ray 34 or American special Jazz bass

[whiteBASSIST]

I have been playing bass for about a year and a half and I am considering buying a new bass. I have been looking at the Sterling Ray 34 ($750 Canadian) and the Fender american special jazz bass ($1000 Canadian), but i will take any suggestions under 1000 bucks. I play blues, rock, and metal fingerstyle, and a bit of slap. I need something versatile that will last a hell of a long time without breaking the bank, please help

[kb9wyz]

I like both. For the money, I'd go with the Ray. I do not feel that Fender American is worth the cash for what you get, IMHO.

[whiteBASSIST]

Thanks man, but a lot of people say that the jazz bass is more versatile since it has two pickups. What do you think?

[jkjgiants26]

i have a ray34 and have played lots jazz basses. The ray has a great finger style sound and the jazz has great slap sound. id say the Ray34 would be best for your situation. but you can't go wrong with either. also consider a fender highway 1 jazz. there a little cheaper than the am special and have a badassII bridge. but id still say go with Ray34

[kb9wyz]

I find the MM pup with a three band EQ is pretty darn flexible. A J, in my opinion, and MM are on pretty equal grounds for that. But it all depends on the sound you want. They don't sound the same, but they're both good.

As for flexibility, there is a difference between flexibility and utility. You can have a bass with a 4 band EQ w/dual mid sweep, series/parallel switch, active/passive switch, coil tap, slap mode switch, and MIDI access. It will be flexible, but it might not do for you what a passive P with a lonely tone knob will do.

[aspersions]

Ray34 all the way. It should go better with the styles you mentioned. I have a jazz and a SR4 and do not consider one to be more versatile than the other.