Sterling ray 34 vs. Fender P-bass Highway one

almostkewl · #1 09-13-2010, 11:44 PM

They're roughly the same price. Anyone played both?

What's the better buy?

EagleMoon · #2 09-13-2010, 11:48 PM

Highway One. MIA, nitro finish...what's not to like?

5string5fingers · #3 09-13-2010, 11:56 PM

Dumptruck vs bmw

Which is the better buy?

**peledog** · #4 09-14-2010, 12:00 AM

Depends on what 'sound' you're looking for.

rodl2005 · #5 09-14-2010, 12:17 AM

I've played both, but both ONLY in-store. liked the H-WAY 1 & thought the Ray 34 was pretty good too but I liked the P better.
But as above- depends on the sound U R After, re-sale wold be better on the P bass IMO.

millerfreak · #6 09-14-2010, 12:20 AM

Both are different..

Slax · #7 09-14-2010, 12:40 AM

I think it comes down more to if you're after the "Ray" sound or the "P" sound. Both from what I've tried have been fantastic. I own an '08 Fender Highway One Jazz that's just fantastic. (My avatar) Nothing against the Ray though, just not my style.

Fender32 · #8 09-14-2010, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

Highway One. MIA, nitro finish...what's not to like?

The nitro finish (assuming that it's on the neck and not just the body

)!? Nitro neck lacquer is a no go for me - far too 'sticky'

.

Anyway, that's just me.

I own a Sterling Ray34 and have played two (recent) Highway One P's (with the '70s style Fender logo) in my local store. Verdict: It might just be the strings that they use on the Fenders, but these two basses sounded really bright and a little on the 'thin' side, to my ears. I couldn't dial out enough of the treble to get a typical smooth P Bass tone, but then they were brand new with new (s/s!?) strings

.

The Sterling Ray34 (at least the one that I wound up with) is honestly very good indeed. I upgraded some of the hardware (tuners and pickup) because I already had some spare parts lying around, but it didn't really need doing. The standard of finish is not very far off the EBMMs and I actually prefer the matt lacquered neck to the bare wood of the American basses (although this is where the finish was a little sub-standard on the Indonesian bass).

If I was in America, I'd probably choose a used EBMM over the Sterling Ray34, as the prices are probably very close. But, if you want to buy new, they are still excellent value.

Not knowing which tone you are after, all I can say is that IMHO, the Sterling Ray34 sounds and feels more like a 'good' StingRay than the Highway One sounds and feels like a 'good' Precision Bass. That's such a bad generalization that I'm bound to upset a few people here with it, but I don't know how else to state my impression of the two basses

. Sorry!

trunkshope6 · #9 09-14-2010, 03:19 AM

sterling id say

dave_bass5 · #10 09-14-2010, 04:33 AM

I owned a Ray34 for a few months this year. Did around 20 gigs with it and loved the tone and fit and finish. The only thing i didnt like was the size of the neck.

I now have a HW-one Jazz and love every thing about it other than the high 20th fret that stops me playing the last few notes at the dusty end.

The two are such different basses that its hard to compare IMO. Both are very well made, the Ray34 certainly looks classy with its matching headstock and gloss finish.

The HW-ones do have the grease bucket tone circuit in them which means when you back off the tone you dont get that slight increase in low end boost like most people are used to. This could cause it to sound slightly thinner than other P basses.

dwm74 · #11 09-14-2010, 09:05 AM

Interesting thread for me, and I'll be following it closely. I just bought a Ray 34 about two months ago, and while I love it's feel and playability, I'm pondering trading it toward a Highway One P sometime in the future. The Ray is a fantastic instrument, but I keep EQ'ing it to sound more like a P than a Stingray. I've come to the realization that I'm more of a passive/P-bass kind of guy.

I've never played a Hwy1, just my MIM, and a true MIA is out of my price range. I've heard a lot of good things about them here on TB, but I'm hoping this thread will help with my decision.

phillipkregg · #12 09-14-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

I owned a Ray34 for a few months this year. Did around 20 gigs with it and loved the tone and fit and finish. The only thing i didnt like was the size of the neck.

Maybe instead of the Sterling Ray34, try the Sterling SB14. The jazz neck shape and downsized body make it very easy to play. It's actually one of the best playing - and sounding - 4 strings I've seen in a long time.

Spinal Tapper · #13 09-14-2010, 09:16 AM

Personally, I like the nitro finish on the hwy1...play the crap outta that baby, and let it wear n tear like a good old reliable P bass should.

Two totally different sounds from two totally different basses. you should play them both and decide for yourself.

Disraeli Gears · #14 09-14-2010, 09:24 AM

Wow. Comparing a Ray to a P-bass really is akin to comparing apples to oranges. It really depends on what you want out of a bass. The Ray will give you lots of attack, and being an active bass a lot more tonal variety. That said, it will require more EQing, changing batteries, etc., while the P-bass is much more of a plug'n'play kind of thing (and still gets great tone, though different from the ray.) Looking at your profile, I'm guessing you primarily play punk rock? Despite being such different basses, either one would work well for that role. The P-bass would lend itself more to the punk rock ethos though, being a no-frills plug'n'play kind of bass (not to mention the fact that the nitro finish will wear a lot faster than the poly finish on the ray.)

TL;DR: They're 2 very different basses. Play 'em both, and see which one you like better!

dave_bass5 · #15 09-14-2010, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillipkregg

Maybe instead of the Sterling Ray34, try the Sterling SB14. The jazz neck shape and downsized body make it very easy to play. It's actually one of the best playing - and sounding - 4 strings I've seen in a long time.

Yes, i did think of that, and will probably get one at some point, probably later this year.
I went with with the Jazz as i had already got used to playing my Squier CV Jazz but wanted something a bit nicer.

My first ever MM bass was a Sub (beginning of this year) and i found it covered the P bass tone pretty well. Maybe not soloed but it sounded fine in the mix. We do a lot of motown covers and to be honest there wasn't as great a change in tone that i expected.
I then go ta Lakalnd Duck Dunn and again, lovely tone but still not much difference in the mix. Then i got the Ray34 and...well, you get the picture.
Im not saying a Ray sounds like a P but it can get a P type of vibe going, especially a 2EQ version (i know SBMM dont make them)

At the end of the day i find no matter what i use i can get a passable thump type fo tone, so for me its how the bass feels and plays.

DRafalske · #16 09-14-2010, 09:37 AM

I actually own one of each. A 2006 HWY1 P and a 2010 Ray34. Both are great basses, but completely different in just about every way as mentioned.
The Ray is is capable of a wider variety of tones but does require more EQ'ing and of coursre battery changes. I find myself messing with the knobs more that I do the Fender.
Necks are very similar, with the Ray being just a smidge wider at the nut. I find them both very comfortable, but give a slight edge to the Fender.
I play fingerstyle exclusively with anchored thumb. I like the big wide pickup in the bridge position on the Ray and the option to anchor on the neck side or bridge side.
Overall, I can't say which one I like more. Pretty much just grab whichever one I feel like playing. If you're in the market for one or the other, you can't go wrong either way. Just make sure you can play them both before you decide.

D

dave_bass5 · #17 09-14-2010, 09:44 AM

I know its not been mentioned yet, and ill probably get flamed for saying it but my Ray34 had a weak sounding G string.....there, ive said it.
It really bugged me and was a small part of me getting rid of the bass.
Ill not argue why it was like that, and i know not everyone hears it, but i will say that after a pup change it was slightly better, and the right EQ helped a great deal.

No such problems with any of my other basses, ever.

Bassdirty · #18 09-14-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

Dumptruck vs bmw

Which is the better buy?

I guess if you need something to do a job like carrying loads of..whatever, the dumptruck is clearly the better buy.
It also depends on the price...If you could get a new BMW 7 series (or any series for that matter) for like 5 cents you could turn quite a profit by selling it.Then you could buy a good used dumptruck and a used BMW.

Sorry, I'm just sayin..it wasn't very clear without all the info.

Yerf Dog · #19 09-14-2010, 09:56 AM

<baller>They're cheap. Buy both.</baller>

5string5fingers · #20 09-14-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassdirty

I guess if you need something to do a job like carrying loads of..whatever, the dumptruck is clearly the better buy.
It also depends on the price...If you could get a new BMW 7 series (or any series for that matter) for like 5 cents you could turn quite a profit by selling it.Then you could buy a good used dumptruck and a used BMW.

Sorry, I'm just sayin..it wasn't very clear without all the info.

And neither was the original post.