To Stingray or not....

[TheRhealDeal]

I currently am a proud owner of a G&L SB-2. I love the bass will all my heart, but came into some money and I have a problem so I'm looking again. I wanted to get something with a real real clean tone, someone that would sound like a piano when played, the G&L has some of the P bass esque grunge to it. I was leaning towards a Stingray, anyone have any other suggestions?

[Moe Monsarrat]

I'm going to go ahead and say a Rickenbacker. Someone else will if I don't.

[jefff100]

Originally Posted by TheRhealDeal

I wanted to get something with a real real clean tone, someone that would sound like a piano when played, ...... I was leaning towards a Stingray, anyone have any other suggestions?

I just bought a Stingray 5. Love it. I have been on a quest for the perfect 5 for about 3 years. This will be my 4th 5 string in the rotation. I went from Spector ---> Yamaha TRB-5 ---> Ibanez SR1205e ---> Stingray 5. I think I'm done for a while now.

The stingray can be clean or it can be nasty & gritty. Sound like a piano? I dunno. Do you play harmonics much? I bought the dual Humbucker configuration.

I also have a P/J configuration Fender, that's my 4. Keep your G&L.

[bassgod0dmw]

I wouldn't consider a Stingray or a Ric to have a real real clean tone that sounds like a piano.

Modulus Q series loaded with Barts on the other hand. Super clear, bell like sustain, very clean sound.

[Jay Ralston]

Anything Music Man will do what you want. I have both a regular Stingray and a Stingray Classic and I can't say a bad thing about them. If you also want to add more versatility to your mix don't be afraid to look at the Bongo as well.

[Musicman20]

Uber clean and crisp piano like tone = Bongo.

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Uber clean and crisp piano like tone = Bongo.

Yes. Stingray, not so sure.

[Musicman20]

The Stingray for me still has that big ringing E string...lots of clarity, but its more of a grunt and vintage-middy kick. One great kick btw, but the Bongo gives you more of a total clean tone.

[madbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Uber clean and crisp piano like tone = Bongo.

Agreed.

An Stingray is a fantastic bass, but it's got some grunt to it. It'd different from a P bass for sure, but the Bongo IMO is the tone described above.

[StuartV]

Clean, clear, hi-fi sound? Peavey Cirrus.

[sawzalot]

Go out and play some other instruments! Although I play pretty much only Stingray's, "real clean" and "piano" are not terms that come to mind when I think of their tone. The Stingray 4 sort of punches you in the face and has some dirt to its sound. The SR 5 can be sort of dirty or almost-too-clean, depending on how you set the pickup switch(es). Mine only have the one humbucker--I like putting them into parallel mode when I need to duck under the instruments in the band and be real supportive, and in series when I want the bass to get noticed.

If you're looking for super-clean sound, longer-scale basses (35") will give you a clearer tone. Although I've never played one, I'd think a fanned-fret bass like a Dingwall would be awesome because of their design. Modulus and high-end Spector basses are great too, and so are Laklands. If you can get your hands on some, try them and see what you think!

[rekesbass]

A Ric has a piano like sound....like a piano that's being played with a hammer..

[CTC564]

If your budget allows, check these out

MTD 535-24
Modulus Q5
Sadowsky

[armybass]

If you haven't had a Stingray you need one. If you dont have a Stingray you need one.....and if you want one and you have the dough....welll.....

[Zitch]

keep your sb-2 and get a stingray5!

[domestique]

A stingray has a lot of grit to it. I have a L2000 and could always get a good stingray tone. If you really want piano like intonation than look into Dingwall. They use a 37" B to 34" G just like as grand piano does with strings. Lots of sustain with buttery intonation.

[pudgychef]

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

Agreed.

An Stingray is a fantastic bass, but it's got some grunt to it. It'd different from a P bass for sure, but the Bongo IMO is the tone described above.

Originally Posted by domestique

A stingray has a lot of grit to it. I have a L2000 and could always get a good stingray tone. If you really want piano like intonation than look into Dingwall. They use a 37" B to 34" G just like as grand piano does with strings. Lots of sustain with buttery intonation.

[Caca de Kick]

StingRay 30th anniversary has a solid mahogany body (from 2006). You wanna hear piano tone...it has it in spades!

[Low Key]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Uber clean and crisp piano like tone = Bongo.

+1

I own both a Stingray 5 H and Bongo 5 HH. The Stingray is fantastic, but the Bongo is even better. The tone is "clearer", with the ability to get a huge range of sounds. I also think the Bongo neck is faster.

Hard to say a negative thing about either bass, because I play my Stingray all the time. But if stranded on a desert island, I'm bringing the Bongo!

[azzyrazzy]

Dingwall!