Stingray or Stingray Clone?

slopeshoulder · #1 03-25-2011, 02:20 PM

The inconsistent weight, weak G, and temporarily available or limited colors make me wonder if my classic-style stingray shouldn't be made by a luthier (same body, neck, pickguard, and joint) with a Nordstrand pickup, East Pre, and whatever bridge seems best (say a Hipshot). Might do a sterling sized neck. Assume great quality all around.

Looking for that punchy fingerstyle ray tone.

Resale is not an issue.

What say you?

Kipaste · #2 03-25-2011, 02:42 PM

Do you mean if we want to see you post about a hand made stingray? Of course we do. Silly question. Get three.

Edit. On the more serious side, I don't think stingrays have a dead spot on the whole G string as the problem is, or atleast was on mine, only when amplified. So if you're thinking seriously about doing that, why not get the pickup and preamp to start with, throw them in and then decide if you really need a new one built. If so, you already have the electronics and you can put the old ones back and sell the original..

steve.roark · #3 03-25-2011, 02:58 PM

My opinion, love stingray's but want a better stingray than a stingray, get a lakland. Even the Skylines are great basses.

stflbn · #4 03-25-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve.roark

My opinion, love stingray's but want a better stingray than a stingray, get a lakland. Even the Skylines are great basses.

As long as you want 35" scale vs 34" scale on MM's.

jtlee · #5 03-25-2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

As long as you want 35" scale vs 34" scale on MM's.

Lakland 4's are 34" scale and 34" is available as an option on Lakland 5's now.

Laklands don't feel anything like Stingrays though. Necks are thinner/flatter, pickups are more modern sounding. Not that they can't do a Stingray tone. I love Laklands for what they are but they just don't thump like a pre-EB Ray.

Bobster · #6 03-25-2011, 06:49 PM

34" scale is available on US Lakland 5's, which cost nearly twice what an SR5 costs. Plus 17.5mm spacing on the MM5, vs 19mm on the Lakland 5.

Rays are very picky about pickup height. Make sure the lower side of the pickup, E-A or B-E isn't too close, instead of trying to bring the other side up.

Bob

mcm · #7 03-25-2011, 06:50 PM

love the stingray and the company, but it does have a weak g!! i say lakland

bottomzone · #8 03-25-2011, 07:01 PM

Here you go:

YouTube - BassGuitarMag's Channel

Amazing sounding basses to my ears, especially the Ray 34!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

Jim C · #9 03-25-2011, 08:42 PM

Imagine if Sadowsky or AC decided to build consistenty light weight Rays with unlce fluffy style 2-band EQ's,and minimze the G string issue
IMO, the G is not weak in volume it is thin in bass response; I have a lot of older Fenders that are nice; the 83' SR is possessed

TattooBass · #10 03-25-2011, 08:49 PM

Ive owned close to 30 different stingrays in the last 15yrs. Never have I once had a weak G string. Ive put Barts, Bassline, and EMG pickups in some. Although I do prefer the Bart MM pickup over any of them. I do like the factory pickup on the Older ones. Currently I have a 09 SR4 custom made, and an 89 SR5 with a bart p/u.

I vote stingray over a clone. However my preference would be a 95 or older one. To me they were a more solid instrument.

Laklands are nice, but not my thing.

redhed · #11 03-25-2011, 09:06 PM

Love my stingrays, in fact they are my favorite bass- and no G- string? issues.

Xavier Zed · #12 03-25-2011, 09:27 PM

If money is not an issue get the Stingray Classic 2band with the roasted neck. A/B one the other day against a Ray34 not even close in tone or playability. And, I own a Ray34.

TattooBass · #13 03-25-2011, 09:46 PM

Stingray classic is a pretty nice bass. I was surprised at how well it reminded me of my old early 80s ray.
I'm still wanting a sabre bass.

Jim C · #14 03-25-2011, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xavier Zed

If money is not an issue get the Stingray Classic 2band with the roasted neck. A/B one the other day against a Ray34 not even close in tone or playability. And, I own a Ray34.

Because most of them are in the 10lb+ range which is unacceptable for a painted $1,800 instrument IMO
Music Man Classic StingRay Bass Guitar at The Perfect Bass

Just bought a 8.6 lb 1996 SR on this board; had been looking for months, it arrives Thursday; might have to change to a 2-band pre

yellofury · #15 03-25-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobster

34" scale is available on US Lakland 5's, which cost nearly twice what an SR5 costs. Plus 17.5mm spacing on the MM5, vs 19mm on the Lakland 5.

Rays are very picky about pickup height. Make sure the lower side of the pickup, E-A or B-E isn't too close, instead of trying to bring the other side up.

Bob

+100000
I got a much even and dare I say smooth sound by LOWERING my E side of the pickup on my SUB
I still have the Musicman clang when I want
but I got almost dub step lows now too

hdracer · #16 03-25-2011, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellofury

+100000
I got a much even and dare I say smooth sound by LOWERING my E side of the pickup on my SUB
I still have the Musicman clang when I want
but I got almost dub step lows now too

I just got a SUB 4. What do you you have your pole to string hight set at?

TattooBass · #17 03-25-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Because most of them are in the 10lb+ range which is unacceptable for a painted $1,800 instrument IMO
Music Man Classic StingRay Bass Guitar at The Perfect Bass

Just bought a 8.6 lb 1996 SR on this board; had been looking for months, it arrives Thursday; might have to change to a 2-band pre

get a 3.5" wide strap and you are golden. Easy to play a 10+ lb bass all night.
Ive used the same 3.5wide leather strap that I bought from american musical 13/14 years ago. every bass Ive owned since then, Ive used this strap on. even my pre EB stingray I had. That thing was a beast.

fergbassplayer · #18 03-25-2011, 11:50 PM

Two choices - Stingray 70's- 83

or a Lakland 4-94.

I've owned and loved a lot of Ray's and the G-string is an issue...even on my beloved 83.

I've owned a couple of Lakland 4's...G-string is not an issue.

JEDI BASS · #19 03-26-2011, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Because most of them are in the 10lb+ range which is unacceptable for a painted $1,800 instrument IMO

10lb plus??? WHAT?

Mine's nowhere near 10lbs!

How do you keep people from complaining about getting the one heavy bass out of 100 built?? That's right... claim they're all around 10lbs.

And mine has made case queens out of my US Lakland collection.

bovinehost · #20 03-26-2011, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEDI BASS

Mine's nowhere near 10lbs!

There are a few heavyweights out there. I've owned probably 20 or 30 SR4s and only one topped 10 pounds. Many of them are in the 9 plus category, and maybe some people think that's too heavy. I've been gigging fivers for years now so that seems workable to me.

I was told at the factory that there is an upper limit for body blanks, although now the number escapes me. But it's strictly enforced, unlike the pre-EB days, when you could easily get a 12 pounder. I had a few of those. Whew.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEDI BASS

And mine has made case queens out of my US Lakland collection.

I've had a fair amount of US Laklands and some Skylines, too. I tried my best to fall in love with the 55-94s, especially, because those seemed like something I would adore. I just never bonded with them for some reason - the Barts didn't help.

The one I continually regret offing was a Scheff fiver. Now THAT bass held its own against the vast Music Man herd.