Stingrays Really are Bright!

[Dr. Cheese]

Yesterday, my favorite store got some Stingrays in for a long time. I played s really nice natural finish Classic. I figured out "Smooth Operator" from memory since it is a classic line played on a 'Ray. I turned down the treble for a better finger tone, and it sounded great. Since I has my TL-5, I took it out and played the same line. It blew me away that after the Stingray, my Peavey sounded as low as an EBO! I guess I finally get the perspective of those who say you can't tame a Stingray's highend.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Yesterday, my favorite store got some Stingrays in for a long time. I played s really nice natural finish Classic. I figured out "Smooth Operator" from memory since it is a classic line played on a 'Ray. I turned down the treble for a better finger tone, and it sounded great. Since I has my TL-5, I took it out and played the same line. It blew me away that after the Stingray, my Peavey sounded as low as an EBO! I guess I finally get the perspective of those who say you can't tame a Stingray's highend.

'Tis true.

Never has a tone knob been such a useful accesory as on a 'Ray.

[bovinehost]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I guess I finally get the perspective of those who say you can't tame a Stingray's highend.

Don't listen to them - because you can. I've done it for years. People who say flatwounds on a Stingray are an abomination to the Gods of Bass are wrong.

But if you want 'zing', you can get plenty of that from a Stingray, too.

[Brad Barker]

yeah, the accentuated highs are part of the classic ray slap sound. for anything else, i can't stand it.

man... i think i blew out my ears just imagining how it sounds going through an swr cab.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by bovinehost

Don't listen to them - because you can. I've done it for years. People who say flatwounds on a Stingray are an abomination to the Gods of Bass are wrong.

But if you want 'zing', you can get plenty of that from a Stingray, too.

I love Stingray zing, and I thought that Classic sounded wonderful. It's just the relative brightness of the Stingray tone had never been so obvious to me before.
Honestly, I want a five string Classic, I just don't know if I can afford or justify a $2k bass, especially since I am not gigging anymore.

[brutalron]

Was the amp set flat? I understand how people say the Stingray is bright, but my Lakland Joe Osborn jazz is brighter than my Stringray5, Sterling 4, or my old SUB all set flat and with the same strings. I have DR loriders on all 3 of the afore mentioned bases.

Has Bovinehost said, flats on a Stingray make it sound totally different. To me, a Stingray with flats covers the same territory as a P bass with flats, but with the inherent Stingray flavor.

Its great the way people can hear the same rig differently. Keeps things interesting.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I love Stingray zing, and I thought that Classic sounded wonderful. It's just the relative brightness of the Stingray tone had never been so obvious to me before.
Honestly, I want a five string Classic, I just don't know if I can afford or justify a $2k bass, especially since I am not gigging anymore.

You know I share your love of most things Peavey.

My 'Ray out-zings my Cirrus. And I thought I could get almost any tone from the Cirrus. There's one I can't.

I have owned a couple of MM S.U.B.'s. Same electronics, same zing. Way less coin.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by brutalron

Was the amp set flat? I understand how people say the Stingray is bright, but my Lakland Joe Osborn jazz is brighter than my Stringray5, Sterling 4, or my old SUB all set flat and with the same strings. I have DR loriders on all 3 of the afore mentioned bases.

Has Bovinehost said, flats on a Stingray make it sound totally different. To me, a Stingray with flats covers the same territory as a P bass with flats, but with the inherent Stingray flavor.

Its great the way people can hear the same rig differently. Keeps things interesting.

The amp was flat. It was Hartke LH1000 and it went through Hartke 4x10. Jazzes are bright, but without all of those cutting mids.

[darkstorm]

Their pups are overly bright voice oriented to me.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

You know I share your love of most things Peavey.

My 'Ray out-zings my Cirrus. And I thought I could get almost any tone from the Cirrus. There's one I can't.

I have owned a couple of MM S.U.B.'s. Same electronics, same zing. Way less coin.

SUBs are great, I had one for a while. I have owned a ton of Music Man basses
over the years, and they are ultra distinctive, playing that Classic was like meeting a dear old friend. I love the Cirrus, and I love it's tone for what it is.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I've not seen a Classic over here, but would love to play one.

Wish I could afford the price tag too! The cheapest I've seen them online was ~ £1500 ($2350), but if you want a nice colour they are closer to £2k

(and that's just the 4 string).


Tempted to add mutes to one of my modern rays . . .

[Kwesi]

I played the first ever Stingray I really liked yesterday. Thing was real nice but there's still something about the tone I don't dig. the mids don't sit right to my ears.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Yesterday, my favorite store got some Stingrays in for a long time. I played s really nice natural finish Classic. I figured out "Smooth Operator" from memory since it is a classic line played on a 'Ray. I turned down the treble for a better finger tone, and it sounded great. Since I has my TL-5, I took it out and played the same line. It blew me away that after the Stingray, my Peavey sounded as low as an EBO! I guess I finally get the perspective of those who say you can't tame a Stingray's highend.

I tell ya what. It's that extra treble that gives the StingRay its cut and growl. You don't need to add much because even a little will bring those bad boys to life.

Then again, there are guys like me who dime their StingRay to get the 'full effect'

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

I played the first ever Stingray I really liked yesterday. Thing was real nice but there's still something about the tone I don't dig. the mids don't sit right to my ears.

Have you tried a 'ray with a 2-band EQ? They are voiced a bit differently, you may like that sound a bit more

Another thing, about Stingrays. IMO, they are kinda like Ampeg, in that they sound pretty good solo but really come into their own when you play them in a band situation.

[PilbaraBass]

I love the 2-band classic ray sound

[dmk]

You can also tame some of the top end by dialing in the foam mutes on the Classic Stingray.

My favorite Stingray sound is Bernard Edwards playing Good Times at Tokyo's Budokan in 1996. Jump to the 3:10 mark. I can only think that this is the tone Leo intended for the Stingray.

CHIC Live at Budokan 1996 Good Times - YouTube

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by dmk

You can also tame some of the top end by dialing in the foam mutes on the Classic Stingray.

My favorite Stingray sound is Bernard Edwards playing Good Times at Tokyo's Budokan in 1996. Jump to the 3:10 mark. I can only think that this is the tone Leo intended for the Stingray.

CHIC Live at Budokan 1996 Good Times - YouTube

I don't think Stingrays need to be tamed. As Madbassplaya said, the brightness makes the 'Ray sound. It was just striking how bright the 'Ray was compared to another active bass with a fair amount of highend.

[husky123]

I just loooove my zingy Rays. Nothing like 'em.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Another favourite of mine :

Queen - 'Another One Bites the Dust' - YouTube

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by dmk

CHIC Live at Budokan 1996 Good Times - YouTube

3:35 = best fill I've ever heard in a song. That was cold!