Are stingrays really one trick ponies?

[Scott in Dallas]

If the one trick is a really really great one, does it matter?

 

[Tristan]

I think they sound great but would say they (at least the single H) are a bit limited IMHO.

 

[liveburning274]

I would agree with some of the string choice opinions here. I know my Sterling to a wonderful warm turn after I switched out the EB strings for some DR Nickle Lo-Riders. The change was immediate, but as they have mellowed out it has been amazing how much this bass has become a very warm instrument with specific "bite" I've never heard quite the same out of a P or J bass.

 

[Stone Soup]

I can't see it being used for Reggae, or classic Country and it might not work for true blue Blues.

You've never been more wrong. The Stingray 5 was once quite at home on the stages of touring Country artists. The 4 string stingray was also used by some, prior to the Stingray 5.

The EQ makes the instrument far more versatile than it appears, as well as hand position and plucking technique--like Ed Friedland said.

I'm sure the Stingray, in the right hands, would be at home in any style of music.

 

[JimmyM]

MusicMan basses aren't my favorite, but there is no bass on earth that's a one trick pony. There are some that maybe take effort to be as adaptable to everything as others, but if someone hands you a working well-made bass like a MusicMan and you can't get it to sound good for the music you're playing, I ain't blaming the bass.

 

[zfunkman]

A bass is only as versatile as the person playing it IMO

+1!

 

[fraublugher]

I'm in the trepidatious " but it only has the bridge p/u camp" too.
The new subs are out and 5lbs lighter than their previous incarnation , which is great, now they can compete with the classic vibes, VM's....
So now there should be one in every houshold.

 

[peledog]

A good 'rider' of the pony can teach it new tricks.

 

[electracoyote]

Ha.

Well, at least we're not talking about Rics for a change.

 

[ric stave]

A bit aside, I play a Status-Graphite Streamline 5 string with 1 MM pickup and a 2-band EQ. My favorite bass, I would play it in any/every situation and be happy with the sound.
It can go from very bright to boomy low, and with outboard EQ the possibilities are endless.

IMHO

 

[miketallica315]

I completely disagree that these basses are "one trick ponies". I have two SR5s (one is a SBMM) and they out play most of my arsenal. Just my opinion but this statement is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Again, just my opinion but Leo got it right with the Stingray.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I bought the SR5 I had on loan. That gives me a single-coil P, two split-coil Ps, the StingRay, and the REAL one-trick pony in the menagerie, a Godin A5 fretless. I love the neck and feel of the Godin, but I can only get one boomy sound out of it, even with active electronics and three-band EQ. It'll be the first to find a new home.

 

[Yango]

Definitely not one trick ponies. They're very versatile basses, it all comes down to how you set up the EQ, and of course, how you play.

They're great basses, I have two, and I've played hard rock, classic rock, blues, motown, swing, and jazz with them. People have always complimented my tone with the Stingray... and I can't say the same thing for my Fender Jazz that I unloaded a while back.

You have a great instrument there, my friend. Check out Ed Friedland on youtube, he did a series called "The Bass Whisperer", where he addresses this 'one trick pony' crap.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

I heard a guy recently getting a KILLER reggae tone out of one.

 

[benthughes]

I think they have an inherent tone that you can't really EQ out which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think a Stingray feels great but never cared for the sound. To me they seem to turn into high end snap and low end boom when you play them in some situations. You definitely can't gripe about the build quality.

 

[Bassmunnky]

I love these threads...As an owner of All the 'greatest hits' of basses...I always wonder why and how this is justified. The Ray has a signature tone. SO does the P bass..and yet..the "Is a P Bass a One Trick Pony" B.S. label doesn't stick, it's the Grail.

The Ray is going to showcase crappy technique for sure because of the EQ, 2 band OR 3...but once you get it down, it covers alot of territory...just like a P...or a J..

Are they all different, hell yes. I've never needed versatility outside what I could do with my fingers.

Love the Ray, and P and the J and the...it's all good ain't it.

Ed Said it best anyways, and has the video to prove it

 

[electracoyote]

The Ray is going to showcase crappy technique for sure because of the EQ, 2 band OR 3...but once you get it down, it covers alot of territory...just like a P...or a J..

True that. If yer sloppy, it's going to be glaring on a 'Ray. They're pretty aggressive (although they can be tamed).

Also, I have found that without a proper set-up, Stingray's sound like crap. I mean, worse than other basses that haven't had a proper set up. Way worse. So much so that I passed them over for years at music stores until a friend let me play his 'Ray that had received some TLC.

And I was smitten.

 

[Freddels]

The one trick that they excel at is music. I don't find they work as well with flipping burgers or opening bottles. Sure, they'll open the bottle but it's messy.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

StingRays have been used to record in virtually every genre known to man. They may have a signature tone, but it works across the board.

 

[Urizen]

Listen to Sade, then listen to old RHCP, then listen to old Blink 182.

The answer is no.

Or listen to Waylon Jennings:



Jazz, Pop, Funk, Hard Rock, Punk, Country... most people would be thrilled to have a bass that covers that gamut of styles!