Cheap sounding Stingrays

[powellmacaque]

About a month ago I was down at a local GC, and out of curiousity, I picked up a few Stingrays. Much to my surpise, they sounded really horrible! They played and felt top notch, but the sound just wasn't what I imagined the fabled Stingray should sound like... Could it just be a couple flukes (I only played about 3), or could it just be that I didnt dial the right tone in? I didnt really fiddle with the EQs on them. I did find one that sounded a bit better than the others (it was a 5 string with a maple fretboard), but I just didnt get the sound I hear in my head when I think of a Stingray...

 

[Joe Nerve]

If ya didn't fiddle with the EQs there really isn't much more to be said, is there?

Musicman basses are the most consistent basses I've ever seen. Just bought a Stingray to add to my MM collection and it sounds everything it's fabled to sound like.

 

[Daytona955i]

What did you plug in to?

 

[saxnbass]

I have a Sterling. I want a fretless Bongo and an SR5. EBMMs are great, gotta either twiddle onboard preamp or the amp's EQ though. Flat, it's not that StingRay sound. Still a good sound though.

 

[invader3k]

I don't have a Stingray, so I can't vouch for it either way, but I'd be curious what kind of amp setup you were playing with. The tone controls on the amp may have been messed up, possibly as well.

 

[3NotesAbar]

Stay tuned for semi-violent responses by EBMM lovers

If its anything to go by, Stingrays are one of those active basses which sound better by tweaking its onboard preamp. Definitely unlike some basses which already sound decent by leaving all EQ controls flat.

 

[pstyle]

poor set-ups and/or dead strings will make any bass sound like doo-doo
My Sterling is da bomb!!
Fo Shizzle

 

[saxnbass]

poor set-ups and/or dead strings will make any
My Sterling is da bomb!!

+1
+10

 

[stingray69]

I was down at a local GC

'nuff said.

The only place on earth where most days, a $50.00 bass with new strings & proper setup will blow away a $2000.00 dollar bass (due to lack of new strings & proper setup).

 

[ggunn]

Dead batteries, maybe?

 

[JamesM]

Dead batteries, maybe?

thts what i was thinking

 

[saxnbass]

A few Stingrays with dead batteries? I've never been to a GC, is that possible in one though? Stores here have bad setups, but not dead batteries, and if it does, tell someone and they'll replace it.

 

[improvpwnd]

I have a Sterling. I want a fretless Bongo and an SR5. EBMMs are great, gotta either twiddle onboard preamp or the amp's EQ though. Flat, it's not that StingRay sound. Still a good sound though.

I wonder where on the onboard pre should be for "that StingRay sound"

 

[DeanT]

Maybe you've been imaging a sound that doesn't come from a Stingray.

 

[saxnbass]

I wonder where on the onboard pre should be for "that StingRay sound"

Depends on the amp and what your definition of "StingRay sound" is.

 

[powellmacaque]

I was running all the basses I played that day out of a GK 700RB-II (same head I run out of) and the GK (i think its BSX?) series cabs...

I'm pretty sure the sound I'm thinking of is GK. Roger Manganelli (Less Than Jake), Matt Wong (Reel Big Fish), Jon Gallant (Billy Talent) all play Stingrays... Maybe it's just the way they set up the EQ... But all three of those guys have a very clear and defined high-end with a punch to their sound.

Next time I venture down there... How should I set up the EQ on the basses to get a better sound? I'm mostly a precision bass player, so I'm not used to so many choices .

One Musicman I was impressed with was the Bongo... It was rather bulky, but so was its sound!

 

[saxnbass]

Stingrays usually have a clear high end and are punchy. I like to boost my bass some, mids a tad, and a hair on the treble. If you have a bright or presence knob, put that up some too. Then on the SR, boost some mids and lows. Tweak to personal taste.
Also, could be dead strings that could've cause the bad sound in the ones you played.

 

[theshadow2001]

you don't like the stingray! Thats no big deal

You shouldn't try to like it because there's a lot of people that do here. I think this is a prime example of why you shouldn't take too much notice of what everyone says here. Their opinion simply isn't your opinion.

 

[Warpeg]

I'm mostly a precision bass player, so I'm not used to so many choices .

If you're used to a P-Bass, I can imagine that a Stingray would sound very shocking to you. Active vs. passive, split vs. humbucker, pickup position is different, etc.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I'm a MM + GK user. Must have either not dialed in that tone of it's just not what you're looking for.

I love all 5 of my SR5s.