• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Choosing my forever bass: Stingray vs Precision

#21
I owned both but the tone of the PBass is more versatile especially with different techniques and strings. The PBass records great whereas the Stingrays requires more efforts. I liked my Stingray in the context of an aggressive style of music but I felt it sounded a little too 1980's in many situations. I sold the Stingray because I could not stand the "weak G" issue. (Just google Stingray weak G and you'll know what I am talking about)
Also, pre-EB's and Classic Stingrays are waaaayyyy better but more expensive too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lorudan
#24
I can tell you that I've only owned one bass - a Stringray5 for the past 16 years. (I've been playing for 18 years) I find it quite versatile for different styles. Sounds great with a pick, fingerstyle, slap, tapping etc. Just recently I bought a second bass, a vintage P bass. That decision was based mostly because I just wanted a vintage bass and not because I felt like a needed a better playing or sounding bass. I could be content just playing my Stingray for the rest of my life, honestly. It's that good of a bass.

That being said. I don't think you need to limit yourself to just one bass. I certainly understand the desire to be minimalistic in your instrument ownership. But having 2 or 3 basses is not glutinous if it's something you're really passionate about.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowdownthump, ilovenofrets, birminghambass and 2 others
#25
It's tough to make a recommendation as this is very personal. I think the variety of suggestions offered by the folks so far attest to this. So, I'll offer my experience and if it resonates with you then I hope it's of help. I personally like passive basses so I've gone through too many P and J basses to remember the exact #. But, I finally found a P that I don't think I will ever get rid of (I know famous last words). Then, I came across a great deal on a Stingray and loved it. Well, here I am today and the bass I always grab is the P. The Stingray sits in the closet. The point of this story is to give it some time for the novelty to wear off and if you still can't stop thinking about playing the MM then maybe that's the right answer for you. But, if you still have the P tone in your head...maybe it's the P. Time will tell....
 
#26
I own a nice P bass, and I may buy another, but the Stingray tone, style, and feel are more attractive to me.

Which Stingray did you try? A single H 3EQ I'm guessing?

I would, if you want some P bass in your Ray, get a HH or HS Ray, in a colour you want. You then have the classic Ray tone and a lot more.

A Ray can ALWAYS be tamed. Three methods: playing style, EQ, and flatwounds. All three will definitely mellow a Ray out dramatically.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowdownthump and ilovenofrets
#27
I have an American Special honeyburst P, a Nate Mendel sig P, and I just purchased a MM Stingray 4H a couple of weeks ago.

The American Special is strung with Chromes flats and has that classic thump. It's neck profile is also my favorite of the 3, and the bass is nice and lightweight. The slim C profile is awesome, imo. It's the bass I'm most comfortable just picking up and playing, or working on new ideas.

The NM sig is strung with Roto stainless roundwound strings, and gets a great clanky, grindy tone when pushed hard. I lightly sanded the finish on the neck to get rid of the "sticky feeling" nitro finish. It's the heaviest of the 3 basses but balances nicely, and the neck profile is a little chunkier than my other basses, but still comfy.

The Stingray has the nicest feeling neck finish of all 3 basses, and the profile is between my 2 P's. It's a great feel, familiar yet different. I've currently got it strung with DR Sunbeams rounds. It's an aggressive, growly bass, and it responds very well to different right hand techniques and placement. The eq is also extremely responsive. It has the best slap tone by far (to me), if that matters to you. Some people also put flatwounds on their 'Rays to calm down the growl. The SR also had the nicest fret ends of all 3.

All 3 basses have classic looks and readily identifiable tones, and with proper eq'ing should be able to cover almost any musical situation. Go with the one that feels and "speaks" best to you, and you'll make it work, and be more inclined to play. I also agree with some of the other posters who suggest not limiting yourself to 1 bass. Hope this helps you.
ImageUploadedByTalkBass1406225144.697416.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Geri O
#32
neo 7 said:
Will I grow bored of the tone and long for a P-Bass, the tone that I've always had in my head?
Click to expand...

I think this is the key of all. Our tastes are changing in our lives.

If you ever had a PBass tone in your head just go for it. Doesn´t matter the sense of feel of the Stingray neck, the sound and more. When this new love by the Stingray ends, in your head surelly you´ll get again this PBass tone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cm3ohana
#33
Mastermold said:
Why would you arbitrarily constrict yourself like this? Do you impose similar rules on yourself in other areas of your life?
Click to expand...
I think he's way smarter than those of us who have a lot of basses. Why not have just one forever bass? I know a lot of folks who have been quite happy to do so, and they don't waste time or money. I keep threatening to scale back to one my own self. I never do ;) but I often think I was happier when I only had one decent bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr Gero, waynobass and Rocky
#34
Had a 78 Stingray since 78 and it spends 98.5% of its time in the dark vs the Ps. Didn't touch for decades cause hated the sound...and for me Flats or style or nothing else made it work.

But it does have one great neck
 
#35
If I were you and had to choose a forever bass it would be a PJ. I like have the two pickups I can get a straight up P bass tone, a tone similar to a Jazz bass or Stingray with both pickups on, or a Jaco type soloed bridge pickup tone.
I like the Stingray tone but I wouldn't want to be married to it forever. There are too many situations where a stright up P bass tone is needed. I do have a Stingray copy and I'm thinking about throwing a P bass pickup in front of it.
I used to have a bass with that configuration and it's really good. especially if you add a split/series/parallel to the pickup.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shardik
#36
Spirit of Ox said:
If I were you and had to choose a forever bass it would be a PJ. I like have the two pickups I can get a straight up P bass tone, a tone similar to a Jazz bass or Stingray with both pickups on, or a Jaco type soloed bridge pickup tone.
Click to expand...
Same here. I know a lot of people are fond of saying that a P and PJ with the same pickups don't sound the same with just the P pickup on, but I disagree vehemently. And as you said, it's nice to be able to get tones similar to a Jazz with the added J pickup. I do use a straight up Precision most of the time these days, but if my PJ would ever get out of the shop, I would probably use it more often, despite it not being black and maple, which really does look better on me than any other bass I own ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Spirit of Ox
#37
Hands down, if it were btwn only those two basses, the Stingray of any configuration.. It is at least slightly more versatile than a P. I own both.

The stingray definitely blew your mind because its new but it is more aggressive sounding than a P. But a Ray can be toned down for more P mellowness.

If it were between a Ray and a Jazz Bass, its not cut and dried as far as capability and versatility.

I just recently got disabused of the belief that one bass can do it all. One bass can satisfy a person's needs but one bass cant "do it all." With this being said, 90% of listeners at a live gig would like anything you throw at them assuming it is eq'd well and punchy...And much punch is in the fingers.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back