Choosing my forever bass: Stingray vs Precision

[neo 7]

OK, I've had the bass for a month now and........





......... I still giggle when I play it. I have two main settings: Bass and treble about 1/4 and plucking close to the bridge for that signature Stingray sound. Then bass just over 1/2 and treble at 1/4 and plucking close to the neck for a more mellow, rounder tone. I just love the clear, articulate tone of this bass, whenever I play my P-Bass now all I hear is mud.

However, I'm still not 100% comfortable playing this bass. The SR is by far the most expensive thing I've ever bought myself (excluding cars) and I haven't learned to completely relax with it yet; always afraid I'll drop it, scratch it, or ding it. I'm sure this will pass over time, but for now I'm having lots of fun bonding with it.

All in all I think I made the right choice, and have yet to regret my decision.

 

[boristhespider9]

Don't worry about that stuff. If you ding it, it's meant to be and simply adds character. The SRs are super tough anyway. Hard to damage.

 

[NDpeppers]

well i almost traded one of my babies for a fender p but my yamaha bb414 gets that itch out being a p and j bass. But here are my babies anyways.....

 

[dkelley]

Yea I have to say, after years of playing p as my fundamental axe many decades ago. .... I see no advantage to a p without a bridge pickup as well. Turn bridge pup off, get p. On, get zeppelin or geddy (or t bird or whatever flips your 2 pup boat....). Solo bridge get jaco or sr or..... depending on pickup design.

Rays are the only 1 pickup basses I'm likely to ever hang onto now with my Warwick and carvin etc etc

Course my rays are industrial finish usa subs.... I don't worry about scratching them .... I do worry about them beating me up in my sleep and stealing my wife though!

 

[LowEndWooly]

STINGRAY

 

[spaz21387]

I love my stingrays. I will admit they ruined fenders for me but they are the perfect bass in my opinion... I'm glad you got the ray just wait till you get to record with your ray. I love how stingrays don't make the kick get lost in the mix. My drummer loves my stingray...

 

[neo 7]

I love my stingrays. I will admit they ruined fenders for me but they are the perfect bass in my opinion... I'm glad you got the ray just wait till you get to record with your ray. I love how stingrays don't make the kick get lost in the mix. My drummer loves my stingray...View attachment 481812

Hey, that Classic is the same color as the first one I played. El Dorado Gold. Still looks green to me tho.

I really love the Classic, but most times I feel like it's too nice a bass for me. I'm always worried about scratching it or dropping it. The Fenders have been getting the rehearsals and gigs, and the SR stays at home for now.

 

[spaz21387]

oh and my classic is eldorado gold. under some lighting it looked green but its clearly gold. did the one you almost bought in the store have metal flake in the paint?

 

[neo 7]

oh and my classic is eldorado gold. under some lighting it looked green but its clearly gold. did the one you almost bought in the store have metal flake in the paint?

Yeah, I think so. It was kinda sparkelly.

 

[f.c.geil]

Dang it, I see that I found this thread too late. Monster Truck already made the decision. At least it was the right decision! I just went through this same process, and wound up dumping my Fenders (both Am. Std., one P and one J) for a 'Ray. It does everything I need in a bass, and does it well. I'm ecstatic with my decision.

 

[spaz21387]

I didn't dump my fender. I just don't pick it up much anymore. It was my first bass I can't part with it. The neck just feels too thin and sticky. How do you feel about the gloss neck on your classic? I actually like the gloss neck on my classic its completely different than what fender uses.

 

[spaz21387]

here's a pic of my classic before I brought it home that I took in guitar center... It looks really green here.

 

[f.c.geil]

I didn't dump my fender. I just don't pick it up much anymore. It was my first bass I can't part with it. The neck just feels too thin and sticky. How do you feel about the gloss neck on your classic? I actually like the gloss neck on my classic its completely different than what fender uses.

I couldn't get past the glossy neck. That is why I bought a three band model. That Neck is absolutely phenomenal.

 

[neo 7]

I like the glossy neck on my SR and my MIJ Fenders

 

[Jazz Ad]

When hesitating between a P and MM, it's time to try some G&L.

 

[Joe Kyle]

I know a few of you have seen this, but I have to agree with Jazz Ad

 

[tomersg]

why choose?
you can buy both, even for fair price ( mim or mij or squier and sterling ot sub)
or - http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/0...eo-rufini-precision-iv-custom-vintage-series/

 

[Christian Joseph Allbee]

For me, that would be a tough call.

On one hand, I could get virtually any sound I want with a Stingray, but on the other hand, a Precision would force me to make the most of one tone and actually focus on playing.

 

[Zanderwestcoast]

I'm at a point in my life where I want to stop buying and selling basses and own only one bass that I will take to the grave. I've had a P-Bass tone in my head since I started playing so I wondered into the local music store today looking for a new P-Bass. I tried a MIM, a Nate Mendel sig, an American Standard, American Special, and a MIJ E series. I liked the MIJ but it had some dings on the back of the neck so I passed. The American Special seemed like it fit the bill and I almost bought it. Then I asked if I could try the lone Stingray hanging on the wall. I was blown away. It had such a cool tone and the neck felt great, played like a dream. It was an ugly pea soup puke green color, but ugly in a cool way. Definitely more personable than ho-hum black or blue or something. This bass really spoke to me, but I still left empty handed.

Since I'm looking for a forever bass I figured it would be best to think it over. Will a Stingray be a good bass for what I want to do in 20 years. I'm sure a P-Bass would serve me well for any music I'd ever play, but I really fell in love with this Ray. I play in a punk band at the moment, but I also like classic rock, and smooth down-tempo acid jazz. Who knows what I'll be into in 20 years. Is this even a legitimate concern, or will a Stingray work for any style of music?

Also, this is the first time I ever played a Stingray. Was the tone so cool because it was new? Will I grow bored of the tone and long for a P-Bass, the tone that I've always had in my head?

What would you do in this situation? Stay with the tried and true P-Bass, or throw caution into the wind and buy the Ray?

My suggestions:

-Do not limit yourself to only one bass for the next 20 years. 20 years is a long time. Thats kinda nuts....
-If you fell in love with the Ray right away and it felt awesome in your hands. Don't over analyze it and just buy it.
-Based on the various music styles you mentioned, be open minded to owning a great P and a Jazz bass in the future as they are unbeatable in the right context. Just find one that is magic in your hands and sounds great as the Ray did.
-If you HAD TO GO with only ONE instrument for versatility to cover the range of various music styles you mentioned, go with a Jazz Bass. Again, just find one that feels and sounds right in your hands. I own all three and while I really dig my 77 Ray, if I had to pick only one it would be my Jazz bass. No contest.

 

[blindrabbit]

Hey, that Classic is the same color as the first one I played. El Dorado Gold. Still looks green to me tho.

I really love the Classic, but most times I feel like it's too nice a bass for me. I'm always worried about scratching it or dropping it. The Fenders have been getting the rehearsals and gigs, and the SR stays at home for now.

Dude, get that 'Ray out there and start using it!!! You think you love it now? Just imagine what you will think once you starting playing it 100% of the time! EBMM basses are tough, rock solid beasties. While I can see where you are coming from with this, as once upon a time I used to feel the same way, you really need to get past it and starting rocking that bass out. It is no wonder that it feels "too nice" for you when you treat it the way that you are. Trust me, once you start using it 100% of the time, you'll lose that "too nice for me" feel. Then down the line if you want or need to have something less valuable for settings where the likelihood of danger or theft is high, sell those Fenders off and pick up a Ray34, a SUB Ray4, or even a EBMM SUB!