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fender jazz vs stingray

#22
There is a certain mojo about the Ernie Ball basses that is hard to explain. I have an SR5 and a Jazz bass. They are both obviously very different but in the end, the SR5 is home.
 
#23
If you play a wider variety of music, the Jazz cannot be beat. If you find yourself needing to blow away 1-2 loud guitarists the stingray might be a better choice.
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I've never understood this kind of statement. I've used a Stingray (including a SR5 and now Bongos) for every conceivable kind of music and have yet to find it unworkable.

I have a 62 RI Jazz and it's a fine instrument, but it's been in the hall closet for about three years now.

Personal preference rules here, but don't buy for one minute the idea that Stingrays are unsuitable for certain types of music.

It's the player.

Jack
 
#25
bovinehost said:
I've never understood this kind of statement. I've used a Stingray (including a SR5 and now Bongos) for every conceivable kind of music and have yet to find it unworkable.

I have a 62 RI Jazz and it's a fine instrument, but it's been in the hall closet for about three years now.

Personal preference rules here, but don't buy for one minute the idea that Stingrays are unsuitable for certain types of music.

It's the player.

Jack
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eh, whatever. that statment was one person's opinion. i bet alot of other folks would agree that a jazz bass is the better choice for a wider range of music, i do.
 
#26
workdaddy said:
eh, whatever. that statment was one person's opinion. i bet alot of other folks would agree that a jazz bass is the better choice for a wider range of music, i do.
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People are certainly welcome to their own opinions. Lots of people apparently think of Madonna as a singer. I am told that "American Idol" is really popular, as is "Dancing With The Stars".

All of those people are welcome to their opinions. As is anyone who thinks "If you play a wider variety of music, the Jazz cannot be beat" is true and accurate.

I have an opinion, too. Mine is that a Jazz is a fine instrument, but that often, the versatility of the Stingray is overlooked. (I blame Flea, personally.)

A Stingray is more than just a loud, live instrument designed to annoy and overpower wanking guitarists.

Now that is MY opinion, you see?

BTW, any opinion that begins with "eh, whatever" should be reconsidered before posting. (Again, just my opinion.)

Cheers!

Jack
 
#27
I have both (or had as i no longer have the american jazz) and i liked both. I find that the Stingray works for me better fingerstyle and it love the low end it can push out with the EQ. the jazz was a also a good bass and I find it fits more music styles. I think you might be better off with the jazz
 
#29
I own a 2005 Fender Jazz American deluxe QMT and just got a brand new Stingray HH.
I think in the end there is no option......you must own both. :)

I bought my Jazz first a year and a half ago and just finally got the new 'Ray. They definitely are two different beasts and you'll have to decide which sound is the one that pleases you more.
 
#30
Shelly said:
These basses are totally different animals. I agree with playing the crap out of them and then making up your mind.
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Agreed. Completely different instruments. Passive vs. active, two single-coils vs. 1 double-coil . . . not to mention just basic body shape and neck differences. Play them both and get whichever one you like more. I really wouldn't pay attention to the $300 price difference unless you're really in a squeeze as far as money is concerned. If that's the case though, looked for something used. You never know what you might find. If you want two basses that are a bit more comparable, I would look at a Jazz and a Sterling instead of a Stingray. They're still very, very different basses, but the Sterling is a bit more jazz-like both in the way it plays and the way it sounds. It's still unique, though. Good luck!
 
#32
I currenlty own an early 90's MIA Jazz Deluxe, which I traded a Stingray for. I loved the Stingray and it had been my dream bass since I was 16, bought it at 26, and I loved playing it, but I always felt like I was missing something. The pickup was a little hot, and I missed having a neck pickup. I liked the feel/look of the Stingray better, but I prefer the sound of the Jazz. I plan to buy another Stingray somewhere down the line, probably a 5, but if I can only have one bass I prefer the Jazz.
 
#34
im more of a sterling guy than a Ray guy due to being in love with the Sterling's neck. but, i really gotta disagree when people say the Ray isnt too versetile. i think it is... like that bovine character, ive taken my Rays and Sterlings into a whole hell of a lot of musical situations and I, along with the folks i jammed with, have all thought the MM's have sounded great and "fit" into the style of music. with these basses its worth your while to get to know the EQ and how to effectively use it. youll soon start to wonder why amps have EQs on em ;)

you really got to give the 2 PUPers a go. I make zero $ for liking MM so if its not your dish, then s'all good - but u should give em a whirl (and every other bass you can get your hands on)
 
#35
I'd go for the HH Stingray, but really, I'm gonna +1 the guy who said go to the store and play the hell out of both of them.

I'm so glad everyone says EBMM basses are consistent in quality, because this has been my observation for years. Any other (non boutique) bass, you pick up two of them and they sound very different (G&L, Fender, etc.), but MM's, you could secretly replace one Ray for another and I'd never know the difference.

So it's important to try a variety of J's when you're in the shop, not just the one on the floor. It'll piss off the salesguys, but if you go when it's not too busy and you tell them you're walking out with a bass today, they'll help you out.
 
#36
I gotta chime in on this, here's my take:

If.... and it's a big if.... you find a straight jazz bass...add a Sadowsky outboard pre-amp or some beefy pick-ups, this will offer the most versitility.

Otherwise get the Ray and be done.

Quality and playability are unsurpassed in Music Man basses.
 
#37
Well I got to compare both side by side yesterday, and I acutally found the single pickup stingray more verstalile than the jazz. The people who think the ray's are on trick pony's probably crank the eq on full, and never mess with it.
 
#39
these are the two basses i own and play. i do like both but here is here's my take.

i like the jazz's tone much more. more "classic", diverse, and easier to fit in to many styles of music. i also like the slap tone the fender gets over the stingray "slap machine" as some call it.

the stingray seems a tad thin sounding on the G string to me......where the jazz sounds fat all around. i prefer the passive tone over the active tone...

i find the jazz much more easy to play and more comfortable in my hands. the jazz is also much lighter.

what the stingray does have over the fender is build quality...my stingray is a freaking rock....it rarely even goes out of tune haha...i've had it in my closet for 6 months..pulled it out and it was still perfectly set up and in tune haha.....(keep in mind i may have a primo specimen)

i find i have to tweak my fender every few weeks...my MIA doesn't seem poor quality or anything but the stingray is pretty impressive

so over all i like the fender...if i had to get rid of one it would be the stingray...
 
#40
I just recently purchased (and modded the **** out of) a MIM Jazz and I have GAS for a particular color Stingray now too.

It doesn't hurt to have a wide variety of basses in your stable. I love the sound my Jazz makes, but I really only want to use it for one particular tone.
 

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