Fender p bass or Ernie ball stingray

[SJan3]

As far as myself I think prefer the stingray sound a little better. I know I can't go wrong with either I'm just wondering a lot of people play the p bass over the stingray and it doesn't matter to me but what I wanna know is why? What am I missing? So far in this post that I made people seem to like the stingray more but out there in the big world it's always fender p bass and nothing else.

I think most might agree that the P Bass has that tone that just works for all genres. R&B, Jazz, rock, pop, blues, country etc.
it's all good with a good P.

 

[Tuna Can Dan]

I'd like to say thank you to all who have replied and given me positive feedback! Everyone had valid points. The truth is I guess there is no wrong decision they are both more than capable of handling the music I play. I wish I could be that guy that picked up the bass and knew this was the one and only and never change. I've known a couple people that have been able to do that and I don't see how. The struggle is real but I'll admit this is a good problem to have. There's really no wrong way. By the way this forum is awesome I never imagined this many people would give me feedback! You guys are awesome!

 

[joebar]

Steve CS- both bass guitars have amazing setups done on them! At this point it's more of what fits my style of playing. I'm in a punk rock band and it's real easy to get lost in the mix and I feel the stingray cuts through better. With that being said I'm trying to find out why 95% of people would play a p bass over the stingray. I know it's personal opinion and feel but am I missing something?

p bass all the way especially for punk rock.
A fresh set of rounds on P bass is a force to be reckoned with.
You may like the Ray now but sooner or later, you'll long for that organic gank that an SR can't give you.

 

[joebar]

After watching the video... it's clear.
That P with a Pick sits right where it should.
Can't you hear it? It's awesome

 

[Gabe7539]

Someone may have already suggested this, but if you like the feel of the Precision and don't mind modding it, you could sell the Stingray and have a Music Man pickup added to the Fender along with the additional knobs or 3 way switch. It might not actually decrease the value considering P/H is a very desirable combination. Some other options could be selling both and getting a Schecter Diamond P Plus, which can get the tone but doesn't have the neck of a P-Bass. Or you could go with a G&L 2000 which gets fairly close to both and can be ordered with a baseball bat neck. There are other P/H options out there, just gotta look for the right one.

 

[joebar]

If the Fender feels only a little better and you love the sound of the Stingray then keep the Stingray. But if it's at all possible, keep both.



I don't play in bands so my opinion doesn't count for much but I just love the simplicity & sound of a P Bass. Stingrays sound great too though.

So you ever notice that in recordings SR's don't really sound all that special. Consider Sade for instance. Kind of a flat sound to my ears.
A P bass in a recording always has that identifiable honk/gank/mid bump from hell that really cuts through.
A good example of a P on fire is anything by Mars Cowling in the Pat Travers band.
For the ultimate P tone with a Pick, go listen to Our Lips Are Sealed-Gogo's and tell me if that ain't floating your boat

 

[scowboy]

At the moment I own two basses. A Stingray and a Precision bass. I have my basses covered. Keep them both.

 

[SJan3]

I'd like to say thank you to all who have replied and given me positive feedback! Everyone had valid points. The truth is I guess there is no wrong decision they are both more than capable of handling the music I play. I wish I could be that guy that picked up the bass and knew this was the one and only and never change. I've known a couple people that have been able to do that and I don't see how. The struggle is real but I'll admit this is a good problem to have. There's really no wrong way. By the way this forum is awesome I never imagined this many people would give me feedback! You guys are awesome!

Really, it's a good problem to have. Down the road, something else may float your boat. Good news is electric basses can be had for far less $$$ than say a good violin or flute. Go with your current love. You can always change in the future. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[rmars]

So you ever notice that in recordings SR's don't really sound all that special. Consider Sade for instance. Kind of a flat sound to my ears.
A P bass in a recording always has that identifiable honk/gank/mid bump from hell that really cuts through.
A good example of a P on fire is anything by Mars Cowling in the Pat Travers band.
For the ultimate P tone with a Pick, go listen to Our Lips Are Sealed-Gogo's and tell me if that ain't floating your boat

Mars Cowling! He is my definition of killer P tone! Met him twice and when I would compliment him he'd get frustrated and say in his English accent, "I'm not really that good. Listen to Jack Bruce, that's all you need to do.". Yeah I love Jack Bruce but he has nothing on Mars's right hand, that thing is brutal!

 

[SJan3]

So you ever notice that in recordings SR's don't really sound all that special. Consider Sade for instance. Kind of a flat sound to my ears.
A P bass in a recording always has that identifiable honk/gank/mid bump from hell that really cuts through.
A good example of a P on fire is anything by Mars Cowling in the Pat Travers band.
For the ultimate P tone with a Pick, go listen to Our Lips Are Sealed-Gogo's and tell me if that ain't floating your boat

IMHO, this is true. I've recorded with Stingray, P and J basses. For me, the Stingray was my least favorite. Just doesn't have the mids that fill that sonic arena and G string sounded thin.
The only Stingray tone I really dug was Bernard Edwards (RIP my brother) in the group CHIC.

 

[Migmatalkbass]

What's up everyone! Im new to this site and I wanted to know everyone's opinion. I own 2 bass guitars and I can't justify having both at the moment so I have to choose which to keep. I currently own a American pro fender p bass and a Ernie ball musicman stingray 4. Here's what I've come up with: Fender is a fender it has the traditional bass sound and you can't go wrong. Ernie ball has that signature sound you either love or hate. I personally feel the stingray stands out more and cuts through in a band better. I've had many compliments on my stingray played through a Ampeg svt CL with 8x10. I'm stuck between loving the way the fender looks and feels vs the stingray sound. Also in the fender I have the Seymour Duncan quarter pounder installed. I just feel like the fender doesn't have as much balls as the Ernie ball. Please let me know your thoughts and opinions . Here's both my guitars!

Go for the sound!!! That's the most important thing. We're musicians, sound comes first...

 

[Hi-End Basses]

Don't sell your Basses. Buy an American G&L L2000!

 

[somebrains]

I love the Ray oiled neck.
I prefer a MM in the P spot.

Lots of guys are experimenting.
Find what you like.
Then the next bass is what the last one couldn't do.
Then the one after that does something else.

Saw this tonight.

 

[Wohlf]

Honestly the fender feels better but I just can't get over that stingray sound.

Tone is the only reason to buy an instrument. If it plays like a dream and sounds like a turd, what do you have???

 

[cv115505]

I'd keep them both.. it doesn't seem like you are in a dire circumstance. The justification for keeping them is that you want them.

 

[Pedullist]

I gave away my P to a friend once. Got it back after 20 years.

Always keep your P, even you don't play it too often for a few months. One day you will. It's essential. I have many basses, but if I would have to pay the bills and get rid of everything, that P will stay I guess. If you don't have to pay any bills, keep both basses. They both make sense in a collection.

 

[Pedullist]

One thing with MM's is that the pickup and its position is so perfect (even with a bridge pickup only version), that you can switch from finger to slap without changing your pickup balance or tone knobs. So if you do that a lot, that's something to consider.

I never slap on my P btw. It's strung with flats and has a different purpose in my collection.

 

[somebrains]

Tone is the only reason to buy an instrument. If it plays like a dream and sounds like a turd, what do you have???

A candidate for an electronics upgrade, or what I thought of every Fender btw the mid-70's until the late is 90's.

Also most Ibanez, Kramer, Wal, Ric, Jackson, ESP, Status, and Warwicks.

Tone is subjective.
If it plays well, and unplugged it has something tho some $ at it.

It's not like I wouldn't mod a Fodera if I wanted it to do something different.

Oh wait, the Monarch I played in the 90's I didn't care for and would have modded it. Played really nice.

 

[devnulljp]

 

[58kites]

Maybe lose the Duncan pickup and put a better sounding P pickup in it....EMG Geezer, Dimarzio Model P, Fender 1962.
I think a P Bass is always the first bass to own and the last to get rid of when culling the herd.