I've been looking for a new bass and I've narrowed it down to either the G&L ASAT or the Stingray. What are the pros/cons of each bass? I play in a punk band and like an aggressive tone.
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G&L ASAT vs Musicman Stingray
- Thread starter Better_Sense
- Start date
The ASAT looks way cooler, I mean its a Tele body, what says punk more than that.
.not to mention that they are seen way less than a Stingray....I am NOT an owner of either,going based on looks alone.
.not to mention that they are seen way less than a Stingray....I am NOT an owner of either,going based on looks alone.You get more flexibility with an ASAT (or an L-2000) then with a Musicman, and more sounds usable for punk music (ex: neck pickup soloed will give you a sound similar to a P-bass, impossible to get with a Stingray). As a long time G&L owner (my L-2500 is my main bass since 1998) I can tell you I never regret my choice.
the Stingray will sound better. The P will work.
Listen to "One Armed Scissor" by At the Drive In. If you like that tone you'll like a Stingray. For those people who think a Stingray cant get P like tones, I suggest you listen as well.
Listen to "One Armed Scissor" by At the Drive In. If you like that tone you'll like a Stingray. For those people who think a Stingray cant get P like tones, I suggest you listen as well.
RedLeg
Supporting Member
ASAT will sound better and will cover Stingray sounds.
Stingray can never be passive, and cannot cover what the ASAT does.
Stingray can never be passive, and cannot cover what the ASAT does.
I've owned an L-2000 which has the same electronics as the ASAT and I play a Stingray knock off and have played enough in guitar stores to get the general idea.
ASAT = "Swiss Army knife of basses." It really is. I can't imagine there is any tone you can get close to. The bad: the ASATs I've played have neck dive. Not terrible but enough to put me off. But I'm picky on this point. Its the law of physics. You really need the strap button to be at the 12th fret or further. Not gonna happen with that single cut design. BTW: no neck dive with the L-2000.
Stingray: Okay, there's some debate about the "Stingray" tone. They've changed it over the years and then there's the Sterling which was another "improvement" in the same sort of vein that the Jazz was an "improvement" over the Precision. But any variation with give you the aggressive active bass tone. Add one with multiple pickups and you've got some more versatility. The down side to me on Stingrays are 1. they are so darn heavy 2. don't really dig the aesthetics of the oval pick-guard.
Those are my observations.
ASAT = "Swiss Army knife of basses." It really is. I can't imagine there is any tone you can get close to. The bad: the ASATs I've played have neck dive. Not terrible but enough to put me off. But I'm picky on this point. Its the law of physics. You really need the strap button to be at the 12th fret or further. Not gonna happen with that single cut design. BTW: no neck dive with the L-2000.
Stingray: Okay, there's some debate about the "Stingray" tone. They've changed it over the years and then there's the Sterling which was another "improvement" in the same sort of vein that the Jazz was an "improvement" over the Precision. But any variation with give you the aggressive active bass tone. Add one with multiple pickups and you've got some more versatility. The down side to me on Stingrays are 1. they are so darn heavy 2. don't really dig the aesthetics of the oval pick-guard.
Those are my observations.
I'd much rather go with the asat in this situation. If anything for visual effect you'd stand out a lot more then a Stingray with the unique looks of the asat. The asat by nature, like the string ray, is aggressive but can dial it out, go to passive and do a lot more. Not to say the Stingray itself isn't versatile, it's just not the versatility of the asat/l2000.
Look at some of the bass players you like. I am willing to bet none of them play an ASAT. Most punk bass players play a P, J, or Stingray. I would go with the Stingray (it is what I played for several years). Although the ASAT does have a little more flexibility.
Cheers
Cheers
I'm sure Stingray can handle punk very well just as good as a pbass.
Personlly I like the tone of G&L but hate the look of that ASAT so I bought a Stingray instead. Very good in my ear and can actually cover a wide range of tone with a single humbucker actually .......
Personlly I like the tone of G&L but hate the look of that ASAT so I bought a Stingray instead. Very good in my ear and can actually cover a wide range of tone with a single humbucker actually .......
ASAT all the way baby! I play punk and metal with mine. I recorded an album using a Stingray and I've regretted it.
Stingray if you with a 2band EQ model, probably lean towards a maple board as well.
A ray sounds like a ray, so if you want that sound, go for it.
ASATs do look cooler, neck dive aside, you can get quite a few more tonal options going.
I like the G&L neck profiles a bit better than the standard Musicman shape.
A ray sounds like a ray, so if you want that sound, go for it.
ASATs do look cooler, neck dive aside, you can get quite a few more tonal options going.
I like the G&L neck profiles a bit better than the standard Musicman shape.
ASAT wins in my house. I've had mine for 13 years and will never let it go. The Stingray is cool, but G&L stomps all over the it.
Gotta love Jason Black
How consistent are the brands quality-wise?
I have to buy them both unseen as none of the guitar shops within hundred of miles stock them.
Hey, one thing to remember with the ASAT is there's no forearm contour on the body. For me, that got to be a little irritating when I was doing heavy picking. That edge really started to wear my arm raw.
They are great sounding and cool looking basses though.
G&L and Musicman Quality is very consistent. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either.
They are great sounding and cool looking basses though.
G&L and Musicman Quality is very consistent. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either.
G&L offers many options and an arm contour is now offered by request on the ASAT body.
To me, neck dive and all the possible setting combinations of sounds (many call this versatility!) are the downside of the ASAT. I love the look, playability and tone of my ASAT. Don't have any experience with EBMM because I like my ASAT so much that I'm not looking around for another bass...
