I used to have a 5'er. It wasn't my thing. Felt like a gimmick, for me, that extra string.
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I used to have a 5'er. It wasn't my thing. Felt like a gimmick, for me, that extra string.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I used to have several 4 string basses ... they felt wrong ... like they were missing a string
I suggested a 5 because the musicman 5 string basses are known to have a good low B
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
Used EBMM StingRays for under $1000 are fairly commonplace. Buy one and if you don't like it, just flip it.
Have you considered a USA EBMM Sterling? They can sometimes be found for $900 or so. I love mine. Similar to the StingRay but a narrower neck, slimmer body, and an Alnico V ceramic pickup instead of the ceramic Alnico V found in the StingRay. They can be a bit lighter than a StingRay also.
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I would say "StingRay Classic" if I never got an Old Smoothie under my hands. It has SC characteristics with a tamed top end; which makes it more usable for a wider range of styles, IMHO.
You can make either one sound similar to the other; but excessive EQ'ing often comes with a cost of mutated overtones.
You can make either one sound similar to the other; but excessive EQ'ing often comes with a cost of mutated overtones.
You have it backwards. The sterling has the aggressive ceramic pickup and the stingray has the alnico
I stand corrected.
I have a 2001 EBMM StingRay 5H and a 2001 EBMM Sterling 4H and I love them both. There definitely is a difference in the sound, although some of that may be attributable to that fact that the StingRay has an ash body and the Sterling has an alder one.
Oh, and I have a 1998 EBMM StingRay 5H that is in pieces that I plan to refinish.
Isn't it great? When you dig in hard, there's just a bit of breakup in the midrange. I love that!
@bmusic
It really depends how much you're actually going to use it... If it's just to scratch an itch and have the occasional humbucking tone; sure, get the ray34, sub, or etc. If you want a real stingray presence for your frequent rotation, get a used classic. If you want to use a ray as your main workhorse, pony up and buy yourself a Stingray Special! I use my 4 string special as my main bass and love it. It's much more modern of a tone, great pre-amp with 3 band eq. The HH versions are super versatile. My main gig is a cover band and I can easily dial in tones from smooth operator, to stuck in the middle, to geddy lee. Obviously some players here will read that and get totally foo foo... but at gigs when I need to switch quickly between bass tones it works great. That being said, I have a friend in Dallas who gigs VERY frequently and does all of his live electric playing on a $400 SUB by music man. He says the only people who can tell he's playing a crummy bass are other bass players... so take that for what it's worth. The ray classic is awesome (be it an actual classic ray or a new ray built to classic specs), but to my ears it sounds too vintage to be useful. Unless you always want that sound.
Moral of the story, I'd go used/cheap if you're just scratching and itch. And then upgrade from there.
one other thing... a few guys have mentioned the G&L kiloton. I am a huge G&L advocate and the kiloton is a great bass (I own one myself)! However, it is not a stingray. If you buy a kiloton hoping it will scratch the stingray itch, you're going to be disappointed.
It really depends how much you're actually going to use it... If it's just to scratch an itch and have the occasional humbucking tone; sure, get the ray34, sub, or etc. If you want a real stingray presence for your frequent rotation, get a used classic. If you want to use a ray as your main workhorse, pony up and buy yourself a Stingray Special! I use my 4 string special as my main bass and love it. It's much more modern of a tone, great pre-amp with 3 band eq. The HH versions are super versatile. My main gig is a cover band and I can easily dial in tones from smooth operator, to stuck in the middle, to geddy lee. Obviously some players here will read that and get totally foo foo... but at gigs when I need to switch quickly between bass tones it works great. That being said, I have a friend in Dallas who gigs VERY frequently and does all of his live electric playing on a $400 SUB by music man. He says the only people who can tell he's playing a crummy bass are other bass players... so take that for what it's worth. The ray classic is awesome (be it an actual classic ray or a new ray built to classic specs), but to my ears it sounds too vintage to be useful. Unless you always want that sound.
Moral of the story, I'd go used/cheap if you're just scratching and itch. And then upgrade from there.
one other thing... a few guys have mentioned the G&L kiloton. I am a huge G&L advocate and the kiloton is a great bass (I own one myself)! However, it is not a stingray. If you buy a kiloton hoping it will scratch the stingray itch, you're going to be disappointed.
I voted for the Ray 4. The same thing happened to me when I played mine. I fell in love with the bass itself and the price. It really punches above its weight with a good set up.
Not gonna lie, I have been interested in researching more expensive options, but I would probably save up for an HH if I were going to go more expensive.
I'm glad you had a chance to try the Ray24(even if you didn't like it). It was the one I would suggest as it is reminiscent of the original Stingrays which was what you wanted on your first post. Good luck with your decision. I went with the Ray25ca and haven't put it down for the last year.
2 band Stingray from the 90's is the sweet spot. Great necks, contour body and the classic 2 band pre. The bass I will never part with.
