Gretsch Junior Jet II vs Sterling Short Scale Stingray

[513rocks.com]

Hello.... Has anyone played both of these basses? I've been looking for a short scale bass and have narrowed it down to these two.... I've played the Stingray but not the Gretsch... I've read tons of reviews on both of them, and it seems like both have positive reviews, but the Gretsch seems to be liked the most.... The Gretsch is half the price, but I've read that it smokes most short scale basses that are double or triple the price.... I can't find anywhere online that compares the two.... So, what do you guys think?

 

[Groove Doctor]

What style of music will you play with it?
Flats or rounds?
Fingerstyle or plectrum?
What amp & cab will you be running through?

What did you like/ dislike about the Gretsch?

 

[DrBnz]

I did this study a few months back. I went to GC with my headphones and ran thru a small pile of SS. The last two finalist were these two. I picked the Gretsch (but it took off that ugly pickguard.. much better). But yeah, Stingray is very nice. The things that were the tie breaker were. I hated the bleached neck on them (yeah, it was so close it came to esthetics). Plus the stingray sounded like a stingray (I already have a few of those). And the Gretsch I was able to get unique and pleasant tones out of it (as well as the basics). But honestly.... if I could get past that ugly neck, I'd probably have a mini-ray hanging on my wall right now.

 

[nonohmic]

I thought the SBMM had terrible ergonomics.

 

[sporadic29414]

I went with the Gretsch and put some GHS precision flats on it. Tone is more versatile on the Gretsch imo. I'd only go with the Ray if you're looking for the Ray tone.

 

[Greywoulf]

I thought the SBMM had terrible ergonomics.

Agree! Bottom heavy; -surprised me every time I lifted it off it's stand! And the so called 'boost' in it is ineffective, almost unhearable.
I didn't buy the Gretsch JJ2 but did try it at GC and thot it lighter, easier to play, and a better buy at the lesser price. Also probably has a wider range of tones than the Sterling SS, as the Sterling is rather a one-trick pony IMO.

 

[LBS-bass]

I haven't played them both, but I own the Gretsch and have been playing it a lot lately. It stacks up favorably against some far more expensive basses I have here and I agree with the person who said it offers some distinctive tonal options. It's unlikely you'll be displeased with that one; it's a pretty well made little bass for the money you'll spend.

 

[513rocks.com]

What style of music will you play with it?
Flats or rounds?
Fingerstyle or plectrum?
What amp & cab will you be running through?

What did you like/ dislike about the Gretsch?

I play all kinds of music. i have 35yrs of playing experience.
I'm currently doing a rehab stint at a nursing home. I'll be playing it through a Bose Pocket GT through my Bose Q35 Headphones. Thats all I can use while I'm in here. When I get out, I have an Ashdown ABM 500 EVOII and a Peavey MiniMax V1 head. I also have a Peavey PVH 410 but will probably get one of those new Ampeg Rocket RB-210 or a PF800 and PF210.
I use fingers, pick, and thumb.
I'll probably put Labella Flats on it.
I haven't played the Gretsch. I played the Stingray.... The Gretsch just sounds amazing in all the videos I've heard. All the videos or articles I've read has placed The Gretsch in the top 10 basses in 2021...

 

[513rocks.com]

I thought the SBMM had terrible ergonomics.

What do you mean?

 

[nonohmic]

What do you mean?

Bottom heavy so sits weird in the lap, and then because of the short scale and the rather forward upper horn it felt like my right hand was tilted back toward the bridge a lot to try and pluck in the sweet spot. Then also because of this the whole fingerboard felt very cramped, first fret was drawn back towards the body, and the upper frets were almost inaccessible.

Of course some folks like that, esp if you're playing in 1-5 position a lot. But for me, it felt the worst out of any shorties I've tried. Shame, cause they look and sound awesome.

Oh yeah and the neck shape and feel reminded me of a Squier Bronco, or an piece of cheap dowel. Again YMMV.

 

[B-Mac]

Hello.... Has anyone played both of these basses? I've been looking for a short scale bass and have narrowed it down to these two.... I've played the Stingray but not the Gretsch... I've read tons of reviews on both of them, and it seems like both have positive reviews, but the Gretsch seems to be liked the most.... The Gretsch is half the price, but I've read that it smokes most short scale basses that are double or triple the price.... I can't find anywhere online that compares the two.... So, what do you guys think?

Stop in here sometime
Quite a few Junior Jet owners
The OFFICIAL "Gretsch Bass Owners Club"

 

[Djadja]

I've not played the Gretsch so can't make an informed comment on it. It does look and sound like a great buy from everything I can see.

I own both the EBMM and the SBMM short scale Stingrays and love them both. I bought the EBMM first and loved it. I wanted/needed a fretless. Neither is available in that format so I bought the SBMM and had my tech defret it. I am very happy with it. The EBMM obviously has much higher quality hardware, fit and finish is better, and the woods are more elegant. Still, they sound very, very, very similar to the point that I think you'd be hard pressed to tell one from the other blindfolded, listening to someone else play. The SBMM is amazing bang for the buck IMHO and a great bass period.

I don't find it a one trick pony and find the three way switch plus the tone control give me a fairly wide number of options. The "boost" is not something I use on either bass. If/when the switch goes (they seem to fail a bit on the SBMM's), I will just replace the push/push with a straight 500K pot. It does sound like a Stingray... As for ergonomics, I would guess that is an issue of preference. The reason I play short scales is that I want the first fret closer to my body. Obviously a trade off is that causes the upper frets to be in very close to the body.