Help- Should I buy a Stingray? if so, what kind?

[Pyrrho Epoche]

EBMM StingRay4HH. Try to find a brand new, but older one---like a 2018 or so. Save a few bucks! It is possible to find these---just takes time. I did and the only thing that I hated about the Special, was having to get off my a$$ to sell all my other basses(except my fretless jazz) that were just collecting dust(including my '98 USA Stingray 4H.)

 

[ComeHomeShane]

@OP, what's the sound you're after in your head? If you want it to sound like a stingray, get a stingray. Nothing else will satisfy.

+1 stingray special.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

The answer is always YES! to buying EBMM Stingray. I've only played Special's 4HH & 5H absolutely love them!
An yes they'll play well with pedalboard.

 

[lordradish]

I’ll get in my standard recommendation for a used Ibanez ATK, and will tack on my standard paraphrasing of @Dr. Cheese about what Ibanez accomplished with that series: rather than a Stingray clone, Ibanez created a Stingray alternative. Mine has kept me from seriously considering a Stingray for nearly 30 years

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Listen to this man, if for no other reason that someone who looks that happy when he's playing isn't likely lying about it.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Batteries aren’t scary

Get that proper Stingray

 

[Stranger Danger]

If you're on the used market an American made stingray SUB, not the sterling by music man SUB, is basically a stingray classic. Haven't checked on prices In a long time but I've seen them as cheap as 400

I don’t think the Op is thinking the budget route

 

[Riff Ranger]

Listen to this man, if for no other reason that someone who looks that happy when he's playing isn't likely lying about it.

I’ve had a very up-and-down week, and this just made my night thank you.

 

[Bertr]

Reading your post I would tend to say: What you really want is a EBMM Stingray (classic or 4H). Now go for it, because if you buy something else, you'll always have this nagging feeling '... maybe I should have...'.

 

[sgiacomo]

Hello fellow TB'ers,
I've played bass for 21 years. Yikes. My favorite basses I've owned are 4003s and P basses. I own a real estate brokerage now and don't spend nearly the amount of time I used to playing, but I do like to have a nice bass around. When I started my new business this year I sold all of my basses for some capital, and have gotten to the point where I can get a new one.

Save for Guild, Thunderbird and G and L, I have owned nearly non boutique bass that isn't a Stingray. I have the itch to buy one.

When I play, I play a lot of post-punk, rock, indie, and classic rock.

I'm REALLY into pedals. Overdrive, chorus, fuzz, analog octave down. Will an active Stingray make this harder?

I think I would like an EBMM American Stingray. Is there an option to have them passive, or are they just active?

I lean towards getting the 4H because that is the classic look. Can you get the 4H sound out of other configurations? I typically do not like P basses with a J bridge pickup, I don't think you can get the 100 percent P sound.

I couldn't believe a brand new EBMM Stingray 4H is $2500. The used market is pretty robust as well. I care less about the cost than the resale value in case I flip it.

If anyone wants to talk me into a G and L over a Stingray, go for it.

Are the Sterlings in the same ballpark? The Marcus Miller new copies?

Thank you so much for your time. Can't wait to hear your opinions.

I’ve had similar ownership experiences. Just got my first Stingray, a frost green Special. The Stingray Special is active only with 18 volt preamp. It’s my only active bass at this point. I really like the feel and build quality. The tone is off the charts, but I had an annoying buzzing sound coming from mine that required a trip back to Ernie Ball for a new preamp. It’s supposed to ship back out to me Monday. So all this to say: yes and don’t look back. Contact Jason at Fret Nation for a great deal on them. That’s what I did at the recommendation of a fellow TBer.

 

[Billyears IV]

Love my Sterling Ray34. I wasn't specifically seeking a MM, just idly picked it up in a store to noodle and walked out with a purchase.

Roasted maple neck v playable. Such a great range of tones from 1 pick up. Tend to dial back miss and boost bass on the instrument.
I use plenty of pedals and all work superbly. I use rechargeable batteries - never a problem.

I haven't dared try a EBMM as out of my budget!

 

[ok-djmiller]

I’m a big fan of EBMM and G&L. I think the fit & finish of both are outstanding, with EBMM getting a slight edge. The EBMM waxed neck is amazing, but I prefer the slimmer neck and body shape of my G&L over my Stingray Standard.

There is really nothing else that’s exactly like a ‘Ray in terms of tone and feel - so if that’s what you want, get a Stingray.

If you are willing to simply get close to that tone, want a passive option, and want spend a little less $$$ - check out an L2000 or a Kiloton.

Also note that the Stingray nut is usually 1 11/16. I definitely feel a difference vs my 1 5/8 p-bass nut, if that matters to you.

 

[sikamikanico]

Have you played one yet? Go out and try a bunch, see if you bond with any of them. If you’re a P and Rick kinda guy, you may not bond with Rays…

I had the old US made active SUB, and played it for years. It was ok, but never quite “it”. Did all sorts of things, didn’t quite fix it. Then got a P and a J and those got me what I wanted/needed much better.

I did later try the HH Ray, and like it much better than the H - particularly settings 2 and 4 which are outer and inner single coils. They kinda get more jazz and rick vibes.

I also liked “passive” stingray type basses better - including an OLP and G&L kiloton, where you could solo the neck coil (kinda P/rick tone). Their stingray sound was convincing, but as you can tell i didn’t really bond with the classic stingray sound anyway, so I wasn’t looking to nail it.

two other EB/Ray type basses to consider: I recall some Rays had an option for a single coil mode (with a phantom coil to cancel the hum) - that might be a good option to have. Another is an HS model - that might be my preferred arrangement if I’d get another Ray. I just like having a neck pickup.

One more thing to add: unlike on passive basses, adding pickups and phantom coils to a Stingray doesn’t change their tone since they’re active, and they tend to use switches not pots anyway (on a PJ, it’s the extra pot for the J that kills some of the P tone). That said, the preamps might be different model to model, and I do believe Ray purists tend to prefer certain preamps better than others (eg 2 band vs 3 band)…

 

[Chrisk-K]

The P, the 4003/4001, and the SR are the triumvirate of the bass empire.

 

[bassdude51]

Have you ever played a Stingray? What better way to decide if "you should buy one".

They are great basses! It's been said if one owns a P, a J and a 'Ray.......story over!

Stingray's do have a strong mid range sound. Some like that because they get a strong "cut through" sound. Others don't like the 'Ray's strong mid range because it sounds nasally, "barky" lacks deep rich bottom. YMMV

If you buy a new one from Sweetwater, Zzsounds, Musician's Friend (if they are MM dealers) you can get a 45 day return policy.

The USA Sterlings are nice. Narrower neck and 3 pickup selections. I tend to like the pre-Special Stingray models.

Hey man! Good luck! (It's great for you that money is not an issue.)

 

[Smooth_bass88]

prices for new StingRays have gotten ridiculous. People are asking crazy prices for used ones too. Keep your eyes peeled for a good price on an older one- they do pop up once in a while. good luck

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

How about a G&L Kiloton!

I had one. I couldn't get a good tone out of it.

 

[Todd Hamby]

As someone who is a card carrying Stingray fanatic (and owns a pretty decent variety of models), if you’re looking for tonal variety then I would a check out a Special HH. There is a 5 way sector switch allowing actually 9 different combinations of coil selections. There’s actually four positions between the five (hard stop) positions. Hope you find the one that speaks to you!

 

[Acoop]

Search out a Stingray Special 4HH with an Ebony board.

 

[Derry Murbles]

I vote EBMM Sterling for the ceramic pickup, 3-way pickup wiring switch (series, single coil, parallel), narrower neck, and slimmer/smaller body and versatility of it the tone. Can get the more agressive mid-forward sound of the Sterling, or flip the switch to parallel wiring and you get very close to the SR tone. Tweak the EQ just a touch and you’re there.

I also have a SBMM Ray 34 which sounds more like a Stingray than the EBMM Sterling, cost about a third as much, and plays comfortably.

Have another EBMM Sterling on order, but in the Raspberry Burst. Should be here in a couple months. I LOVE the Pacific Blue Burst but it looks close to black in a room that’s dark enough, so the Raspberry Burst should stay nice and bright looking, even in lower light conditions:

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

There is a 5 way sector switch allowing actually 9 different combinations of coil selections. There’s actually four positions between the five (hard stop) positions. Hope you find the one that speaks to you!

Great to know! Thanks, will experiment in a bit. The things you learn on talkbass.