J bass vs stingray

I'm personally not into the idea of a bass with only a bridge pickup, like the Stingray, for the reasons you listed. How about a Music Man with two humbuckers? Or a G&L L-2000, which can also do single coil, like a jazz bass, if you have the k-switch. Good luck!

 

I like J basses better, but sounds like you prefer the MM more, so I'd get the MM if I were you.

 

You already have your answer.

 

To be honest, only you can decide what works for you. If you want a Stingray get one. If it doesn’t work out for you move on to something else.
Play what YOU like and LIKE what you play!!

Try some basses that offer a mix of the Jazz and Stingray. Sabre, Sterling, Stingray HH, Dimensions, Caprice come to mind. You might even like a Lakland that has a Jazz bass pickup at the neck and Stingray pickup at the bridge position.

 

I think the fact that you like the feel and tone of a stingray is all you need to know.

Ive seen Rays in all the genres you list. EQ and string selection go a long way. I know a guy in town, uses a Ray for jazz and blues. He is able to take some “stank” off it, sounds a little more “vanilla” than a typical Ray but still really beefy and punchy.

my point is don’t let the idea that a Ray doesn’t “fit” this or that hold you back. Play what’s right for you.

 

Man, if the MM feels like home, then open the door and walk on in.

 

Just info:
The Stingray single H pickup location is as though a compromise or blending of Ric bridge and J (60s) bridge*.
I like to understand it in that way (but it also has the preamp).

Before I knew anything about basses, I never thought that Cliff Williams, for example, was nasally. And it's tighter than P.

[*With all measurements taken from the nut, and after making a correction for the difference in scale length, the row of pole pieces in the MM pickup closer to the nut is in the same place as the Ric bridge pickup, and the row of pole pieces closer to the bridge is about .4" farther from the bridge than a J 60s, if I remember right.]

 

Stingray all the way everyday. Its not even close for me. I played jazz basses exclusively for a long time. Once I really took the time to learn how to use a Ray I have never looked back. The new Specials have more of a Fender style voice IMO. Get the Ray. You will not regret it.

 

I have five US made Sting Rays (four string with single pickup) and a US 1962 reissue Jazz Bass. All are great.

IMO, go for the Sting Ray first and then follow it up with a Jazz when circumstances permit.

 

Get what you like. What feels and sounds right or at home to you.

honestly, we all sound like ourselves on what we play. The bass sound itself does not make as big a difference as well tend to think. It’s the player not the bass.

 

Get yourself one of the Stingray Special, they are very versatile and work in all genre you can think of.

I love my multi-pick up bass (PJ, Triple Single Coil (Big Al), Dual Humbucker) but I found my Stingray Special with the single humbucker is the perfect workhorse. I have a dual humbucker Stingray coming in a couple of day but I think it won't be the one staying

 

I also recommend the StingRay Special. I like Jazz Basses, too, but if a StingRay feels like home to you, you can't miss with the Special. Light, versatile, top quality instruments for sure.

 

By far the most important question for a player at your level is which bass is going to get you off the couch and into the shed more often.

The right bass is the one you want to play the most.

Bandleader preferences and soundman bigotry can wait until later.

 

Two completely different basses. Both each with + or - really depends on what you want...

 

I have J and MM and others. The styles you name are when I’d grab my MM. Nothing wrong with a Jazz bass. But the Ray is it’s own animal. If you like a Ray you like a Ray.

 

"However, whenever I go to a music shop and play a stingray I feel at home. I love the tone and the feel of them, and my gut's telling me that it's the way to go."

Thats a long post - given you already answered your own question.

What other people think dont matter.

 

I would not discount the MM based on only having a bridge pickup. It also has a robust preamp that will offer you a pretty broad spectrum of tonal variety.

I played a Sterling Ray 34 with a natural finish and I believe a roasted maple neck and fingerboard. It didn't belong to me but the few times he let me play it I was pretty impressed. I had some mishaps because I didn't understand the controls. kept hearing these clicks not realizing I'd boosted the highs. One day I picked it up and the bass must have been boosted because it was just loud and thunderous. Not necessarily what I'd want to sound like, but, it did show off the capability of the preamp and that thing can make thunder.

When I did have it EQ'd in a place I like it sounded marvelous. It was a joy to have in my hands.

I may have even enjoyed it more than my American Special P-bass. Not that I'm going to sell it to make room for a Stingray, but.. shoot I kind of wish I had one hanging somewhere, but I'm not sure it's going to make my list in my lifetime unless by some miracle I find my way into a situation where I can afford a mansion with a room dedicated to guitars and basses.

I might drool a little bit when I see other people playing their Stingray's though.

 

Whenever I have to decide between two or more choices regarding gear, I ask myself: If I could have all of them, which one would I reach for first and most often. So ask yourself, if you could have both a Jazz and a Stingray, which one would you reach for first and most often? Whichever comes to mind first, is probably what you want.

 

I was in the same boat, wanted a jazz and kept stumbling across stingrays that felt so much more at home. So I got the HH. With the switch you can run the pickups similar to a jazz but better. The special preamp with the top rolled off a bit should give you the best of both worlds.