I played guitar in rock bands for many years. The best bass I ever had in the band was a guy playing a StingRay. It sounded awesome in his hands, always. Memorable. I can still hear it.
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I had a Fender jazz bass for the majority of my time playing bass. It was my #1 for at least 10 years. I sold it a few months after getting my first StingRay Special and have not regretted it at all. I currently have 1 SR Special HH, 1 SR Special H, 1 SR Special H Fretless, 1 SR5 Special H. I also just sold a SR Special HH that I had. In my experience, the single H StingRay is very versatile and offers plenty of different sounds to satisfy pretty much all that one would need if you use the preamp. The HH Stingray is cool and does offer some different sounds, but in my experience I still use the bridge pickup around 90% of the time.
Also, if you are a slap player, the single H does make things a bit easier as some people complain that the neck pickup gets in their way. It doesn't for me, but I can see how it might for others depending on their slap technique.
Also, if you are a slap player, the single H does make things a bit easier as some people complain that the neck pickup gets in their way. It doesn't for me, but I can see how it might for others depending on their slap technique.
Skip this step entirely & go for a Rickenbacker 4003 
You made a very good choice with Ibanez. It would be great if you could go somewhere and try some higher end Ibanez basses. I've been playing bass for decades and had Fender P's and J's. Then in the early 80's I switched to an Ibanez Roadstar II bass. It was so incredible and I still own it.
Now I own a half dozen Ibanez bass in various configurations. Ibanez basses are very well built and somewhat hot-rodded out of the box. The Premium Series is somewhat in the semi-boo-teek category and the craftsmanship is unbelievable. And remember, most famous bass players may own some basses but also play various brand names because they either get them for free or get paid for endorsing. At one time when I was young I also wanted to own certain basses because of my bass heroes. Not anymore, especially after a couple decades of professional touring. It's what sounds good to my ears that I look for, and my talent speaks for itself, I don't need a legacy brand name. Good luck with your search and let us know what you end up with.
JeezyMcNuggles
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Stingrays are what they are. As far as "versatile" everything is a one trick pony. A bass can never be anything more than it is. What makes anything "versatile" is how you play it. Stingrays are everywhere, Jazzes are everywhere, Ps are everywhere, Ibanezes are everywhere, etc.
That being said, I'd get a jazz bass. I can't stand Stingrays. I think they sound like garbage. They're one of those things where you can either make it work for you and love it, or you can't and you hate it. I can't, and don't want to.
Oh Boy! Another one of these debates.
I have a P, a J, a MM, a G&L, and a few other assorted flavors just to keep things interesting. It just depends on what one needs. Get either and just make it work out until you can own both.
I have a P, a J, a MM, a G&L, and a few other assorted flavors just to keep things interesting. It just depends on what one needs. Get either and just make it work out until you can own both.
If you check out Stingrays make sure the D and G strings sound good, some have thin sounding G strings. I have a 1990 Stingray and a 1995 MIM Jazz (both 5 strings) and D and G strings are so much fatter sounding on the Jazz. I finally went back to playing the Jazz, but the action was high and it needed a shim and the shim I ordered wasn't the right size and I didn't have time to mess with it so I got a Sire V7 about 2 months ago and it sounds great on all strings up and down the neck. But, the Stingrays are great at what they do and are fun to play and are great for slapping and string pops.
Nasally doesn't have to be there:
Apparently Williams uses flats in the studio - That might be part of it.
Apparently Williams uses flats in the studio - That might be part of it.
OP, if a bass doesn't feel good to you, you won't play it. I too, love MusicMan basses. Love the neck, shape and feel. I also love the sound. Remember that even a single pickup EBMM bass has a powerful EQ section (cut and boost). The tonal range is immense, but it still sounds like a Stingray.
The Stingray is the only bass (for me) that I was able to play in medium loud to loud settings and cut through the mix. It sounds good every time. I have played jazz, musicals, folk, pop, funk, top 40s, and punk with a Stingray 4 string. A tweak of the EQ gives me what I need. So don't be afraid of that single humbucker. Leo Fender put it there (with the preamp and EQ) for a reason.
In my humble opinion, the new specials are simply the best sounding Stingrays yet. I own a Stingray from 1999 and I will not part with it, but the newer ones sound even better to me.
The Stingray is the only bass (for me) that I was able to play in medium loud to loud settings and cut through the mix. It sounds good every time. I have played jazz, musicals, folk, pop, funk, top 40s, and punk with a Stingray 4 string. A tweak of the EQ gives me what I need. So don't be afraid of that single humbucker. Leo Fender put it there (with the preamp and EQ) for a reason.
In my humble opinion, the new specials are simply the best sounding Stingrays yet. I own a Stingray from 1999 and I will not part with it, but the newer ones sound even better to me.
While somewhat rare, Fender did make the American Deluxe Precision bass in the 90s and 2000's it had a double single in the bridge position and a p in the neck position. Very very nice bass. I ALMOST bought one, but it hummed like a bastard when I plugged it in. Deffo worth a look if you like the feel of the Stingray but would like Fender tones.
I played a SR-5 for over 20 years. I've play everything from country to prog rock with it and never got any complaints. I also play a G&L JB-5 (5 string jazz). It sounds different from the SR-5, not quite as aggressive but I wouldn't hesitate to use it for any type of music.
Whichever bass you like (sounds like you like the Stingray) will function nicely for all the genres you mentioned.
I've played Stingrays for the past 38 years of my so-called career, and I've never been turned away from a gig because I didn't have a Jazz (or Precision) bass. Types of music that I've covered with them include fusion, straight ahead jazz, free/out jazz, dixieland, contemporary christian, pop, rock, funk, blues, commercials/jingles, country, latin, show tunes/broadway orchestra pit, and probably some other stuff that I can't remember.
Ultimately, the vast majority of people who will hire you will hire you because of how you play, not what you're playing.
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I know some guys play flats or dead strings on Stings, but I've always hated my bass the moment it started losing brightness. I had a set of Elixir stainless steels on my bass and a slightly bigger gauge and it was the best it ever sounded. Just punchy. I haven't been able to get them since. I will tell you the G-string is crazy zingy though. You have to be real careful with it.
Let your ears be you guide, not what your heros play. Buy what you like. Odds are you can get the same model bass with the same amp, strings, cabs and effects and you still might not sound like them.
Frankly to your poser, I don’t think one is better than the other and think of them as different instruments that have a cross purpose commonality.
Follow your gut, end of story
I love my Rays.
I personally love the way Jazz basses sound, but I hate the way they look so I could never bring myself to buy one.
I'm in a similar boat having played a jazz and loving it but never really loved the look of it. I love the feel and look of StingRays, as well as their sound. Part of me would like to get a cheaper StingRay and gut the electronics and get it routed for a set of J pickups. I'm sure it's been done but I have never seen one and I've looked online before.
I love Stingrays. Sounds like you do too. So get one. Learning to use the onboard EQ makes it easy to use for a lot of applications. My only 5-string is my Stingray, I used to have a few Jazz fives but never played them so I unloaded them.
