Play both and see what you like best. They will have different neck profiles and feel.
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I have all three. They all work for anything that requires an electric fretted bass.
We with girly hands find Rics the hardest to play of those 4 basses.
Both of these are more than respectable basses, but if I was buying I'd get the Stingray for its active electronics and the additional flexibility it provides. Another reason to go for the Stingray is how well they hold their value.
I know this is off topic, but before I pulled the trigger on either of these, I'd check out a G & L. G & L has a wider selection of models and a lot more finishes, pickguards, tone woods, neck widths and other customization features.
I know this is off topic, but before I pulled the trigger on either of these, I'd check out a G & L. G & L has a wider selection of models and a lot more finishes, pickguards, tone woods, neck widths and other customization features.
I'm a humbucker guy, but I love my ray for so many more reasons than that
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I find all the versatility I need in a 2eq stingray and I pretty much don't touch the controls, just moving my right hand to get more bite or get a big full rumble... if you go the stingray route try a 2 band and a 3 eq just to see what works for you... I originally bought a 3eq just because I assumed 3 is better than 2, but after I discovered the 2 eq it's all I'm interested in... though I do have a Pbass just cause
A Jazz bass was my main bass for 14 years. I play mostly (lightweight) P's these days. Never bonded with necks or weight of Stingrays.
+1 to versatile basses like G&L, etc. My Tobias cops a decent P or J tone in passive mode, in active mode (with EQ & the right technique) it can fill the shoes of a MM tone.
+1 to versatile basses like G&L, etc. My Tobias cops a decent P or J tone in passive mode, in active mode (with EQ & the right technique) it can fill the shoes of a MM tone.
I agree both basses have a very personal sound. Now, certainly, Jazzes are the least easy in a mix, they sound scooped. A P-bass would be in between and then a Musicman, for some timbrical magic happening in it (which I'm not technically able to explain but seems to be some "prrrrrrr" action in the low mids), does never get lost in a mix, you can mix it real quiet and still be able to distinguish it. With that comes the poor versatility some claim, which is relative if you see the diversity of types of music where a Musicman shines.
Now, I missed a "carrots" option, dear OP. If you like a Jazz you might enjoy a Sterling better than a Stingray. The neck is more alike (most probably thinner front to back) and it has a 3 position (series/single/parallel -series/filtered series/parallel on more recent ones-) switch for some added tone variety (4 string Stingrays come hard wired parallel). With that and the 3-band EQ tone can be radically altered. Now, there's still one further option, which would be to look at an HS or HH Sterling, which has the usual humbucker plus a single coil or humbucker in neckside position. I personally prefer the HS as it can still achieve 2 of the 3 sounds a single humbucker Sterling can achieve (in the HH you only get one sound that singles the bridge humbucker). The HS Sterling5 I have can get close enough to a couple flavors of Jazz Bass and sorta' "hack" a Precision, while having amazing playability (Geddy Jazz playability, superb) and keeping Musicman's signature oomph and cut-thru' ability. Personally one of the most versatile basses I've had (right behind a Peavey T40 I briefly had), with all the added benefits of a Musicman (playability, authority, the more I try to get away from them the harder for me to live without them).
This is a series of samples of my Sterling5. What you hear goes like this...
CLEAN (fingerstyle)
1) P "hack"sound
2) Jazz (both PUs maxed) flavor 1
3) Jazz (both PUs maxed) flavor 2
4) neckside coil soloed (can sound less Musicman and more Jazzy playing with EQ, scooping it usually takes some of the MM "in your face-ness", bringing out more of that Jazz sort of "hi-fi-ness")
DIRTY (SansAmp+COMP+pick)
5) P "hack"sound
6) Jazz flavor 1
Now, I missed a "carrots" option, dear OP. If you like a Jazz you might enjoy a Sterling better than a Stingray. The neck is more alike (most probably thinner front to back) and it has a 3 position (series/single/parallel -series/filtered series/parallel on more recent ones-) switch for some added tone variety (4 string Stingrays come hard wired parallel). With that and the 3-band EQ tone can be radically altered. Now, there's still one further option, which would be to look at an HS or HH Sterling, which has the usual humbucker plus a single coil or humbucker in neckside position. I personally prefer the HS as it can still achieve 2 of the 3 sounds a single humbucker Sterling can achieve (in the HH you only get one sound that singles the bridge humbucker). The HS Sterling5 I have can get close enough to a couple flavors of Jazz Bass and sorta' "hack" a Precision, while having amazing playability (Geddy Jazz playability, superb) and keeping Musicman's signature oomph and cut-thru' ability. Personally one of the most versatile basses I've had (right behind a Peavey T40 I briefly had), with all the added benefits of a Musicman (playability, authority, the more I try to get away from them the harder for me to live without them).
This is a series of samples of my Sterling5. What you hear goes like this...
CLEAN (fingerstyle)
1) P "hack"sound
2) Jazz (both PUs maxed) flavor 1
3) Jazz (both PUs maxed) flavor 2
4) neckside coil soloed (can sound less Musicman and more Jazzy playing with EQ, scooping it usually takes some of the MM "in your face-ness", bringing out more of that Jazz sort of "hi-fi-ness")
DIRTY (SansAmp+COMP+pick)
5) P "hack"sound
6) Jazz flavor 1
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The short answer is... both. Have a Precision, a Jazz and a Stingray.
It really comes down to personal preference. The Stingray is pretty versatile too, it's not all about slap even if it's got that reputation. Have a look at the wide range of players using one and what they play... you'll find a Stingray in AC/DC, Queen, Chic, Sade, Sea Bass Kid
and... lots more.Jazz bass? Again it can do a lot of things... but it's a different animal. Also, both basses feel very different. The Jazz tends to be heavier, it has a very slim neck compared to the Stingray... So many differences! They don't make one bass better than the other, but you may find you clearly prefer one over the other. Just go ahead and try as many as you can. When one speaks to you you will know.
My personal preference is Stingray -> Precision -> Jazz... but others may feel differently, and I still own at least one of each anyway
- Oct 18, 2012
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I had a Stingray which had dead spots between the 7th and 9th frets. I have never had an issue with Jazz basses.
P, J, Stingray. I have one of each. You need all three too. Definitely.
A good jazz bass is probably the best bass you can buy period.
Consider yourself lucky! Many threads here regarding dead spots on J and P basses...
I'm in the buy both category. I have a Sterling and a DJ. Don't have GAS for a P, the DJ with the front pickup only kinda gets me there. Enough of a P tone to satisfy me.
This is like hotdogs or hamburgers, both can be pretty good at a BBQ. But which one? Both work fine. Both are night and day from each other.
