looking at purchasing a Sterling Ray 34

[Chili Bo Billy]

The bass is used, but in great shape, plays well, and sounds fine. My wife likes the Silver burst colour and says I should get it.
Anything I need to know about this bass? reliability? pros and cons etc.
What say you?

cheers, CBB

 

[BassNeo]

How much are they asking for it? I can buy one brand new for about $500 cdn

 

[fenderhutz]

You can get them used on GC site for 399 +/-.

I love mine. Became my main bass. Sounds just as good as my limited edition Ray I had. I got mine for 299 used from Guitar Center. Mint condition.

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

$400.00 CDN w/gigbag

 

[MikeB_30]

I picked one up last year on clearance, right now it's my favorite bass. It's holding up very well and I gig quite a bit with it. It has a pretty hot output, which I like. You can get a great growly tone with it.

 

[Zoomie]

The bass in my avatar is a Ray34CA.

It is a great bass. My only pet peeve with it is that it's a one tone instrument. It's a great tone. You can manipulate it a bit with tone controls, but in the end, it is singular in voice to my ears.

The only other thing I have heard is that some folks wanted more of a contoured body versus the slab.

To be clear, it is a fantastic bass on it's own and an even better one for the money........if this is your dream tone.

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

I mainly use Jazz basses, looking for something a little different.
Zoomie, love your bass,cool avatar!

 

[fenderhutz]

I retired my modded Fender Jazz for this bass. No regrets as long as you realize you don't dime the EQ. You have to run it mid and add remove Mid, bass, treble as needed.

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

I don't mind it having singular tone, as long as it has a great tone.
The plus side is that my wife likes this bass, and that is always a good thing.

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

Hutz, I'll keep that in mind when dialling in my tone. Thanks.

 

[tedesco23]

I've been absolutely thrilled with mine--I've had it now for six months or so, and it has quickly become my go-to bass as well. For that price, pull the trigger--you'll love having it in your arsenal.

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

The consensus so far is positive and I'm digging the responses. you guys are definitely making my decision easier to pull the trigger on this bass.

 

[jwoods986]

And check out the reviews on sites like MF (I'm considering one of these also), people love this bass!

 

[f.c.geil]

Ed Friedland raves about the Ray 34, so another positive review. I played one, and loved it, but didn't have the funds for another bass at the time.

 

[fenderhutz]

Yeah the Silverburst has the 3 tone control like my Ray34 and the contour body. I do not like the 2 band classic models. The tone is a little different, some people like that though. As well as I don't like the slab bodies as much.

 

[Bobster]

I've owned a Ray35 since 2010. Five months after purchasing it I sold my EBMMs. I couldn't justify their cost in comparison to the Ray35.

If you like/want/need the "Stingray" sound, they are a very safe bet. Most folks have a very difficult hearing any difference.

Best of luck with your decision!

Bob

 

[BassNeo]

I've owned a Ray35 since 2010. Five months after purchasing it I sold my EBMMs. I couldn't justify their cost in comparison to the Ray35.

If you like/want/need the "Stingray" sound, they are a very safe bet. Most folks have a very difficult hearing any difference.

Best of luck with your decision!

Bob

Sounds like a Fender vs. Fender Squier discussion. I have a Stingray and bought it over the Ray 34 because I simply wanted the top of the line for a change. I played a Ray 34 and 35. Loved them both. I too could not give you a night / day comparison between them. 400 sounds a little high for used, see if you could wiggle it down but otherwise you wont be disappointed in it.

 

[Wallace320]

It's hard to let it reach out for a more punchier than snappier sound... I used to win over it with my Fender Reggie Hamilton, because of its American series splitcoil and the alder body. Otherwise, I still prefer a Jazz bass (but it's just me) but you can dig it out good with a proficient active tone an ordinary Jazz bass cannot deliver

Go with it

The finish is outstandin'

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

Well, I pulled the trigger,I should have the bass by the weekend. I'll post pics once I get it. I could have bought one of the Musicman classic stingrays that were at the store, but I wanted to dip my feet into the musician pool before jumping in to purchase a higher end model.
The ray34 caught my eye and I decided to give it a spin.
The salesman was trying to sell me a top of the line Warwick,which was quite nice in the tone dept.

 

[Wallace320]

Well, I pulled the trigger,I should have the bass by the weekend. I'll post pics once I get it. I could have bought one of the Musicman classic stingrays that were at the store, but I wanted to dip my feet into the musician pool before jumping in to purchase a higher end model.
The ray34 caught my eye and I decided to give it a spin.
The salesman was trying to sell me a top of the line Warwick,which was quite nice in the tone dept.

But do as you feel:
start with the easiest way to get the sound you're thinkin' of (Sterling first, MM eventually then)
Same with Warwicks: they're great (oh yeah, different from MM, right?) but then again... save money startin' on a Rock Bass (the lesser versions) and get used to balance, design, dimensions and whatsoever... then you'll be ready to rethink...

Awaiting your impressions...

Cheers,
Wallace