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looking to buy a stingray- 4 or 5 string?
- Thread starter Alex Albu
- Start date
I mostly play 4 but that said, there has been some research around Stingrays.
It’s been shown that every time a Ray is sold an angel gets its wings.
It’s been shown that every time a Ray is sold an angel gets its wings.
I seldom need to play below E. Mostly, it's songs in drop D that don’t need the D drone/pedal — I don’t drop tune unless I have to; Slither being a have-to example. Aside from that, there are some times where that low C or B just works.
Where I find the most utility with a 5-string is having two full octaves within six frets. Nice to have that low E, F or G within easy reach. And in a sense, a 5-string provides a short-scale bass built in to your 34” scale.
But here’s the real reason I prefer 5-string basses: For me, switching to a five was transformative. I began to think of scales from the inside out rather than top down or bottom up. That is, the A-string, all pretty riding atop those fret markers in the center, became my reference rather than the E on top or the G on the bottom. That thinking around the A-string just works for me.
I also think the 4+1 Music Man head stock is nicer looking than the 3+1. Shallow me.
Oh, and welcome to TalkBass. And if you search, you’ll find oodles of threads on “why a 5-string."
And hey, YMMV. Of course it does.
man, thanks for your reply it actually is really interesting, i always did this with my 5er but never thought about it...thats really clever and i will for sure keep it in mind!I seldom need to play below E. Mostly, it's songs in drop D that don’t need the D drone/pedal — I don’t drop tune unless I have to; Slither being a have-to example. Aside from that, there are some times where that low C or B just works.
Where I find the most utility with a 5-string is having two full octaves within six frets. Nice to have that low E, F or G within easy reach. And in a sense, a 5-string provides a short-scale bass built in to your 34” scale.
But here’s the real reason I prefer 5-string basses: For me, switching to a five was transformative. I began to think of scales from the inside out rather than top down or bottom up. That is, the A-string, all pretty riding atop those fret markers in the center, became my reference rather than the E on top or the G on the bottom. That thinking around the A-string just works for me.
I also think the 4+1 Music Man head stock is nicer looking than the 3+1. Shallow me.
Oh, and welcome to TalkBass. And if you search, you’ll find oodles of threads on “why a 5-string."
And hey, YMMV. Of course it does.
hi, i have no way to try one out but thats ok i think cause im not looking for a real expensive musicman but i high quality third party...in the classic shape, the sr5 shaped like a bongo really doesnt speak to me, i much prefer the classic shape
hi man, im looking for a high quality third party not a real musicman cause its gonna be my first stingray style bass and as a pbass guy i am stepping into foreign territory...id rather buy a good third party that i know people like to then find that i prefer the pbass, than buy a real expensive stingray and not play it
)
Let me quote that again. If you're above the 5th fret than the low E-G are available right away. Plus you can choose to use the low B string rather than the E string.
If the number of strings was there just for the range, we'd all have 3 strings basses with 24 frets. And given how often most players get into high registers, a 2 strings 24 frets bass would probably suffice (yes I know it's been done).
Some may object that if a 5th string was that necessary double basses would have one from the start, but I guess making a low B string with guts was a no-no, for several reasons. And there are now 5 strings DB and I doubt people play metal on it.
I'm not saying that a 5er is what the bass/DB would have been from the start were its not for technological limitations. I'm saying that a 5 string bass makes a lot more sense than just 5 more low notes.
Are 4 strings enough for you or do you wish to have 5 is entirely up to you if the music you play don't require a low B.
This....
I love Rays and while I'm now strictly a 4 string player, I've had my share of five string basses in the past. My 5 string Sterling Ray was my least favorite 5 string bass, the comment above was one of the reasons I didn't like it, other reason is that I prefer a 35" scale on my five string basses to get a tighter B. There are other brands and models I would choose over the Ray for a five string bass. As a funk machine, there's nothing better than a 4 string Ray, that's the classic and to me what it's really known for.
NOW the most important reason to go with a 4 string Ray over a 5....the iconic toilet seat looking pickguard. just kidding on that one.
So if you want my opinion, I would personally stick with the 4 string classic and iconic Ray, unless you're otherwise a dedicated 5 string player and will require one. This is all matter of personal preference of course so take it as such.
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I had a gig that called for a 5 string,I got a G&L L2500.
Got used to it,played the parts perfectly with the B...Nobody noticed,nobody cared.
A 5er is more of a burden than help to me so I sold it and kept my 4 string P and stingray.
Got used to it,played the parts perfectly with the B...Nobody noticed,nobody cared.
A 5er is more of a burden than help to me so I sold it and kept my 4 string P and stingray.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I'm a big fan of the Stingray Specials. I don't know that I'll buy another bass anytime soon but if I did it would very likely be a new Stingray.
I've tried out the 4HH, 5H, and 5HH my favorite was the 4H. I could explain why, but you may feel differently about them and it would be much more useful for you to try them yourself rather than assume your preferences will be the same as mine or anyone else's here.
That said, the five string Stingray does have some distinct differences from the four string. More so than most brands that offer 4 & 5 string versions of their models.
1) Obviously it has a low B string. Unlike Lakland, EBMM keeps the 34" scale and the low B strings are generally pretty good.
2) As mentioned, the 5's have the tighter 17.5 mm string spacing. This may take some getting used to if string spacing impacts your playing and you're used to 19 mm. For me makes slap more difficult and fingerstyle a bit easier. YMMV
3) Between the 4H and 5H, the five string has extra tone options from the 3 way switch for parallel, series, and series with a filter. The 4HH and 5HH have the same five way selector/tone options.
4) The Stingray 5 does have different aesthetics than the 4. Different contours, different pickguard shape, no metal control plate etc. This may or may not make a difference to you but the 4 has the more classic Stingray look while (IMO) the five is sleeker and more modern.
But again, the biggest thing is how they feel and sound in your hands and whether you want the added versatility of the low B string (and/or the extra tones of the HH vs the H). Definitely worth trying them out yourself when you can get into a music store to do so. All of them around here are still currently closed, but I think it'd be worth waiting to check them out in person before plunking down that amount of money.
Good luck.
I've tried out the 4HH, 5H, and 5HH my favorite was the 4H. I could explain why, but you may feel differently about them and it would be much more useful for you to try them yourself rather than assume your preferences will be the same as mine or anyone else's here.
That said, the five string Stingray does have some distinct differences from the four string. More so than most brands that offer 4 & 5 string versions of their models.
1) Obviously it has a low B string. Unlike Lakland, EBMM keeps the 34" scale and the low B strings are generally pretty good.
2) As mentioned, the 5's have the tighter 17.5 mm string spacing. This may take some getting used to if string spacing impacts your playing and you're used to 19 mm. For me makes slap more difficult and fingerstyle a bit easier. YMMV
3) Between the 4H and 5H, the five string has extra tone options from the 3 way switch for parallel, series, and series with a filter. The 4HH and 5HH have the same five way selector/tone options.
4) The Stingray 5 does have different aesthetics than the 4. Different contours, different pickguard shape, no metal control plate etc. This may or may not make a difference to you but the 4 has the more classic Stingray look while (IMO) the five is sleeker and more modern.
But again, the biggest thing is how they feel and sound in your hands and whether you want the added versatility of the low B string (and/or the extra tones of the HH vs the H). Definitely worth trying them out yourself when you can get into a music store to do so. All of them around here are still currently closed, but I think it'd be worth waiting to check them out in person before plunking down that amount of money.
Good luck.
Orchestral bassists have used extenders (like a drop tuner) on the low string since before invention of the bass guitar. If you look at the bass section in an orchestra you will see they all have them. Sometimes you need a lower note.
Also consider neck profile and the 3 position coil tap. The Stingray5 neck profile is some of the sharpest Cs you can see in a 5er (20mm deep at fret 1, almost Ibanez SR thin), in the style of the Sterling (identical to the Sterling5 indeed), also with a narrow nut. OTOH, the 4 string Stingray has a more P-bass profiled neck, and also loses rhe 3 position switch. I own mostly 5ers, including 2 (3-coil ceramic) Stingray5s. I'm very familiar with their playability, tone and options so, If I were to go 4 strings, I'd go Sterling instead of Stingray.
I’ve been a bassist for over 50 years, for 45 of those years exclusively using a 4 string. I joined a project A few years back that did mostly music written in this century. Commercial music today almost requires you to have a 5 string, a 4 string tuned BEAD, or play a dropped D to play properly.
The problem with BEAD is that while it will give you the low notes, you give up a half a scale of the top end of of a Basses range, and for some, that is not an issue. Drop tuning a E string requires all sorts of mental gymnastics.
‘I’m not sure what you were hearing with your 5 string’s B that was objectionable that removing the frets cured, but I assure you there are 5 strings Basses on the market that have great sounding B strings. I‘my sure if you spent sometime trying out options before buying, you will come with the right instrument.
One last comment about your ambivalence toward 5s and needing the lower register. If you are primarily writing your own music or playing music that only requires a 4 string and that is all you will ever do, by all means buy another 4. Keep in mind, that is where you are now on your journey. With an eye towards the future, if you can ever see yourself as a commercial artist and expect to land decent gigs, you’d better have a 5er. JMO.
