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MM Stingray vs Fender Jazz???
- Thread starter Jobiebass
- Start date
I have a few Jazz basses and they are amazing but if you need to nail the Fender P tone too, a SR is more versatile.
I have always been a Fender Jazz/Sadowsky Jazz guy but recently fell in love with Stingrays and Sterlings.
It is important to understand what you are really looking for though.
I have always been a Fender Jazz/Sadowsky Jazz guy but recently fell in love with Stingrays and Sterlings.
It is important to understand what you are really looking for though.
I have a Fretless Jazz which im keeping, but I need a fretted one so unsure wether to stick with fender and get another Jazz or go with the 'ray.
Im thinking the 'ray because im a big chillis fan, but if im gonna blow £800 on a new bass I really want to know ive chose the right one.
Im thinking the 'ray because im a big chillis fan, but if im gonna blow £800 on a new bass I really want to know ive chose the right one.
You can get an excellent growl out of a Stingray...possibly a bit smoother than a jazz, but easier to growl. Some jazz basses have all the growl in the world, yet some are just blah.
This is just opinion. They both have a great necks but the SR is a bit too ringy at times.
To me the round pickguard is fugly and they Jazz is sweet looking and has THE TONE. Having said that I might pick up an OLP someday but eh...
To me the round pickguard is fugly and they Jazz is sweet looking and has THE TONE. Having said that I might pick up an OLP someday but eh...
I've always prefered Jazz basses. They just seem to cut through a mix better than a SR and have more bottom end. With that said, the SR's are build like a tank and their necks play effortlessly.
Well, from my experience, it is really apples to oranges except for one simple fact. I would not bring my Musicman into the studio and expect it to be well received every time. In fact, i've recorded countless times with a musicman and its only really worked 1 out of 6 times perfectly.
To be honest, I shunned off Fenders for a very long time. I liked the musicman looks, the tone I got playing live. The necks are wonderful. The design is well thought out. But all that changed when I bought a Fender Jazz for $200. Since that fateful day I've found that Jazzes have a deeper tone. They have the ability to cut through a mix just the same by favoring the bridge pickup. They record well just about every time. They are always received well and I've never lost a gig playing one. Plus there are so many options to mod them to get your tone that its insane. With a musicman, your stuck with their tone, and their ideas. Having a Jazz opens up a world of possibilities.
So, my 2 cents. If you have to have just one bass, it should be a Jazz.
To be honest, I shunned off Fenders for a very long time. I liked the musicman looks, the tone I got playing live. The necks are wonderful. The design is well thought out. But all that changed when I bought a Fender Jazz for $200. Since that fateful day I've found that Jazzes have a deeper tone. They have the ability to cut through a mix just the same by favoring the bridge pickup. They record well just about every time. They are always received well and I've never lost a gig playing one. Plus there are so many options to mod them to get your tone that its insane. With a musicman, your stuck with their tone, and their ideas. Having a Jazz opens up a world of possibilities.
So, my 2 cents. If you have to have just one bass, it should be a Jazz.
I've never owned a J Deluxe, so I can't really comment on it's tone, but I do own both a 2 band MM 'Ray and a couple of passive Js. I love both as well depending upon what's needed, but unless you're getting a 2 PUP 'Ray, I'd say that the single PUP 'Ray is not nearly as versatile as a J. Regardless, I favor the J.
Price mainly, HH would be great because I could play like I do on a Jazz on the neck pup, but finding a 2nd hand one in england is proving VERY hard. even 2/3eq H are selling for £800 2nd hand over here where you can pick them up in the US for half that ($800) and im not spending £1300 ($2600) on a new one. By budget doesnt streach that far.
sure you can compare everything.... but in the end it really comes down to what kind of sound you're looking for...
if you're looking for both sounds: get both... if not: get the one you'll need the most...
I agree. To be fair, my stingray is my most played bass, and it cuts through very well live. Also, it feels so good to play- the unfinished neck, the look, everything. But I have found that recording with it can be limiting. It gets a great thump, but it will always sound like a stingray, which can be a bit thin at times. I've been using about three pedals to tweak it to closer to the sound in my head, but it is coming up short for what I am playing now.
Now, jazzes are very versatile, but they lack a distinct flavor or character as a result. I have sold all my jazzes and not once regretted it, but that's just me. However, for recording they will give you more options.
In a nutshell, the jazz will sound "prettier", for lack of a better word, and the ray will always sound gritty. Players choice- they really are like apples and oranges in that you will not get a ray tone EVER from a jazz, nor will a ray give that smooth, warm tone of a jazz.
Just my opinion.
I own 2 String Rays ('78 2-band maple neck and '90 3-band 4-string rosewood neck) and 2 American Fender Deluxe (fretted and fretless 4-string). Both are awesome basses for the money. They are really different animals though. You couldn't go wrong with either. Sting Ray is little heavier with a more aggressive tone. Jazz is lighter and has a more smooth buttery tone.
Own both!
Sting Ray:
Slap bass dream. If you like to slap bass a lot this is your weapon. More of a in your face tone. Little more of a P-bass type of bass with not a lot of tone variation (9v 2-band EQ, one pickup). They sound great and cut well in the mix. Very punchy and growly. They tend to weigh more than the Jazz Deluxe. Well balanced. Very well built and has good resale value. Maple has a noticably brigher tone than the rosewood neck. I prefer the maple for slap bass and rosewood for finger playing.
Tone - 10
Looks - 10
Ease of play - 10
Weight - 8
Build Quality - 10
American Fender Deluxe:
Sound is smooth as butter and very growly. Much larger selection of tones (2 pickups, 18V 3-band EQ). Dead silent pickups. Sounds like what a Jazz should in many recordings. Great highs, mids, and lows. Very light and well balanced. Works well in the mix. Plays very well. Has good resale value.
Tone - 10
Looks - 10
Ease of play - 10
Weight - 10
Build Quality - 10
Own both!
Sting Ray:
Slap bass dream. If you like to slap bass a lot this is your weapon. More of a in your face tone. Little more of a P-bass type of bass with not a lot of tone variation (9v 2-band EQ, one pickup). They sound great and cut well in the mix. Very punchy and growly. They tend to weigh more than the Jazz Deluxe. Well balanced. Very well built and has good resale value. Maple has a noticably brigher tone than the rosewood neck. I prefer the maple for slap bass and rosewood for finger playing.
Tone - 10
Looks - 10
Ease of play - 10
Weight - 8
Build Quality - 10
American Fender Deluxe:
Sound is smooth as butter and very growly. Much larger selection of tones (2 pickups, 18V 3-band EQ). Dead silent pickups. Sounds like what a Jazz should in many recordings. Great highs, mids, and lows. Very light and well balanced. Works well in the mix. Plays very well. Has good resale value.
Tone - 10
Looks - 10
Ease of play - 10
Weight - 10
Build Quality - 10
I think that has just sold it for me. Well im not recording anything serious because I have no asperations to be in a serious band. Ive got a Jazz, ok its fretless, but its a jazz all the same. I was wanting the Stingray anyways just for something a little diffrent then Fenders (altho its designed/created by leo fender im lead to believe) so I think thats the choice for me.
