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MM Stingray vs Fender Jazz???
- Thread starter Jobiebass
- Start date
i havent read any other replies but ive played both and found the music man to not be versatile at all, its kinda got one sound... but i now own a 4 and a 5 string fender jazz deluxe and theres no regrets.
I had this very decision to make once! I played the Jazz Deluxe 5, and I loved it, really growly middy sound, perfect for fingerstyle. However, I then played a Musicman 4 string (3 band EQ, I see you're looking at 2 band), and the only thing that stopped me buying it was the fact it had 4 strings (I didn't want the 5 string body shape as I find it a bit big for me). Anyhow, I ended up getting the Jazz.....it's a damn good bass, and I'd say it has more nasally 'cut thru' than the Musicman (although I never used the MM in a band setting), but it also doesn't quite have the same balls that MM does. My best advice is to play both, a lot, if possible with a guitarist and drummer, and see which suits best!
EDIT. The Jazz has 3 band EQ vs just 2 band on the MM.....therefore, I reckon the Jazz may be easier to hear in a band mix!
EDIT. The Jazz has 3 band EQ vs just 2 band on the MM.....therefore, I reckon the Jazz may be easier to hear in a band mix!
As others have already stated it is apples and oranges. It depends on what sound you're looking for.
I decided that I couldn't decide and bought both (08 SR4H and 08 MIA Standard Jazz).
But part of my decision to buy both is that I WANTED the SR sound in that classic configuration (1H), no exceptions! I even bought a Lakland 44-02 prior to the SR and wasn't satisfied with it's SR impersonation. Great bass, but I wanted the real thing. So I bought an 'as new' Stingray from here and have no regrets. I know it won't do the P thing and I know it won't do the Jazz thing. It does the Stingray thing and that's what I bought it for!
I knew exactly what I was getting with the Jazz, having owned an MIM version. Again, I know it won't do the Stingray thing (that's why I bought a Stingray) but it does the Jazz thing and that's what I bought it for!
If\when I need the P sound, I'll get a P and not expect my Jazz or Ray to do it!
It comes down to what sound you're looking for.
BTW - You can probably find some good used deals on a Stingray, here or the EBMM forum. The only reason I could afford both is that I got a stupid sweet deal on my Stingray from a member here.
I decided that I couldn't decide and bought both (08 SR4H and 08 MIA Standard Jazz).
But part of my decision to buy both is that I WANTED the SR sound in that classic configuration (1H), no exceptions! I even bought a Lakland 44-02 prior to the SR and wasn't satisfied with it's SR impersonation. Great bass, but I wanted the real thing. So I bought an 'as new' Stingray from here and have no regrets. I know it won't do the P thing and I know it won't do the Jazz thing. It does the Stingray thing and that's what I bought it for!
I knew exactly what I was getting with the Jazz, having owned an MIM version. Again, I know it won't do the Stingray thing (that's why I bought a Stingray) but it does the Jazz thing and that's what I bought it for!
If\when I need the P sound, I'll get a P and not expect my Jazz or Ray to do it!
It comes down to what sound you're looking for.
BTW - You can probably find some good used deals on a Stingray, here or the EBMM forum. The only reason I could afford both is that I got a stupid sweet deal on my Stingray from a member here.
A Stingray is pretty much of a one trick pony (it's a good trick though).
A Jazz bass is the most versatile. Jazzes are not all the same though. Some lean more to the Jaco-mid sound, others will sound more like a P with more definition.
The P bass has the fattest bottom of them all. Not terribly versatile, but it's the original, classic sound. A Stingray sounds nothing like a P, it's much more mid-heavy.
A Jazz bass is the most versatile. Jazzes are not all the same though. Some lean more to the Jaco-mid sound, others will sound more like a P with more definition.
The P bass has the fattest bottom of them all. Not terribly versatile, but it's the original, classic sound. A Stingray sounds nothing like a P, it's much more mid-heavy.
Commreman
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Frets
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
I agree with this assessment. I have owved both (77 Sting Ray). I still have the Jazz. The Sting Ray was wonderful, but the Jazz is simply more versatile.
You guys have clearly never played a Wal.
Stingray is as versatile as a Jazz (in skilled hands), has a better slap sound and can get unique sounds. Thus wins pretty much hands down against a Jazz...... as you would expect for a design 16 yrs newer and further refined over the years.
But I'm afraid the Wal blows em all out of the water.
Stingray is as versatile as a Jazz (in skilled hands), has a better slap sound and can get unique sounds. Thus wins pretty much hands down against a Jazz...... as you would expect for a design 16 yrs newer and further refined over the years.
But I'm afraid the Wal blows em all out of the water.
Have you ever played one? Absolute magic! Sounds how a bass should sound, to my ears. But fearsomely expensive - hand made, exclusive, sound and feel gorgeous and thus command a premium high price. If they were commonplace none of these factors would apply. But I'll stick with the Stingrays I think!
Yes, I've owned a few rays. Great basses but highly present and a bit offensive in a mix. They're great when that is needed, but hardly ubiquitous in a wide range of music, nut are they multi dimensional like a jazz or precision.
I meant wals - have you ever played one?
Your views on the Stingray are clearly not balanced. You can do most everything you can do on a J or P on a Ray but a whole lot more. My experience with passive Fenders is you have to play them quite hard to get the best out of them. Do that on a Ray and you'll sound like Fleas tone - this is the mistake people who play Fenders predominantly and then move to a Ray often make - it's not the tool it's the workman - as is the case with many things that are talked about on this forum.
You'd be surprised how many recordings have been done on Rays since they were introduced and in a very wide range of music genres.
Yes Fenders are more common but it doesn't make them better. There are more Fords than Ferraris - doesn't make them better. By the same analogy the J is more of a compact whereas the Ray is more of a hot compact - perhaps Golf 1.6 v GTI sums it up for me.
Your views on the Stingray are clearly not balanced. You can do most everything you can do on a J or P on a Ray but a whole lot more. My experience with passive Fenders is you have to play them quite hard to get the best out of them. Do that on a Ray and you'll sound like Fleas tone - this is the mistake people who play Fenders predominantly and then move to a Ray often make - it's not the tool it's the workman - as is the case with many things that are talked about on this forum.
You'd be surprised how many recordings have been done on Rays since they were introduced and in a very wide range of music genres.
Yes Fenders are more common but it doesn't make them better. There are more Fords than Ferraris - doesn't make them better. By the same analogy the J is more of a compact whereas the Ray is more of a hot compact - perhaps Golf 1.6 v GTI sums it up for me.
Funny you should ask my main bass has been a 64 Jazz Relic and i recently kind of semi retired her.Since i have been playing a 2005 Stingray very nice bass but just havnt been 100% happy.Now i have a Musicman Sterling HH and OMG what a difference there isnt a tone i cant cover with this bass it has so many different settings.If you go with the Stingray or Sterling i would suggest the HH version.
Yes, I've played Wals. I like Rays also. I understand what you are saying, and can also understand why some would prefer them. But the jazz and precision bass aren't the most recorded instruments for no reason. That trend continues. No big deal.
