Music Man pros/cons

[jam.majors]

I've never had a problem with the g-string being weak. All you have to do is raise the pickup to the proper level and you're golden. I use a graduated ruler and ensure that the base of both e and g are equidistant from the top of the pickup pole.

 

[The Bassmonkey]

I have had a stingray for about 6 months now, and have only just got used to the settings. I know they aren't complicated but you really can get a wide range out of them.

I play in an alt rock band and a funk/punk band, and its does both brilliantly, just took me a long while to be able to find the sound i wanted out of it. Since that moment though....its just awesome.

Other than the tree trunk like neck! (but then i used to play a dean, which is like jesus smothered in butter fretboard wise)

 

[rayzak]

Great quality and workmanship. Thaw week g string is a good point though. I've owned 2 Stingrays. One, no matter what I did, had the dreaded weak g. My current one has never shared that problem.

 

[shastaband]

I always leave the switch in series so it sounds like a Ray.

Standard Stingray single H pickup is wired in parallel, not series.

 

[Baird6869]

I own a 5HH Bongo currently and love it. It sounds beastly with the 18V preamp and has a respectable tonal range.

I previously owned almost a dozen SRs and although they are great basses, they tend to be heavy and a SR H does have limited tonal range. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a SR H would never be my only bass.

I briefly owned a H Sterling and wasn't a big fan. Loved the neck, hated the PU.

EBMM makes amazing basses but they are not for everybody any more than a Fender Precision is.

 

[ducknturtle]

They have more tonal versatility than they are usually credited with, especially the HH.

 

[jaywa]

If you check out the HH Stingray, there are 5 pickup configurations you can select, using a lever just beside the Equalizer knobs.

I think that maybe one of those settings would be approximately equal to a P Bass.

Actually, no. I've played both. Sorry.

Other random comments/responses:

- The weak G string issue also applies to the P-Bass and traditionally around the 5th fret in particular (high C).

- My personal opinion, the sound of the Sterling agrees with me more than the StingRay. There was a used one last year in my local mom and pop store that looked exactly like the red one in bassplayerbob's post, and I seriously considered buying it but as a long-time P-Bass player I just couldn't get comfortable with the neck. It was by far the best sounding Ernie Ball era bass I have ever played, though.

- +1 on the build quality. EB basses are built like a tank and their finishes are second to none. I'm sure that's one reason they tend to hold their value well on the used market.

 

[automaton]

I got an mm sterling back in 98 and still in love.

Pros: very playable and good to learn with. Slap friendly. The wood on the neck is super smooth. Fretboard looks new still.

Cons: the nut broke during playing but easily replaceable. The sound is trebley and clangy and the d and g strings had less volume no matter what setup. Replaced pickup w a bartolini and everything got better.

 

[Orpheus55]

I use the Stingray for everything. I have the newer 3 band and never had a weak G string or clankiness; play it at flat across the board. It's also my lightest bass.

 

[Soverntear]

pros: great tone, amazing playability and they look great

cons: the g string on every ray i have ever played is weak. but that is easy to fix if you raise the pickup on that side

 

[Musicman20]

Never heard a weak G!

 

[FlyingFinn]

the g string is weak!! other than that, they are great

+1

This is about only con on Stingrays

 

[Askanios]

Got a stingray, really nice, but really heavy.

 

[LowEZ]

I'm in the Sterling camp myself, I've owned two and they are the perfect bass for me. Different strokes.... Try them all and see which you like. Don't listen to us.

Pros: Build quality, feel, tone, finish.
Cons: Can be heavy.

 

[john grey]

I've owned many MM basses. They were all great. The only con I can think of is that some of them a heavy. They are always excellently crafted, they sound great live, as well as at home, and they offer a good variety of finishes and their price reflects their value, for sure.

I agree pretty much across the board. I had several for many years and also own the "old-Mary" (pre-Ball). They (EBMM) tend to be "heavier" meaning 10lbs but that issue is very subjective due to how you wear it & if 1 or 2 lbs is a big deal to your style.
The greatest "pro" (to me) is the amount of sounds.
I have always played close to the bridge: however some folks say that rest point is tough on their fingers.
The greatest "con" is the weight issue with some of them. I HAVE had some that were certainly lighter than other!

 

[nocontrols]

I'll be in the market for a new bass soon and the ones Ernie Ball spew out have caught my attention.

lol.... "spew out"?

Pros and cons are all subjective, relative to your personal tastes. Objectively grading Music Man basses, they have awesome build quality, good components and are affordable, if not cheap. Everything else is up to you. I would consider the wide string spacing and wide nut to be "cons" and I'm not crazy about the stereotypical SingRay tone but you have endless tweaking options for that. I don't think you'd be disappointed if you got one. They are pretty stunning. Go play one and see.

 

[unclejane]

Neck dive is the only reason I don't have a Sterling. The Stingray has that and a bit of a too-fat neck for me also.

Otherwise, it's one of Leo Fender's best designs. Built great, sound great, everything...

Only my G&L L2K is hotter than a Stingray/Sterling, I don't think anything else comes close...

LS

 

[stflbn]

9.5lb of heavier seems to be the standard for many MM basses. THat's the only Con in my opinion.

 

[nocontrols]

Every time someone anywhere mentions a T-40 the stock reply is "it's too damn heavy"

Is the StingRay heavier than a T-40? Because I've played a Ray 5 string, not for very long but I played it, and it didn't seem to be excessive. What are the exact numbers comparing the two, I wonder?

 

[Toolmybass]

Every time someone anywhere mentions a T-40 the stock reply is "it's too damn heavy"

Is the StingRay heavier than a T-40? Because I've played a Ray 5 string, not for very long but I played it, and it didn't seem to be excessive. What are the exact numbers comparing the two, I wonder?

My SR5 weighs in at 9.5lbs

My T40 weighs in at 10.0lbs