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Music Man Stingray 5 vs SBMM Ray35

awilkie84

awilkie84

Jul 16, 2011
7,429
1,868
Edmonton, AB, Canada
#1
So, I've been bitten by the Stingray bug. I recently went into my local L&M to try out one of the new VM Jazz V. They didn't have any in stock, so I picked up the 'Ray while waiting for a sales clerk.

I'm smitten, now. That tone...but the weight. This thing had to be close to 11lbs! The clerk said that his personal one is a fair bit lighter, around 9lbs. He said that with the American made MMs, you can be picky on weight when ordering.

Now, I'm selling a Spector of mine, and probably going to trade my Classic 50s P towards getting a Stingray 5, but I have to ask...is it worth it to go with a Stingray over a Ray?

I realize one's american and one's imported, but is there a $800 price tag justification in quality?
 
#5
Sterling bodies (the bass, not the brand) are a bit smaller, factually. It follows that many (but not all) of them are a bit lighter, and some are better balanced, than Stingrays. So you may want to consider that.

As for the price difference from import to USA, that's a bridge we all have to cross when buying basses. To me, a longtime Fender player, $1600-$2000 for a bolt-on bass is a bit much, even if it is made in the USA. So I have never bought a new USA Musicman product, and I might not ever. That said, I don't have a lot of playing time on the imports.
 
#6
jlepre said:
Not sure where he heard that. I've ordered over a half dozen SR5's from EBMM and not once was I able to ask for a lighter one.
Click to expand...

He said that he could call the head office and, given that I'd be asking for specific colours/neck/etc he could ask for them to pick the lightest of the bunch.

socknroll1 said:
Sterling bodies (the bass, not the brand) are a bit smaller, factually. It follows that many (but not all) of them are a bit lighter, and some are better balanced, than Stingrays. So you may want to consider that.

As for the price difference from import to USA, that's a bridge we all have to cross when buying basses. To me, a longtime Fender player, $1600-$2000 for a bolt-on bass is a bit much, even if it is made in the USA. So I have never bought a new USA Musicman product, and I might not ever. That said, I don't have a lot of playing time on the imports.
Click to expand...

From what I've seen, the Sterlings run about $200-400 more than the Stingrays. I hear ya on the new price, too. Sadly, the only way I can afford the bass is via financing and they don't have any used models around. The used SBMM Ray line tend to run around $700 in my neck of the woods, too.
 
#7
I bought a used ('99) SR5 a few months ago. It's a great bass, but heavy. If the weight is a big deal, you might want to stick with the Classic '50s (I have one of those, too, and I think I'll probably sell the Sting Ray before the Fender). Just my opinion.

Fender50sPrecision.jpg


P1010005_zps9996d553.jpg
 
#9
awilkie84 said:
I have a 3.5" leather strap that I used. This bass was UNCOMFORTABLY heavy. I 2-handed it to the demo room. The sound was great, but I couldn't do a 4 set night with one of those.
Click to expand...

I would put the bass in the "don't feel good" category then.

If I have learned anything in twenty five years it's, I am not you and you are not me so we will not get the same results using the same products. I also think that if you played ten of the same model and brand of basses from the same manufacturer, you'll likely find one of the ten that you think is better then the others. Pick that one!

Good luck!
 
#11
awilkie84 said:
So, I've been bitten by the Stingray bug. I recently went into my local L&M to try out one of the new VM Jazz V. They didn't have any in stock, so I picked up the 'Ray while waiting for a sales clerk.

I'm smitten, now. That tone...but the weight. This thing had to be close to 11lbs! The clerk said that his personal one is a fair bit lighter, around 9lbs. He said that with the American made MMs, you can be picky on weight when ordering.

Now, I'm selling a Spector of mine, and probably going to trade my Classic 50s P towards getting a Stingray 5, but I have to ask...is it worth it to go with a Stingray over a Ray?

I realize one's american and one's imported, but is there a $800 price tag justification in quality?
Click to expand...

What you need to do is pick yourself up a good, ol' fashioned Warwick. Play that for a while. After developing severe, debilitating neck and shoulder pain, pick that Stingray up again. She'll feel light as air!
 
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#12
I've owned a couple SR5's and can personally attest to the weight of these basses. HOWEVER, the tonal variety and playability of them are worth the weight issue. I wouldn't recommend them for long sets, but anything under an hour is usually fine.
 
#14
awilkie84 said:
He said that he could call the head office and, given that I'd be asking for specific colours/neck/etc he could ask for them to pick the lightest of the bunch.
Click to expand...

If you DO order one, please let us all know how that works for you. ;)

SR5's weigh anywhere in the low 10 pound range all the way up to about 12 pounds. That has been my experience. If you want a lighter EBMM, why not look at the Sterling 5. I once owned one that weighed an even 9 pounds. I wish I still had it.
 
#15
lpdeluxe said:
I bought a used ('99) SR5 a few months ago. It's a great bass, but heavy. If the weight is a big deal, you might want to stick with the Classic '50s (I have one of those, too, and I think I'll probably sell the Sting Ray before the Fender). Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

I love the Classic 50s P, but I have another lighter P-bass that plays VERY well, too. The Classic 50s is also lacking a Low B. I like having a 5-string around for the versatility.

jlepre said:
If you DO order one, please let us all know how that works for you. ;)

SR5's weigh anywhere in the low 10 pound range all the way up to about 12 pounds. That has been my experience. If you want a lighter EBMM, why not look at the Sterling 5. I once owned one that weighed an even 9 pounds. I wish I still had it.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about looking at the Sterling 5, but everything I see on them says that they're $200-400 more than the StingRay. That's a big chunk of change just to lose some weight.
 
#18
The SR5 is a heavy beast. It has a wider than standard body, and all that metal surely doesnt maek it lighter. As far as being abel to specify for weight, basscentral lists weights for most of it's basses.
I'd also take a look at the Stingray Classic 5'ers as well as the Sterling (USA) and Bongo 5'ers.
The latter two are certainly lighter than the stock Stingray 5.
I'm positive that if I ever buy another 5 it will be a Sterling (USA).
 
#19
No doubt the SBMM or EBMM 5's are heavy beasts. I bought a SBMM Ray35 and loved the tone, feel and look but the weight killed me at 10.5 lbs. I didn't think weight was an issue either until I had flare ups of bursitis from using the Ray35. I'd stop using it and it would go away, start again, it would flare back up. Yes, I did use a wide neoprene strap that didn't help.

If you can or are willing to buy used you can be pickier about the weight. If you buy from new from stores like The Perfect Bass or BassCentral, then they can tell you the weight of the ones they have for sale.

I don't think the price difference was worth it to me coming from someone who has owned a few "real" EBMM SR4's. YMMV
 
#20
I would avoid the imported version and go for the real thing. Even if you buy new, this will be the last 5 string yo ever need! Used they are a very good bargain.

Another option is to ask Long & mcquade to run a nationwide search in their system for a used SR5 or one that as been discounted. For instance, the Surrey store has a gorgeous Tobacco Burst SR5 with a torte pick guard and rosewood board. Its old stock and may end up being sold at a significant discount. It never hurts to ask and you never know what might be hiding in one of their stores across the country. I have found some fantastic basses just by asking the store staff to search the database.

They can also search the wharehouse for brand new SR5's in stock. That might save you a 4 month wait to order a new one if they have one you like.

You just can't go wrong with a USA built SR5. They balance really well on a strap and are so comfortable to wear that the weight (usually 10 pounds) is soon forgotten.
 

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