Surely over your way you could pick up a bargain Peavey Dyna Bass 5..ive had mine more than 30 years and its a great bass..would make a great beater..you could pick one up for a song in the States i would reckon. Mine is a '91 Dyna.Most in the Stingray threads probably know I have two Stingrays already and occassionally dream about adding a third, possibly a Classic 5 or a 2008-2017 alnico 5 to synergize with my 2007 ceramic 5HH and my 2019 Special 5HH. Lately I've been thinking about doing something else but wanted to get some opinions from the "experts" here.
My band leader is booking more festivals and other outdoor shows for the summer months, which is fine with me. However, pop up thunderstorms are always a possibility. So, with four outdoor gigs already scheduled this year plus a few more that our BL is working on, I'm thinking of adding an inexpensive beater bass since I already have a backup amp and backup cabs that I'd be willing to take if the weather looked questionable. And the reason I came to the experts here? Obviously I'm considering a Sterling By Musicman Stingray 5.
I've seen reviews/demos on YouTube and read posts here on TB that make think they'd be a pretty safe bet. But I figured I'd ask those who have an SBMM or an SBMM Sub, and especially those who also have USA MM basses, what their impressions are. Since I'd consider this a beater and would prefer to keep the price under $500, I'd probably not buy a new SBMM Ray35. I might get a used one if I can find a deal, but I'd more likely lean toward a new SBMM Sub. Either way, I don't expect a bass in this price range to rival my two USA SR5's or my other USA made basses. But as long as it's able to get through a gig and give me reasonable sound I think I'll do it. Some of the things that I've seen that make me hesitate are reports that the spacing at the bridge on the 5's is even narrower than on the USA 5 (16.5mm as opposed ot 17.5mm) and that the pickups are unusually hot and can distort when your volume is close to max, especially with the bass boosted. Thereare ways to deal with the hot pickup, but the even narrower spacing is a minor concern.
FWIW, some others I've considered are:
- Yamaha BB235 - A passive PJ, just to get something different from what I typically use
- Squier Classic Vibe Jazz 5 - I do like Jazz basses but never really had a a passive Jazz before
- Peavey BXP 5 - Maybe a Millenium, Grind, or Foundation).
I kind of like the idea of doing something different, and doing it with an inexpensive beater is a way to do that with minimal guilt. But I also have a tough time straying from Stingrays.
Anyway, thoughts on the SBMMs and SBMM Subs?
Best of luck with the outdoor gigs.
Weather was great! I'm familiar with the Flying W. 
