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Music man Stingray

#21
I am a lefty and it is very hard to find quality gear. I was on the fence with the standard stingray last year mainly because of its tone. I was looking for a classic sounding bass with some old school vibe, but could also be used as a rock machine. Everything about the bass was top notch about the bass. I like rays with the single pup, the simplicity is fantastic IMO. At the same time I was looking at the Ray, my friend lent me his G&L SB-2 with a set of La Bella flats and it won me over.

A few months ago, I received my custom G&L SB-2 and have been happy with it. If you like the tone and feel of the bass, learn it and play the hell out of it and don't worry what others think of the bass. As a lefty, I've been thinking like this from the start because of the lack of support and variety available for southpaws. I will also say that I saw similar thread here about the popularity levels of the SB-2 when I bought it and I haven't heard any complaints about my tone. Custom options are great with MM and G&L and you can build the bass you want so you won't mix in with the crowd so to speak.

Larry Mai is correct in his post above about the 90's and how a lot of bad karma surrounded Stingrays in the 90's, but he is right, the Ray is an awesome bass and when finds allow it, I hope to own one some day. Of course as a lefty, most people as me if I want an all white bass with a rosewood board so I could play like Jimi. Fender sells Lefty MIM Strats in Arctic White for this reason. I'll take mine in a natural finish with a black pick guard please.
 
#24
I don't think "90s karma" has anything to do with people playing or not playing Stingrays today. Stingrays have an up front in your face tone that can be pretty aggressive and clanky. It simply doesn't work as well as a Jazz Bass or P Bass for a lot of music -- in my opinion and many others apparently.
 
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#25
They're generally a little more expensive, even used, and less commonly found in stores than Fenders. And the current hipster trend favors slightly older vintages of instruments (or appearances of such) than StingRays can manage. StingRays can have nice fat, round tones, but their retro image is more generally associated with slicker, hi-fi, urban types of music.

I think it's less about the tone difference and more just about how many are out there, how much they cost, and slouching toward familiarity.

They all have their places. I'm glad to have both a Fender and a MM, in my case a Sterling. The ability to switch it instantly into single-coil mode and use a mid knob gives it more tonal versatility than a StingRay, pushing it closer to Fender territory.

G&Ls are awesome too.
 
#27
I play mostly blues / blues rock. I have a Stingray strung with Labella flats and a Fender AV 58 P bass also strung with flats, and the P bass stays home more often than not.. I find the ray much more versatile simply by varing my right hand position, and tweeking the 3 band eq, and IMHO has a more comfortable neck. I really like the 11 inch radius fretboard, and the overall ergonomics of the bass. As far as looks are concerned I love the styling of the Stingray, and I dont really care what others think of it in that regard. IMHO if the bass feels good to you, and you can get the tone that your looking for with that instrument then don't worry about what everyone else is using or thinks. Most of your tone is in your hands, and the rest is in how you set your gear up. All that being said I also love my P bass, and its not going anywhere soon..
 
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#29
Purely how they are marketed and options. A band that isn't making a lot of money and are still starting can get by with a standard Jazz/Precision. A Stingray is a lot more expensive and in my opinion, my better quality.

The Fender is basically an I-Phone. Able to change pickguards, pickups, preamps, damn everything.

Stingray's really come with the best of everything and in relation to a Fender is probably closer to an American Vintage as far as QC and quality.

From experience, I find Stingray's are played by more seasoned musicians that have been playing for quite some time and know the tone and sound they want.
 
#30
Stingrays start at a higher price point. Maybe their SUB models will get more new players to get accustomed to their sound and feel, but fender and fender clones are the first basses of so many players that enough don't wander from the familiarity and ease of use of the passive fender bass.
 
#32
A lot of it is vibe or image; a Fender can ooze that vintage throwback vibe in a way the MM can not. Plus it's a more lo-fi sound that indie bands might prefer (not a dig, I play a J bass).

I remember several years ago noticing a subtle shift in a lot of bands gear i was seeing live. Started seeing less MM for bass, and less of the Les Paul guitars plugged into Marshall or Mesa amps. Rather, Fender and Ric basses made a resurgence, along with guitarists using less common models like Gibson Nighthawk and Thunderbirds, more Orange amps, or even boutique tube amps.

This is just my limited experience though. I picked up an MM once and didn't know where to rest my dang thumb to play it. My impression of them these days is lot of thump, but hi-fi or very modern sounding. Not everyone's cup of tea.
 
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#40
when you consider the difference in size of the companies, and how long Fender's been around vs MM.... there are plenty of Stingrays around. A lot of famous bands and songs were recorded with a Stingray.

Heck, it took me 20 years of tinkering with Basses, having owned Spector, Ibanez, Gibson, Carven, Warwick, Alembic, Fender and only now in the last week a Stingray which I ABSOLUTELY love!
 
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