Musicman Basses

[Bassmann135]

Hi, i was considering getting a musicman bass and i heard good things about the stingray, but I'm wondering what you guys think about it in comparison with the sterling and others types of musicman basses.

-thanks.

 

[bassistgook]

I haven't tried a sterling but the bongo sounds amazing. The stingray is an amazing bass that many including me would love to have if they don't already.

 

[Jack]

All different flavours of good.

The Ray is raunchy and growly, the Sterling more versatile but in the same ballpark and the Bongo modern and punchy. None of those words actually mean anything though, go out and play some!

I own a Ray, have played many times and GAS really hard for a Bongo, not too keen on the Sterlings but I dont have much time on one.

 

[rcadble]

I played a new Stingray HH at guitar center a month ago or so, it blew me away, if I had money I would have purchased it right there. I haven't heard a Sterling in person though I think they sound similar based off my online observations from Youtube videos. Bongos sound great, but they look too quirky for my tastes.

 

[Bluesbob]

The SR has a wider neck more like a Precision while the Sterling's neck is more like a Jazz with a 1.5 inch nut width. The Sterling also has a 3-way switch which gives you more tonal options, like an SR5. I like it because I can go from the MM growl to a Precision-like purr by just using the switch.

 

[pringlw]

I don't have a ton of experience with a Stingray, but I have a Sterling HS 4 String and I can't put the thing down. Best fretted bass I've ever played.

 

[Sterling4]

I have a Sterling HS 4 String and I can't put the thing down. Best fretted bass I've ever played.

+1

The HS has a 5 position switch. Plus the MMs are built for the long haul.

Best Regards

 

[mongo2]

I've had Stingrays, Sterlings, and a Sabre.

I currently have a Stealth Bongo...it's my favorite MM to date.

 

[Yango]

Sterling all the way my friend. The tone is absloutely killer and the feel is second to none. I played a Jazz bass for a few years, and since I picked up the 4 string Sterling H I haven't touched my Jazz. In fact, I'm seriously thinking about either selling or trading the Jazz for another Sterling!

If the smaller neck suits your hand, go for it. You won't regret it.

 

[millsbass5]

Just a suggestion:

Buy a Sterling for the neck (narrow),buy a Bongo for the electronics,and a Stingray to stuff it all in.See?Problem solved.

 

[TerenceSharp]

I love the sound of the ray, I feel more connceted to the sound it's producing.

I find the neck to be of ok size, and I have small hands for a 17 year old. but it's all subjective.

 

[Altitude]

A Stingray is one of those basses where, if you play long enough, you'll end up trying one. They do more or less one thing only (at least the traditional single pickup models), sounding aggressive, sizzly, and punchy. But they do that one thing well, and nothing else sounds quite like a Stingray.

Build quality and consistency are relatively good, especially for a mass production bass. They range from medium to heavy, and are never light, and the body is on the large side. EBMM went out of their way a bit to make them tweakable in the field - for instance, they have the best truss rod adjustment approach ever, IMO.

 

[kamakiriad7]

I was not a fan of these basses until I tried a SR5 in a loud rock band. That b-string is fantastic in that situation. I ended up selling it and buying an american deluxe Fender Pbass, however, because the weight of the Stingray was too much for long gigs.

That said, if I were to buy a MM again, I'd get a Sterling. The body overall is cut down a bit in size, the neck is a little thinner, and the electronics on the 4-string are more versatile than a Stingray 4.

 

[Basseroni]

As you can see in the signature and avatar....I love my SR HH 5.

 

[parsons]

ive owned my Sterling for 8 months and its been my main bass. Picked up a Stingray today and I cant wait to play it out

 

[73jbass]

5 Sterlings here. Fretted 5 string.2 fretted 4's,fretless 4,and a fretted HH4.I love them all.The tone is a bit more agressive than the Ray,but still usable in any genere.Get thee to a shop and play them all!

 

[reno88]

i played a 4-string stingray in the early 90's. i had it for @ 18 months. i found the g string didn't cut through. it played well but i couldn't get over not hearing the g string. plus, i don't like having to put batteries in my bass. i went back to my '71 p-bass and have never looked back.

 

[Subsong]

I've had 4 Stingrays over the years and loved them all. I've still got one, a 1987 black on with a maple neck. Simple, lovely, I'd never part with that particular bass.

I briefly had a Stingray 5, but I'm not really into 5 string so I sold it on. I had a really nice red sparkleburst one for a while, I think that was made in about 2002, in the end I wasn't picking it up enough so I sold it to the guitarist from my old band.

Then I was in the US and saw a 30th edition Stingray going for under $1000 so I jumped on it. That was a lovely bass, but again it wasn't getting picked up enough so I sold it on. The black one was getting all the love, along with a Gibson I have.

My opinion is Stingrays all the way, preferably the simple classic single pickup 2EQ ones. No switches, no pickup selection, it just sounds good the way it is.

 

[spc]

- for instance, they have the best truss rod adjustment approach ever, IMO.

How do their truss rods adjust?


thanks

 

[unclejane]

I've come this close to buying a Sterling any number of times. There was on available locally but the only reason I didn't buy it was it was a lined fretless (i'd have walked out the door with it if it had been unlined).

The only con of the Sterling is the balance isn't wonderful when playing it seated - it has some neck dive.

That's it - it's a very well made bass and has loads of tone.

I'm a G&L man myself so that's my preference, but if it weren't for the L2500, my first choice would be a Sterling 5-holer...

LS