Musicman stingray: color combination?

my first instinct was natural and rosewood, but then i saw how dark that red is. really tough call. that is a GREAT era of musicman basses.

 

If you can play them, buy the one that feels and sounds best to you. They both look great.

 

I'd go with the natural, but they both look great. I would probably also get the lighter one.

 

Both look nice and I'm sure will sound great. That said, I didn't like the looks of the birds eye headstock with the natural body, kind of clashes and gives the appearance of an after market neck (even though its not). I couldn't see the headstock of the red ray but if its a matching headstock or birds eye or even just plain maple it will look great with that body. Go for the red one, if you're a slapper that maple fb and 2 band preamp combo will just scream. Also, give some elixir nanos a try with the ray, those strings really go well with the ray voicing.

 

Mine is white with maple board. For me, a Ray must have a maple board.

 

If it were me, I'd take the natural / rosewood bass. I have a Sterling in this combination and love the way it looks and plays. You can't go wrong either way though - both are great basses.

 

Ok that added pic of the birds eye headstock on the red ray seals the deal! Red for the win.
The more I look at the natural finish ray the more the clash of long grain light body woods and spotted light colored birds eye bugs me. If that neck were on a darker body it would look great, as it stands it just looks like a mismatch.
BTW I don't slap either and I still would take a maple fb over rosewood on a ray. I've had both and the pickup is really voiced better for the maple board IMHO.

 

number 2 by far

 

When choosing between Rosewood or Maple for fretboard material, appearance is a small portion of the decision. Tone however should be the main concern. I personally don't like the "brightness" of maple.

Buy an instrument to play, not to look at.

 

I'll say go with natural/rosewood, stingray can't go wrong with natural, the red are too plain in my concern, I agree that stingray should sport maple board, but those rosewood/birdseye are among the most beautiful neck I've seen, plus the natural body enhance it's overall natural look, what a beautiful stingray,

I'm an architect, who lives with my beautiful wife and beautiful 2.5y.o daughter, I KNOW what beautiful is...

 

Out of those choices red/maple.

 

Red/Maple = Meh.

Natural/Rosewood = a tightening of the pants.

 

I like the dark red on that one. But I prefer maple boards on StingRays. I feel (read: IMO IME) the maple snap lends nicely to the 2 band.

 

Take both, swap the necks, throw away the red with rosewood, enjoy the natural and maple!

 

I like the look of the second one the best.

 

I believe we have a winner here!....