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Need help choosing...

Which bass should I buy?

  • Harley Benton Marquess 4

    Votes: 3 4.1%

  • Sterling by Musicman Ray 4

    Votes: 67 90.5%

  • Harley Benton MB-4

    Votes: 4 5.4%
  • Total voters
    74
#21
BassNugget said:
I want to say the Ray24 had a slab body (no tummy cut and no forearm contour). The 24 CA had a slim neck (I think). I like a thick neck, but have played USA Sterlings with the slimmer neck and been good! So, yeah. If you can get around the slab body. The 24 has a 2 band eq, whereas the 34 has a 3 band. A lot of people like the 2 band better! The 24 has the USA MM style bridge And an alnico pickup to sound more like a classic ray. Sometimes you find these at great discount. Try to play one to see if you like the slab body. I have played slab bodies basses and am not all that bothered by them, but it depends on how and where you wear your bass, your technique, etc. I haven't played a Ray 24CA.
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Yeah I may have to check one out. Unfortunately I will not be able to check one out before I buy. I'm not too worried about the slab body.
 
#22
Bought a Sterling by Music Man Ray 4 s.u.b. for my wife a few years ago...plays great and very well made for an Indonesian bass. The USA made ones are better by all accounts.

Sterling By MM SUB RAY4 and Rumble 500C 115Cab.JPG
 
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#27
bordinco90 said:
Quick question... How far apart is the real deal Musician compared to the Ray4 quality wise?. Is it around $2000 better?
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If you want to get close to a real Stingray, why not consider a Ray34? I know its out of your budget but I think its worth saving up for.

I owned a Ray4 and it was OK but I didn't really gel with it. Now I have a Ray35 and its a beauty. Sounds amazing of course, but its a far superior quality instrument and is so much nicer to play than the Ray4 I had.
 
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#28
bordinco90 said:
So I want to buy a cheap new bass. I want a 4 string bass and have $400 to spend. I'm not worried about string spacing, passive/active, or weight. I've narrowed it down to 3 basses.

1. Harley Benton Marquess 4

2. Sterling by musicman Ray 4

3. Harley Benton MB4 Black Satin

I already own a nice Warmoth P Bass. I just want a good quality new bass that has a different flavor than my P Bass. I've never bought a Harley Benton, but I've heard good things. Does anyone have any experience with the above listed basses? I'm looking to gig this bass as well.
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The sterling, and its not even close. Arguably the best value out there, and will be much easier to sell of you ever decide too.

Quality bass. Sound great.
 
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#29
asparaguspee said:
If you want to get close to a real Stingray, why not consider a Ray34? I know its out of your budget but I think its worth saving up for.

I owned a Ray4 and it was OK but I didn't really gel with it. Now I have a Ray35 and its a beauty. Sounds amazing of course, but its a far superior quality instrument and is so much nicer to play than the Ray4 I had.
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Yeah I wish. I already have 2 nice Warmoth P Basses so I don't want to spend more than double what the Ray4 costs. The Ray34s are nice basses and superior to the Ray4 from what I remember. I've owned one before and liked it. I just want a cheap-ish bass in my stable that's different than my P Basses.
 
#30
Hounddog409 said:
The sterling, and its not even close. Arguably the best value out there, and will be much easier to sell of you ever decide too.

Quality bass. Sound great.
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Yeah that's probably what I'm going to get. Now I'm deciding on the color. I've always been a maple fretboard fan, but the jatoba necks intrigue me. Shouldn't the neck be more stable since jatoba is like 3 times as hard as maple?
 
#31
bordinco90 said:
Yeah that's probably what I'm going to get. Now I'm deciding on the color. I've always been a maple fretboard fan, but the jatoba necks intrigue me. Shouldn't the neck be more stable since jatoba is like 3 times as hard as maple?
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Nope. Only the fret board would be jatoba. The neck would still be maple. These have a double action truss rod. They are stable.

Of course, MF Right now is listing the Ray 4 and stating that it has a Bartolini pickup and a custom Ibanez 2 band pre-amp. Huh? I think they mucked something up there.
 
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#32
BassNugget said:
Nope. Only the fret board would be jatoba. The neck would still be maple. These have a double action truss rod. They are stable.

Of course, MF Right now is listing the Ray 4 and stating that it has a Bartolini pickup and a custom Ibanez 2 band pre-amp. Huh? I think they mucked something up there.
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Yeah I think ill go with the maple fretboard. That's what I've always liked and gone with. I'll probably go with the mint green one or the satin sunburst.
 
#35
bordinco90 said:
Yeah I wish. I already have 2 nice Warmoth P Basses so I don't want to spend more than double what the Ray4 costs. The Ray34s are nice basses and superior to the Ray4 from what I remember. I've owned one before and liked it. I just want a cheap-ish bass in my stable that's different than my P Basses.
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Cool i get that. Id love a warmoth bass but being overseas its a big commitment for something i can’t return.
 
#36
asparaguspee said:
Cool i get that. Id love a warmoth bass but being overseas its a big commitment for something i can’t return.
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I was the same way about the Warmoth stuff, but once I bought all the parts from them, I was really satisfied. The necks are some of the most stable necks I've ever used. Granted, I live in the southern United States where we do not have too many humidity fluctuations, but I've only had to adjust the necks probably twice in the years that I've owned both of them. Warmoth products are 100% worth it IMO.
 
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#40
bordinco90 said:
So I want to buy a cheap new bass. I want a 4 string bass and have $400 to spend. I'm not worried about string spacing, passive/active, or weight. I've narrowed it down to 3 basses.

1. Harley Benton Marquess 4

2. Sterling by musicman Ray 4

3. Harley Benton MB4 Black Satin

I already own a nice Warmoth P Bass. I just want a good quality new bass that has a different flavor than my P Bass. I've never bought a Harley Benton, but I've heard good things. Does anyone have any experience with the above listed basses? I'm looking to gig this bass as well.
Click to expand...

You have an american made Warmoth P bass and thinking about getting a harley benton? Are you kIdding?
 

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