I have a stingray special 5 HH and a bongo 5 HH. My wonderful girlfriend just got me the new fender Adam Clayton 50 watt bass amp. My guitar player complained about my B string being too muddy. I was using the bongo with this amp. I personally thought it sounded good. The Adam Clayton amp won’t be the only amp I use though. Only certain times. People have different opinions as to whether amps like that can handle the low B string. I have a fender American special 4 string jazz bass that’s not doing anything for me. The strings were dead sounding with no sustain. I put new strings on it and it still sounds dead. I played it for 10 years and never really payed attention until I got my stingray special. I guess music man basses ruined my love for fender basses. And I tried another fender bass disappointed too. So my question is will the 1000 dollar sterling ray 34 sound close to the stingray special? Will I probably at least like it better than the fender? Trying one out at a store isn’t really an option. I just know the music man basses work really good for me but I’m not so ready to pay over 2000 for a new stingray special either
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On the fence about sterling ray 34
- Thread starter Cory rich40
- Start date
My head is still spinning about your girlfriend buying the AC-50 amp for you. Wow. She is indeed wonderful.
Can't help you with the Stingray question (mine's passive, short scale). Perhaps send a note to Low End Lobster. I trust his assessments.
Can't help you with the Stingray question (mine's passive, short scale). Perhaps send a note to Low End Lobster. I trust his assessments.
I like the Ray34 but I fail to see the point of getting one if you already have the bongo and real deal stingray.
I’d really like to see your signal chain and eq settings.
I’m seeing too many mixed reviews on it. The thing everyone agrees on is that it sounds GREAT. The quality of the parts is what’s in question, such as the tuners locking up, etc.
Keep in mind the guitar player is hard to please. He thinks the stingray sounds better than the bongo and I don’t. He is super critical. He thinks I should only use my ampeg SVT vr and HLF cabinet. The amp is not meant to sound like a SVT. He started turning knobs on my bongo to get a tone he liked. He said that tone is what you look for in bass and amps. Anybody with experience with a bongo knows it has tone for days. The other band members loved the way I sounded.
Based on your reasoning, I don’t see what spending money on a new bass would do if you can dial up a tone that the guitarist (bandleader?) likes with your current gear.
Sounds like the guitar player needs to get over it. The rest of the band likes the bass tone. I would not be happy with some egocentric guitarist messing with my amp unless I asked.
Next gig stand in the corner by the drummer. Then your guitar player won’t think your B string is muddy. When your guitar player is worried about your bass tone it means you are drawing your share of attention. Tell him/her they’re not intonated and it’s giving you a headache and as soon as they come back from paying for a setup tell them the same thing again.
And get the Ray because it’s always the right answer.
Your B string sounds different than your other strings because its windings are much larger; there’s a lot of space for the string to pick up dead skin, dirt, oil, and other road gak that makes strings sound dead. It’s not the bass’ fault.
There’s a fundamental mismatch between the “dead roundwound” sound people favor right now and 5 string basses because of this. Roundwound B strings don’t really work well left to go dead. Their tone changes. It’s generated hundreds of threads here about “why does the B string on my bass sound different than the others.” This is why.
You can soak your strings periodically in denatured alcohol (remove them first) which will clean out the grime and restore the strings’ harmonic movement. It will make your B string sound better but it will make all the strings sound zingy and new.
Or consider flatwound strings if you like that tone. Their construct minimizes the issue as there is less room for road gak to hide on a flatwound string.
There’s a fundamental mismatch between the “dead roundwound” sound people favor right now and 5 string basses because of this. Roundwound B strings don’t really work well left to go dead. Their tone changes. It’s generated hundreds of threads here about “why does the B string on my bass sound different than the others.” This is why.
You can soak your strings periodically in denatured alcohol (remove them first) which will clean out the grime and restore the strings’ harmonic movement. It will make your B string sound better but it will make all the strings sound zingy and new.
Or consider flatwound strings if you like that tone. Their construct minimizes the issue as there is less room for road gak to hide on a flatwound string.
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I can afford a Musicman...pretty much everything I buy is Play Now, Pay Later...but why would I buy one when I can buy this and have enough left over for an amp, case, etc?
Sounds close enough that very few people can tell the difference and the tuner issue doesn't have enough data to change my mind in the slightest...may have seen two people complain about them.
Sounds close enough that very few people can tell the difference and the tuner issue doesn't have enough data to change my mind in the slightest...may have seen two people complain about them.
I have 3 Ray 34s and have played a Stingray Special. It is true what others say, the Sterling Ray 34 will get you about 90% of the way there. But I dont think your issue lies with your basses other than the scale length! I'd suggest just trying a Multiscale like a Dingwall or even an Ibanez. The longer scale length offers a clearer B string so I am told.
BTW have you ever tried Ernie Ball Cobalts on your Bongo? Could also be a game changer
BTW have you ever tried Ernie Ball Cobalts on your Bongo? Could also be a game changer
I can afford a Musicman...pretty much everything I buy is Play Now, Pay Later...but why would I buy one when I can buy this and have enough left over for an amp, case, etc?
Sounds close enough that very few people can tell the difference and the tuner issue doesn't have enough data to change my mind in the slightest...may have seen two people complain about them.
If I was going after another Ray 34, especially one with the black tuners, I think I would go for a used one, and with the savings I'd buy a set of Hipshot HB7s to put on when I received it
My 2 most recent basses are both Sterlings by Music Man. Stingray 25CA in Guitar Center exclusive color mint/rosewood & a Stingray Short Scale in Daphne Blue/maple.
I’m enjoying both of these immensely & been really digging the short scale. I’d recommend either.
I’m enjoying both of these immensely & been really digging the short scale. I’d recommend either.
I can afford a Musicman...pretty much everything I buy is Play Now, Pay Later...but why would I buy one when I can buy this and have enough left over for an amp, case, etc?
Sounds close enough that very few people can tell the difference and the tuner issue doesn't have enough data to change my mind in the slightest...may have seen two people complain about them.
I have that bass, too. Bought it used and it had one chewed up tuner. Got a complete replacement set from Sterling for about $40. Not great tuners, but now I have a lifetime supply! And it's a damn good bass.
Find a new band geesh honestly I have nothing to add never dealt with that mess before and I wouldn't.
I’ve actually owned all of your basses and the one in question.
The Sterlings and the Specials have some crossover is terms of feel and tone but they are not the same.
I strongly prefer the Sterling for aggressive tones (metal, rock, slap, etc). On the flip side the Special takes the crown for laying down smooth fat grooves (Soul, Motown, Reggae, modern pop).
The main difference between the two though is easily feel. Everything on the Special operates so much smoother, the neck feels a little thinner, the wax/oil finish makes the neck feel ultra smooth, the finish is slick but durable, the tuners are effortless, the pickups feel solid, the pots turn like butter.
The Sterling feels good but you will immediately notice a difference. The tuners especially feel cheap comparatively (mine also broke after the first string change; which is very common on these for some reason). The pots are good but they don’t sit the same and they feel loose (comparatively). The pickups are solid but the covers feel cheap and have a little more play than the specials do. The neck is comfortable for sure but the lack of wax/oil makes it feel more bulky (I’m convinced it’s actually slightly thicker as well).
Long story short, the Sterlings embrace that 90s style Stingray sound but add some modern flair vs the special which to me is like the love child of a Stingray and a P-bass.
Now to actually answer your questions:
As a fellow former dissatisfied Fender explorer myself, I imagine you’ll dig the Sterling. I LOVE mine, the tuners just broke last weekend (on stage, at a gig, during soundcheck…) so this weekend I had to use my Special instead and I truly missed the Sterling. They are certainly fairly interchangeable but they each have an inherent personality that can’t be dialed in or out. I see no actual reason to buy a new bass in this situation though, I think adjusting EQ to perform within the amps comfort zone OR getting a new amp that can comfortably handle the tone your pushing would be a more practical solution.
The Sterlings and the Specials have some crossover is terms of feel and tone but they are not the same.
I strongly prefer the Sterling for aggressive tones (metal, rock, slap, etc). On the flip side the Special takes the crown for laying down smooth fat grooves (Soul, Motown, Reggae, modern pop).
The main difference between the two though is easily feel. Everything on the Special operates so much smoother, the neck feels a little thinner, the wax/oil finish makes the neck feel ultra smooth, the finish is slick but durable, the tuners are effortless, the pickups feel solid, the pots turn like butter.
The Sterling feels good but you will immediately notice a difference. The tuners especially feel cheap comparatively (mine also broke after the first string change; which is very common on these for some reason). The pots are good but they don’t sit the same and they feel loose (comparatively). The pickups are solid but the covers feel cheap and have a little more play than the specials do. The neck is comfortable for sure but the lack of wax/oil makes it feel more bulky (I’m convinced it’s actually slightly thicker as well).
Long story short, the Sterlings embrace that 90s style Stingray sound but add some modern flair vs the special which to me is like the love child of a Stingray and a P-bass.
Now to actually answer your questions:
As a fellow former dissatisfied Fender explorer myself, I imagine you’ll dig the Sterling. I LOVE mine, the tuners just broke last weekend (on stage, at a gig, during soundcheck…) so this weekend I had to use my Special instead and I truly missed the Sterling. They are certainly fairly interchangeable but they each have an inherent personality that can’t be dialed in or out. I see no actual reason to buy a new bass in this situation though, I think adjusting EQ to perform within the amps comfort zone OR getting a new amp that can comfortably handle the tone your pushing would be a more practical solution.
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Since you seem to be buying a bass for your guitarist's sake, is he paying for it?
I really don't get it. He doesn't like it, but other band members do, suggesting there's nothing really wrong with its sound for the band. The Ray34/35 *can* be great, but I feel they've declined in recent years while the price has gone up way above what their quality warrants. I would not spend money on one if you already have a Stingray Special.
You have great basses. How bout getting an EB Cobalt flatwound set? I already do not like that guitar player 
