P bass or Stingray - One and only. (Poll)

[darwin-bass]

If you could have only one fretted four-string bass with rounds for general soft-rock / pop usage, what would it be? P or 'Ray (Stingray)?

I'm considering replacing my Warmoth custom 'Ray with a P. The 'Ray is my only fretted with rounds and I've enjoyed the sound and playability (a lot) but my 32" scale basses are really light weight and absolute joys to play. I have a spare fully-loaded med-scale P body so all I need to add is a neck. Hmm .....

 

[Buster Brown]

Hmmm.....Both are acceptable.....

 

[Element Zero]

I hands down would pick a Ray. 3 fairly distinct tones via toggle switch, and active eq for wider variety of tones.

 

[darwin-bass]

Well my 'Ray kicked both my Jazz basses to the curb because the 'Ray just sounds better than the J. But the P has more than held its own.

 

[darwin-bass]

The 'Ray is the one in the middle. The replacement P would be similar to the one on the left but in sunburst with rosewood and rounds.

 

[monti2889]

I'd say I prefer a stingray. Not necessarily for any particular sonic or tonal reason, they're just a bit more comfortable for me to play.
I find when playing my pbass, my plucking hand wants to stay planted on the pickup. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I don't always want that sound. So it's a bit more of a conscious effort to control my plucking. With a stingray, I feel a bit more free.

 

[uOpt]

If it is an only bass (in its category) then Stingray because of the EQ.

 

[Paradilum]

7 replies so far and they lean Stingray. But the poll has the P handily beating the ray. I guess the silent majority are rocking the split coils!

 

[sears]

I changed my vote a couple of times. The Ray is such a killer soft rock bass.

 

[darwin-bass]

7 replies so far and they lean Stingray. But the poll has the P handily beating the ray. I guess the silent majority are rocking the split coils!

Yea, I noticed that. I read a few reply posts and then looked at the poll numbers. Oh, wow, P by a huge majority.

... <Schultz-voice> Very Interesting

 

[roccobladr]

As much as I personally prefer the stingray tone and everything, if I am in a cover band and playing soft rock/pop music then I’d lean P bass. It’ simple, the tone works for most things and less to fuss with - the sound guy will be happy!

 

[Minimalist]

I voted P. The Ray may be more versatile, but the P will give you a great sound for those genres and will be easy to dial in. Unless you slap. For slap I'd pick a ray.

 

[dave64o]

I wouldn't tell anyone else that this is what they should play but, for me personally, a Stingray. More specifically, a current model Stingray Special. If you're not terrified of knobs, the EQ is extremely flexible (and, for me, the HH models take the flexibility up to another level over the single H models), and the Stingray Specials are quite light compared to the Stingrays of old - mine weighs 8.3 pounds.

My band does a wide mix of loud classic rock through softer and sometimes jazz-like ballads and my Stingray Special 5HH covers them all very well. Even my 2007 ceramic Stingray 5 HH does that quite well, despite having a reputation as an even more aggressive sounding snarl machine compared to the Stingray Specials (disclaimer - I use flats on that one).

EDIT: Just to add another data point, I knew I had to sell a bass when I bought my Stingray Special about two months ago (one in, one out). Which one did I finally decide to sell? Well, it was a difficult decision, but I ultimately chose my USA Precision V.

YMMV, of course.

EDIT 2: That being said, I guess it's no surprise to me that the current poll results show the Precision leading the Stingray 2 to 1. Even I acknowledge that it's rarely a wrong decision to go with a Precision.

 

[-Stingray]

For Recording: The P
For Live Work: The Ray
In Reality: I prefer a PJ

Therefore: I voted carrots.

 

[rashrader]

Absolute Carrots.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

A passive P bass- I prefer a bass without batteries that will die in it.

 

[Isaac_James]

For whatever reason, I've just never been able to get along with a Stingray. I'm voting for P bass.

 

[darwin-bass]

For Recording: The P
For Live Work: The Ray
In Reality: I prefer a PJ

Therefore: I voted carrots.

I though for sure you were going to say "In Reality: I prefer a P-Ray".

 

[micguy]

So, if you’re a painter, what one brush would you use?

If you had to live with one color, what would it be?

If you’re capable of doing everything you need to with one instrument, more power to you. I, however, need more than one paint brush.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I’m going StingRay every time. I would get a Special with cobalt flats. They are a very vibrant flat but you can make it more old school flat sounding with the right amount of muting .

The poll results are no shock. This is TalkBass, land of the Fender Precision Bass with flats and tort.