Question on MM Stingrays.....

The MTD Kingston bass has gotten some nice reviews lately and is probably the best MM knock-off around. I have not tried one personally but MTD makes solid "affordable" stuff that sounds pretty good. Basswood is a lighter and less dense wood than used on most basses. It is plentiful and hence, affordable. The downside of basswodd is less resonance than alder or harder woods like ash. Don't get hung up on brands. Best advice is play lots of basses before you decide. And don't let salesmen always plug you into a high-dollar mega-watt rig to try out a bass. Any bass will sound great through an SWR or a Mesa. Played through a smaller combo amp, the actual sound of the bass itself is more likely to surface. Just my opinion, but I think Fender basses are often overlooked. For a while, they put out some real crap made outside the US. lately though, the "Standard" basses are actually pretty good. My favorite bass is an old '77 P-Bass that I put a fretless Warmoth neck on. Even after adding Bassline pickups, my total money in that bass is about $500 and it sounds killer, even through my little SWR WM 12. I am getting long-winded, but just a couple of other recommends. Dean and Curbow/Cort basses are making some real nice basses that look and sound good. Check out the Dean Edge bass. Probably way more info than you wanted. Most important, find something you enjoy playing.

Ponce

 

wow.. basstoad that was your first post.. welcome

i second what he said about playing a bass through an amp similiar to yours... if at all possible, just bring in your amp, or play the same model of your amp in the store.... don't let them sell you a bass through an ampeg full stack unless that's the kind of amp you own...

 

uh yeah... what he said .. honestly though.. nothing sounds like a stingray.. now two ways about it... but there are some copies out there that aren't that bad.. I would say if you're looking for that ever longing stingray tone.... save your pennies.... however if you want a decent bass that looks as good as a Ray... get the copy.... play it first though... doesn't matter if the bass is $50 or $1500, there is always a lemon... some expensive basses that I've played have just been not so good... so try before you guy.... man that sounds lame... oh well...

Peace

 

Grahams, I really wish you had listed a price range. I agree with josh that there is no substitute for a quality instrument. If I were you, I would buy used. I have seen nice used stingrays sell for 500 bucks. I once saw one (it wasn't too pretty, but it played great) go for 350. I really wish I had snatched that one up myself. It can be done, you just have to be patient and ask yourself why you're buying. Is this thing going to be a collectible, or is it going to get played? Don't pay for the privilege of being the first person to scratch the finish on a bass.

 

I reallt like the Mtd heirs, and Kingstons. Very good bang for the buck..Im really sold on the MTD line. I just got a Kingston and have a deal on a used535 in the works.

Ive owned a stingray and the Kingston is very different, but I like it alot. The Stingray had a P-bass feel. It was punchy and bright and cut thru the mix like a fullback or the "buss" Bettis.

Were my MTD is like a curtis martin. Ok bad analogy.

It is similiar but is a very different beast than the ray'

 

I'd say if you're looking for a Stingray, the best way to get a Stingray tone is to get a Stingray. The knockoffs that I've come across may sort of look like Stingrays, but that's about where it'll end. The sound will not.

If you do happen to come across one, perhaps the basswood bass you're talking about, even, try it out. Pick it up and play it. How does it feel? How's the sound. Is it anything like what you're looking for?

As far as basswood for a body wood, it may not produce the same tones you're looking for. It's not a choice wood, necessarily, but that doesn't mean that it's just cheaply-glued-together sawdust, either.

For the kind of money you're likely to spend on a knockoff (hopefully under $150/ new), you're not going to get a prime slab of ash for a body with a maple neck. You're also not going to get real Musicman pickups or the famous (infamous???)Musicman Stingray preamp...

Just some things to keep in mind.

 

OOOOOOOPS!!!!
It looks like I'm getting called on my $500 quote! I swear, I have seen them. BUT they have been few and far between. Like I said, you have to be patient and keep looking. try places like bassgear.com or gbase.com if you don't have good stores in the area. Your best bet will most likely be a personal sale or a local shop. Don't get discouraged! I swear! they pop up.

 

Um, I'd agree that you should definitely watch out for rig riggage BUT most "smaller combo amps" (like $99 8" speaker jobbies) sound like a goose trapped in a cardboard box! I mean there are good ones out there but they have to sacrifice a lot frequency-wise to get any volume with small speakers and no power.

On the other hand, yes many "hi-fi" rigs have no midrange, so they're no good either. And the salesman probably turn on compression, bump up the highs and the bass, before handing it over to you.

The real way to do this is to compare basses through the same amp, set the same. Like a good, middle-range combo, with the controls set *flat*, and any special doodads turned off.

 

I'll second BassToad on the Dean Edge. I have an Edge 4 that I paid around $300 for and a Dean Razor NT that I love! Both are great basses. I love the sound and playability of both of them...but if you're looking for a Stringray look-a-like these aren't even close Dean basses are somewhat overlooked. I think I've only met two bassists that have actually heard of them. I like my Deans for a couple of reasons:

1. Playability they play very well and have a thin neck. Also the strings are high enough off of the body of the bass that you can slap fairly easily.

2. Tone - while they aren't the best sounding bass out there they are good for their price. Personally I would pick a Dean over a Fender any day of the week.

3. Price - Deans run anywhere from $200 for the Edge One and I think they're still about $300 for the Edge 4. A Razor will run you a little more cause of the active electronics and other bells and whistles.

But everyone likes their own seperate sound. Play what you like, like what you play.
Jared

 

Get the real Stingray. $1200 is not THAT much money... get a job at 711 or a pizza restaraunt and save up for it. Youre 16 now, so go apply somewhere and save your pennies until you have enough money for the bass you really want. Besides, you'll be kicking yourself *hard* in a few months when you have enough money for the MM and are stuck with some crappy basswood knockoff. Oh and by the way, they dont call it basswood because its good for basses. Its actually pronounced bass (rhymes with pass) wood. I think they use it on lower-end Ibanez basses... you know that can't be a good sign

Another thing that I should tell you is it will be much more rewarding if you work hard and save up your money to buy your dream bass than it is to have your parents buy that same bass for you. It feels better by far to have worked for something like that... and also your parents cant take it away from you as punishment when you get an F in school or whatever. Its your property!

 

Good advice from Lo-End. It's not the kill, it's the thrill of the chase. Gottahavititis is a dread disease that afflicts musicians at all levels. There is no better feeling than hearing a great sound coming from equipment for which you have sweated and busted your asspirations. I know it's hard but try to be patient. In the price-range, I can't think of a better sounding bass than the Stingray...uh, unless it's the Sterling...but no, you lose low-end, but...aw hell, never mind. Just keep playing.

Justta Ol' BassToad