Hi ive been playing bass for about a year now, I have been taking lessons and picked up a good technique, I have now cancelled my lessons as i feel i can progress on my own, anyway I have a hofner 500/1 violin bass with pyramid gold flats on it, im after getting another bass, i love the rickenbacker 4003 fireglo, looks amazing and its the closest model to the 4001 which mcartney used to record most of the beatles songs in the studio (ithink he mainly used the hofner for touring) or the other guitar i was looking out was an ernie ball musicman stingray, which my guitar teacher has (and let me play sometimes) can anybody shed some light on the advantages and disavantages of these basses, or which 1 is a better bass, as im still quite new to basses, i think the ric is £1100 and the stingray £1800 (price doesnt matter)
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rickenbacker 4003 or musicman stingray
- Thread starter skinzz
- Start date
Both the basses are pretty amazing. It might help a little more if you tell people what style you plan on playing as each has better tone for certain styles.. 
Two very different basses, both quality instruments, and neither is better than the other.
You need to go and try these out and decide which you prefer in terms of sound, playability, match to your style of playing and musical preferences, aesthetic appeal and so on.
Whereabouts in the UK are you? I own both of these and if you're in the Midlands you're welcome to come and try mine for an hour or two.
You need to go and try these out and decide which you prefer in terms of sound, playability, match to your style of playing and musical preferences, aesthetic appeal and so on.
Whereabouts in the UK are you? I own both of these and if you're in the Midlands you're welcome to come and try mine for an hour or two.
It might help a little more if you tell people what style you plan on playing as each has better tone for certain styles..
I think the clue is in the question
skinzz said:
So if you're really going for the Mcartney sound it has to be the Ric. Stingray is a great bass but Macca never used one in the Beatles
Ric5
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It really does depend on the style(s) of music you are playing. I own a 4003 and I love the tone however I use it for specific applications. I think the Stingray is somewhat more versatile but personally I don't like the way it feels in my hands. If you plan on playing a multitude of styles like I do a good Jazz Bass would be my recommendation. You can get a great selection of tones out of one. But like most players I know you will likely succumb to the temptations of owning many basses over time especially if money is not an issue.
i'd see if you can find artists/recordings of those basses. They are both amazing basses, but also VERY distinctive sounding. Find the one that sounds like the sound you want to achieve.
In it's simplest form...
Do you do a lot of slapping? Get the Stingray.
Do you play with a pick? Get the Ric.
Do you do a lot of slapping? Get the Stingray.
Do you play with a pick? Get the Ric.
YouTube can be a good resource for comparing the sounds different basses make. Often you can search for a particular make, and find someone either giving a review or explanation, in which they go through all the settings and show the difference in tones. You can try that and see which fits your liking.
Okay, now back to reality
.Rickenbackers were more expensive than Stingrays I thought. Stingrays are very less rare and thus more available. Both basses are very much different sounding. It seems you already have your mind set on the Rickenbacker, though you really would like to try one first because what I've heard is that Rickenbackers especially are the kind of bass you love or hate (just like Bongo's). But one thing is for sure:
Both will make you happy
.
I own both (4001 not a 4003) so I'll give you my comparison:
Tone:
-Ric has growl, but is balanced, versatile within "traditional" bass sound blends. Very clear, paino like, good sustain.
-Stingray has serious growl, in your face and agressive. Almost dirty. Active EQ means more extreme tones but not really any more or less versatile, depends more on your playing style. Changing batteries is a pain (in general, the 'ray battery change is actually well designed)
-Physical:
-Ric is much lighter, but the pickups and body shape can get in the way of playing
-Stingray is heavier, but a sleekier design makes it easier on the wrists and joints.
-In my case the Stingray achieves lower action and better playability, but my 4001 is NOT setup properly so this may be invalid.
-Play style:
-Both, IMHO, lend themselves to picking, the Ric physiscally and the Ray because it follows the tone. Both can be played finger style, obviously
-Price:
-Here, the Ric is much more expensive ($600 - $700 more at least) so there's that.
I like both basses and I can't decide between them. Good luck!
Tone:
-Ric has growl, but is balanced, versatile within "traditional" bass sound blends. Very clear, paino like, good sustain.
-Stingray has serious growl, in your face and agressive. Almost dirty. Active EQ means more extreme tones but not really any more or less versatile, depends more on your playing style. Changing batteries is a pain (in general, the 'ray battery change is actually well designed)
-Physical:
-Ric is much lighter, but the pickups and body shape can get in the way of playing
-Stingray is heavier, but a sleekier design makes it easier on the wrists and joints.
-In my case the Stingray achieves lower action and better playability, but my 4001 is NOT setup properly so this may be invalid.
-Play style:
-Both, IMHO, lend themselves to picking, the Ric physiscally and the Ray because it follows the tone. Both can be played finger style, obviously
-Price:
-Here, the Ric is much more expensive ($600 - $700 more at least) so there's that.
I like both basses and I can't decide between them. Good luck!
I say check out the MusicMan Sterling H too if you're interested in in the stingray. It's basically a stingray with a smaller body, jazz neck and the pickup is alittle different and Preamp set up. But I know I can get the stingray sound with my sterling and much more so check it out. I actually tried to play a stingray after and it was as good as the sterling IMO.
i went through this very same dilemma.
i now own both of them, but there was a two year gap in between me getting the first one and the second one. when i got the first one i was forced to choose between the two...
i went with the Ric, and looking back on it now, i'm happy with the choice i made.
The stingray is a workhorse. it's damn near indestructible. it's SUPER gig worthy... it's the type of bass where you feel like you don't need a backup. it's a tank. it growls, it spits, it plays nice if you use your fingers, or it'll tear your face off if you crank your amp's gain and use a pick.
but the Ric is a "partner," it's a "companion," it's "special." anyone whose found a special guitar or bass knows this feeling. it's more than a bass, more than a guitar... it just "fits" you, it "fits" your personality.
now, this feeling of "companionship" is a very personal thing, so i can't say that the Ric is THE ultimate bass for everyone... but for me, it made me want to play, and play, and play - i practiced every frickin day when i got that thing. and when i finally went in the store to get my stingray a couple years later, i noticed something cool - i was MUCH, MUCH better... and the stingray REALLY sounded better than i had remembered it. it wasn't that the stingray was better, but i could actually bring out a good tone from it.
it didn't make me regret not getting it first, not at all. but what it did make me realize was that the Ric had helped push me to a point where i felt comfortable slapping or playing faster licks or passages or solos.
and that's what made the stingray so much more valuable. i love the ric more than the stingray. but if i was honest i would admit that the stingray DOES have a slighter better tone. it IS a slightly better gigging instrument. but i don't play it every day. i DO play my ric everyday though... and i'm pretty sure i will as long as i can.
another main thing is the AMP YOU USE.
i have an Aguilar DB750, as well as an AG500.
i also have a Trace AH500x.
the Stingray retains an aggressive (but smooth) tone through all of them.
The ric is a little more picky. you need to tweak the Pickup tones and Volumes a little and setup the Eq's a bit to find that sweet spot. but once you do, it feels more like a Les Paul than it does a big, clunky bass.
i now own both of them, but there was a two year gap in between me getting the first one and the second one. when i got the first one i was forced to choose between the two...
i went with the Ric, and looking back on it now, i'm happy with the choice i made.
The stingray is a workhorse. it's damn near indestructible. it's SUPER gig worthy... it's the type of bass where you feel like you don't need a backup. it's a tank. it growls, it spits, it plays nice if you use your fingers, or it'll tear your face off if you crank your amp's gain and use a pick.
but the Ric is a "partner," it's a "companion," it's "special." anyone whose found a special guitar or bass knows this feeling. it's more than a bass, more than a guitar... it just "fits" you, it "fits" your personality.
now, this feeling of "companionship" is a very personal thing, so i can't say that the Ric is THE ultimate bass for everyone... but for me, it made me want to play, and play, and play - i practiced every frickin day when i got that thing. and when i finally went in the store to get my stingray a couple years later, i noticed something cool - i was MUCH, MUCH better... and the stingray REALLY sounded better than i had remembered it. it wasn't that the stingray was better, but i could actually bring out a good tone from it.
it didn't make me regret not getting it first, not at all. but what it did make me realize was that the Ric had helped push me to a point where i felt comfortable slapping or playing faster licks or passages or solos.
and that's what made the stingray so much more valuable. i love the ric more than the stingray. but if i was honest i would admit that the stingray DOES have a slighter better tone. it IS a slightly better gigging instrument. but i don't play it every day. i DO play my ric everyday though... and i'm pretty sure i will as long as i can.
another main thing is the AMP YOU USE.
i have an Aguilar DB750, as well as an AG500.
i also have a Trace AH500x.
the Stingray retains an aggressive (but smooth) tone through all of them.
The ric is a little more picky. you need to tweak the Pickup tones and Volumes a little and setup the Eq's a bit to find that sweet spot. but once you do, it feels more like a Les Paul than it does a big, clunky bass.
