School me on Stingrays

[metron]

Try a 2 band if you haven’t. Very deep and clear.

I dunno. They are both good. I just think different kinds of basses do different things.

 

[GreyBeard]

My experience with StingRays is with 2 different SR5s a H and an HH model. I have also owned 3 different Pbasses. StingRays sound and feel to me like they have a built in HP filter and some sort of limiter in the electronics. Where as a pbass has a lot of subsonic thump that the SR5s just don't have. (imho) That subsonic thump, that sounds and feels so good on stage, eats up a lot of power and gets swallowed up in the mix by the kick in a big FOH system. I think that this is one of the reasons why HP filters and limiters have become so popular. I also have 2 Jazz bass 5s, a Ultra and a player plus. Of all my basses, I prefer the tone and mix I get with the ultra. Not quite as aggressive as the SR5s but not near as "thumpy" as a pbass. (jmho)

 

[-Stingray]

What is the goal posed in your question? Are you trying to make the Ray sound like a P? Or a PJ Spector (with EMGs???)? Or is your goal to make your Sterling sound like a EBMM???

Fair enough.

My goal is to determine whether I should drop the money for new pickups and electronics on my Sterling to upgrade it. I don't want it to necessarily sound just like my Spector.......but I also don't want to drop $400 on it for a near negligible difference in tone.

 

[-Stingray]

but they are easy to hear in a loud band and don't bottom out if you play hard. They keep hitting harder the harder you play. So, they have their practical merits and are very functional tools in a band. I find I can help control the tempo better with a Stingray because it hits like a kick drum and you can reign everyone in if need be. But it'll never sound like a Spector and no amount of pickup swaps or money spent can change that. Even a USA EBMM will let you down if that's your goal.

This is why I was thinking maybe an upgrade to the electronics would help. My Ray sounds like it has a compressor AND an hpf AND an lpf on it.........at least compared to the Spector. No way would I described it as "hitting like a kick drum". I guess I just gotta get to a shop that has some real two band rays and play one to know for sure. We don't have anything local......so it'll be a while before I get the chance.

 

[PapaBearBass]

Fair enough.

My goal is to determine whether I should drop the money for new pickups and electronics on my Sterling to upgrade it. I don't want it to necessarily sound just like my Spector.......but I also don't want to drop $400 on it for a near negligible difference in tone.

Oh ok that makes sense. I have a 72 pbass, a Spector Ethos with Aguilars and a Sterling Ray34 with a roasted maple neck. That’s why I was asking. I don’t have an EBMM but… the Sterling is “pretty close” IMO.

My guess is the juice would not be worth the squeeze…

 

[Lava]

You’re expecting it to sound like something it isn’t.
If you like the sound of a Stingray, you play a Stingray.
If you the sound of a Spector, play the Spector.

 

[mmon77]

My issue with EBMM, MM whatever, has always been 2 things. Their model naming. I can't figure out *** bass is what.

2nd, Their value models don't even remotely sound like the real thing. You can buy a Squier P, and it will still sound like a P, it just won't have the fit and finish (maybe, you never know, Fender QA), of an American Fender P. When it comes to the value model 'rays, they don't sound like the real thing.

 

[mikeswals]

My issue with EBMM, MM whatever, has always been 2 things. Their model naming. I can't figure out *** bass is what.

2nd, Their value models don't even remotely sound like the real thing.

It because it isnt "their" models.
Those are licensed copies made and owned by a different brand that CG wanted to exist.
EBMM doesnt own, build, or warranty those imports. The electronics aren't the same parts.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

As soon as you are able, try a Retro 70’s and StingRay Special H and HH model. I would not recommend trying to upgrade what the Ray4.

Maybe you aren’t a StingRay type of guy. No harm in that. If you like Spectors, maybe get another one . No harm in sticking with what works for you.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Different basses are just different. It's impossible for a Stingray, even a real one, to sound as good or better than your Spector if the Spector has the sound your ears are wanting to hear from a bass right now. Just because the Stingray is this beloved, iconic model doesn't mean it's going to offer any improvement over something you already like a lot. Nor will it contain the things you enjoy about another bass. You have to listen to the classic Stingray recordings and get into that sound on its own terms. What I will say is that Stingrays are not necessarily the most deep and smooth sounding basses, but they are audible. That's their main strength besides looking cool and neck stability. They don't have that Spector scooped hugeness to the sound, and they don't sound great in isolation, but they are easy to hear in a loud band and don't bottom out if you play hard. They keep hitting harder the harder you play. So, they have their practical merits and are very functional tools in a band. I find I can help control the tempo better with a Stingray because it hits like a kick drum and you can reign everyone in if need be. But it'll never sound like a Spector and no amount of pickup swaps or money spent can change that. Even a USA EBMM will let you down if that's your goal.

I think you’ll find that a lot of players think StingRays sound great on their own.
I’ve read the same thing about a PBass and even a Jazz bass. I just don’t find this to be true.
We now have HH and short scale , & passive models that can offer different sounds as well.

 

[Schpeaker]

Fair enough.

My goal is to determine whether I should drop the money for new pickups and electronics on my Sterling to upgrade it. I don't want it to necessarily sound just like my Spector.......but I also don't want to drop $400 on it for a near negligible difference in tone.

I have a Ray4, a Ray24 and a Stingray Special. The Ray4 sounds atrocious. No lows, no highs and muddy mids. The Ray24 is better because the mids get cleaned up, but otherwise it sounds tonally similar. The Special is of course in a different league but they all are in the same family.

You don’t have to spend $400 to figure out if you like the Stingray family sound. I just upgraded the Ray4 pickup to a $14 one from Amazon and wired it in parallel. The difference is huge IMO. It doesn’t sound like the Special, but it just sounds *good* in and of itself. Here’s my post: The Sterling By MusicMan SUB Ray 4 and 5 Club!!!!

No matter how much you spend, it’s not going to sound like a P pickup in neck position. You’re not going to get that 300Hz thump. But if you want to judge whether or not you like Stingray sound you shouldn’t do it based on a stock Ray4’s interpretation of that sound.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I've owned a couple of Sterling Stingrays over the years. But they just don't sound as deep and clear as the P pickup on my Spector (EMG & Tonepump Jr).

Not by a long shot.

My current Ray 4 is no exception. Is this a pickup/electronic issue, or is this just how Sterling Ray 4's sound? I don't mind upgrading the pickup and electronics if it results in a noticeable upgrade in the sound......but I also don't want to throw good money after bad.

Thoughts?

That just how Rays sound, compared to a P. The pickup is positioned much closer to the bridge than on a P-bass. This has a MUCH bigger influence on the tone than the pickup/electronics themselves.

Installing the pickup closer to the bridge will produce an inherently thinner, more mid focused tone. You can boost the lows all you want with the active preamp but the timbre will still be that of a Stingray, which is kinda midway between a P-bass and a J-bass BRIDGE pickup. A Stingray will always have more growly or "nasal" timbre (depending on how you look at it) than a P-bass. Whether this is good or band is purely a matter of personal taste. You seem to prefer the tone of a P-bass.

Upgrading the electronics might be worth it if you like the Stingray tone and want improve it those last 5-10%. The pickup/electronics in the Ray4 isn't the best IMO, so there's definitely some room for improvement. But if you've had the same problem with several different models of Stingrays it will probably be a waste of money. It will still sound like a Stingray, and not even remotely close to the inherently deeper voicing of a P-bass (which is actually still quite mid focused compared to basses with pickups closer to the neck).

If anyone tells you that you can make a Stingray sound like a P with a new pickup and/or tone control settings they're either lying or they haven't got a clue what they're talking about. Upgrading the electronics is NOT worth it if you're trying to make the Ray sound less like a Stingray. That's a fight you're gonna lose, no matter what people tell you.

The only reason to spend money on a new pickup/preamp is if you want to make it sound like a BETTER Stingray, not if you want it to sound LESS like a Stingray, because that's never gonna happen unless you route the body and physically move the pickup closer to the neck.

 

[cnltb]

I've owned a couple of Sterling Stingrays over the years. But they just don't sound as deep and clear as the P pickup on my Spector (EMG & Tonepump Jr).

Not by a long shot.

My current Ray 4 is no exception. Is this a pickup/electronic issue, or is this just how Sterling Ray 4's sound? I don't mind upgrading the pickup and electronics if it results in a noticeable upgrade in the sound......but I also don't want to throw good money after bad.

Thoughts?

Maybe try a Stingray?

 

[cnltb]

Krikey Mate, they can kill you if you aren't careful!

But I've heard they also taste really nice if you get them first!

 

[bigswifty1]

I have owned six stingrays over the years. I currently have three, including a pre-EBMM 2-band. I've done many many hundreds of gigs with stingrays.

I must have lost count of the number of times I've seen other basses with a big humbucker near the bridge and some wording like "for those Stingray tones" or some close euphemism in the marketing. I've even tried several and owned one. And in my experience, every time, it simply was not true. Some were really nice basses, but they never sounded like my stingrays.

To the OP I say this: Play what you like, buy what you like, mod to your heart's content. You'll probably end up with some nice sounding basses. But you won't end up with something that sounds like a stingray.

Make of that what you will

 

[bassdude51]

Stingrays are mid range heavy. That's the reason for their "sound". Definitely a bass that "cuts through the mix".

You can probably get different variations of sounds with different pickups for your Ray 4 but because of where the p/u is located, mids will be dominate. IMHO YMMV

 

[zortation]

A Ray will never have the oomph of a Fender if that's what you're looking for. It's simply the way the instrument is voiced; with a massive dip in the upper lows, exactly where the Fender excels, no matter where you play on the neck.

A good graphic EQ pedal can help

 

[PapaBearBass]

To quote @Deleted member 271037:

“The only reason to spend money on a new pickup/preamp is if you want to make it sound like a BETTER Stingray, not if you want it to sound LESS like a Stingray, because that's never gonna happen”

I think this is the best way to frame this whole discussion.

The next question you have to answer should be: Will this result in a “tweak” or an “upgrade”? My personal guess would be a “tweak” but TB folks with more technical expertise can help you answer that one.

Then finally you should ask - is this worth my time and money and energy? If no, then stick with what you got and have fun. If yes - then go for, have fun and keep us posted!

I would actually be curious to see what you come up with and how it worked

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I've owned a couple of Sterling Stingrays over the years. But they just don't sound as deep and clear as the P pickup on my Spector (EMG & Tonepump Jr).

Not by a long shot.

My current Ray 4 is no exception. Is this a pickup/electronic issue, or is this just how Sterling Ray 4's sound? I don't mind upgrading the pickup and electronics if it results in a noticeable upgrade in the sound......but I also don't want to throw good money after bad.

Thoughts?

You're not gonna get a solo'd neck pickup (p bass) tone from a StingRay bass. While the 'Ray definitely has its own very muscular voice, you might be disappointed if you're trying to make it sound like a Precision

 

[-Stingray]

You're not gonna get a solo'd neck pickup (p bass) tone from a StingRay bass. While the 'Ray definitely has its own very muscular voice, you might be disappointed if you're trying to make it sound like a Precision

To be clear, I'm not trying to make a Stingray sound like a Precision. That would be silly.

I'm trying to discern if it would be worth upgrading a cheap Ray with a pickup/electronic upgrade. Aside from the dull lifeless sound it produces I like how the instrument feels, balances, and plays. I used my NS Spector in the example because it's my best sounding bass............but the Ray is duller and more lifeless than any bass I own by a long shot (and I remember feeling the same about the previous one I owned as well, but that was a long time ago). I've never owned a real EBMM Stingray, so I'm trying to assess if it's just a Stingray design thing, or if upgrading the cheap electronics will help by more than just a slight margin.