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Sting Ray?

J

jmjbassplayer

Justin Meldal-Johnsen
Gold Supporting Member
Mar 25, 2005
4,014
3,599
#1
Hi Guys,

I was thinking about buying a Sting Ray to add to my collection; it can be a useful tone, and I had one years ago that I regret selling.

Any users on here with lots of experience with the latest of those basses?

Firstly, should I consider the new models with extra pickups, or just the single humbucker? I want the old school tone, but not too bright' in other words, I want to make sure I get plenty of booty out of it.

Does the maple board add too much brightness?

I'll probably order from Bass Central, just wanted to get some tips and advice, and any other things I should look for...I'd like something classic looking, like white/black guard, or brown/white guard, or something cool like that.

Best,
JMJ
 
#4
I honestly can't tell a difference sonically between a maple board and a rosewood board. I think a lot of nuances like that get eaten up by other things and are only noticeable to the player, if at all.

I've played a lot of single pickup MM's and dug them. I played an HH Stingray a couple weeks ago and thought it was a very dark sounding bass. A little too dark for me. Muddy would be the word best used, I think. I like mud sometimes, but I like to be able to control the amount of mud.
 
#6
I own a vintage sunburst with a black guard, on rosewood. It's pretty classic looking imho. The other more classic looking color of their's is their natural color with the tortoise shell. I don't have a lot of playing experience with the multi pickup ones, but i picked up an HH with a maple fretboard, and was FLOORED by the tone. I only had a few minutes with it so i didn't get to fully evaluate it, but the tone on the maple didn't come off as too bright to me.
 
#7
This is really interesting!

I'm looking for a darker 'ray tone, so it sounds like the HH might give that to me? My concern is that I'd lose the original Stingray tone...not the case?
 
#9
Hi JMJ!
First of all, I've been lurking since the thread in the effects-forum; your presence here is great! Very informative, and entertaining. And it made me buy Midnite Vultures and Sea change - very nice albums, especially the latter.

On topic: in my search for a Stingray I found that I really preferred the 2-band preamp over the newer 3-band. It sounded less harsh and fuller - maybe more old-school? I guess the boosted frequencies are different or something; not just the addition of a mid-boost. Unfortunately the new 2-pickup Rays are only available with 3 band preamps. Anyway, I think you should take that into consideration. The difference is bigger than between maple or rosewood fingerboards, IMO of course. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

BTW - if you're in Holland any time soon: mine's for sale. :hiding:
 
#10
jmjbassplayer said:
,I was thinking about buying a Sting Ray to add to my collection; it can be a useful tone, and I had one years ago that I regret selling.

...

Firstly, should I consider the new models with extra pickups, or just the single humbucker? I want the old school tone, but not too bright' in other words, I want to make sure I get plenty of booty out of it.

Does the maple board add too much brightness?
Click to expand...

A friend of mine recently bought an '89 five string 'Ray, all-maple, and it's definitely got that sound. Looks pretty cool too. I don't like it, personally, but he practically sleeps with it, and he does know his onions.
 
#11
I had an sr5 HH bass for a good while and loved the tones. You do infact get that classic ray tone when the coil selector is in the middle (all coils on) or both bridge pickup coils on. My favorite coil selection was the inside coils (bottom neck pickup coil and top bridge pickup coil) they really projected a nice dark fatty tone great for slap and finger style, sounded almost naturally compressed.

The neck pickup alone is great for pick playing in my opinion.

I had a rosewood fingerboard but I played some maple board ones before purchasing the rosewood. I really couldn't hear a difference but I could feel a difference in my hands. The rosewood just felt..I don't know how to describe it...warmer?

Hope this helps.
 
#12
i don't think you can go wrong with an HH stingray. it's the original sound plus a whole slew of others, like Doughd54 said. (you may also want to consider the HS version... less tonal options, but more room under the strings, y'know?)

maple board vs. rosewood... hmm. i can kinda hear a difference, but i can definitely feel a difference.

in any case, feel free to stop by the store and try some out. ;):D
 
#13
Now you guys are making me think I didn't give the HH Ray enough of a chance. Like maybe I was so used to the bright Ray sound that it might have thrown me for a loop to suddenly have a neck pickup. But all I could think of when I was playing it was how they successfully merged a Stingray and an EB-0...which means it's probably right up your alley, Justin ;)

Good luck with the purchase. Not to steal any of your thunder, but I made a new bass purchase of my own last night...got a B-stock (pickguard scratches and an upper bout ding) SX PJ copy in vintage white/black PG, rosewood fretboard. $90 + shipping. Don't get a Stingray, get 12 of these instead! ;)
 
#14
I had a 3 EQ maple fingerboard Stingray as my main bass for 8 years but having more recently tried a 2 band EQ with rosewood, I think the latter is the classic Stingray sound. Dark, warm, punchy and growly... That would be my choice if I were to buy a Stingray again.
 
#15
You guys are awesome and I deeply appreciate the perspective. I'm going to go play some, but I think I'm going to probably end up with a Maple/Maple 2 band. OR, if I get really stoked on an HH, I go that way. But I like the simplicity idea.

I guess this means my collection of active basses will be growing - what a hypocrite I am! Now it's up to: Fender Am Deluxe Jazz 5 string, Gibson RD Artist (x2), Wal (x2), Gibson 20/20, and Steinberger. But I'm still hardcore: the other 35 or so that I have are passive.

Time to sell some pieces. I think my next ones to sell will be a my metallic blue custom T-Bird, a Yamaha BB3000, and one of my RD Artists. Maybe a Ripper too, dunno. It's just getting too silly.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Taking my 3 year old to see that Dr. Seuss movie today!

JMJ
 
#19
hey hey jmj. i thought this was ask a pro forums... not the other way around =p

anyway, i think your cool!

if ur going for the maple fret board and good versatility, try the G&L stuff, feels and sounds awesome, then you take into account the one piece neck. and its flipping awesome
 

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