Stingray 3 band vs 2 band?

[Dave W]

SR4's I prefer the 2 band, an SR5 with the ceramic pickups (or any US Sterling) I prefer the 3 band.

 

[Bass_Thumper]

3 band for me. I picked up the Sting Ray HH below this past weekend and I tried every Music Man bass they had in the store. Probably 5 classic Rays both 4 and 5 string, a couple of Rays (4 and 5) and a classic Sabre and I found that the 3 band was easier for me to get the sounds that I like. There is just something about a boost only set up that I'm not able to work very well with and I really like being able to boost/cut the mids.

 

[Makatak]

Stingray 3 band vs 2 band?

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I have never found a 2 band preamp that I like. I like the J-retro 3 band with sweepable mids. I like the 4 band Audere. I gotta have a mid control on a preamp. The mid control brings out the angry growl on a 5 string bass.

The purists will say the old 2 band is better. Well I am not a purist. I do not think the old version is always better. There is a reason they updated the stingray to a 3 band preamp.

Amen, ive owned a few 2 banders and sold them all, pretty much gave up on Stingrays and stuck to my "scooped" Jazz . Then I found a 3 Bander and holy hell what a difference , I like the option to dial in/out mids as required . A winner for me.

 

[ODDBALL]

Is the Ray34CA a boost only?

Shaun

 

[mgs2277]

I like the snarl from the 3 band, but you can get a great midrange fingerstyle tone with a two band by turning both controls down . Discovered that by accident

 

[Guinness20]

3 band every time!

 

[drTSTingray]

I prefer the simplicity of the 2 band but the mid control on the 3 band is very useful, especially on fretless and makes it more versatile. They both sound great.

Bear in mind the 3 band has a filter to take out boomy bass frequencies which also creates a difference.

 

[Briton]

I prefer the 2 band which has more low end balls than the 3 band if you need it. And my Classic sits in the mix perfectly regardless of what other people may say about the Classic series. I just cannot get used to the added zing of a 3 band which is hard to eliminate. The 2 band is like a P Bass with growl whilst the 3 band is like a J Bass with more zing.

 

[Afc70]

Definitely prefer the 2 band over the 3 band as far as Stingrays go...

 

[Edmang]

You can get HH, and HS pup configurations as well as an H with the 3 band. AFAIK only can get a single H in a 2 band. May or may not be a consideration for you.

 

[DirkP]

2-band, 'cause Bernard Edwards had a 2-band and that's the reason I own a Stingray. Never even tried a 3-band, 'cause cheap is how I feel.

 

[thisSNsucks]

G&L, 2-band, 3-band

 

[Panych]

2-band for me.
Although I have a 3-band EQ, my mid is always flat, so no need it for me.

 

[Buzz E]

It depends...I've played 3 bands that I loved and 2 bands that sounded just...meh...and then just the opposite. They've been around a while and have changed a bit through the years so if you're in the market for one, you really need to play it first. If you use the right pedals, you can easily make one sound like the other.