• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Stingray 5 as only bass

Hey,

So a few years ago I traded for a Stingray 5 and its been my only bass. I like it a lot but I miss having a 4 string, there's just something in the tone of a 4 string that I feel 5s don't get. As well I prefer slapping on a 4. I have the opportunity to trade my stingray 5 (2000) for an American Jazz 4 (08). Ideally I would rather have only one bass, but I don't want to regret trading away my 5 string. Interested in opinions, if you were in my shoes what would you do?
Trade. A Jazz Bass is the most versatile bass if you can only have one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: craig0316
I think the number of strings (4 or 5) barely affects an instruments “tone” if it even does at all. The jazz and music man style pickups are what the main difference is between the tone of the 2 basses in question here. A 5-string sting ray sounds just like a 4-string sting ray, and a 4-string jazz bass sounds just like a 5-string jazz, tone-wise and IMO.

If you’re only keeping one bass in your stable I’d keep the sting ray because I like their tone more than I like a jazz bass tone. YMMV

Agree with there not much difference in tone, but you do need to be aware of the gage of the higher 4 strings with 5 string sets.
 
Keep your StingRay.
You can find late model US Jazz Basses all day long in the classifieds for ~800-900 bucks.

I second this suggestion!

IMO the SR5 is a great bass, and I very much regret selling the one I used to own. Finding a nice used Jazz Bass for not a lot of money is pretty easy.

I'd also consider a used StingRay.
 
I bought an SR5 new in Dec 1992. I still have it; it's not my main player anymore due to the weight, but I've played just about every gig you could reasonably imagine on it, from your typical blues/rock/country bar band stuff, contemporary church music, jazz standards out of a Fake Book, even sat in with a couple of bluegrass bands with it.

Gotta say after 20 years, I never got comfortable slapping on it. Not for lack of trying, either. These days I'm mostly playing a Lakland 5; the wider string spacing makes slapping a lot easier.

Personally, I would hang on to the SR5 and save for whatever 4 string floats your boat.
 
I think your Stingray 5 is the better bass.
If you insist on having one bass, trade for a Stingray 4 and add a Hipshot D-tuner and maybe an octave pedal.

But I think everyone needs at least 2 basses. So why not do the above and add something like a Sire V3 5 string Jazz for backup and when you need those extra notes?

Or keep your Stingray5 and buy a used USA SUB 4 . That way you’ll have a 4 and a 5 string Stingray .

Point is it doesn’t cost a lot of money to get a good bass these days .
 
I think what’s missing here (at least from what I’ve read) is whether or not you are using the B string much now. If you are playing styles where getting below E is important, you’ll miss the five. But if it’s all rock in standard keys, a 4 is likely fine. I agre with the others though, and think you should just save up for a used Jazz of some sort
 
If you really only want one bass and only one bass. And, you think that a 4 string has better tone than a 5er. Get a Stingray 4 Banger or a Jazz Bass and a HipShot down tuner. You'll have the low D, D sharp for low notes and let's be blunt and dogmatic about it. Anything lower that D sounds bad anyway.

That 5th string and extra hardware and weight all for only 5 extra notes. Ain't worth it. Dump it.

View attachment 2934196
FOUR extra notes. Four.
 
Hey,

So a few years ago I traded for a Stingray 5 and its been my only bass. I like it a lot but I miss having a 4 string, there's just something in the tone of a 4 string that I feel 5s don't get. As well I prefer slapping on a 4. I have the opportunity to trade my stingray 5 (2000) for an American Jazz 4 (08). Ideally I would rather have only one bass, but I don't want to regret trading away my 5 string. Interested in opinions, if you were in my shoes what would you do?
One bass??? Heresy!
 
Agree with there not much difference in tone, but you do need to be aware of the gage of the higher 4 strings with 5 string sets.
I’m not sure I understand. I use the same gauge strings on my 5 and 4 strings; GHS boomers medium light, both 5 and 4 string sets are 45 65 80 100 (126). The only difference in gauges is the extra B-string.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: bassstrangler
IMO if anyone thinks a 5 string bass is just about the extra notes below E they haven't understood much about 5 string basses.

To the OP, I'm not sure why you want to get rid of bass you have liked playing for so long on a whim that a Jazz might play and sound better.

IMO it would be better to get a Jazz and play it for awhile, to see what you think. Only then would I consider selling my SR5.