• 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 free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Stingray for smooth fingerstyle

#23
khui said:
This thread proves that the stingray is not the "one trick pony" it has been pigeon-holed to be. Ed Friedland also disspells the myth that the stingray has only one sound in one of his reviews. The stingray is as versatile as any other bass!

K.
Click to expand...

Take the frets off and it smooths down even more. Nice velvety sound. In fact I nearly bought a Sterling FL a couple years ago before I discovered Carvin. The neck dive was the deal breaker, but otherwise it would probably have become my main bass.

The Stingray/Sterling is one of the most versatile sounding basses on the market, IMO....

LS
 
#26
40Hz said:
Or this: Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel.

Deep, smooth, and with just enough attitude to make it "a leetle beet different."
:D

Check out the version from the Still Growing Up concert.
Click to expand...

Technically, that's a Music Man Sabre, and fretless. There may be a difference that an expert could point out to us.

But I have played a fretless Stingray (with flats), and it was without exception the best fretless tone I have ever played or heard. If I had extra cash lying around, I would buy one right now.
Fretted, I would still keep my P-bass as an alternative to the Stingray sound, since they are quite different yet both very useful. But there is only one fretless tone worth considering (sorry Jaco fans) :hiding:

Could the Stingray be the most under-rated over-rated bass? :eyebrow:
 
#27
khui said:
This thread proves that the stingray is not the "one trick pony" it has been pigeon-holed to be. Ed Friedland also disspells the myth that the stingray has only one sound in one of his reviews. The stingray is as versatile as any other bass!

K.
Click to expand...

Heh, a thread proves nothing! It's just a forum thread. On the other hand, I agree that you can use the Stingray for all kinds of stuff, like you can with the precision, the jazz. IMO, the biggest "myth" is that you need a certain bass to play certain types of music. You can play ANY kind of music, with ANY bass. Just adapt, or be original. Who cares, as long as it sounds good :)
 
#29
Down_Low said:
But isn't that the whole point, whether a SR sounds good for smooth finger style or not?
Click to expand...

For the purposes of this thread it is. :D

But threads always wander. That's why we keep coming back.

I was glad the subject came up because I've been looking for a good multipurpose bass to take on the road. Wanted something "Fender-ish" because I've been doing more blues oriented music and (to me at least) the Jazz was the sound for that. Looked at the G&Ls, the new Fenders, and some affordable used instruments. But didn't hear anything I really liked. I thought the Fender Jaguar was a good contender. BuI I understand they've since been discontinued. (Fender always makes such brilliant marketing decisions doesn't it?) And as a result, I've noticed they're getting hard to find around where I am. And the prices are climbing because of it.

So sod that! I'm not gonna compete with some deep-pocket collector just to get a workable road instrument I like.

I'd completely neglected to look at the Stingray because I automatically think clank&bang. Mostly because of the way I've heard most people who have one play it. (Take a bow Mr. Flea - for all the young-uns who grew up thinking that's the only way an electric bass is supposed to be played thanks to you!)

Forgot back in the Ernie Ball days when I tried one in Boston (through a Sunn Stadium amp) and was in awe of how rich and deep a bass note you could pull out of it. ("Whoomp! Kaboom!) I can't begin to describe the bass sound that emerged from that combination.

So now I'm thinking MM may be just what I'm looking for.

So thanks for this thread!
 
#30
Not all rays are created equal. Years ago I had a nice 2000 sr4 i bought new. It fit the stereotype of being clanky. The highs could be eqd out but the result was nasal. It just never sounded right. I worked with the bass for months to get a smooth fingerstyle tone i liked before i gave up on it. No my technique is not lacking. :D This bass wouldnt give up its bite. Fast forward a few years. I now have an sr5 that has a wonderfully smooth tone. It definitely has zing like any ray but this one can easily shed its bright bark with the treble eq. I figured it was alnico vs ceramic pickups. Either way the 4 string seemed to fight smooth tone while my current ray does it well. Interestingly the bright one had a rosewood boardwhile my current less trebly ray has a maple board.:confused::D
 
#31
parsons said:
clanky, clicky, clacky wanky Stingray tones comes from two types of people:
Those who are doing it purposely and those who do it because they cannot play the instrument. You decide the majority...
Click to expand...

Those who can't play aren't getting the right clanky, clicky, clacky wanky Stingray tone that the bass does best. They'll get there.
 
#35
Denman's tone on Sade stuff is what initially got me to buy a Musicman bass, then I stupidly went other directions based on perceptions of what was 'needed' or 'preferred'

A couple years later and money wasted trading basses I'm finally getting back into the Musicman fold.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back