- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
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Stingray or Sterling
- Thread starter MrFortuneCookie
- Start date
I'm sure the suggestions just made will assist the guy in finally making up his mind after 8 years of deliberation...
I am a Fender Jazz/Sadowsky Jazz player so theoretically I should like Sterings over Stingrays based on the neck profile/body shape, etc.
I have 3 Stingrays and love 'em. I traded for a mint Sterling a few months ago and sold it within 2 weeks. I hated it.
Forget about "phantom coils" and that kind of stuff. Buy what feels and sounds right to you.
I have 3 Stingrays and love 'em. I traded for a mint Sterling a few months ago and sold it within 2 weeks. I hated it.
Forget about "phantom coils" and that kind of stuff. Buy what feels and sounds right to you.
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
All you have to do is pick them both up and play them. I knew within about 10 seconds that I wouldn't like a Stingray. The Sterling just felt "right".
I just went to a local music store yesterday to try some basses.
I tried Stingrays (maple et rosewood fretboard) and Sterlings (maple and rosewood fretboard). All of them with a single humbucker.
Verdict :
with the basses I tried, I felt the Stingrays had a beefier low end. They sounded more massive with the EQ flat. Also, the maple fretboard basses seemed to have a little more snap.
However, I think that with a touch of EQ, I doubt it would be noticeable in a live mix.
I tried Stingrays (maple et rosewood fretboard) and Sterlings (maple and rosewood fretboard). All of them with a single humbucker.
Verdict :
with the basses I tried, I felt the Stingrays had a beefier low end. They sounded more massive with the EQ flat. Also, the maple fretboard basses seemed to have a little more snap.
However, I think that with a touch of EQ, I doubt it would be noticeable in a live mix.
My advice, keep it simple, get the stingray! I've currently got 2, recently sold another, the best one I have is the 2 EQ one, ok, it is 21 years old and things were done differently in the 80's I suppose, but still, a fine fine bass.
it's up to you .. play 'em both, figure out what tone you like.
that's what I did and I went with the sterling for the thinner neck and thicker tone .. but it still can get the stingray tone with the switch and eq settings.
that's what I did and I went with the sterling for the thinner neck and thicker tone .. but it still can get the stingray tone with the switch and eq settings.
The main difference between the two is the composition of the magnets in the humbucker: alnico for the ray and ceramic for the sterling...
Stingray 5 player here.
Stingray 5 player here.
I was in the exact situation as u! Both basses sound great but at the end of the day I picked the sterling because I played a jazz bass for 4 years and the neck felt pretty much identical to what my hands where use to, so my decision was based more on playability rather then tone because as far as tone I think they both sound good, but the sterling is lighter and has a slimmer neck thats what won me over.
Was there really a need to bring this thread back a second time?...
First post was over 9 years ago
First post was over 9 years ago
I have a question................can a Stingray be had with a Sterling neck? The neck is the only thing that I don't like about the Stingray. Well...weight is also an issue. The Sterlings are lighter in nature but I've heard there are some lightweight Stingray. Just have to try a bunch of them.
I don't know about a stingray but I had a sterling once and it's the only bass out of probably twenty odd basses that I regret trading off. So awesome. The size was perfect, the neck was the best neck I've ever felt and the vairiance of sounds that you could get by simply flicking the coil switch were unreal. I also thought that the preamp was perfectly smooth, unlike active fenders that I've had the mid knob was smooth and not harsh. Like I said, I don't know about the stringray, I just know the sterling rules.
DWBass,
You can get a Stingray SLO edition. It's got the Sterling taper neck.
You can see some here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Bob
You can get a Stingray SLO edition. It's got the Sterling taper neck.
You can see some here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Bob
Now that's what I'm talking about! Thanks. There will be a Stingray 5 SLO in my future.
