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Stingray popularity decline?

#321
TomB said:
Just a thought (if it’s already been put forward, sorry). Back in the late ‘70’s and ‘80’s and even on there was really no other option to generate that MM tone, and it set the bass world on its ear. With today’s almost unlimited pedal and amp choices, the Sting Ray’s no longer as tonally unique, though it’s still unique in other ways. That’s no reason to lose market share per se as they’re great instruments, but I think it’s perhaps a part of the story.
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OK, I swear I'm not being contrary but even with pedals there is a small number of basses with uniquely inimitable tones and the stingray is one of them.

Here's my picks for those basses in no particular order.

1. Stingray
2. Warwick Thumb (go on and try to get that sound without one - I've been trying forever because my Thumb weighed 13.5 lbs and I couldn't take it anymore)
3. Rickenbacker 400x ric-o-sound blah blah blah
4. Ampeg Baby Bass

There may be more but those are the one's that I think of.

This of course is my completely opinionated opinion.
 
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#322
Tom Baker said:
OK, I swear I'm not being contrary but even with pedals there is a small number of basses with uniquely inimitable tones and the stingray is one of them.

Here's my picks for those basses in no particular order.

1. Stingray
2. Warwick Thumb (go on and try to get that sound without one - I've been trying forever because my Thumb weighed 13.5 lbs and I couldn't take it anymore)
3. Rickenbacker 400x ric-o-sound blah blah blah
4. Ampeg Baby Bass

There may be more but those are the one's that I think of.

This of course is my completely opinionated opinion.
Click to expand...
I actually agree, but i think “close enough” may be ok for lots of players. For instance, my G&L L1500 doesn’t “exactly” do the Sting Ray, but I would be the only one in the room who knows the difference. But back in 1980 there was no L1500, and active electronics were a new thing. The Sting Ray was a jaw-dropper then, and it rightfully gained a great following, especially among disillusioned Fender fans.
 
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#323
JoeWPgh said:
Yes/no. The Ray seems to have a bigger "butt". Maybe it's the controls on the banana plate. Either way, the controls always seemed just a little far away from my playing position. Not a deal breaker, by any means. But not ideal either.
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Yeah, I have to say the ergonomics are something I really like on both Ray and P, one of the reasons is the control plate location - when I play with a pick, there's no danger in me hitting the knobs. When I had a Jazz with concentric knobs, it was always too close, too crowded and I had to be careful not to hit the knobs. Ray and P - ultimate rock it out.

The only thing that threw me off at the very beginning of owning one was getting used to the pickup location. That's it. That's the part that was a bit "foreign" to me coming from P and J basses and having my thumb rest on the neck pup mostly. Maybe that's what you mean too.
 
#326
mouthmw said:
Yeah, I have to say the ergonomics are something I really like on both Ray and P, one of the reasons is the control plate location - when I play with a pick, there's no danger in me hitting the knobs. When I had a Jazz with concentric knobs, it was always too close, too crowded and I had to be careful not to hit the knobs. Ray and P - ultimate rock it out.
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I have to say, and with all due respect, this doesn't make sense to me. I have never come close to accidentally hitting the volume control on a J bass. Are you doing Pete Townsend windmills?
Part of what I strive for, in terms of technique and wear and tear on my body is economy of movement. So, my hand never gets that far from the strings. I'm not saying I am a master of this, and I certainly have some sloppy habits. But it is something I am aware of and try make something of a priority. (and mostly for wear and tear on my aging body)
But like I said above, the Ray's ergonomic is neither a deal breaker nor ideal for me. I guess you could say I see it as a stone on the scale when it comes to tie breakers.
 
#327
JoeWPgh said:
I have to say, and with all due respect, this doesn't make sense to me. I have never come close to accidentally hitting the volume control on a J bass. Are you doing Pete Townsend windmills?
Part of what I strive for, in terms of technique and wear and tear on my body is economy of movement. So, my hand never gets that far from the strings. I'm not saying I am a master of this, and I certainly have some sloppy habits. But it is something I am aware of and try make something of a priority. (and mostly for wear and tear on my aging body)
But like I said above, the Ray's ergonomic is neither a deal breaker nor ideal for me. I guess you could say I see it as a stone on the scale when it comes to tie breakers.
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Yup it could happen if I really wail on it. Like I said, I only really noticed it with the concentric knobs which are a bit higher. When doing that kind of "punk rock" downstrokes. What can I say, when I play rock, I'm not the one to play it in the most gentle way. Knobs did get in the way for me, but I don't remember having the same issue with the regular VVT jazz basses.
 
#328
The thing that actually made me sit up and take notice of the StingRay was that my local GC got a used fretless in with flats, and when I demoed it, I was hooked by the sound. I'd been playing a Fender Jazz Plus V for years, but with frets and rounds.

So, I bought one. But then I found a color I like better and bought that one. But then I found the same color with piezo, so I bought that one, and she's *magical* on the piezo pickups, even better than the magnetic.

Now, I'm willing to bet my fretless with piezos sounds *completely* different to what most people think when they think StingRay, which is almost certainly frets and rounds, and I love that, too, but my StingRay is so comfortable to play, and so beautiful—I really think the Stingray body is the perfect shape, the best of all Leo's designs—the neck feels just right and the fingerboard is hard and smooth.

My StingRay is rare among StingRays, and I love her for it.
 
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#329
I do see less Stingrays gigging here, but my musical taste has changed which might be a driving force on why. I do believe there are some other reasons why, and chief among those is that it's much easier to get a high quality custom bass for the same price or even less now than ever before.

The most popular complaint I've heard about Stingrays over the years is the weight, and needing a to go on a diet. Another, not as well-known is their basses can be prone to fret lifting. It's not uncommon around here for savy buyers to bring a feeler gauge and check; particularly for rosewood necks.

But Ernie Ball appears to be listening as they've put their Stingrays on a diet and even advertise weight on their model specs. For a $2,000 plus bass, EBMM needs to continuing stepping up their game. They went too long not doing so, imo, while their competitors were restless.
 
#330
I've never found my StingRay heavy, and heavier instruments sound better and have more sustain, anyway. My StingRay is still lighter than a Les Paul. The modern fetish for lightweight basses confuses me. EBMM's decision to move to lighter wood and a lower mass bridge is, all things being equal otherwise, detrimental to "tone".
 
#331
amper said:
I've never found my StingRay heavy, and heavier instruments sound better and have more sustain, anyway. My StingRay is still lighter than a Les Paul. The modern fetish for lightweight basses confuses me. EBMM's decision to move to lighter wood and a lower mass bridge is, all things being equal otherwise, detrimental to "tone".
Click to expand...

What's your ray's weight? Mine (4 string, single H) is 10 lbs.
 
#332
amper said:
I've never found my StingRay heavy, and heavier instruments sound better and have more sustain, anyway. My StingRay is still lighter than a Les Paul. The modern fetish for lightweight basses confuses me. EBMM's decision to move to lighter wood and a lower mass bridge is, all things being equal otherwise, detrimental to "tone".
Click to expand...

It’s definitrly not detrimental to tone. Not at all.
 
#333
amper said:
I've never found my StingRay heavy, and heavier instruments sound better and have more sustain, anyway. My StingRay is still lighter than a Les Paul. The modern fetish for lightweight basses confuses me. EBMM's decision to move to lighter wood and a lower mass bridge is, all things being equal otherwise, detrimental to "tone".
Click to expand...
I agree weight, density, etc, effects tone.....whether it's "detrimental" or not is subjective IMO.
 
#334
50BCDF96-8D92-4935-89F1-46247033C9D4.jpeg


Wonder what wood that table was made out of cause that dude made some killer tones on it
 
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#336
Ive been favoring a Fender J or P for a few years now and my Stingray(1996-4string) usually sits at home. Its a 3 band, always had a thinner tone on the G, kind of heavy, and a tad to much sizzle/twang with most rounds. However, Ive had a set of Labella 760fl's on it for a week or so now...im really digging the tone again, especially as the strings break in. Totally getting that "Another One Bites The Dust" tone..:)
 
#338
FirewalZ said:
Ive been favoring a Fender J or P for a few years now and my Stingray(1996-4string) usually sits at home. Its a 3 band, always had a thinner tone on the G, kind of heavy, and a tad to much sizzle/twang with most rounds. However, Ive had a set of Labella 760fl's on it for a week or so now...im really digging the tone again, especially as the strings break in. Totally getting that "Another One Bites The Dust" tone..:)
Click to expand...

Did you try pushing the pickup magnets up under G string to try fattening that string up?
(Or push the others down to tame them)
 
#339
mikeswals said:
Did you try pushing the pickup magnets up under G string to try fattening that string up?
(Or push the others down to tame them)
Click to expand...
When I first got the bass, way back in 96, it had the missing G string issue bad. After trying everything, i replaced the pickup/preamp with SD basslines and that seemed to do the trick to at least even the volume out. However, the G string isnt nearly a full sounding as a J or P, I think thats just a characteristic of the sound though. I have an on/off again relationship with the Stingray, sometimes i really dig it, sometimes I dont.
 

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