Hate is a strong word that's sprayed around like cheap cologne these days. I "disliked" the Stingray sound for the 1st 22 years I played......and then about 6 months ago I heard one live in another band at a festival after our set was done. That was a clearly defined inflection point for me. It's now my preferred sound in our band mix. I bought a current 'ray special 4H (strung BEAD like all my basses) and my other basses haven't seen much action. I have a Sadowsky metroline MM/J whose bridge 'bucker is almost in the 'ray position (it's 15mm farther from the bridge) and a G & L L2K that can get close, but I still prefer my real 'ray.
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Stingray-the most divisive bass sound?
- Thread starter Vanheusen77
- Start date
Fender-like instruments definitely have a bit more warmth or "bleed" to their tone. With StingRays, each note is very much its own and has very clear separation. Personally, I find Rays to require a bit more precision when playing because any flubs are going to be more apparent, even in a mix. If you can manage it, however, they are very rewarding to play.
It's a great sounding compromise between the nasal, boinky sound of a solo jazz bridge pick up that can cause ear fatigue and doesn't sound deep enough to fulfill the role of Bass in a lot of music, and the scooped sound of both jazz pickups together that's fine when you want a warm pillow, but can occasionally get lost. Depending on EQ, it can overlap quite a bit with the P sound. I will say that it is not a sound that I enjoy with flat eq. For me it's just a perfect foundation on top of which I add some bass boost and possibly a goose of the very low mids at about 150–200 Hz.
I agree, my observation is just more of a generalization of the tonal characteristics.
So was the bassist in The Johnny Carson show band. He certainly didn't stick out like a sore thumb.
I've used a jazz style basses for many years, (Fender, Sandberg, Sadowsky), but I've always wanted a ray, that thought in the back of your head. Looking them up, YouTube reviews and whatnot.
This one's just come back from the workshop, stainless steel medium jumbo frets knocked in & a bunch neck tweaks done. Whoever had this before me didn't put the the time or effort to get it right, look after your stuff!!
Plugged her in, boosted both bass & treble to about 65-70%, WHOAAAA…..strong P bass like thump with that spice of a J to my ears, worth the wait considering how expensive they are.
It's a 2011 Classic by the way, I looked at quite a few 2EQ opinions on here before pulling the trigger.
For some reason my one came with an ebony fingerboard, normally see them with maple or rosewood….? Who knows?
Also added a 3D printed thumb rest, just nice to move your hand about to another anchoring point, doesn't get in the way when using a pick too
This one's just come back from the workshop, stainless steel medium jumbo frets knocked in & a bunch neck tweaks done. Whoever had this before me didn't put the the time or effort to get it right, look after your stuff!!
Plugged her in, boosted both bass & treble to about 65-70%, WHOAAAA…..strong P bass like thump with that spice of a J to my ears, worth the wait considering how expensive they are.
It's a 2011 Classic by the way, I looked at quite a few 2EQ opinions on here before pulling the trigger.
For some reason my one came with an ebony fingerboard, normally see them with maple or rosewood….? Who knows?
Also added a 3D printed thumb rest, just nice to move your hand about to another anchoring point, doesn't get in the way when using a pick too
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Such a sexy looking beast! I love the contrast of that black fingerboard on the black/black body...I can hear its tone from here!
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Just imagine it…..you pull it out of the case "click clunk" goes the hard case, "ziiiiiiiwoowooziiiii" goes the gig bag, out she comes, plugging into your amp or interface, fully going through the procedure of those few minutes of preparing for practice.
You put on your headphones or let the room give you that anticipation as you twist the volume knob before you hit the E string…
"Baaaaaarrrrrrr"
@LadyLoveStingRay5
Yeah sorry, I tried to text the sounds etc best I could!
Yeah sorry, I tried to text the sounds etc best I could!
This is so true regarding the amp settings.
My only experience with a passive StingRay was my now sold Sterling import line and EBMM Short Scale . I thought the Sterling was good until I played the EBMM. I thought the EBMM Short Scale was great…..until I got my active EBMM Short Scale . My ears really need that StingRay Bounce to the notes that the preamp provides.
Good job !!!@LadyLoveStingRay5
Yeah sorry, I tried to text the sounds etc best I could!
And thanks for resurrecting one of my all time favorite TalkBass threads. 
You're welcome, & everyone else.Good job !!!
Why not? It's a good thread, I've read the whole lot. As we discuss a legendary instrument!
This photo here is why I'll never again play music man 5s, that g string and they won't do anything to fix it and I'm not adjusting my playing style to play it, but the stingrays B string is so good.. shameYa know, I have a 2011 SR5, and it's the most awesome bass where all things Stingray are concerned, but this one has the most unremarkable neck and fingerboard of all the SR5s I've owned. It looks nice and plays perfectly, no doubt. But I see no signs of a roasted maple or Birdseye in it. It doesn't help when it's on the bass boat next to my 2 Lulls, which have the most beautiful roasted necks I've ever seen. I was kinda surprised when I opened the case and looked at the neck. For a couple of seconds, anyway....
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There's something to it... two of my biggest bass heroes, Bernard Edwards and Dean Garcia, played Stingrays a whole lot but I still prefer to stick to passive basses with a pickup closer to the neck.
If it ain't broke …. Don't fix it !!!
Basses are not one size fits all. Just play what YOU like and LIKE what you play.
I'll never like the 19mm wide Sadowsky models, but that doesn't mean they need to fix it for me. Like EBMM, they have a target market that loves their product just the way it is.
Everything in life isn't like Burger King. You can't always have it your way.
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I'm not aware of a target market that likes the g string close the the fingerboard edge, but ymmvIf it ain't broke …. Don't fix it !!!
Basses are not one size fits all. Just play what YOU like and LIKE what you play.
I'll never like the 19mm wide Sadowsky models, but that doesn't mean they need to fix it for me. Like EBMM, they have a target market that loves their product just the way it is.
Everything in life isn't like Burger King. You can't always have it your way.
I've used a jazz style basses for many years, (Fender, Sandberg, Sadowsky), but I've always wanted a ray, that thought in the back of your head. Looking them up, YouTube reviews and whatnot.
This one's just come back from the workshop, stainless steel medium jumbo frets knocked in & a bunch neck tweaks done. Whoever had this before me didn't put the the time or effort to get it right, look after your stuff!!
Plugged her in, boosted both bass & treble to about 65-70%, WHOAAAA…..strong P bass like thump with that spice of a J to my ears, worth the wait considering how expensive they are.
It's a 2011 Classic by the way, I looked at quite a few 2EQ opinions on here before pulling the trigger.
For some reason my one came with an ebony fingerboard, normally see them with maple or rosewood….? Who knows?
Also added a 3D printed thumb rest, just nice to move your hand about to another anchoring point, doesn't get in the way when using a pick too
and more....What an incredible and beautiful Stingray.....I am gus
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Fair enough. After 35 plus years , I think if it was a deal breaker for too many people and hurting their sales enough, they would have changed it.
Money talks .
I've owned up to this before, but any time I've played a StingRay5, I never had a problem with the G string slipping off the side of the fretboard (perhaps because it's so close to the edge, I give it extra care. Perhaps because I'm more likely to bend it up, rather than down).
However, I have, on a number of occasions pulled the G string off the side of my 4-string StingRay
