Stingray vs. P or J bass... Which and why?

[lfmn16]

It depends on the bass and the music. There isn't "a" stingray, "a" precision, or "a" jazz. Each one is different.

Everybody should do what I did when I bought a precision many years ago. I went into a music store and tried out between 10 and 15 precisions. They ranged from awful to great. It's what I think about every time someone asks "should I buy A or B." Turn off your computer, leave the house, walk into a music store and experience the different basses for yourself.

 

[Leonid Nidis]

P-Just works in a mix,your truck.If you you can find a P that is also musical and not just a thumper hold on to it.
Musicman-A bit modern tool that punches and bites and rings out,I like it for heavy music mostly.
These two I have.
I love the way a J looks,love the feel,great sound in the bedroom but hate it in the mix if the music gets heavy or busy.Tried a few J basses and couldnt get along with one.

 

[pcake]

if i could only play one pickup config, i'd choose P/J every time. i like having both pickups on - for my taste, that's got plenty of bass with some jazz to cut through a little.

luckily i don't have to choose

i have a herd of PJs, a stingray on the way and a bass with a single P pickup, not to mention the one with a single MM style pickup that sounds more like a P. oh, and a semi-hollow with a piezo.

 

[RickyRocknRoll]

P for me. Simple and effective, only 2 knobs. Never fails, fits in every situation/genre.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I love all three but don't own a Stingray. My main is a Jazz bass. I have three of them and they all sound great. My custom built has enough mid range in the pickups to cop a good P bass like tone when soloing the neck pickup.
The reason I chose Jass bass is that I can get three amazing tones due to the dual pickups.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I’m with the guy who says to save up for all three

I currently own a Ray and a J. In a mix, the Ray stands out a bit more. Some say it cuts through, but I think it’s EQ’d to act similarly to a P bass but to sit in a different place. Soloed, I really prefer the Jazz bass sound. It’s very full ranged and does it’s own thing with both pickups up full. Solo either pickup and it can mimic a P or do another variation of it’s own thing. In a mix, things get trickier and it can get lost somewhat. I think it plays the best and is the most comfortable.

The P is a different story. It’s versatile despite its simplicity. It fills the perfect sonic slot for the bass. However, I find it to generally be the hardest to play. Thicker and wider necks make it hard to play in the first position unless you’re a bigger person or stick to simple “meat and potatoes” playing. Then again, maybe that’s just another feature of the bass - to keep you focusing less on tonal versatility and the ability to explode out a barrage of notes and to just keep things simple, in the pocket, and to groove.

The last bass I sold was a P and writing this makes me think I need to pick up another one

 

[lizardking837]

Which of these do you prefer, and why?

The one with 4 strings.

 

[Dragan]

P bass. Comfy, simple, versatile, sounds right 99% of the time, wide expanse of tort.

My answer too.. also applies on 99% talkbass threads.

 

[Ric5]

Stingray vs. P or J bass... Which and why?

I'll take one of each … but they all have to have 5 strings and all 3 need to have a 4 band preamp and the p has to have 2 pickups.

on second thought I'll take 2 of each.

 

[cv115505]

Get all 3 in one... Lakland

 

[Pings Bass]

I've got one of each.

P: solid but limited
J: solid and versatile
Ray: solid, bright, slap happy (yet more versatile than you think)

If I could only have one of those 3, it's the J, easy, because of versatility.

I also have an L-2500, which I'd easily choose over the other 3, also for versatility.

 

[SpyderX]

My history of these 3 Basses...
1975 - I spend $200 on a Pre-CBS Fender P.
Shedded and gigged with this. Couple years later, I start hearing a lotta hype(?) about Leo Fender's new company. I behin seeing some ex-P bass players sportin' MM Stingray basses...In 1978, I plunk down $500 for this-
View attachment 3850907
The tone, IMO, sounded "metallic". My P-bass sounded more like "wood".

My story pretty much mirrors this, except I never went back to Fenders. We just don't get along. I've had plenty of P-type basses though.

 

[Killens84]

Man, I love all three. If I were forced to choose only one, it would be a P, but all three are great.

 

[BadSanta1281]

Wait... we're only allowed three? Is this TalkBass?

 

[bdplaid]

Which of these do you prefer, and why?

J bass for rock.
P bass with Jazz neck for funk and r and b. Sometimes for rock, it depends on my mood.
Stingray HH for rock and other things that I want to sound huge. Love the tone but dislike the width of the neck (slows me down and not as comfortable as a J neck width..)

 

[filler83]

Get all 3 in one... Lakland View attachment 3851058

Interesting. Is the hb bridge pickup close to the stingray position?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

For most playing, P. I like 5 string J for some things and I'm looking hard at a MM Stingray as a slap machine. The problem is that I buy a MM and end up selling it within a year or two. Always happens.

 

[CallMeAl]

I’m not super picky about pickups but slightly prefer P. It’s simple and effective, and fits the bands I’m in very well.

I am however picky about how a bass feels and balances, especially the neck profile. I like a smaller Jazz neck, and the smaller Precision body.

my main squeeze:

 

[707GK]

I have one of each (well, my EBMM is a Sterling, not a Stingray) and I reach for the Jazz the most. The ergonomics of the body and the stiff, lightweight, thin, satin neck really make it very nice to play. It’s very balanced and the tone is killer.

I sound like me, no matter which of the 3 I play. Even when going from P to J, both sound very different, but I still sound roughly the same after.

 

[MoeTown1986]

P. Why? I'll tell you why.

Years ago my first bass was a Fender P bass. I starting gigging at 15 years old in my punk band with a P bass. Then I had a metal band from 18-21 that actually got to play some really cool gigs opening for national acts. Also, using a P. Around 22 I decided to stop chasing the dream and joined a cover band... with the P. Wanting something else, I switched to Musicman and was playing around 120 gigs a year with a pair of Stingray 5's. They served me well for about 4 years, but I was always searching for something in my sound. I sold those off for a pair of American Deluxe Jazz 5's. They were much more what I was looking for, sound wise. But, I still wasn't satisfied with something. Fast forward to 2 years ago, I purchased a used Custom Shop 59 P and it all made sense. Now, I own 9 P basses and gig them exclusively.