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Stingray vs. P or J bass... Which and why?
- Thread starter Joe Bennett
- Start date
That blanket is the perfect backdrop for that bass!
That's a nice collection of basses that will cover just about any playing situation.
Love Stingray playability (especially for a 5), looks and quality at every level. The newest ones are so gorgeous they make me blush. But never got comfortable with a single sound coming from my HS model. So the choice was easy—get some good PJ stuff and start over on the sounds it makes. Couldn’t be happier!
Love the aged pearl pickguard on that honeyburst! I've got tort on my SR 5 (and a rosewood fretboard), so my honeyburst has a very different look.
However, there's no wrong way to adorn a Musicman honeyburst.
However, there's no wrong way to adorn a Musicman honeyburst.
Love the aged pearl pickguard on that honeyburst! I've got tort on my SR 5 (and a rosewood fretboard), so my honeyburst has a very different look.
However, there's no wrong way to adorn a Musicman honeyburst.
Apparently it was called Sunburst until 1999 then the name changed to Honeyburst. Mine is 1996.
Jazz necks are too thin for me, also don't like the single coil hum. They look sexy though.
Stingray's have comfy necks but I'm not into active controls or the zingy bridge pickup sound anymore. I took my Stingray to a recording session once and the engineer said it sounded like Linkin Park and handed me an old P copy to use, think it was a Hondo or Hohner. Later sold the Stingray.
Precision is damn near perfect. I'd only like to add another pickup next to the neck. Think Billy Sheehan got it right.
Stingray's have comfy necks but I'm not into active controls or the zingy bridge pickup sound anymore. I took my Stingray to a recording session once and the engineer said it sounded like Linkin Park and handed me an old P copy to use, think it was a Hondo or Hohner. Later sold the Stingray.
Precision is damn near perfect. I'd only like to add another pickup next to the neck. Think Billy Sheehan got it right.
In a lot of ways, that’s sacreligious. But I’d still love to hear some demo clips if you have any.
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Well...
Stingray. I never wanted a single pickup Stingray; what I really, really wanted was an HH Stingray. And, AFAIK, they never made a left handed HH until 2020, when I managed to snag a Burnt Umber 4HH Special. If it qualifies as a "Stingray", then... oh, Hell yes I like it - a whole lot...
P-Bass. I like P-Basses. That is to say, I like my P-Bass; a lefty '78 with an "A-spec" neck. Although I learned to play bass in 1968 (on a '68 Rick 4001), I didn't own a bass until 1988 - this one. I do have to say that I've never picked up another P-Bass that really made me want to buy it, though. And, TBH, I don't really see the need for another one. I have too many basses (23) as it is...
Jazz Bass. Sorry, but... no, I don't like them. Never wanted one of them. I do like some of the tones you can get out of them, but... I can get those tones from basses that I already own - and do like. Frankly, Jazz Basses feel kind of odd and uncomfortable to me - which might have something to do with Rickenbacker's fitting me like a surgeon's glove. So, no; I, personally, don't have any use for a Jazz Bass...
Stingray. I never wanted a single pickup Stingray; what I really, really wanted was an HH Stingray. And, AFAIK, they never made a left handed HH until 2020, when I managed to snag a Burnt Umber 4HH Special. If it qualifies as a "Stingray", then... oh, Hell yes I like it - a whole lot...
P-Bass. I like P-Basses. That is to say, I like my P-Bass; a lefty '78 with an "A-spec" neck. Although I learned to play bass in 1968 (on a '68 Rick 4001), I didn't own a bass until 1988 - this one. I do have to say that I've never picked up another P-Bass that really made me want to buy it, though. And, TBH, I don't really see the need for another one. I have too many basses (23) as it is...
Jazz Bass. Sorry, but... no, I don't like them. Never wanted one of them. I do like some of the tones you can get out of them, but... I can get those tones from basses that I already own - and do like. Frankly, Jazz Basses feel kind of odd and uncomfortable to me - which might have something to do with Rickenbacker's fitting me like a surgeon's glove. So, no; I, personally, don't have any use for a Jazz Bass...
Can I get the P and J in a high quality top end Fender short scale? My mini is cool and sounds great after the upgrades but an American Professional 2 short scale would be awesome. Same for a Jazz. Just got my Sterling Stingray SS and will be buying the EB version eventually due to the fact that the Sterling is just so awesome. I love all three but would love to have them in short scale.
I yearn for the tone of a Stingray bass. You can get some excellent Funky tones from a Jazz ( I own one) or P Bass; hell even my Yamaha BB425 does a half decent job at standing in for the Stingray I don't own. Still There's something especially tantalizing about what is perhaps the funkiest of all basses, the MM Stingray. It's a must have IMO... if only it weren't outside my budget.
It pretty much sounds like a good p/j. The only thing I’d say about the stingray pickup positions (which have been retained) is that everything is a touch darker than conventional p/j positioning. Mike Lull, who did the work, had one of his 5 string p’s in his shop when I got this done, I think with the same pickup as mine ended up with. Mine was a little less defined below the low E. It clears right up by blending in the j pickup. All my recorded music is with groups and not alone so sorry no useful tone clips to share.
The Stingray has a unique tone and is one of the best built basses around. A P or J can’t sound like a Stingray IMHO. I prefer a J for slap though.
Yes. All three tools are good to have.
For me, Precision bass and I played a Stingray for over 2 decades exclusively but over time I tired of the unnatural edge that was oh so hard to tame. And mine was a pre EB 2EQ bass. The newer ones are worse!
If you like that unnatural edge or your a funkster, the Ray could be your baby but if you want organic warmth, it's a passive Precision Bass. And the Jazz bass is the intimate compromise. I own one but it gets little play time. Others are ga ga over them.
To each his own.
Just stumbled over this post from me nearly 2 years ago. Funny how things change. Fender Road Worn J and P have gone, as has the Stingray. The P was great but I prefer a narrower P neck. I now have a MIA Professional P and MIM Player P. Both have pickup upgrades. I also have a MIM 70s Classic J which I prefer to the Road Worn. It also has a pickup upgrade. I’m hankering after a Ray again but I’ve had about five and never really get on with the sound but I love the look of them. The GAS must stop!
Well, these are "the 3 basses" that do it all (more or less).
Probably, the J Bass is the most versatile................
Neck p/u solo, sounds like a P.
Neck p/u rolled down a hair with bridge p/u full with some EQing and rear plucking, sounds close to a 'Ray.
Both p/us full, J sound and sort of Ric sound (ask Geddy).
Which of these do you prefer, and why?
For me, the P Bass. Why? It's sweet and simple and has the sound for the kind of music that I like and play.
Probably, the J Bass is the most versatile................
Neck p/u solo, sounds like a P.
Neck p/u rolled down a hair with bridge p/u full with some EQing and rear plucking, sounds close to a 'Ray.
Both p/us full, J sound and sort of Ric sound (ask Geddy).
Which of these do you prefer, and why?
For me, the P Bass. Why? It's sweet and simple and has the sound for the kind of music that I like and play.
