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Stingray vs Precision: Compare and Contrast the Tone.

#21
Humbled said:
I don't get the love for flats either Geri. My 2007 Stingray wears nickel-rounds, all my P's wears nickle-rounds, cheap ones too, and none of them get changed very often. I haven't had flats on a bass since about 1978. I'm fairly certain that I'm too stupid to absorb the nuance that I'm missing out on, but I keep plugging away, oblivious to how badly I'm embarrassing the whole of bassdom.

On the topic of P vs. Stingray: IMO one can pull off any style with either. It's maybe easier to get an 80s funk tone out of a Stingray: It's a bigger, boink-ier more edgy tone. I suppose.
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Yeah, at the moment, I don't have any material that I would think "gotta use the P on this" or "gotta use the Ray on that". The old Patrice Rushen tune "Forget me nots" (?) is proof that a P is great for funk material, too.

At the moment, all I can find in stock for strings my gauge are the Ernie Ball Power Slinkys (.050, .070, .085, .105, .135), a little heavier than usual. I can't see needing anything else and they last long enough.

As I said, by all means, play the strings that suit you (or the bass or the amp, or anything else in life that involves a choice). I would only ask that the same consideration is given to everyone's choices that I do (unless they are life-threatening, of course. Even then, there's a choice. AARRGGHHH!!!..:o)))

Carry on,
Geri O
 
#22
I have a 2008 Fender P5 and had a 2011 SR5. Both with TI Jazz flats. The P5 moans and the SRi growls with an aggressive edge that I couldn't tame. The P5 relaxes into the mix and the SR5 always cuts through. I love the sound of the P5 with a pick classic punk rock sound. The SRi has a classic slap sound even with flats. Both sound good finger style. P5 is about 2 lbs lighter and both feel about the same as far as reach to the 1st positions. Every P5 tone control position works with my band. SR5 3 band pre and pickup switch gives more options but none of them sat with my band as well as the P live or recorded. I sold the sr5 and the P5 is my main player.
 
#23
The SR has much less low bass due to the pickup position (but you can get SRs with a second pickup in the neck position).

The SRs wide humbucker with two full length coils creates a big hole in the frequency range when some overtones get canceled out. That is pretty audible.

You can have all kinds of pickups on a split P, whereas radically different pickups on SRs are rare.
 
#24
I have 3 p basses (one with flats, one with tape wounds, and one with rounds), a jazz with rounds, and a ray with rounds....well, budget versions of each.

All of my p basses sound different even with rounds, but they all do have a distinct mid range tone that is different than the ray. Actually, I can get my ray to sound nearly identical to my jazz, but only kind of like the p basses. I think the ray is the most versatile, but I also think that the p basses sit in a mix with a little less work than the ray, and quite a bit less work than the jazz. If that makes any sense. Kind of hard to explain.
 
#28
hillerup said:
The P has such a wonderful growly tone with roundwounds, that I couldn't imagine putting flats on one.

Never tried a Ray, though...
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I use DR Low Rider Nickels on my Precision V and they seem perfect for rock, R & B (classic) Motown, Soul, and Country.

Had flats on my 2002 AM Precision for a week, missed the growl and punch and the projection they have.

I have not gigged or rehearsed a 'Ray. Love the insanely low action MM's have but, just don't know. EBMM's have the low B thing down...when we look at the relative closeness of P-Bass and 'Ray pricing.

Having run the racks lotsa times, I could live my Precision V as my only only option.
 
#30
Fretless55 said:
Flats = Bass

Rounds = Bass guitar
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Forgive me if I am misinterpreting, but what I believe you meant to say was:

Using Whatever strings work for you = Bass

Pretentiously thinking there is only one "true" way = Bass Guitar

There, that makes more sense. You're welcome.

...And the tired Flats V. Rounds conversation is played out to absolute death. Who cares, it has nothing to do with P-basses vs. Stingrays....

I agree with the others Rays are a bit more scooped, but pretty versatile nonetheless. P's have that sweet low mid sound.
 
#32
All you have to do is listen to some music recorded with those basses. P and ray couldn't be anymore different from each other.

People who constantly bring up that "men in black" patrice rushen song and steve harris to defend P basses are referencing some seriously outdated stuff. Metal hasn't sounded like iron maiden in years. Slapping also has changed a long way since the 80s.
 
#33
elBandito said:
All you have to do is listen to some music recorded with those basses. P and ray couldn't be anymore different from each other.
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I think that point has been made ad nauseum.

People who constantly bring up that "men in black" patrice rushen song and steve harris to defend P basses are referencing some seriously outdated stuff.
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That "men in black" song is a Patrice Rushen tune and was a hit long before the silly-ass movie (which, I admit, I enjoyed). Some people call it outdated. Others call it timeless. I don't care what you call it, just be aware of the different ways of seeing it.

Metal hasn't sounded like iron maiden in years. Slapping also has changed a long way since the 80s.
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Don't give a shyte about metal (that's just me, I'm going to my corner now). Slapping? Yes.

Geri O
 
#34
To the OP's original question, IME you can get closer to a P-Bass sound with a two-band Stingray (such as a Classic) than with a standard 3-band. At least it seems easier to dial in the sound. 'Rays generally tend to have a "zingy" sound to them; less warmth than a P.
Oh, and I used flats for many years before I even knew about the Internet, FWIW. To each his own.
 
#37
gmarcus said:
I have a 2008 Fender P5 and had a 2011 SR5. Both with TI Jazz flats. The P5 moans and the SRi growls with an aggressive edge that I couldn't tame. The P5 relaxes into the mix and the SR5 always cuts through. I love the sound of the P5 with a pick classic punk rock sound. The SRi has a classic slap sound even with flats. Both sound good finger style. P5 is about 2 lbs lighter and both feel about the same as far as reach to the 1st positions. Every P5 tone control position works with my band. SR5 3 band pre and pickup switch gives more options but none of them sat with my band as well as the P live or recorded. I sold the sr5 and the P5 is my main player.
Click to expand...

Funny I recently did the opposite--sold my P5 and bought an SR5. Nothing wrong with the P5, just after 4 years with the P5 I wanted a change to something with more bite. The SR did it for me.
 
#38
I have a P and a Ray. To me the Precision has thump and the Stingray has a "growlier "sound.

Although they are very different, the similarity to me is that they are both versatile in application while remaining unique and retaining their distinct, unique voice. (If that makes any sense.)

I love my Precisions, but easily adapted to the feel and sound of my Stingray. I never got entirely comfortable with the feel or sound of my Am Std Jazz and subsequently sold it and bought another P.

My current Ray has a single pickup, someday I'd love to have the HH version.
 
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#39
The P is a very basic plank with a pick up and not much else other than string choice and player skill will change that unless you run it through external pre amps.

The Stingray has five or six signature sounds including doing the ubiquitous generic bass sound (as you would hear on indie rock, middle of the road music, some country etc etc)

Frankly the Stingray blows it out of the water in most respects (although the P is very good at ubiquitous bass sound) - now compare a Stingray to a G and L or Lakland and we are talking sensible comparisons.

You need to be lining the P up against basses of its time for a sensible comparison or even the Jazz. Otherwise you're comparing apples with pears!!!

Fwiw I use flats on a classic 2 band Stingray and a 3 band fretless - but rounds (light guage) on a 3 band HH model for a more modern sound (80s slap especially). Anyone do 80s slap on a precision.............
 
#40
One thing I see no one has mentioned, and to me is a very noticeable distinction between the two basses:

Stingray: Focused and tightly controlled midrange resulting in a distinctive punch.

P Bass: Wide open almost airy mids by comparison. I've heard it described as "barky" - barky like a dog, that is.

I've owned and played both basses and although they are completely different beasts, I would consider them equals. Both instruments are extremely versatile and can be used in any musical situation. Although I don't have either currently, I plan on getting one or the other or both sometime in the future.
 
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