Stingray vs Precision: Compare and Contrast the Tone.

[twc1313]

I own both and agree with some of the points made here:

1. The Ray has a modern "punch" vs the Pbass "thump and bark"

2. The Ray can be made to kinda sound like a pbass, the pbass can not in anyway sound like a Ray

3. The Ray sounds amazing (to me) by itself but needs a bit of EQ to work in a band setting. The pbass sounds like crap alone but great in a gig.

4. The pbass gets (imho) a bit of overhyped love around here (as do flats.....)

I have both and love both for what they are. When I practice I use the Ray, the punch and growl inspire me and better fit the "tone" that is in my head. Usually though with my rock band I play the P-Bass b/c I get more compliments on the tone.

You gotta ask yourself what is the tone you hear in you head, who are the bassists you most admire?

If you love that Marcus sound, a Pbass with flats is going to make you quit lol. If you are more into the Steve Harris/Jamerson/Dee Murray thing, then P with Flats is the way.

What bassists/bands do you like? How would you describe the tone in your head or your dream-tone?

 

[Freddels]

 

[Freekmagnet]

Here's a good comparison:

 

[68Goldfish]

I liken the Stingray to the sound of thunder and shattering glass all at once. Perfect bell like clarity with massive punch and sizzling highs. The P bass has a hollow grind sound to me with a lot less clarity on the E string. I prefer the Ray. But that's just my opinion.

 

[BulbousMoses]

2. The Ray can be made to kinda sound like a pbass, the pbass can not in anyway sound like a Ray

This is what I thought. I watch Ed Friedland's review on YouTube and I think you can get into P bass territory with the Stingray..not exact, mind, you but in the ballpark. In addition, you can get a lot of other tones that a P bass can't get.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I have a bass that has both P and MM pickups, the P pickup is moved very slightly towards the neck. But I can get a pretty good comparison of the two and the signal path / instrument is identical. I tried flats on this bass, but didn't really care for the sound. It's a great setup since I can get traditional P bass tone and modern funk. I don't think either pickup sounds like the other. The mids are completely different and a 2 band (which I have on the bass) will not make the MM sound like a P.

 

[topcat2069]

I went from a '62 P Bass to a '76 String Ray

I used Roto Sounds on the P and Gibson Observers (flats, which I changed every week while on tour) on the Ray..... at the time I was playing country... the P was wide open and the Ray was full boost (two band eq) they both sounded excellent for what I was doing. The Ray had Lots more lows and highs. For both I played though an Acoustic 450 head and either a Cerwin Vega B36mf (a folded horn 18 and front firing 12 at Gilley's) or a two 15" cab (JBL design with Altec 421s)

I now prefer the P Bass tone but with a bridge pickup, to the active StingRay.

 

[Fuzzbass]

P-bass and Ray are my two favorite basses.

I have a few P-basses, and always keep one strung with flats.

 

[twc1313]

If you're on a budget and deciding which to buy, the answer is simple: get both. I have a Squier VM Pbass (amber with maple neck) and a SUB 4 Maple and Black. You can get to that point at a bit over $500 and they play, look, and sound great. Don't fall into the TB trap of more $ equals more tone. These basses would cover all your....bases....

 

[StuartV]

P-bass and Ray are my two favorite basses.

I have a few P-basses, and always keep one strung with flats.

Yup. My #s 1 and 2:

About to get strung with flats (black tapewounds):

With these 2 plus my fretless J, I don't NEED any more basses.