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Stingray vs. Sterling

Stingray vs. Sterling

  • Stingray

    Votes: 125 63.5%

  • Sterling

    Votes: 72 36.5%
  • Total voters
    197
  • Poll closed .
#21
I think you'll be happier with the StingRay in live settings rather than the Sterling. It's just a gutsier, bigger sound, due to the alnico magnets, IMO. I'm just not down with the ceramic pup in the Sterlings/SR5s...

Play a couple of each before deciding. Ernie Ball QC is tight, but I think you'll find some minor tonal differences within each model. Also check out the passive SUBs. No body contours, but they still have the alnico pups and a little less shrillness in the high end in my experience. Very thumpy comparatively.

Hope that helps.
 
#22
ok...i guess the stingray has a more burpy/growly sound...lol....i just like the sound of the stingray ...whatever that is...oh and i have a 4 string.....so like the guy said a 5 string may sound different...oh and i have the 3 band eq version
 
#25
I can't believe there's energy left in the masses for yet another Sterling v. Stingray thread! But I love Sterlings, so BRING IT ON!

I own two Sterlings and love to gig them. They are the right weight, balance well, I know how to EQ 'em, and they just 'feel' superb. That said, a few comments:

1. The two I have sound significantly different. The maple neck/ash body is much more upper-middy and snappy than the comparatively darker rosewood neck/basswood body. I use both constructively on different tunes.

2. The contour of the neck is also different on both. Which I think is relatively rare for the chunkier of the two.

3. As with anything try before you buy, but these do seem to hold value as well or better than Fender products of the same year.

4. And I can't resist it: Stingrays ought to come with a rattle for that bib-shaped pickguard! :D :hiding: :D
 
#26
Dr. PhunkyPants said:
1. The two I have sound significantly different. The maple neck/ash body is much more upper-middy and snappy than the comparatively darker rosewood neck/basswood body. I use both constructively on different tunes.
Click to expand...
I didn't know Sterlings ever came with a basswood body. Not to be a smart a$$ but are you sure about that?
 
#28
You just cant achieve that SR sound through a Sterling. I've played many of both, and love the sound of the SR, but after i set one down and pick up a Sterling, the bass feels like dead tone. Like a wanna be SR, but not quite as full. I bought the SR over the Sterling over sheer issues of tone. The SR is also much easier for me to slap/pop on. The Sterling strings are a little too close together. :)
 
#30
i know this is off the topic, but i saw a tom jones performance on the ovation channel, and his bass player was using a black bongo. i think it was H/H; can't remember. but it sounded INCREDIBLE. :p

OR

a house of blues performance i saw featured a bass player using a musicman SABRE!!! TWO HUMBUCKERS!!! and yes, it sounded like a stingray on steroids!!! (but probably not a single one in australia) :crying:
 
#31
WarwickFan said:
I didn't know Sterlings ever came with a basswood body. Not to be a smart a$$ but are you sure about that?
Click to expand...

Well, as you well know the EB website tends to be a bit vague about what woods you are going to get with your solid-colored body instrument. (Obviously the trans finishes are all decent-looking ash, hence the upcharge.)

I once owned a maple Stingray 5 and know that sound. I have an ash-bodied Sterling and used to own a second--one with each type if fboard, so I also know that sound, too. That leaves alder or basswood. Having spent some time staring at the grain in the neck pocket, I believe it is not alder.

And aren't all the SUB basses basswood?
 
#32
ras1983 said:
i know this is off the topic, but i saw a tom jones performance on the ovation channel, and his bass player was using a black bongo. i think it was H/H; can't remember. but it sounded INCREDIBLE. :p

OR

a house of blues performance i saw featured a bass player using a musicman SABRE!!! TWO HUMBUCKERS!!! and yes, it sounded like a stingray on steroids!!! (but probably not a single one in australia) :crying:
Click to expand...

The sabres had some pretty bad issues, mainly the deadspots on the fretboard, amongst other little niggles.

I can't wait till the H/H sterling comes out/over here though. Although i've been tempted by a G&L lately..
 
#33
Dr. PhunkyPants said:
Well, as you well know the EB website tends to be a bit vague about what woods you are going to get with your solid-colored body instrument. (Obviously the trans finishes are all decent-looking ash, hence the upcharge.)

I once owned a maple Stingray 5 and know that sound. I have an ash-bodied Sterling and used to own a second--one with each type if fboard, so I also know that sound, too. That leaves alder or basswood. Having spent some time staring at the grain in the neck pocket, I believe it is not alder.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, all Stingrays and Sterlings in recent years have been ash.

And aren't all the SUB basses basswood?
Click to expand...

Poplar. Basswood (as I understand it) can sometimes be sold as "poplar" but since EB sells the Bongo as "Basswood" and the SUB as "Poplar", it's safe to assume SUBs aren't basswood.
 
#39
For me, it's the Sterling. Like others have already mentioned the neck profile is awesome. But I also like how the body is a bit smaller and the body heel is contoured. And then there is the ability to switch pickup configurations, which is nice but I think the Stingray sounds great as well plus there is something appealing about the simplicity of that setup. But overall the sterling does it for me.
 

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