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That MM string ray sound, I why don't I like it?

HeavyHand

HeavyHand

Guest
Jul 22, 2016
42
19
#1
Ok, Not trying to start a String Ray hate thread or anything like that, but I have recently been in the market for a new bass and have been out perusing guitar stores and have had the chance play a classic and modern String Ray couple of separate occasions. I was pumped because, I've never played one before. But, as it turns out I didn't really like the tone I was getting. I was boosting and cutting the bass, treble, and mids (in one case). And couldn't really get something I liked.

I was mostly okay with the E and A strings, but when I got up to the D and G, especially the G, I just felt like the tone was to treble-y or bright or...something? And the closest thing I got to liking the sound was pretty much rolling the treble the whole way off, but even then it was like it was too much still.

Anyone else have this experience?

In an (un)related note, I think I dislike that bass tone usually found in a lot of jazz music (from an electric bass at least). If you have ever checked out Scott's bass lessons, the intro to many of his videos has the tone I'm talking about. I think people refer to this as a "woody" tone? This tone may be great stylistically for jazz music, and I'm not trying to say this tone is "bad," but I just don't enjoy it.

So, I feel like I may be lacking the vocabulary to describe my tone preferences. Is there any kind of commonality between that typical electric jazz bass sound and the string sound? Or how would you describe those tones? Just for an example of what I do like, I've always been happy with a P-Bass.
 
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#2
Sounds like you need to look for a P bass or a P bass variant.

Although I play a Stingray 5 bass exclusively (except when I play fretless), I can't for the life of me see why folks seem to justify or even apologize for not liking that sound, like some folks do over not liking a P bass sounds. Good grief, it's a big ol' world out there with an infinite number of preferences and likes on everything imaginable.

I'm kinda like you, that rear-pup sound sound isn't my favorite sound, except again on fretless. But it doesn't slow me down from listening to a lot of jazz and admiring the players that do it well.

And I'll say this...I have a Precision 5 and I do play it occasionally. And every time I do, I think to myself, "why don't I play this bass more often?"...
 
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#4
No battle stations needed. As someone who enjoys the tone of a Stingray i'm saying it's ok for you to not like the tone of a Stingray. However, if you do want more of a "vintage tone" with more thump and less zing then the Old Smoothie model or Classic 2-band Stingray (treble at 0-25%, bass at 75-100%) would be better suited for such compared to a 3-band which just always seem aggressive to me.
 
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#6
Grooveline said:
No battle stations needed. As someone who enjoys the tone of a Stingray i'm saying it's ok for you to not like the tone of a Stingray. However, if you do want more of a "vintage tone" with more thump and less zing then the Old Smoothie model or Classic 2-band Stingray (treble at 0-25%, bass at 75-100%) would be better suited for such compared to a 3-band which just always seem aggressive to me.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I thought an Old Smoothie may do the trick, because as you say there's something about the "aggressive" nature of the modern String Ray. I think part of my question is, what makes the tone "aggressive" like what are some other synonyms for this idea?
 
#7
Geri O said:
Sounds like you need to look for a P bass or a P bass variant.

Although I play a Stingray 5 bass exclusively (except when I play fretless), I can't for the life of me see why folks seem to justify or even apologize for not liking that sound, like some folks do over not liking a P bass sounds. Good grief, it's a big ol' works out there with an infinite number of preferences and likes on everything imaginable.

I'm kinda like you, that rear-pup sound sound isn't my favorite sound, except again on fretless. But it doesn't slow me down from listening to a lot of jazz and admiring the players that do it well.

And I'll say this...I have a Precision 5 and I do play it occasionally. And every time I do, I think to myself, "why don't I play this bass more often?"...
Click to expand...

I think you may be on to something with the idea of the rear pickup, or a pickup being close to the bridge. But is it that I like more subdued highs, or that it lacks that "mid range punch" that P-basses have?
 
#9
HeavyHand said:
Ok, Not trying to start a String Ray hate thread or anything like that, but I have recently been in the market for a new bass and have been out perusing guitar stores and have had the chance play a classic and modern String Ray couple of separate occasions. I was pumped because, I've never played one before. But, as it turns out I didn't really like the tone I was getting. I was boosting and cutting the bass, treble, and mids (in one case). And couldn't really get something I liked.

I was mostly okay with the E and A strings, but when I got up to the D and G, especially the G, I just felt like the tone was to treble-y or bright or...something? And the closest thing I got to liking the sound was pretty much rolling the treble the whole way off, but even then it was like it was too much still.

Anyone else have this experience?

In an (un)related note, I think I dislike that bass tone usually found in a lot of jazz music (from an electric bass at least). If you have ever checked out Scott's bass lessons, the intro to many of his videos has the tone I'm talking about. I think people refer to this as a "woody" tone? This tone may be great stylistically for jazz music, and I'm not trying to say this tone is "bad," but I just don't enjoy it.

So, I feel like I may be lacking the vocabulary to describe my tone preferences. Is there any kind of commonality between that typical electric jazz bass sound and the string sound? Or how would you describe those tones? Just for an example of what I do like, I've always been happy with a P-Bass.
Click to expand...

2b96167a539b67c5f3410917394825df.jpg
 
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#13
Well OP, like posted above you are probably a Precision bass person and that's it :)

I like all bass types and tones however I love the Ray growl and I actually own a Stingray 4 HH that can be even trebbly or HiFi than the regular SR4. It also can sound like a Jazz or Precision depending on the 5 position switch selection.
The 2 or 3 band EQ can tame the high end pretty well if you want and you can always work with different string brands and types to tweak it to your taste.
 
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#18
I have a 96 EBMM Stingray 4 3-band that i bought new, it has the basslines pup/pre that i put in not long after i got it. I've had an on and off again relationship with it over the years, while I love the feel, it has always been a bit to aggressive, twangy, sizzley, etc. Its worn an old set of Chrome's for years and that certainly has helped. Lately though I found a combo thats getting me an old pre-EB type tone that Im really digging.....I put my old set of LaBella 760FL's on it and run it through a Diamond compressor, it really thickened up the tone while retaining a woody bark...LaBella flats on a stingray, who knew:)
 
#19
I have never really bonded with EBMM like I have with Fenders. I can't knock EBMM in any way because there are cats kickin' a$$ on them all the time. It's just one's ears hears what they hear and build their rigs based on a very personal choice.

IF Fender wasn't around, I'd probably be playing EBMM or G & L.
 

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