If you can find one, look at the MusicMan SUB line...
I currently play a SUB 5. My previous bass was a Stingray 5. To me, the SUB 5 sounds more like a 4 string Stingray than the SR5 ever did.
The SUB line is basically a Stingray that took some shortcuts through the production line. The body isn't contoured and has a textured paint applied to it rather than a nice smooth finish. The neck also is painted, but it's a very smooth black paint - if you get one with a black body, it's like having a matching headstock option. All these differences save labor time in the factory, and the savings are passed on to you.
The pickguard isn't the greatest, some have a foil/cardboard type pickguard that looks really cheesy... But, the newer ones have a one ply black plastic guard that doesn't look too bad. You can pick up a custom pickguard for $50 or so if you really want to.
Other than those differences, it's a "real" Stingray. The pickups and the electronics are exactly the same. You can probably pick up a used SUB for under $500... You'll have a hard time finding them new as they've been discontinued.
Someday though, I hope to pick up a nice 4 string SRHH to compliment my 5 string SUB. I've played one before, and just love the tonal options available. (However, there's a nice sparkle finish SR-H at a local music store that I've been looking at for over a year... just need the cash to buy it!).
I currently play a SUB 5. My previous bass was a Stingray 5. To me, the SUB 5 sounds more like a 4 string Stingray than the SR5 ever did.
The SUB line is basically a Stingray that took some shortcuts through the production line. The body isn't contoured and has a textured paint applied to it rather than a nice smooth finish. The neck also is painted, but it's a very smooth black paint - if you get one with a black body, it's like having a matching headstock option. All these differences save labor time in the factory, and the savings are passed on to you.
The pickguard isn't the greatest, some have a foil/cardboard type pickguard that looks really cheesy... But, the newer ones have a one ply black plastic guard that doesn't look too bad. You can pick up a custom pickguard for $50 or so if you really want to.
Other than those differences, it's a "real" Stingray. The pickups and the electronics are exactly the same. You can probably pick up a used SUB for under $500... You'll have a hard time finding them new as they've been discontinued.
Someday though, I hope to pick up a nice 4 string SRHH to compliment my 5 string SUB. I've played one before, and just love the tonal options available. (However, there's a nice sparkle finish SR-H at a local music store that I've been looking at for over a year... just need the cash to buy it!).
