Which Bass to buy???

Although I would personally choose the MTD Kingston, I think since you hate its color, you should go for the other one. It may sound silly, but when you don't like the look of your instrument, it's harder to bond with it and you will unconsciously find all kinds of flaws in it.

 

Are your choices that limited? If you're contemplating the Ray, I'd think that there should be a lot of other options in that price range. G&L Tribute L2000? They can be a little on the heavy side but they're great basses and used should be in that neighborhood. You could also look fir a used Spector Rebop. They can be really light and used should be in that price range too.

I voted for the Ray cause, even though I've never owned either model. I have played each and the Ray has a much better feeling neck to me.

Sounds to me like you should keep searching.

 

What @Vinny_G said.

 

Here's your answer.

 

There are a lot of TBers in Canada, be patient and hunt the classifieds. You can filter by location

 

I’d go with the MTD if it has the sound you like. When I was shopping for a stingray I was looking at burnt apple and maple if I was buying new and a jet black with ebony showed up at a really good price. They let me rent it and it had exactly the tone I was looking for so I jumped on it and the colour grew on me. And if you really don’t like the colour you could always paint it.

I’m guessing that you are looking at the MTD at L&M Edmonton North? If so I personally thought it looked a bit less like a piece of furniture in person.

 

Beat me to it...

 

Nothing more "stingrayish" than a Ray.

 

Ray 34 all day: The mahogany should actually be a bit lighter than the white woods they normally use, and should just barely round off how much snark a StingRay can have just enough to have the bite a bit smoother. The Korean MM's can be giant-killers.

 

If my only option was one of those two, I voted for the MTD. Of all the basses I've owned my least favorite was the Stearling Ray 34ca. I had used it in the studio and 2 tracks in we realized the neck was twisted slightly making the first three frets on the E string the same note. Took it down to big box petting zoo and sold it.

 

Lol!

 

I think that's pretty sharp, myself.

 

I’m a stingray guy 100% and currently own 3 with another one arriving Friday, but I have to say that my experience with the SBMM mid range has been poor. My SUB Ray4 & Ray5 both are equal in quality and were half the cost of a Ray34/Ray35.

YMMV but just my $0.02.