Which Music Man Stingray would you recommend?

[Michael Rosen]

Hi guys!

The Christmas is coming and so are my needs growing for a new bass, and I thought I want to add a Stingray into my collection, since I have Fender P and J, so Ray is the only one missing.

I really love that funky tone but I simply can't decide which type of this beauty should I get. I've found some new Stingray Specials and Stingray Classics in the same price range, also there are slightly cheaper brand new Stingrays made before 2018.

I know that Classics have 2 band EQs and others have 3 band EQs, but I am just curious, what would be your first choice?

I play funk, heavy disco riffs, slap and chucking, and I thought the Classic might be my gear, since I love Bernard Edwards's and Louis Johnson's riffs, but I've watched some demo videos on YouTube about the Standard and the Special Stingrays and man... Those have some extra beef, growl and bite to their sound, and they can even emulate that Classic tone as well.

Long story short, I'm just stuck between Classic, Special, and pre-2018 Standards. Help me decide

 

[Gorn]

My Stingray of choice, regardless of price, is a USA made SUB. The one that’s no longer being made. It’s essentially a classic, so I suppose a classic would be my recommendation.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I’m a huge EBMM fan but I never cared for the Classics. They feel different than the others.

 

[Rib 13]

I just tried out a Dual MM pickup Stingray today (HH Stingray). My goodness, what a flexible Mofo that thing is!...I tried the Sterling version and was thoroughly impressed...Like a Bongo with a Classic look. It gets the Classic Stingray thing but a thousand other things too......and the neck pickup isnt in the way for old school style slapping

 

[Briton]

If you are looking for a Stingray that sounds like a Stingray then a 2 band Classic would be the way to go. But if you can get hold of a pre EB Stingray then that is even better, but the only problem is that they are rare and quite pricey.

 

[LARAIDER]

Get the short scale, sure to be a collectors item in the future.

 

[Nebadon2000]

They are all excellent in their own right; The Special has some very progressive design changes and the evolution is positive in my view. That said the 70's 2 band is what caught my ear originally.

I bought a new Bass last year and the Stingray Special was at the top of my list and in the 'Cart' but switched to my 1B choice based on exceptional deal and had finish I wanted.

 

[Sean150]

I have a Stingray Special 5 and it is a great bass but I find my Fender Active Flea Jazz with a 2 band pre-amp gets a much better funky scooped sound so, as others have said the Classic might be your better choice. On the other hand the special is one of the lightest and best balanced basses I have played.

 

[Killing Floor]

I prefer the 3EQ, I go a little over on the bass and a little under on the mid, make a nice scoop. But you really will be happy whichever way you go.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I like this white one with the roasted maple neck. Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special HH Bass Guitar - Ivory White with Maple Fingerboard

 

[Up the dose]

If you play a lot of slap style don't do the HH. The neck pickup gets in the way. As great as Stingrays are, I really like the USA Sterling basses a lot better. The smaller body, round pickguard, ceramic pickup. It just combines all the great Ernie Ball bass elements in a really nice way. I own both a Stingray and a USA Sterling and I reach for the Sterling more than the Ray.

 

[selowitch]

I own both a Stingray and a USA Sterling and I reach for the Sterling more than the Ray.

I like my 2001 EBMM StingRay 5H and my 2001 EBMM Sterling 4H a lot, very playable and musical. I don’t have a huge amount of experience with other models but folks speak very well of the current crop of StingRay Specials.

 

[Michael Jewels]

I know you didn't mention them, but have you ever heard or played an Old Smoothie?

It sounds smoother than a regular Stingray, hence the name.

If there's a bass that sounds somewhere between a Stingray and a Jazz, this is it.

Good luck.

Mike

 

[N4860]

My experience with MM basses is as follows: Started with a 2010 SR5 (I bought it in ~2016) which quickly became my #1. It has a 3 band EQ which I loved. Next I bought a SR Special fretless (see below) which also has a 3 band eq. Amazing bass but fretless so hard to compare. Next I bought an Old Smoothie earlier this year which has that amazing EBMM quality and feel, however, I have never been able to gel with the 2 band EQ and this might just be because of my previous experience with the 3 band so I think that mostly just comes down to taste. For me, the 3 band is a lot easier to dial in whereas with the 2 band you really need to spend more time experimenting with how the bass and treble controls each react to each other as they act a bit different than a 3 band eq. I've since added 2 SR Specials HH and 1 SR Special H so the SR Special would be my vote. A regular 3 band Stingray (non-special) would be fine too, but it's likely not going to weigh as little as the Special. Some will argue that the Special is not as aggressive, but I have not found that to be the case.

Fretless:

Fretted:

 

[selowitch]

Some feel that the StingRay Special is a bit more polite in tone than a traditional StingRay. In switching to lower-mass bodies, neck, and hardware, according to these folks the StingRay sacrifices a bit of forcefulness in its sound.

 

[Lesfunk]

They are all good choices.
You can’t go wrong

I’d do the Classic

 

[Mastermold]

I prefer the 3EQ, I go a little over on the bass and a little under on the mid, make a nice scoop. But you really will be happy whichever way you go.

Yeah there's not really a bad choice, all quality instruments.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Buying a Stingray turned me into a new man, and that new man wanted more Stingrays.

EBMM Stingray circa 2001-2016'ish (3 band EQ, single H) was and would be my choice again.

It meets all of your immediate needs and will save you just enough $ to justify the next three.

 

[Benny4P]

Try before you buy!
I have owned and played many of them and my experience on the sound spectrum from dark to bright goes as:

Old Smoothie
Classic
Special
Regular (pre 2018) 3 band
Neck Through

Boy, those Neck throughs are some snarly beasts!

One thing you want to check though is whether you get along with the non-contoured (slab) bodies of the Classics and Old Smoothies.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

In my experience, Old Smoothie fits a wide range of styles without too much effort. It has the signature StingRay sound with a less spiky treble response.

The treble knob can almost be used like you would on a passive bass.