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Why We Love Stingrays

#21
I've said this many times, but my Stingray, is my favorite bass.

Its sound is much more Jazz-like than P-like, but that's why I love it.
It feels like a nice P-bass.
I love Stingrays, and especially, Old Smoothies.
If you've never played an Old Smoothie, your bass life is not complete.
I've posted these photos many times, but here's my black beauty.
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#23
jmattbassplaya said:
You might be the first person I’ve seen on TB calling StingRays inconsistent. I’d argue that EBMM basses are some of the most consistent mass-manufactured basses on the market.
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Absolutely! I'll argue all day alongside you on that one. I've owned 5, played a few dozen more along the way. Little differences in personality, but everyone a Stingray through and through. Nothing close to a bad one in the bunch.

For the record, every one of those has been the 5-string SR5 or 5H or whatever they are calling it along the way...
 
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#25
Arthur U. Poon said:
I really regret selling my SR5. Huge mistake on my part. It was a single H model that I bought around 2003 or ‘04. I especially liked it’s 3-way wiring selector. For a single pickup bass, it was really versatile.
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I had a gem of an SR5 I bought in ‘97. I sold it then regretted selling it. I bought another one (made in ‘98) in 2010 but I never reconnected with it, so it will be for sale soon. :bag:
 
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#27
jmattbassplaya said:
You might be the first person I’ve seen on TB calling StingRays inconsistent. I’d argue that EBMM basses are some of the most consistent mass-manufactured basses on the market.
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Please re-read my post and note that I did remark on their manufacturing consistency and their inherent flaws. From a QC point of view, they are very consistent. But QC can only do so much and can't fix the inherent weak G string or dead spots that are noted in a significant numbers of 'Rays. If you need further explanation on the distinction, please let me know so I can break it down further for you!
 
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#31
jmattbassplaya said:
You might be the first person I’ve seen on TB calling StingRays inconsistent. I’d argue that EBMM basses are some of the most consistent mass-manufactured basses on the market.
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I will say this... StingRays are great basses, but, three out of four that I owned in my life had relatively weak G strings compared to my Fenders and Laklands. That's not to say they're all like that. But it's enough to keep me away from them. That and the fact that they're a little too bright sounding for me.
 
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#32
India_Sierra said:
Please re-read my post and note that I did remark on their manufacturing consistency and their inherent flaws. From a QC point of view, they are very consistent. But QC can only do so much and can't fix the inherent weak G string or dead spots that are noted in a significant numbers of 'Rays. If you need further explanation on the distinction, please let me know so I can break it down further for you!
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No need. I was half asleep when I read your post lol.
 
#33
The Stingray was the first “real” bass I ever bought and played it for 18 years.
But I remember around 2008 or so, I complained about kind of being sick and tired of its tone in comparison to my L2500. I wrote that it didn’t have that thick heft the G&L has and that I couldn’t dial out that midrange if I tried.
I did eventually sell it, but I feel that I regret the sale. Now I’m not sure if I regret the sale out of sentimentality, the fact that it was an early-90s bass with the Classic bridge and a mild birds eye neck, or if I crave that tone again....
I have since discovered the Jazz bass in 2014 and still love the Jazz tone, especially now that I have put together a fantastic Active 5 with hum-cancelling pickups.
But I have one bass left to buy in my life, and I am itching to get another Stingray (or Stingray-inspired bass). I hope that if I do, I won’t go back to complaining about it...
 
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#34
Ive been on and off the Stingray bandwagon for years, sometimes favoring it or leaving it in the case, for long stretches. Bought my first and only Stingray (blk/maple/3-band)new around 1995/96 from a Musicians Friend catalog, my first real new pro level bass....and I was into RHCP at the time:) I was in a busy cover band and soon was faced with the "G String" issues, although at the time i didn't know this was a thing. After trying everything(pre-Internet days), i swapped out the pickup and preamp with the SD Basslines when they came out, and the problem went away. The bass sounds great and I always get lots of complements, although sonically the G string on a Stingray isnt as full sounding as a P or J, but its even volume wise now and cuts equally with the rest of the neck. The Stingray isnt my #1 go to for a typical classic rock or fill-in/sub gig, that would still be a passive Fender P or a J, but the Stingray has its place and sounds great for what it does. Ive had it for about 25 years and played countless of shows with it, it will go to my Bass playing son when im gone.
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#38
While I do not have a Stingray per say, I love the tone so much that I made sure that sound is in my quiver in the form of a Dingwall NG-3 and a Sterling 4H fretless. I'm not sure if I'm in the minority here, but I also firmly believe that a Stingray-type instrument makes for a perfect fretless. The bandwidth and location of the pickup just make the high mids (aka mwah) jump out.
 
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#40
2milehighspike said:
Haters gunna hate. I bet most of the whiners are P/J fanboys who feel anyone not playing P/Js are inferior. For me it’s anything Musicman, Rays, Bongos, and of course Big Al sss, which can sound like any Fender and sound like a Musicman too! Not to mention MM is killin it with the new special!
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Your statement is slightly ironic, but whatever. I've owned quite a few MM basses, but for me, they don't sit well in the mix and they end up being flipped and then I get the itch to try one again and it gets flipped, again. I have a charcoal sparkle Special 5 at home now that will probably be flipped in the near future. My Caprice is pretty good.
 
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