Why We Love Stingrays

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Sabres don't sound like Stingrays. I had both pre Ernie Ball. Different pickup placement yielded different tones.

100% true, have both, the Sabre bridge pickup is much more scooped, I got theories on why, I think partially it’s cause the physical size of the pickup is also smaller but the magnets are the same size meaning it’s probably got more winds than a stingray pickup does, explains why the output on the Sabre is much hotter

See my earlier post....I've also had the love/hate thing going with my Stingray since I bought it in the mid 90's, for pretty much the same reason, the aggressive/metallic zing....which i think is more pronounced on the 3-bands like mine. For this reason my Stingray has spent many a year in its case. But with age comes wisdom(i hope) and ive learned how to make it work, it started with realizing how it sounds alone or in front of the amp, vs how it sounds within the context of the mix or recording. Broken-in Flatwounds or dead rounds really help and actually sound very good, im particularly fond of how broken-in Sunbeams really warm up the sound and tames the aggressive mids. Also no cab tweeter needed

Plug it in passive on the amp and set the volume on the bass to less than half or 1/3 up, cuts the zing out completely, especially if you move the pickups slightly closer

Johnny Lee Long has a new/ vintage / “custom “Stingray5.

I own a bass he used to own! A sparkly red Sabre! I mean how many sparkly red 1984 sabres are out there lol.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

100% true, have both, the Sabre bridge pickup is much more scooped, I got theories on why, I think partially it’s cause the physical size of the pickup is also smaller but the magnets are the same size meaning it’s probably got more winds than a stingray pickup does, explains why the output on the Sabre is much hotter


Plug it in passive on the amp and set the volume on the bass to less than half or 1/3 up, cuts the zing out completely, especially if you move the pickups slightly closer



I own a bass he used to own! A sparkly red Sabre! I mean how many sparkly red 1984 sabres are out there lol.

You can’t tease me like that. I need to see that sparkle red Sabre!!

 

[FirewalZ]

100% true, have both, the Sabre bridge pickup is much more scooped, I got theories on why, I think partially it’s cause the physical size of the pickup is also smaller but the magnets are the same size meaning it’s probably got more winds than a stingray pickup does, explains why the output on the Sabre is much hotter


Plug it in passive on the amp and set the volume on the bass to less than half or 1/3 up, cuts the zing out completely, especially if you move the pickups slightly closer



I own a bass he used to own! A sparkly red Sabre! I mean how many sparkly red 1984 sabres are out there lol.

Yep, I've learned how to tame it now......and that you can actually turn knobs down
A point of interest, my 96 had the missing G string issue real bad, this was pre-internet days mind you. After a couple of years of frustration, i swapped out the pickup(alnico) and pre-amp with SD Basslines and the problem went away. So while it totally sounds like a Stingray, its a bit more throaty than a stock one.

 

[ArenW]

I've been a huge fan of Pbasses for 30+ years. I can't help it, I love em'. That said, I love, love, love my BFR 5H Ray. It's super consistent all the way up the neck and the preamp is friggin' glorious. The most versatile I've played. Some folks gripe about the high end zing but that's why it's got this amazing preamp, so you can dial to your liking! I usually set everything dead flat and 90% that works great. Depending on the room and or amp (never know what your gonna get with backline) I may have to make small adjustments but once again, that's where this kick ass preamp shows it's real worth!

In context, the extra high end is amazing IMO. I toured with mine for the first time recently (with a metal band). This gave me the chance to really see what it could do in a host of different environments - from killer stages with monster FOH and Monitors to crappy, Vocal Only PA with only stage/amp sound trying to cut through loud as hell guitar amps. I ran this baby through a Keeley Bassist, Darkglass B7K Ultra, Death By Audio Fuzz War, into a Darkglass Alpha-Omega 900 and it performed flawlessly in all situations. It has a brutally devastating tone for metal, something my Pbasses just aren't capable of.

Would I use it for a Motown gig? Maybe not, but that would be more of an aesthetic choice than sonic. The right tool for the right job....

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

You can’t tease me like that. I need to see that sparkle red Sabre!!

with a mirrored pickguard. Not sure if it’s e original finish, but whoever did the finish original or not did an amazing job, the colour goes into the cavities in the bodies so I think it’s a rarity, John was saying it was a refinish most likely, and that a lot of the electronics were replaced so I tracked down some 79 Sabre pickups and a 83 stingray preamp(they used the same preamp in 83)

it sounds amazing, the tone wood on it is so resonant you can’t hear the lower notes when you don’t have it plugged in!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

with a mirrored pickguard. Not sure if it’s e original finish, but whoever did the finish original or not did an amazing job, the colour goes into the cavities in the bodies so I think it’s a rarity, John was saying it was a refinish most likely, and that a lot of the electronics were replaced so I tracked down some 79 Sabre pickups and a 83 stingray preamp(they used the same preamp in 83)

it sounds amazing, the tone wood on it is so resonant you can’t hear the lower notes when you don’t have it plugged in!

That is a sweet looking Sabre!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I've been a huge fan of Pbasses for 30+ years. I can't help it, I love em'. That said, I love, love, love my BFR 5H Ray. It's super consistent all the way up the neck and the preamp is friggin' glorious. The most versatile I've played. Some folks gripe about the high end zing but that's why it's got this amazing preamp, so you can dial to your liking! I usually set everything dead flat and 90% that works great. Depending on the room and or amp (never know what your gonna get with backline) I may have to make small adjustments but once again, that's where this kick ass preamp shows it's real worth!

In context, the extra high end is amazing IMO. I toured with mine for the first time recently (with a metal band). This gave me the chance to really see what it could do in a host of different environments - from killer stages with monster FOH and Monitors to crappy, Vocal Only PA with only stage/amp sound trying to cut through loud as hell guitar amps. I ran this baby through a Keeley Bassist, Darkglass B7K Ultra, Death By Audio Fuzz War, into a Darkglass Alpha-Omega 900 and it performed flawlessly in all situations. It has a brutally devastating tone for metal, something my Pbasses just aren't capable of.

Would I use it for a Motown gig? Maybe not, but that would be more of an aesthetic choice than sonic. The right tool for the right job....View attachment 4540536View attachment 4540537View attachment 4540538View attachment 4540580

A Stingray or Sterling can do Motown just fine. Here is an old USA SUB 5 I had. All I did here was tweak the eq. If I had used flats and mutes, I really would have had the Motown vibe.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Would I use it for a Motown gig? Maybe not, but that would be more of an aesthetic choice than sonic. The right tool for the right job....View attachment 4540536View attachment 4540537View attachment 4540538View attachment 4540580

it is really funny to show up to a cover concert specializing in a genre that was at its height from 62-74 and show up with the most late 70s looking bass that exist

 

[Dr. Cheese]

it is really funny to show up to a cover concert specializing in a genre that was at its height from 62-74 and show up with the most late 70s looking bass that exist

No one except a total gearhead would find the presence of a Stingray funny. 99% if the audience would find it funny only if the bassist couldn’t play the parts.

I will confess that when I saw Clint Eastwood’s movie on Charlie Parker and there was a scene at the Apollo with someone playing a Stingray, I felt it was very bad prop work because Bird died in 1954. Even Precision’s we’re not common at that time, however, a Hollywood biopic should be about historical accuracy. That is completely different from an artist choosing a particular bass for a performance. One more point, if a Motown Review is truly going for historical accuracy, a double bass should be used for a fair amount of early songs like Heatwave by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

 

[ArenW]

No one except a total gearhead would find the presence of a Stingray funny.

He says to a chatroom full of total gear heads!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

He says to a chatroom full of total gear heads!

For sure, I am just trying maintain some perspective between gear love and practical performance.

 

[Geri O]

it is really funny to show up to a cover concert specializing in a genre that was at its height from 62-74 and show up with the most late 70s looking bass that exist

I’ve been funny-ing my way into Motown, Stax, Blues-Brothers, and even 2 Chicago tribute bands with a Stingray, a Jazz-style bass, and lately, a P-style bass, all 5-strings, for several years now.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

with a mirrored pickguard. Not sure if it’s e original finish, but whoever did the finish original or not did an amazing job, the colour goes into the cavities in the bodies so I think it’s a rarity, John was saying it was a refinish most likely, and that a lot of the electronics were replaced so I tracked down some 79 Sabre pickups and a 83 stingray preamp(they used the same preamp in 83)

it sounds amazing, the tone wood on it is so resonant you can’t hear the lower notes when you don’t have it plugged in!

SPARKLE!! ​

 

[mjm0]

@Staccato I'm a bit confused -- my issue with the G string isn't with tone quality, it's a physical problem in which I physically pull the string off the side of the neck because of its closeness to the edge.

I have that problem a bit with my Sterlings (EBMM US), because they're a little narrower than Stingrays. I figure it's my technique, and i really haven't spent enough time playing them to get used to them. I've been comfortable with Stingray 5 necks for years, and figured i'd finally give the Sterling 5s a try to see how they're different. I'm not sure i like or need the narrower neck, but it's probably something i could get used to with more practice.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

No one except a total gearhead would find the presence of a Stingray funny. 99% if the audience would find it funny only if the bassist couldn’t play the parts.

that’s totally true lol, but it DOES look late 70s! It just produces that vibe I believe, I wanna believe

 

[Chickenwheels]

A drummer refers to my StingRay as “The Yellow Bass”. He also feels that “Hipsters” use Fender Precision basses.
Moral of the story...it’s difficult to read the mind of someone who is barely interested in the finer points of bass playing.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

that’s totally true lol, but it DOES look late 70s! It just produces that vibe I believe, I wanna believe

To me, the Stingray just looks like Leo Fender did not want to be sued for copyright infringement.

 

[Mastermold]

I have that problem a bit with my Sterlings (EBMM US), because they're a little narrower than Stingrays. I figure it's my technique, and i really haven't spent enough time playing them to get used to them. I've been comfortable with Stingray 5 necks for years, and figured i'd finally give the Sterling 5s a try to see how they're different. I'm not sure i like or need the narrower neck, but it's probably something i could get used to with more practice.

Looking at my SR5, I’ve always really liked the neck width and the strings seem to have sufficient room from the edges of the fretboard, not remarkably different from plenty of other instruments including Fender basses.

 

[PeteCarlton]

Old smoothie is with a friend right now. Here's a pic of two of my faves. My Stingray Classic and my Stingray EX w/ Status Fretless Neck. You can see the fretless and the other BFR in the background

View attachment 4540337

They're be-ooo-tiful, man! Thanks.

 

[Jim C]

Old smoothie is with a friend right now. Here's a pic of two of my faves. My Stingray Classic and my Stingray EX w/ Status Fretless Neck. You can see the fretless and the other BFR in the background

View attachment 4540337

Mr. Lobster,
What finish is on the HH top right in the photo?
BTW, LOVE your videos and was surprised that I couldn't adjust to a

Ray 4 neck.
If my 83' were only lighter...
Just found another OLP that will get modified with Uncle Fluffy pre and Nordy PUP. 8.5 lbs!
The other is the same color and must have lived in a music store window. It's 9.5 and the SR is 10.5lbs.