Yamaha BBP35 or EBMM Stingray Special 4h

[Birddogcof]

Hey all,

This has probably been talked about before. I have the opportunity to purchase a brand new BBP34 for $1421, a BBP35 for $1495, or a EBMM Stingray Special 4h (2018) for $1450. All will have tax added.

I live in a very rural area so the closest store to me is over 2 hours away and they do not even carry the BBs. So, I am buying online. From Sweetwater or Reverb. Which would you go with? I am very interested in both. Would love either or. The Stingray is Chopper Blue, near mint with 1 tiny scratch under the battery compartment and a tiny oxidation on the pickup pots. Barely noticeable.

Just looking for what other TBers would do. Thanks so much for helping me decide! God bless all!

Birddogcof

 

[Moving Pictures]

All 3 are excellent choices. Yamaha and EBMM both make quality instruments. To my mind it would depend on what your tone goals would be. The Stingray will be more forward sounding, meaning it has the capability of being more aggressive and modern sounding than the BBs from what I remember playing them in stores. Both can be tamed. The only difference between the 2 Yamaha’s is the 5th string, which gives you more playing positions compared to the 4 strings. Otherwise the Yamahas will sound the same. Modern but more traditional was my take.

Me, I would probably look at the Stingray unless I needed a 5 string. Regardless of the bass you choose you will have a quality bass.

 

[Gluvhand]

Another thing to consider is what else you currently have and which of these choices would compliment/differ from that.

 

[Yogi Bear]

Having owned both a Stingray H special, albeit a 5, and now a BBP35 my vote is for the Yamaha. For the price it’s an amazing instrument in every way. I’ve had several basses from many top tier manufacturers including Lull, Lakland, BFR Musicmans, etc. and the Yamaha is on par with any of the aforementioned basses. It really is a fantastic instrument.

Granted, if you are after the MM sound the BBP will not be your best choice. Additionally, the Yamaha is also heavier than the specials I’ve owned.

Just my .02

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

StingRay is always choice !!!

 

[getBAK]

It's really more of a question of taste.
The BB's are very flexible, but they don't sound like a Stingray.
The Stingray is gonna sound like a Stingray, that's all they do... it's a good tone, but limited.

 

[tremor100]

Im assuming by the poll and your first sentence its assumed that the two yamahas are new and the stingray special is used? (the price woudl indicate its used as well).

As many are saying on here, unless you specifically want a 5 string you are kinda looking at 2 different animals here. I would say pretty much hands down get the stingray even from an objective standpoint:

• Better resale value - i mean.. you are literally buying it for the same as a new Yamaha.
• You aren't really getting a deal (or maybe you are?) on the yamaha, if you wanted one down the road you could literally just get one for the same price plus maybe a bit of inflation down the road.
• The stingray is active - now... that could be a downside for you if you wanna keep it simple, but it also means ALOT more tonal flexibility. I play mostly Jazz Basses up until recently, and got a PJ lakland.. about 99% of the time i have the P pickup soloed because blending the bridge J pickup makes it sound worse IMO lol (thats subjective ofc).
• Both are fine instruments but the fit and finish of the EBMM is prob a bit better.. plus unless its plain black.. the finishes and roasted maple on the EBMM's are amazing.

So basically, you are comparing a passive PJ bass, to an active MM humbucker bass which is kinda night and day but one is more flexible, but the other you dont have to worry about a battery dying and you can prob just plug in and go.

As someone else mentioned on here about the 5 string... if your specficially looking for a 5 string then its kinda no contest since your not looking at a 5 string outside the yamaha.. but if you are thinking "maybe i should get a 5 string because all my basses are 4 strings and i need one / something different" id say dont. Unless you have a project or you play a style of music that really benefits from hitting more without shifting position its not worth it. There are tons of threads on here or youtube videos, but being a rock bassist, i went to 5 string and it was a thumb rest 99% of the time i played 5 strings and is just another thing to mute from making noise. I went back to 4 string and haven't looked back. Playing mostly rock and metal bands in the past, the only thing i found alot of use for it was for a band i was in where they actually had 7 string guitars. For me at least, alot of times when i would try to hit those 5 extra low notes they would just sound out of place in a mix for rock unless your playing the main grove and people are playing around you.

 

[pedroims]

I own both, the BBP35 takes 95% of the playing time, there is something about the Stingray that does not work well, or at least the Yamaha works better, for the music I play at my church.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Both are versatile . And contrary to popular belief, those of us who have spent enough time with them know that StingRays are not one trick ponies. They work in any genre of music. The Specials feel, look, and sound amazing.


My advice is to put Ernie Ball Slinky ( Cobalt ) flats on them. These are not your average flats. They can thump, yet they can also handle the pick and slap and pop with the best of them. It’s like having the best of both worlds.

If you are after a less aggressive type of StingRay , the rosewood on the chopper blue will help. But I’d you get one with maple and ash , you’ll notice a bit more bite when you dig in and tighter lows.

They will both have great build quality but the StingRay has a real boutique quality to it .

The Yamaha will lean more towards the Fender sound . Nothing else sounds or cuts like a StingRay. If you want that specific sound…… nothing else will do.
Here is a great comparison done by a member here. Enjoy!!

 

[dBChad]

BBP5

Just more things it can do, and it comes from the only instrument manufacturer to achieve Lean Sigma Six (so... quality control is top notch).

If you sing while playing, 5 (and even 6) strings can give you an advantage by putting more notes within reach allowing you to park your hand in one position as opposed to sliding up and down the neck. This means you can focus on proper singing posture without having to turn your head as often for reference.

While a Stingray may not be a "one trick pony," it definitely has that one thing it's known for (mid-heavy aggressive thumpy sound). A PJ can thump plenty hard and Yamaha BBP basses have pretty hot bridge pickups which complement the P pickup better than most PJ configurations. I just see it as having more tricks up it's sleeve and still delivering the low end with unquestionable authority.

 

[Yahboy]

Best purchase guide from Talkbass.

"Buy all from store that provide return policy. Keep the one suit for you, then return the others. "

 

[ics1974]

Both are excellent choices. I used to own a BBP35 and currently own a Stingray Special. I sold the BB because of the weight but it was an excellent bass. The Stingray special however is even better IMO. The weight, playability and sound is perfect. It’s my favourite bass. I would consider what sounds you are after and the weight you can handle.
Also the stingray balanced better.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

If you are considering a 5 string Yamaha you should be considering a StingRay5 Special too. Plenary of used ones available. It will probably weigh less than the Yamaha and you mind the neck more to your liking. Those basses are popular for a reason.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

I'd be leaning heavily towards a BB Pro if I were in your position. I'm more of a 4-string player so I voted BBP34, but if 5s are your thing then of course BBP35 is the better choice.

I generally am not a fan of guitars and basses painted solid colours, but the Vintage White BB Pro is really beautiful IMO

 

[Dr. Cheese]

It's really more of a question of taste.
The BB's are very flexible, but they don't sound like a Stingray.
The Stingray is gonna sound like a Stingray, that's all they do... it's a good tone, but limited.

Stingrays are not limited, they just don’t sound like Fenders. Pino, Bernard Edwards, Tony Levin, Louis Johnson, do not sound the same.

That said, a BBP35 would be a great bass to have.

 

[jam.majors]

I have BB735a (which is extremely close to the P35) and a Stingray Special 5 HH. I wouldn't want to have to make the choice you're making!
I'd go based off of what you already have and what you're looking for. Do you have any rays or PJs or Ps already?
For what it's worth, I ended up with my 735 just based off of the sound clips and stats. It's a great bass that lived up to every expectation, but my son has perma-borrowed it.
Another thought: if you really want a Stingray Special 4H, you might be hard pressed to get one at that price any time soon. And it appears that these BBs are going to be around for a minute. Price might go up a little, but probably not to the level of a brand new ray.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

I'd get the Yamaha 5 Because I already a EBMMSRS 4HH, 5H & Charvel P/J IV. So the 5 string P/J would be my choice.

But in your case I'd get the bass most suited for what I wanted in Bass. Never owned a Yamaha but I certainly can vouch for the build quality, playability, tonal possibilities of Stingray Specials.

Also the price of that Stingray special is crazy good price.

 

[Isaac_James]

It's really more of a question of taste.
The BB's are very flexible, but they don't sound like a Stingray.
The Stingray is gonna sound like a Stingray, that's all they do... it's a good tone, but limited.

Yeah, this is it. If you want something that sounds like a Ray, get a Ray. Nothing else is going to completely scratch that itch.

If you want a bass that can do anything besides sound like a Ray, don't get a Ray.

I play my BB735 with both pickups fully blended, in that position I would say the sound is maybe 80-85% of the way to Stingray tone, if you play in a mix and aren't listening too closely you can get away with it but it's not going to fool anyone who knows what a Ray sounds like. But it also sounds great as a straightforward P bass, and it's better designed and better built than any Fender I've laid my hands on.

There's also the matter of single coil vs. humbucker. If you're going to be bothered by single coil buzz, the Yamaha isn't the best choice unless you want to replace the bridge pickup with something noiseless. Easy swap on a passive instrument but that does add to the total cost.

I'm very happy with my 735; I am certain I'd be even happier with the P35 but the difference in price is pretty significant, and I was fortunate enough to find a 735 in the shop to try in person before I bought it so I knew what I'd be getting into. However, Yamaha has a well earned reputation for consistently good quality, if you order one of their top tier made in Japan basses it's hard to see how it would be disappointing, build quality wise.

 

[tremor100]

OP needs to chime in with what the details of the stingray are, if its used, if its banged up or whatever have you. Aside from the polls i think theres alot of really useful information here to make your decision but alot of them aren't considering opportunity cost of the fact that its not a used Yamaha vs a used USA stingray special that he would have to order and pay double the price for down the road new... its an insanely good deal on a MIA bass with better resale value and if he wanted down the road would cost signficantly more.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Coming from someone who played a Stingray 4 for 18 years….I have slowly moved away from that tone and into the Fender realm.
Being that I seem to really enjoy having a neck pickup, I would vote Yamaha. And being primarily a 5-string player, the BB35.
No doubt the Specials do thump now than the previous versions, you should definitely consider the Special 5H as part of the equation.