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Yet another MM Stingray thread!

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drunkenrobot

May 31, 2007
141
0
England, Derbyshire
#1
Hey guys.

I was putting my unused pedals up on ebay when I realised that if I sold my pedals, ESP F-404 + ESP Hardshell case and my defretted Ibanez JTKB I would have enough money to afford my dream bass, a Musicman Stingray!

Anyway, I'm asking for peoples opinions and reviews on this instrument. Also, I've played my bass teachers' MM Sterling and I was wondering what the actual differences between the Stingray and the Sterling are?

Cheers.
 
#2
I had a Stingray, a new one in 2001. It was translucent orange with a matching headstock, and that beautiful quilted maple neck. Solid as a rock and the fit and finish were amazing. I found it be a one trick pony, however. I loved that punchy, springy midrange, but try as I might, I couldn't get too many different sounds out of it. But it may be just what you're looking for.
 
#3
I just recently bought a Stingray from the 1970s era. Its a bit beat up but it does play great and yes it does seem to have that one thing it does well - and i love it!

I am also curious about the differences between a Stingray and a Sterling?

I have to say i am quite happy that i bought this sunburst 2-band EQ Stingray. I would like to try a 5 string Stingray.

Dave
 
#4
Sterlings have a smaller body size all the way around. Also the Sterling uses different electronics: the pickup has ceramic magnets instead of alnico like the StingRay. The Sterling also has coil switching: parallel/single coil/series, where the StingRay is only wired in parallel.

Even with all that said, I love and use the StingRay mostly. Not a one trick pony at all, I played it in metal, country, and more recently also use in a folk rock type of band I sub in alot. And certainly they've been used in plenty of soul/R&B bands.
 
#5
I like the Sterling better personally. The narrower Jazz-width neck is more comfortable for me than the Stingray neck. I also like the darker tone I get from the series pickup setting vs the clearer parallel Stingray tone. You can easily find a Sterling that weighs less than 9 lbs, very few Stingrays are that light.

Both are really great basses, you should try them both out. I didn't even mention the 2 pickup versions, my all-time fave MusicMan bass is the Sterling HH.
 
#8
I wanted one since I got into bass. I also knew I couldn't afford it and tried to stave it off with some similar basses (including a very nice Ibanez). I was just about to buy something else Stingray-ish when I caved in and bought one.




You wont regret it.
 
#11
They are both great basses. I have two Sterlings due to the slimmer Jazz neck and electronics options, but would love to add a stingray into my stable. Play both and see what feels right, to you. Back in1998 when I first looked for an Ernie Ball, all I wanted was a Stingray. Then I played both and the Sterling (IMO) felt better in my hands. It felt so good, that I eventually acquired two. Let us know how you make out. Also, Guitar Center is having sick deals on MM products. I saw a Stingray at my local GC, new for 999!
 
#14
As previously mentioned, the Sterling has the smaller body & the thinner jazz-profile neck. It also has ceramic magnets in the pickups, giving it a more aggressive sound than the alnico-equipped Stingray. The Sterling also has the three position switch (five position if you go for the twin humbucker model.) This switches the bass between parallel (smooth & scooped), series (harsher in your face bass with a lot of mid boost) & single coil mode.

I've recently bought a June 2000 model Stingray with the piezo bridge. It's a hugely versatile bass with massive tone & sustain. Lovely!

The only gripe I have with the modern Rays/Sterlings is that the necks are unfinished and just sanded. Mine has been satin lacquered by a luthier, so it's a lot nicer, but the maple fingerboard models do tend to look grotty after a while, as the board is unvarnished.

Go to a store and try some. See which you like best!
 
#15
OutToPlayJazz said:
The only gripe I have with the modern Rays/Sterlings is that the necks are unfinished and just sanded. Mine has been satin lacquered by a luthier, so it's a lot nicer, but the maple fingerboard models do tend to look grotty after a while, as the board is unvarnished.

Go to a store and try some. See which you like best!
Click to expand...

I love the raw necks on my Sterlings. Seeing that wood darker from all my hand oil and sweat reinds me of how many great gigs I've played on those basses.
 
#16
My first good bass was a StingRay. I sold it out of desparate starvation 20 years ago, and, after trudging through a hundred other basses since, have finally come back, and I'll never be without a StingRay again.

The OLD StingRays were one-trick pony's, yeah, but the NEW ones, ESPECIALLY the HH 'Rays, can get a LOT of different tones. Get one. You'll be very, very glad you did.
 
#17
3 weeks ago I bought a blemished Stingray H from GC for $900. It is my third Stingray but this one is a return to it as I sold the other two off a ways back. I have had more fun playing the bass in the last three weeks than I have had in a year.

My other and #1 bass is a Warwick Corvette 5 $$ and I love it but I am also curious to go back and try a Stingray 5 again. The one trick pony thing is BS. You can make a Stingray work in any scenario. I (note that i only included myself) can very easily get caught up in tone controls and pickup configurations but I find the simplicity of a Stingray H to be a tremendous asset to the platform.

I say go for it.

Can't say anything one way or the other about a Sterling it's been probably ten years since I tried one out.
 
#18
scowboy said:
3 weeks ago I bought a blemished Stingray H from GC for $900. It is my third Stingray but this one is a return to it as I sold the other two off a ways back. I have had more fun playing the bass in the last three weeks than I have had in a year.

My other and #1 bass is a Warwick Corvette 5 $$ and I love it but I am also curious to go back and try a Stingray 5 again. The one trick pony thing is BS. You can make a Stingray work in any scenario. I (note that i only included myself) can very easily get caught up in tone controls and pickup configurations but I find the simplicity of a Stingray H to be a tremendous asset to the platform.

I say go for it.

Can't say anything one way or the other about a Sterling it's been probably ten years since I tried one out.
Click to expand...

Simplicity is what attracts me to the Stingray.
 

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