drTStingray

And if you want a glam rock bass, there are plenty of colours to choose from.

Here you go @Maude - however as stated previously, the sum of the construction of a Stingray, including the bridge, create the sound - for example the potential snappiness of the strings and other characteristics are audible acoustically. Pick up position is the same throughout, 1976 to date.

I think the main reason there are fewer Sterlings is many people want the Stingray as it has the much longer history and is thus more iconic - rather like the Fender Jaguar compared with Precision or Jazz. @ead that SB14 looks great with the matt black pickguard - very early 90s (the first Sterlings had matt pick guards in 93/94 ish).

A passive Stingray is quite feasible - some of the US Subs were passive, the short scale Stingray is passive with parallel, single coil and series switch, and both have treble/bass controls as well. The Joe Dart bass (based more on the US MM Sterling bass) is also passive but just with a volume knob. All have the pick up in the Stingray sweet spot.

Nah - pure form, function, elegance and graceful, natural shape - apart from the tort, which I accept is an abomination. No silly pointy bits top and bottom. The problem with the Precision is the design classic is the Strat - the Precision 57 is basically a re-design to more match the Strat shape. The pickguard is an abomination to cover up unnecessarily removed routs and to mount the controls on like the Strat - so it's a cobble together basically - an engineer's solution with little styling - it's only because we're used to it that many don't appreciate it's bonkers, stylistically and functionally. It doesn't even extend to areas between the pick up and bridge you might pluck the strings (especially with the pick up and bridge cover on), yet it covers the extremities of the lower horn which only contortionist pickers might trouble. The Rickenbacker at least reflects its Art Deco shape and styling. The Precision pg is an engineer's solution to cover up unnecessary and expensive routing.

I was wondering whether this could be considered possibly the most appalling piece of unintegrated design - an afterthought with questionable functionality, and a bit of a marmite (or red wine puke) colour 😩 😬

Is that barelo purple flip colour? Even rarer as Fretless.

I find it's ok if you move your other leg over a little. I love mine - has the piezo as well which has another tonal flavour. They do a fuschia sparkle colour on these currently which is so outrageous it complements the shape really well - this is mine - lava pearl 😀

Compact and shiny compact and very shiny Compact and matt finish Compact and Old Smoothie!

Definitely - lovely on this as well with a bit of thumb muted playing at the end. I really like some of these modern pop songs. http://youtu.be/XdBR-SrP6uU And for @Lozz196 AWB doing a very funky number - Alan Gorrie on 2 band Stingray. Notice the drumming - Steve Ferrone is one of the world's best IMO. Hmmm Acoustic 370 and Stingray - I wonder where I got the idea for that set up from!! https://youtu.be/QoAtqfQoaUo

This is a nice bass sound on an SBMM Sub - and some great playing - this girl can groove! http://youtu.be/C-vLEFm8tNg When I eventually decided on a Stingray 5 for my 5 string about 20 yrs back, I did have a dalliance with an FNA Jazzman - nice bass but still didn't do the Stingray sound in my view. If you want the flexibility of a two pick up bass with the Stongray sound, either an SBMM or Stingray HH will give you that. My MM Sabre Classic does Stingray, Sabre and Lakland sounds very well (it has a bridge H + neck single coil setting). It does a good Precision impression with the neck single coil soloed also.

I think the modification referred to above is only applicable to the earliest versions of the SBMM Sub to overcome too hotter signal. If I had one of the more recent ones I might think of upgrading the tuners to Hipshots as per the US Sub Stingray model - more sturdy and less chance of begging bent if whacked. The sound in that video (and others by that You Tuber suggests the sound is pretty good from the SBMM Sub.

I'd say they do reflect the 2 band sound - the full fat MM can be smoother and probably has more versatility, dependent on how you play. There is some good technique there (including muting and note length) but it does sound good IMO. However a 3 band Stingray, although more versatile, can get very close to the 2 band sound with the treble and bass boosted a touch and the mid cut say 50% from centre detent - the major difference is the lack of the high pass filter on the 2 band - removes boomy frequencies from the 3 band. Go and try a Stingray Special if you want to hear major bass boost - much more in the realms of a Bongo in that context.

I like the Vintage - played several and they do a nice 5 string as well. If you want an affordable Stingray-type bass, the SBMM Sub does it very well indeed. This young lady seems to manage well with one. Bear in mind the newer ones are even better - I read somewhere that the Ray 24 and Sub have an EQ based more around the Okd Smoothie version. http://youtu.be/iK1LEt7wr5g

First question - I've never got usable sound out of one when the battery's failed. That said I've only had that happen two or three times in about 40 yrs and always during setting up, not in the gig. Two were 2 band, one 4 band (Bongo). Second question - all Musicman basses from 1996 or so have flip out battery boxes - EXCEPT Classic collection basses, including Sabres and Old Smoothies which have the chrome cover with two screws holding them on, as pre 1996 basses. The Stingray Specials have twin flip out battery boxes. Battery life is quite extensive - I've had my two Specials for around 18 months and they're still on their original batteries and fine.

Nice bass! Cool mute as well 👍 Are those holes in the scratch plate below the G?

Generally, I have my thumb at a similar angle to my plucking fingers as if I was slapping the string - but just resting on the top of the B, if I'm playing on the E string. I just move my thumb back the same distance as the plucking fingers move to play on the B - so I'm resting it against the body of the bass and similarly as I go across the strings, leaning the thumb against the strings below the one I'm plucking. To be honest, I've developed this over time and have had to actually look at what I'm doing to answer this!! The main point is to mute the lower strings so as long as that's achieved, and I can play the passages I want to with the timbre etc I want, then I'm quite happy! You can usually hear the drone of the B if you forget to mute it!!

For those of us who play 5 string sometimes, muting that B string when you're not intending it to sound is essential, unless you want a sort of bag pipe style drone in the background from the unmuted string - a good way to achieve this is to rest your thumb on the string - this extends to floating your thumb to other strings when needed as well. When going back to 4 string the habit sticks (well it has with me) and I use this technique always. It also means you can move your plucking hand to get different sounds at different areas - if you're confined to plucking next to the pick up as you're resting your thumb on it, you lose that flexibility - so I reckon the OP has it right 😬👍

Agreed it's not a Flea type of thrashing but he is indeed plucking them pretty hard. You have to if you're going to get that sound out of a Precision. Very droll - however a far better analogy would be preferring salt and vinegar on your chips rather than not. Or gravy on your roast and veg. It's a matter of taste 😏👍 I agree with all of this - and the key to the lack of finger noise is largely achieved by muting (probably left hand) in this case as he's playing hard. Good EQ ing of the final mix also is helpful.

I like this too - very nice solo. However it would sound a million times better on a Stingray or Wal with rounds, or even flats IMHO. I don't dislike the tone, just not my favourite bass tone - but I suspect he's having to work very hard to get that level of aggression into a Precision with flats.

We should remember that prior to the clean air act implementation in the 60s, many people with underlying respiratory problems would be subject to severe illness and many to death even if they didnt get flu especially in winter. Add to that the fact many people returning from the war had been in dreadful environmental conditions (trenches/cold/damp/mustard gas attack) let alone being under fire etc. So couple that with a new flu, the conditions are there for a massive breakout of flu and high death rate. I heard recently more people died in that flu outbreak than in the First World War.

I believe it was from 13,500 tested by a set point in time - the testing was of people who had phoned 111 with symptoms etc etc plus those returning from affected countries. I think this is of more concern to people suffering from underlying health conditions like asthma and diabetes. Otherwise people can probably afford to be reasonably blaze about it (maybe). Interesting the differences in how a communist compared with capitalist country deals with it. Both seem to suffer from initial denial (eg the US line of if you don't test people then you can't say there's a problem (until people die of course) ; the Chinese preventing people from talking about it initially). However we seem to be stressing about the NHS - yes it's in a dreadful mess owing to penny pinching but it's still far better than many - but no doubt if necessary the private health sector could and should be commandeered. Countries like the US have a much bigger problem owing to reliance on the private sector.

I don't have a problem playing a bass of 9.5 lbs or more - indeed I played my Stingray 5 on a 3 HR gig (highly unusual to have a gig of that length for me) a week or two back, and that's the heaviest bass I have. Having said that, a well balanced heavy bass is not a problem for me so long as it's on a wide comfy strap. The thing I've noticed myself, having a couple of Stingray Specials in the 8 lb range, after playing them for any length of time, picking any heavier bass up is really noticeable and feels a little uncomfortable initially. The reason I used the heavier bass a couple of weeks back was the fabulous sound - and the venue really suited the sound. So I think, once you have a light bass, using a heavier one takes a little getting used to.

Well it's interesting to hear you guys crying 'scaremongering' etc. From figures given out today 1 in 340 of those tested so far in this country tested positive. That's pretty scary as far as I'm concerned. Apparently, from an interview I've just seen with a leading Republican in the US, it seems only 500 people have been tested in the US so far, and the scientists aren't trusted - indeed a certain person has been tweeting 'fake news' - indeed the interviewee claimed if the US controlled their borders better they wouldn't have the virus (presumably they don't think US citizens travel to Italy or China ever but Mexican immigrants do 😩 ) What a loony world we live in!! So their approach seems to be to talk it down and spin it as a political weapon being used against the Leader by the democrats! They said after all there's only been 9 deaths.... it'll be interesting to see, if as looks likely there is a major outbreak in the US - how they deal with it. I know which country I feel safer in, in the circumstances!! My next gig is in a week or two - will be interesting to see whether it still goes ahead - I suspect it will but whether there's an audience or not.... who knows. My company (it's American) has issued a travel ban for staff today on company business to reduce risk...

If anyone didn't doubt the public concern about this, try buying alcohol based hand cleanser currently - there isn't anywhere in my town that has any such has been the run on it. I think @Silvia Bluejay is right - the level of punters will drop. As for the government advice, they have already admitted it will be a balance between economic and health concerns - ie trying to avoid the fragile economy crashing - although I suspect that China being in lock down will achieve that worldwide anyway. I'm writing this sat on the train as normal at this time - difference today is NO ONE is coughing - which must be a first - I shall be avoiding hand rails etc - if I remember!! Anyway I would have thought with the demographic of this forum, most of us would at least qualify as elderly (at risk group)!!