Cairobill

I specifically love the Stingray Classic. I used a three band standard 1994 Stingray in the second half of the nineties and struggled a bit with the clicky sounding EQ and the neck profile; yet it had a lot of presence and power and drove the band (a loud four piece) in a way that my Fenders didn't. I sold it and eventually recently picked up a Stingray Classic a while back to record my present band's second album - they are superb basses and I can't fault them. The 2 band EQ is darker and thumpier than the old 3 band ever was and the neck profile is wonderful. The fretboard is a 7.25 radius and fits the hand in a way the standard Ray never did (it's flatter at 11 inches radius or so). For anyone in your position who wants a Musicman, I would recommend trying a Classic and then picking one up second hand. Personally I would go for a maple fretboard as well. If you kick the treble up you get all the glassy twang you would ever need, roll it off and it's thumpy Bernard Edwards all the way. Amazing basses! I would also recommend DR Sunbeams on these basses. The nickel tames the high end a bit and warms the overall tone up.

Cool video... I owned a 1994 3 band stingray with a maple board (which I sold) and now own a 2011 Stingray classic with a maple board. I can confidently say (as I have recorded and gigged extensively with both basses and had them both under the microscope in various conditions) I much prefer the Classic to the the 1994 3 band. The classic preamp is darker, thicker, more thumpy whereas I had issues with the spiky three band sound. The 7.25 neck radius on the classic is a winner too.

Argh!

This is one of my all time favourite Larry Graham lines. Anti Love Song - Betty Davis....very, very, very funky! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nJ2LSabQ8

And another quick note to say thanks for selling it back to me

Yup, the Stingray has it all - thump, presence and heaps of bottom end. esp with dead rounds or flats. Phenomenal basses.

Second hand Ibanez GWB 1 (Ibanez Gary Willis sig) can be got for about 750-800. Has the thickest low mids imaginable. A stunning, very high quality, bass. They crop up every so often here and there.

I've had some great sounding basses that have been boat anchors (70s jazz bass was the main culprit...probably about 12-13 pounds). It was such a nightmare to be charging around with that bass on it always remained on the guitar stand. I also sing so it was a claustrophobic pain in the neck. So as a rule, I always check weight. Under 10lbs is my preference.

Yes - I realised as I was posting that I never buy new so I deleted my comment [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1442831977' post='2869738'] Re: resale - I think any bass you buy used - provided you pay the going rate - will hold its value. That's not specific to Fender. Of course when it becomes vintage, the game changes entirely. [/quote]