logicred Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I have many basses (I mean many!) and play funk. Always been a Fender Jazz person and my main bass is a deluxe which I love dearly. I struggle massively with the jazz basses when playing live though, always sound too muddy in halls/pubs. I posted something a while back about this with some excellent advice received (isolating risers for the amp etc). I joked that I perhaps should "buy a stingray" to cut through better. Anyway, had the opportunity to buy a Sub4 REALLY cheap @ £180 (Indonesian). Restrung it and took it to practice last night. I was quite literally astounded by the sound of it. It's seriously light (the RAY34 and real stingrays are Ash, this is basswood). I struggle with heavy basses which caused me untold back/neck pain over the last 3 years. I have never in my life had a bass that cut through so much. I could literally hear EVERY note. I don't know why it feels better than everything else for slap, but it just does. I understand people mod these with different pickups and preamps etc too for even better results. The output is REALLY REALLY hot though, not sure why! Anyway, if anyone wants to try the stingray route, I would recommend trying a secondhand one of these, especially if you prefer light basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 The hot output has been discussed on here and that Talkbass, with various solutions. Have a search and you shall find Nothing better than buying a bass for not a lot of cash and loving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Yes. I have one. I have had my guitar tech modify the preamp so its not as hot. Sounds great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logicred Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 Thanks guys, will check out the preamp thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Nice. My 5 string sub is way quieter than my 4 string sub. Even when both pickups are the same height and when both have brand new batteries in them. They do sound good though 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukeward2004 Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 I always loved the sound of a ray, but I could never get on with the neck profile. Do you find the neck is chunky, especially higher up near the neck join to the body? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logicred Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 I play jazzes mainly and had no problem with this neck profile and didn't find it too chunky at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treb Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 [quote name='lukeward2004' timestamp='1499681494' post='3332866'] I always loved the sound of a ray, but I could never get on with the neck profile. [/quote] You can order a Stingray SLO Special, it has a Jazz-like taper instead of the chunky P profile. Or you buy a USA Sterling, these all have a Jazz-like taper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 These Ray4's have a very slim neck like the SLO / Sterling. The Ray34 is chunkier like a proper Ray. I had a black/maple one and the fretwork was very impressive for a cheap bass, with a nice satin finish to the neck and board. Very light and resonant too. I miss it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 Glad you like it. I bought one about s year ago as my back up to my EBMM Stingray. I like it. I generally set the 2 band eq fairly flat and boost a little to suit. The output isn't too hot then and still sounds great. Great for a bit of slap on the side too. Must get some new strings to bring it back to its best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashweb Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 +1 to all above. I treated myself to a Sub Ray 4 recently and now my poor old Ibanez GSR doesn't get a look in any more. Very simple controls but it is an absolute beast on the bottom end, even through my 30W Ashdown amp. I also like the balance of the thing, seems to sit nicely while playing; the neck is thicker than some but this is something I got used to fairly quickly (by that I mean I get the same amount of fret buzz and bum notes that I had on the Ibanez, now it's back to being operator error ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukeward2004 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Popped into Andertons yesterday and had a little okay on a sterling ray 34 - lovely bass! The neck profile seemed much better than what I had expected and certainly comfortable enough, but I still can't find a nice sound out of those markbass amps (the one they had for me to jam through. Still, a lovely bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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