fleabag Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Is this a USA Stingray HH ? I was wondering, if it is, whether the cheaper Sterlings / Subs / Ray or whatever the copies are called, can match this bass for tone. I know less than nothing about MM Stingrays or their cheaper far east builds. I do love the beef from the bass in the video though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 (edited) Looks like it to me. I think the colour is Burnt Apple. I would pretty much guarantee that a Sterling (not the US bass but the cheaper range) would sound 99.9% the same. The extra you pay for a US model is for lighter weight (wood and hardware), quality of construction and finishing , a hard case and the cachet of being made in the USA. EDIT: and the 18v circuit with neodymium pickups in the newer US model. Edited October 17, 2020 by FDC484950 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 If you can get to play one before buying I would strongly suggest that. I had a USA Stingray HH V and it was one of the quickest "move on"s I have done to date. I never could get a tone that suited me out of it but also the G string was so close to the edge of the fret board it was very tough to play without it rolling off the edge (perhaps poor technique on my part too). I cannot remember what age it was, however. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 That there looks like one of the newer ones, as it’s a roasted maple neck. Mmmm.... roasted maple... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 27 minutes ago, FDC484950 said: Looks like it to me. I think the colour is Burnt Apple. I would pretty much guarantee that a Sterling (not the US bass but the cheaper range) would sound 99.9% the same. The extra you pay for a US model is for lighter weight (wood and hardware), quality of construction and finishing , a hard case and the cachet of being made in the USA. EDIT: and the 18v circuit with neodymium pickups in the newer US model. So the Sterling equivalent would be simply called the Sterling HH ? The names of MM's elude me somewhat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Yep. Sterling by Musicman: https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/ray5-hh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 23 minutes ago, Bobthedog said: If you can get to play one before buying I would strongly suggest that. I had a USA Stingray HH V and it was one of the quickest "move on"s I have done to date. I never could get a tone that suited me out of it but also the G string was so close to the edge of the fret board it was very tough to play without it rolling off the edge (perhaps poor technique on my part too). I cannot remember what age it was, however. That’s a “thing” about Musicman basses. It may require you be a bit more precise as the G is quite close to the edge of the fingerboard. Some people apparently don’t notice it at all. All of the sounds are humbucking but AFAIK from both a US Sterling and Stingray the bridge only position is authentic Stingray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 24 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said: That there looks like one of the newer ones, as it’s a roasted maple neck. Mmmm.... roasted maple... The cheaper models also have a roasted maple neck. I guessed it was a US a model from the colour and just about being able to see the logo on the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 (edited) 4 minutes ago, FDC484950 said: Yep. Sterling by Musicman: https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/ray5-hh Just seen a Sterling by MM Ray 34 HH ...is that the same thing ? Are Subs included or they a different animal ? https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Ray_34_HH_White.html Edited October 17, 2020 by fleabag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 I think the Ray34/35 are pricier with roasted maple necks and the Ray is a cheaper range, but still comes with dual humbuckers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 Yup, just this second found Subs and they're well cheap compared to Sterlings, so i;m guessing nowhere in the same league. Mind you, even the Sterlings are not cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 (edited) This one is a Stingray Special - neo pick ups, 18 volt circuit, revoiced preamp. They also have different body contours as well as the light weight. Although they are single pick up versions, see juliaplaysgroove's channel on You Tube - she does Hair by GCS on an SBMM Sub and Hallucinate by Dua Lipa on a Ray35, which are really cool examples and show how close to a Stingray sound these basses can get. Edited October 17, 2020 by drTStingray 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 The Indonesian SUB Ray 4's are surprisingly good, and have a 38mm nut, for the Jazz Bass fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 19 hours ago, Bobthedog said: If you can get to play one before buying I would strongly suggest that. I had a USA Stingray HH V and it was one of the quickest "move on"s I have done to date. I never could get a tone that suited me out of it but also the G string was so close to the edge of the fret board it was very tough to play without it rolling off the edge (perhaps poor technique on my part too). I cannot remember what age it was, however. I love the sound of them, but I do have the same issue with the G string as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 19 hours ago, fleabag said: Is this a USA Stingray HH ? I was wondering, if it is, whether the cheaper Sterlings / Subs / Ray or whatever the copies are called, can match this bass for tone. I know less than nothing about MM Stingrays or their cheaper far east builds. I do love the beef from the bass in the video though. A nice version of a great Alan Spenner line. The original would probably have been played on a Wal, but the SR5 sounds great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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