BassAdder60 Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 About 20yrs ago I was regularly gigging with a USA Musicman Stingray bass and Ampeg rig Sold it all off when the band folded and I had a ten year break from playing bass ( everything sold ) I returned and started playing Fender PBass and I thought this was my perfect bass however I’ve discovered that I’m really still a Stingray guy and I’ve found a secondhand USA Stingray in Blue Pearl virtually the same as my original bass !! I’m converted back to playing a Ray Im already selling my Vintera II on here and my American Performer will soon be listed too Picture of incoming bass and 20yrs ago gigging my Ray with Ampeg 610 and SVT CL head ! 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 That’s interesting Martin, given how you’ve described your sound previously I’d have thought it would have been the 2-eq ‘Ray that would have fitted you more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Interesting story. I have had a couple of flirtations with a Stingray. The ergonomics just don't work for me. Being a plucker, I anchor my thumb on the pickup cover and I find the slight increase in tension (or whatever it is) when anchored on the Stingray pickup too awkward, against a lifetime being used to a Precision. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 I just find the clarity and depth fingerstyle better and the neck is very PBass like in feel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Gorgeous 'Ray, congrats 5 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: That’s interesting Martin, given how you’ve described your sound previously I’d have thought it would have been the 2-eq ‘Ray that would have fitted you more. Out of interest, why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Next, get yourself a Cali Central - it's got a P thing and a Ray thing going on at the same time 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 1 minute ago, Kev said: Gorgeous 'Ray, congrats Out of interest, why? I was always struggling with tone with my PBass played fingerstyle and just felt I didn’t have “ that sound” I had in the past and it’s obviously down to the Ray as the improvement in clarity with the active EQ just works better for me. Pickup placement too feels more comfortable. I do love a PBass for it’s simplicity of great sounds but for me the Stingray takes it further 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 1 minute ago, BassAdder60 said: I was always struggling with tone with my PBass played fingerstyle and just felt I didn’t have “ that sound” I had in the past and it’s obviously down to the Ray as the improvement in clarity with the active EQ just works better for me. Pickup placement too feels more comfortable. I do love a PBass for it’s simplicity of great sounds but for me the Stingray takes it further Oo no I wasn't asking you, for me a 'Ray over a P is a no brainer 😉 I was asking Lozz why a 2 band EQ model would be more appropriate, coming from a P, as I think with the extra control over the mids, I'd say the opposite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 9 minutes ago, Kev said: Oo no I wasn't asking you, for me a 'Ray over a P is a no brainer 😉 I was asking Lozz why a 2 band EQ model would be more appropriate, coming from a P, as I think with the extra control over the mids, I'd say the opposite? Yep the 3EQ was what I had in the 90’s and now of course, I prefer this having the mid control 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 25 minutes ago, Kev said: Oo no I wasn't asking you, for me a 'Ray over a P is a no brainer 😉 I was asking Lozz why a 2 band EQ model would be more appropriate, coming from a P, as I think with the extra control over the mids, I'd say the opposite? I suppose having had both I found the 2 to be thicker & more powerful, the 3 to be more precise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 If it sounds better for what you’re playing then it makes sense, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Charcoal Sparkle 4HH , and I’ve been tempted a few times but I don’t think I would stick with it, would like to try one though 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 3 hours ago, Ed_S said: Next, get yourself a Cali Central - it's got a P thing and a Ray thing going on at the same time I wish someone would do some good demos of a Central compared to a Ray. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 You can't go wrong with a Stingray for some good honest meat and potatoes bass playing. It'll give you the thump of a P Bass with some added clarity and zing up top, depending on how you play it and set your e.q. Simple but very versatile and so much fun to play. If possible it might be nice to keep a P Bass too, though, just for the contrast. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted July 28 Share Posted July 28 I’ve recently passed through a phase where I tried to find a nice P in the current Fender production… IMO nothing, not even USA Professional Serie or American Vintage, could touch a Stingray both in wood’s quality and construction wise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskwave Posted July 28 Share Posted July 28 Complete opposite here. Played a Ray from 80 to 89.. was never happy, always seemed lacking somehow. Took a break for a few yrs then bought a P bass and its been P basses ever since. A Ray does what it does but for me it lacks that final bit of heft, especially once u get ur technique sorted. My CV 70's wearing dead Chromes is a thump and punch machine all day long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 28 Share Posted July 28 Check out the US Standards of 2013-16, imo the best range Fender ever made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeswals Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Congrats! I greatly (very greatly) prefer a StingRay over a P. I play a couple of them, a 4 & a 5, for my weekly house band gig. They cover a huge range of songs and sit in like a chameleon. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 I had always been a p bass player. Occasionally the odd jazz but then always back to a p. Then this year I tried the stingray style and it's perfect for me. I've even worked out why. It does that svt style thing where it plays the note you hit, plus that pillowy bass warmth underneath it really filling out the band sound. Covid affected business and I can't afford a real ray yet, but when I can I'll be grabbing one. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dub_junkie Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 I would always choose a StingRay over a P bass. But I'd always choose a Sabre or USA Sterling over a StingRay. Love StingRay 5s above all others though. They're my favourite bass. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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