Stingray confusion (trying to nail Jamie Stewart's tone from The Cult's early days).

[chriswareham]

I played a Stingray for almost twenty years, having bought one when I first started working full time after college. It was my dream bass since several of my favourite bassists used one - Barry Jepson of Southern Death Cult, Jamie Stewart of Death Cult and The Cult, Simon Gallup of The Cure and even Peter Hook during his Revenge / Monaco phase. I then switched to a Greco copy of the Rickenbacker 4003 about five years ago, and sold the Stingray. Fast forward to now, and the while the band I'm in suits the middly honk of a Rick style bass I think the tone I was originally inspired by would fit even better.

 

So I had a look at what's out there in Stingray land, and I'm confused. It used to be that the choices were straightforward - four or five strings, two or three band active tone controls. Now there seems to be a bewildering array of Stingray models and no amount of Googling seems to provide an explanation. So in short, I'm looking to recreate the kind of tone from the Cult's early performance of Horse Nation. I know that solid state amps (Trace Elliot) and chorus were also a factor, but I'm wondering what models from the current Stingray range get me close without spending more than I have to.

 

So do the Ray 4 models have the same kind of pre-amp as the more expensive Sterling or full fat Stingray models? Do the two or three band active tone controls have a difference in terms of what sounds you can get? I would prefer to go for something like a Ray 4, Ray 24 or Ray 34 rather then the frankly eye watering cost of a US made Stingray but don't want to end up with something that disappoints if I can't get the right tone. Advice very much appreciated!

 

 

[Beedster]

I’m biased of course, but that aside you could do a lot worse than this which I was about to out on consignment sale….

 

 

[chriswareham]

Oh, that's tempting. I think I bought a Yamaha BB1200 from you, which I used with a Joy Division tribute until I got tired of too many people saying I should be playing a Rickenbacker (I'd point out Hooky's clearly playing a Yammy in the Love Will Tear Us Apart video and before that he actually played a Hondo rather than a Rickenbacker, but to no avail).

[Beedster]

1 minute ago, chriswareham said:

Oh, that's tempting. I think I bought a Yamaha BB1200 from you, which I used with a Joy Division tribute until I got tired of too many people saying I should be playing a Rickenbacker (I'd point out Hooky's clearly playing a Yammy in the Love Will Tear Us Apart video and before that he actually played a Hondo rather than a Rickenbacker, but to no avail).

You did, and there’s no telling some people 😆

[Lozz196]

I think it would be very difficult to offer a better suggestion than the above

[LukeFRC]

3 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

I think it would be very difficult to offer a better suggestion than the above

+1

[martthebass]

I think if it's a Stingray to be had then I'd be looking for a 2EQ standard used or a Stingray Classic 2EQ.  You can get close with the 3EQ but not exactly (IMHO).

[Bolo]

The sterling ray4 is passive, any other will be close enough in the mix.

[Skybone]

Wouldn't one of the Retro StingRay's be better...? And loads of chorus of course.

 

 

[Musicman666]

all i can hear is a stingray with a new set of round wounds .. any decent amp would do.

[chriswareham]

Many thanks for the responses! I've been pondering my options and based on some of the comments decided to buy a Ray 24 which seems to have a recreation of the 2 band pre-amp from a Stingray from the early 1980s. After changing the strings on my regular bass this evening for a set of stainless steel Rotosounds I think that also plays a big part in capturing the sound I'm after along with a modulation effect. I experimented with a bunch of effects, and came closest with my ancient Frontline rack mounted thing. The modulation offers either chorus or flanger and seems to be a clone of Boss circuitry. With careful tweaking of the manual and feedback controls on the flanger setting I got really close to what I'm looking for even on my passive bass.

[Beedster]

Good stuff, important to have a bass that calls to you 👍

[Roger2611]

16 hours ago, chriswareham said:

Many thanks for the responses! I've been pondering my options and based on some of the comments decided to buy a Ray 24 which seems to have a recreation of the 2 band pre-amp from a Stingray from the early 1980s. After changing the strings on my regular bass this evening for a set of stainless steel Rotosounds I think that also plays a big part in capturing the sound I'm after along with a modulation effect. I experimented with a bunch of effects, and came closest with my ancient Frontline rack mounted thing. The modulation offers either chorus or flanger and seems to be a clone of Boss circuitry. With careful tweaking of the manual and feedback controls on the flanger setting I got really close to what I'm looking for even on my passive bass.

If you do change your mind the USA Sub basses are utterly brilliant basses and to me are the only bass that truly captures that early Stingray sound, I actually have a passive version and it sounds fantastic, it is certainly one I will be keeping hold of for the foreseeable future

[Beedster]

4 hours ago, Roger2611 said:

If you do change your mind the USA Sub basses are utterly brilliant basses and to me are the only bass that truly captures that early Stingray sound, I actually have a passive version and it sounds fantastic, it is certainly one I will be keeping hold of for the foreseeable future

That’s my view for sure 👌 

[chriswareham]

Did a rehearsal on Monday night, first one with the Stingray and also the first without our lead guitarist (who as I write is playing his first show in Barcelona fronting legendary US punk band Dead Boys, the lucky sod).

 

The sound of the Stingray through a Boss flanger was immense, and on many of our songs actually made up for the sound of two guitars we've been used to.

 

Then I check my email today to find that Jamie Stewart of The Cult had taken the time to reply to a message I sent him. He confirmed that the Stingray and a Boss chorus was key to the sound I was looking for, although he says he preferred the Ampeg amps he used later to the Trace Elliot ones he was using in the early Cult era.

Edited February 6 by chriswareham

[Beedster]

7 hours ago, chriswareham said:

Did a rehearsal on Monday night, first one with the Stingray and also the first without our lead guitarist (who as I write is playing his first show in Barcelona fronting legendary US punk band Dead Boys, the lucky sod).

 

The sound of the Stingray through a Boss flanger was immense, and on many of our songs actually made up for the sound of two guitars we've been used to.

 

Then I check my email today to find that Jamie Stewart of The Cult had taken the time to reply to a message I sent him. He confirmed that the Stingray and a Boss chorus was key to the sound I was looking for, although he says he preferred the Ampeg amps he used layer to the ones he was using I the early Cult era.

Glad it’s all worked out nicely @chriswareham 👍

[Terry M.]

On 05/02/2025 at 23:29, chriswareham said:

Did a rehearsal on Monday night, first one with the Stingray and also the first without our lead guitarist (who as I write is playing his first show in Barcelona fronting legendary US punk band Dead Boys, the lucky sod).

 

The sound of the Stingray through a Boss flanger was immense, and on many of our songs actually made up for the sound of two guitars we've been used to.

 

Then I check my email today to find that Jamie Stewart of The Cult had taken the time to reply to a message I sent him. He confirmed that the Stingray and a Boss chorus was key to the sound I was looking for, although he says he preferred the Ampeg amps he used later to the Trace Elliot ones he was using in the early Cult era.

So based on that will you look for a Trace Elliott amp if you don't already have one?

[chriswareham]

9 hours ago, Terry M. said:

So based on that will you look for a Trace Elliott amp if you don't already have one?

 

I have a Trace Elliott BLX combo, which I actually like even though I get the impression they were not highly regarded when new. I'm planning on giving that a test at the next rehearsal with the Stingray and a Boss CE-3 chorus I've just picked up on fleaBay.

[Terry M.]

6 minutes ago, chriswareham said:

 

I have a Trace Elliott BLX combo, which I actually like even though I get the impression they were not highly regarded when new. I'm planning on giving that a test at the next rehearsal with the Stingray and a Boss CE-3 chorus I've just picked up on fleaBay.

Cool. Hopefully that combination gives you what sound you're after or at least comes close.

[Lozz196]

On 05/02/2025 at 23:29, chriswareham said:

Did a rehearsal on Monday night, first one with the Stingray and also the first without our lead guitarist (who as I write is playing his first show in Barcelona fronting legendary US punk band Dead Boys, the lucky sod).

 

The sound of the Stingray through a Boss flanger was immense, and on many of our songs actually made up for the sound of two guitars we've been used to.

 

Then I check my email today to find that Jamie Stewart of The Cult had taken the time to reply to a message I sent him. He confirmed that the Stingray and a Boss chorus was key to the sound I was looking for, although he says he preferred the Ampeg amps he used later to the Trace Elliot ones he was using in the early Cult era.

Think that’s great that Jamie Stewart replied to give advice/info.