First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

[9unslin9er]

I'm looking to buy a first bass for studio use and maybe light gigging.

Always fancied the Music Man Stingray both in tone and looks.

For the 4 string models, there is an astronomical price hike for this bolt-on instrument (street $279 vs. $1400).

So for a guy who has virtually no technique plucking or slapping, what would you bassists out there choose?

 

[uOpt]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

The Asian made ones are junk, IMHO. I don't like them at all.

You can get run-of-the-mill 4-string Stingrays without figured maple for around $850.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

If you cannot tell the difference between the EBMM and Sterling lines, buy the cheaper one. If you can tell the difference, you will only be content with the real thing. It will be a keeper, I assure you.

EDIT - I am going to go further and suggest that you try one of the recent two pickup EBMM Stingray instruments. Something with MM and J pickups and clever coil switching would work out cheaper in the long run than buying two or three classic American designs.

EDIT #2 - If you can tell the difference between EBMM and Sterling instruments but do not have Dollars to burn, I suggest finding a budget Yamaha bass guitar and modifying it.

I like the Yamaha Attitude Plus (the bottom of the range model). Fit a Gotoh 201B bridge, an SD Basslines Pro-Active pickup and a Blackouts For Bass stacked knob two-band EQ. (The control cavity will swallow all of this without additional routing!) You will have one handy instrument for writing, recording and gigs.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

You know, it's just tough. I never even bothered listening to bass tones until recently. It's just a whole new ball game.

From a visual standpoint I always liked the StingRays. From a tonal perspective however, my favorite players have been guys like Duff Mckagan and Mike Dirnt. Straightforward punk rock players.

I may just end up picking up an American P Bass. It seems to be the cheapest option. I don't forsee myself amassing a collection of basses. This is really for in case a band wants to jam and everybody is playing guitar.

I actually love how Yamaha Attitudes look, but I can't stand Billy Sheehan's tone, and for now, that's really the only thing I have to go with.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

The Yamaha Attitude Plus bass guitar makes no attempt at the Billy Sheehan sound. (It is the bass equivalent of a Pacifica 112.) In plain English, it is a very well assembled instrument that you could find pre-owned for under one hundred Dollars. Spend another one hundred and fifty Dollars on upgrades and you will have an instrument that can embarrass a Fender American Standard Precision Bass.

 

[uOpt]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

I may just end up picking up an American P Bass. It seems to be the cheapest option. I don't forsee myself amassing a collection of basses. This is really for in case a band wants to jam and everybody is playing guitar.

An Am Std Precision is maybe $150 cheaper than a real Stingray. The problem with Am Std is that the quality varies a lot. By instrument and different years do all kinds of different things "wrong". You should hear the pickup in my 1997. Please...

 

[tonello]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

Go with the Sterling. My bassist just got one for travel, and we can't tell the difference between that and an actual Musicman Stingray.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

Go with the Sterling. My bassist just got one for travel, and we can't tell the difference between that and an actual Musicman Stingray.

We talking about the Sterling Ray34 or the S.U.B. Ray 4?

That's another jump in quality (price) right there.

@uOpt: Have you played an American Special? I've seen those Sub-$700.

 

[uOpt]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

@uOpt: Have you played an American Special? I've seen those Sub-$700.

No, just Am Std non special. I have one that sounds great but they are all over the place.

 

[tonello]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

We talking about the Sterling Ray34 or the S.U.B. Ray 4?

That's another jump in quality (price) right there.

The S.U.B. I haven't tried the Sterling 34, but if the quality on the S.U.B. is that good, I would assume the 34 is better. I think that for the price, it's a great bass, and if he wants to maybe gig with it, he can bang it around and not feel so bad that he bought a super expensive one. Plus with the amount of money he saved, he could get a decent amp on top of that.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

My friend has an old MM Stingray 4 string that is just superb. Playing it is a dream.

 

[mremic01]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

The Sterlings have a great reputation. Everyone I've played has been amazing and comparable to real EBMM Stingray.

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

I have the ibanez with music man imitation p'ups and active eq. It's awesome. And probably cheap on eBay.

 

[phil_104]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

My bass player plays a real deal MM stingray 4, and it is by far the most killer bass I've seen used in any situation. Be it for recording, live performance or just jam, that thing is always ready, and sounds fantastic. From definition for those melodic passages, to lows that could destroy a house's foundation, it's there. Worth every penny. I've had a chance to play the real thing and the Sterling series (another friend had one), and the difference is very significant. The neck on the MM is just about the best thing in the bass world right now.

Now the question isn't about how awesome the bass it, but rather if the asking price is worth it to you.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

Squier Mikey Way sig. Short neck, which makes it easy to carry and play, and actives, which it sounds like you want. Plus it looks awesome. I don't know who Mikey Way is, but it's a badass little bass for not too much money.

Edit. I'm an idiot. My mistake. The bass has a passive pickup, though it looks like an active. That was the whole reason for my post in the first place. Well, ignore my comments, but still, a nice bass for someone coming from guitar just using it as a basic first-time bass, though you are really paying $150 extra over the Bronco just for the flake paint job.

 

[B2D]

Re: First time bassist: Music Man Stingray or Sterling S.U.B. Ray?

I love the Music Man guitar line. I only have one currently but I've had 4 other ones in the past. I've also owned a Sterling guitar. It was OK... not as good as the US made stuff but it was OK. I haven't tried the new S.U.B. stuff.

Here's my take: buy the Sterling and if it grows on you, get the US made deal. The body and neck shapes are roughly the same... you can always upgrade the electronics.