Anybody else experience this?

[BigStrings]

When I first tried Musicman basses I compared the Stingray to the Sterling. My first thoughts were that the Sterling neck was more to my liking and that it also had more tonal variety. The Stingray neck seemed too big and the tone seemed one dimensional, again, first thoughts, so I bought the Sterling. Now, I own a Bongo HH 4 string and love the neck which you all know is a little beefier. So now, after playing the Bongo for a time, I go back to the music store and try the Stingray again and have to wonder what I was thinking. The neck is perfect and of course the new HH (the first one I tried was a single H) has a variety of tones, all of them great! On the other hand, I take the Sterling out of the case (has not seen much playing time since the arrival of the Bongo) and the neck now seems to be a bit small to me. I'd be interested to know (don't think we need a poll) how many out there own a Stingray, a Sterling and a Bongo (3 different neck sizes) and which one gets played the most.

 

[midopa]

Yeah, similar thing happened to me, too. At first, the SR neck and P-bass-sized necks in general were too big for me. Went for the Bongo and loved the neck (still do, 'deed I do). Now when I try out SRs and Ps, I find they ain't so tough.

 

[Jazzbassman23]

After playing jazz bass necks, I went to purchase my first MM, a Stingray. Kept it a week. Loved the sound, but the neck was too big for me, so I swapped it for a Sterling which I still play. Fast forward a couple of years. I get a good deal on a Ray, so I buy another one. I keep it for special purposes, but in the end, it didn't feel good to me. Sounded great though. Bought a Bongo HH which has been my #1 for the past year, but any day now I expect the call that my Sterling HH is in. Even though I'm 6'3" and have big hands, the Sterling neck is it for me. I'll keep the Bongo, but I sold the second Ray and don't see buying another one. Yeah, right

Actually, not to hijack your thread, but my dilemma now is whether to sell my SR5 and go the Bongo 5 route.

 

[phatduckk]

when i was about to buy my first MM bass I also tried the Ray vs the Sterling. I played the Sterling for a lil while then grabbed a Ray and within, literally, seconds I knew the Sterling was for me b/c the neck on the Ray was too big for my hands.

Months later I got an SR4 as a bday gift to myself and all of a sudden the neck wasn't too big. I spent about a year switching back n forth between the 2 with no problems.

Later I sold the SR4 to Beej and was a Sterling only guy till I got my HH Ray. Now I have zero problem with the SR4's neck even tho my hands "are aware" of the size difference. I'm actually at the point where I know I can play certain types of songs more comfortably on the Ray neck vs the Sterling neck.

With all that said ... every time I pick up a Sterling I know its "home" and the HH SR4 is one bad ass vacation home

 

[TSanders]

I love my StingRay 5, everything about it.

However, the best neck ever was my white sparkle Sterling neck. Bar none. It was smokin.

That neck is on Randys Sterling right now IIRC.

 

[j-cityscapes]

the stingray neck is perfect for me. i play a fender jazz currently, while im waiting for my SR4 HH which is on order, and i always want to feel the stingray neck every time i pick it up. basically.. i love the fat neck feel

 

[Lazybite]

I love the sterling neck.... its perfection.....

 

[tkarter]

Never played a 4 String EB bass yet. The SR5 is what I love and I do mean love. The Bongo 5 is just a bit different and I love lots of things about it but drunk, sick or just have to get it done I want the SR5 every time.

tk

 

[bovinehost]

When I first tried Musicman basses I compared the Stingray to the Sterling.

When I first tried Musicman basses, there was no "the Sterling". (I am told that there was "a guy, Sterling", but I didn't know about him at the time. And this was thirty years ago, and I think we were both kind of busy at the time anyway.)

I fell completely and immediately in love with the Stingray. Years, nay, DECADES later I ordered a Stingray 5, having never even seen one in real life and fell...how do I put this....oh yeah - completely and immediately in love.

Then these oddly-named Sterling basses began to be mentioned here and there, so I found myself one of those, too. Even Farmer John Pete (aka Harleyyy) and I had to agree about those at the time - best production neck on the planet.

Now Bongos, I don't know how you guys play those things.

As has been mentioned a time or two before, ain't it great to have these choices? Yeah, I'm mostly a Bongoloid now ("mostly" - hah), but I still get all drooly over the Stingrays and Sterlings, especially the new ones that have been delivered lately - you guys have a good eye for combinations!

I'd be interested to know (don't think we need a poll) how many out there own a Stingray, a Sterling and a Bongo (3 different neck sizes) and which one gets played the most.

Well, I have four Bongos and another one on order and a Stingray 5....and I don't even need to tell you guys, right? But that's me. I like it that we all have our faves.

Jack

 

[Freddy-G.]

The SR5 is what I love and I do mean love. The Bongo 5 is just a bit different and I love lots of things about it but drunk, sick or just have to get it done I want the SR5 every time.
tk

Jeez, tk. You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[bovinehost]

You took the words right out of my mouth

It must have been while you were kissing him.


Sorry, I just couldn't resist a Jim Steinman/Meat Loaf quote opportunity.

 

[Freddy-G.]

It must have been while you were kissing him.


Sorry, I just couldn't resist a Jim Steinman/Meat Loaf quote opportunity.

Oh man, I haven't heard that song in ages. Good catch, Jack!

 

[EasyTiger]

I LOVE my 5 string Ray neck, but as yet I'm not a huge fan of the 4 string ray profile. I don't have small hands but it just feels to rounded where the 5 is a lot flatter. And I love the sterling necks, feels just like my old ofFender, but it sounds good, and plays better, and looks better.