Couple of questions from a new owner

[Koch Sanchez]

Two quick questions on the Stingray and one larger question - the quick questions 1) what strings and gauge come stock on a new 'Ray? Mine feel a bit heavy, wondering what they are and 2) how can I tell what year my Stingray was built in?

last question is more asking for advice I bought a stingray 4 and a f*nder american series jazz at the same time with the idea of returning whichever one I liked less (I have 30 days to do so). I love the build quality and big sound of the SR but I love the neck and versatility of the Jazz - the neck feels alot smaller than the SR. The only thing with the Jazz is it sounds so thin / low output - even with the S1 switch and has no sustain. Even acoustically the SR is 50 times more resonant than the Jazz. Is this just how the Jazz is or did I get a bad copy? Sorry for the basic questions but I am a long time guitarist new to bass.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Psycho Ward]

First... Welcome!

You can post the serial number and one of the excellent EBMM people will give the date of birth. I think standard Slinky's come on all EBMM basses.

Now this Jbass issue seems like a simple one to me, try an EBMM Sterling, it has a smaller neck and body, but big tone, just like you'd expect from a Ball.

 

[Moondog]

If you like the tone & build quality of the MusicMan
but prefer the Jazz Neck & versatility, return both
and buy a MusicMan Sterling, perhaps a dual humbucker
or humbucker/single coil - you'll get the best of both worlds.

The strings are Slinkys, 45-65-85-105 gauge (I think?)

You need to ask Customer service for birth dates - see
the STICKY.

 

[Moondog]

Chuck beat me!
I was responding @ the same time

 

[Koch Sanchez]

Serial is E43939

 

[Moondog]

Serial is E43939

Hey Koch,
Post that in the "Serial Number Database" STICKY thread

 

[Jazzbassman23]

100-80-65-45 Slinky's come standard on all new EBMM's.

 

[Koch Sanchez]

Okay I will. Really torn on this decision - I played a Sterling at the store liked the Stingray much better. Love the look and feel of the Jazz though - it just doesn't feel or sound as "solid" to me as the Ray. Will the 'Ray work for playing jazz songs or is it too strong for that? Man I wish I could keep both but its not in the budget. I only have a few days more to decide. Any advice would be great. I'll probably only have one bass since I am a guitar player so I've got to make a solid choice here.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>Love the look and feel of the Jazz though - it just doesn't feel or sound as "solid" to me as the Ray.

IMO the neck is the heart and soul of the instrument

 

[ExLurker]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming its a Fender Standard Jazz which is passive? If you are looking for phat with loads of bottom the Stingray has it licked. I don't think these two are on the same playing field. Try a Fender American Deluxe which is active and I think you may well find the 'bottom' you are looking for.
The build quality of MMEB easily surpasses Fender in my experience.

 

[Koch Sanchez]

Good point. I just love the sound of the Ray. The Jazz doesn't sustain at all - and whoever referred to the sound as sounding like a banjo strung with bass strings described how mine sounds. Too many decisions...
Active vs. passive electronics aside, when I play them both acoustically, the fender just feels/sounds cheaper - the sustain isn't even close and it just feels kind of cheap - again not sure if mine is a bad one or maybe just needs a set-up or whatever.

 

[ExLurker]

The other thing is that if your Fender is new, the stock strings are not the best. DR Hi Beams on it will tell a totally different story.

 

[dlb1001]

Had a Jazz 24 that came with active electronics. Couldn't project the lower tones but I preferred the neck width and radius. So, I spent some time looking around and trying both a Stingray and Sterling.
I bought a Sterling HS because it had the same neck width (the radius was different but I adjusted to it) plus, it came with a single coil and the humbucker. So, with the different pickups, I get a wide range of tones.
As for the string gauges, I checked FAQ on EB site and it had the info on the strings, including the part number. Also, how to take care of the bass and how to adjust the neck...it is pretty thorough!

 

[tkarter]

I actually think you are looking for a single H Bongo to fit your needs. The neck would be just right on it. The jazz gigs easily covered. The city destroyed if you felt need to.

tk

 

[Golem]

.... Really torn on this decision - I played a Sterling at the store liked the Stingray much better. Love the look and feel of the Jazz though - it just doesn't feel or sound as "solid" to me as the Ray. Will the 'Ray work for playing jazz songs or is it too strong for that? .....

Think on this: You love the look of the jazz. Zillions of players do. That's why there's a thriving business in aftermarket PUs and electronics, cuz the "look" is the big draw. Ther's even a healthy business in very expensive jazz clones with superior sonic qualities, that look almost *exactly* like a Fender [Sadowski, etc]. IOW players hooked on the *look* of the Jazz Bass wind up paying serious money to get a *useful* bass combined with "The Jazz Look".

Now check MusicMan. The only clones are cheapo knockoffs [ho's]. The original product is not deficient, so no market thrives on offering you are non-MM clone at a high price to provide MM looks with superior tone. That market niche is filled by the original product. OK, there's some aftermarket PU's and pre-amps for StingRays, but that's for personal taste.

While hotrodded Fenders are common, and when resold are acknowledged as "upgraded", modified MM's are somewhat rare, and most MM modifiers know enuf to keep all the original parts and to do nothing irreversible to a MM. That's cuz modding for 'personal preference' is not universally acknowledged as an "upgrade", but seen as a personal "side step" and does not enhance resale value. On a [non-collectible] Fender, nearly any decent mod is respected as an enhancement, no apologies at resale, maybe even a price hike for the upgrade.

 

[Golem]

I actually think you are looking for a single H Bongo to fit your needs. The neck would be just right on it. The jazz gigs easily covered. The city destroyed if you felt need to. tk

Once the Bongoloid option is on the table, and if you want the magic of the single-H but still feel the pull of combining two pickups for sonic variety, you could get the piezo bridge option [if you don't need a lefty ax]. OTOH, a player who states they really dig the looks of a Jazz Bass may not be ready to consider the Bongo. Let's hope that doesn't come between Mr Sanchez and a potential solution to his needs.

 

[Koch Sanchez]

No Bongo for me, maybe for my next bass. For now, its between the Stingray and the Jazz.

 

[PaulMack]

Do not get an American Jazz Bass. I'm as patriotic as the next guy but you would be better off digging thru the mexi models to find a good one...and there are some good ones out there for a hell of a lot less. That company has way too many artist models out with the only purpose of getting into your pocket deeper for something that is no better or worse than anything else they offer.
I have a coupla mexi Precisions and Jazzes that I have upgraded for less the cost of the USA models and they kick. Why buy a US model that needs better pickups and so on?
Though I'm not overly fond of the parallel/tone on my StingRay that's just a matter of taste and it's being rewired to series. I can say that the build quality far surpasses that of the other company for basses in the same price range.
With the money you're planning on spending... I would keep the StingRay

 

[Golem]

Do not get an American Jazz Bass. I'm as patriotic as the next guy but you would be better off digging thru the mexi models to find a good one...and there are some good ones out there for a hell of a lot less. That company has way too many artist models out ......

Good point. MM is operated by players for players. OK, so the Ball family are 'players' and not recording industrty 'sooper starrs'. That's cuz they are in the guitar and bass building biz and not in the media hype biz.

Fender seems to be in the media hype biz with the guitars and basses as a sort of merchandizing wing of the "star maker machinery behind the popular songs".

So who you want designing and building your ax? The ax guys, or the merchandizing guys? A family bizniz or a spin-off of the A&R flacking world? Fender has been the poster child of the dark side since the day Leo sold it to a broadcasting, hollywood film and recording giant [Columbia]. Allah be praised that Leo's next company wound up in the more suitable hands of the Ball family.

 

[Koch Sanchez]

I already HAVE the Fender American Jazz Bass - just trying to determine whether to return it or not.