Picked up a second Stingray at GC over lunch...

[SgtThump]

PART I - Heck yeah!!!

I bought a used Stingray from GC around 2 months ago and have been in love with it ever since! It's not exactly what I wanted when I bought it, but it's still a great bass. The color is "graphite pearl" (charcoal gray) and the fretboard is rosewood.

Well I went into GC today and there is my dream Stingray (used) hanging on the wall! It's black with a maple fretboard. That's exactly what I wanted in the first place!

I bought the black Stingray today and GC agreed to take back the graphite pearl Stingray and refund the full amount, even though it's been 2 months or so since I bought it! That was very nice of them, huh!?!?!?!? I know at least one of the guys that work there and I'm buying stuff from them regularly, so they work with me. I couldn't ask for a better staff.

So anyway, I'll spend all weekend with both Stingrays to figure out which one I like the most, then return the other one. But I haven't figured out which one I'm keeping yet.

Here's a picture of the graphite pearl model...

There are a few scratches and dings on both the black and graphite pearl models, but the fretwear is minimal and they both sound fantastic! I'm thinking I'll keep the black one, since that's what I've been after for months. But I won't know until I try both.

Anyway, bravo to the great guys at Guitar Center in Bridgeton, Missouri!

PART II - Oh no...

I dunno guys... This maple fretboard Stingray is kicking my ass! I've cleaned her all up from top to bottom, installed new strings and done most of the setup.

Here's the deal... My gray Stingray with the rosewood fretboard has strings on it that are around a month old. They have been used for 2 gigs and probably 2 rehearsals, but there's no grime or anything on them. They still feel new, but I understand they're not BRAND new.

This black Stingray with the maple fretboard has a brand spanking new set of strings. It's the exact same string brand and gauge that's on the gray Stingray (D'Addario .50-.105)

Both basses sound like Stingrays, but you can hear the differences between them. The SR with the rosewood board and slightly older strings is smoother with more mids. It's not muddy, but it could be with the wrong setup. The SR with the maple board and new strings has a more "clear" tone and isn't as smooth, but equally as good. I actually like the tone from the maple fretboard bass more. It still has tons of lows, but a little less mids, which I'm digging.

So here's my question... Do you think the only differences I'm hearing are from the strings or do you think the fretboards are making the tonal differences? At this point, they're different enough to keep both.

I'm seriously thinking about keeping both and selling my GL Jazz, which was NOT part of the plan.

Chris

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

Haha i read your title and was like man that dude just has money to throw around. He's like ya i feel like getting a 1200 dollar bass over lunch yap. lol

 

[SgtThump]

Haha i read your title and was like man that dude just has money to throw around. He's like ya i feel like getting a 1200 dollar bass over lunch yap. lol

LOL! Definitely not! The entire plan was to just swap the black/maple SR out for the gray/rosewood SR. I knew I'd have both for a few days to compare them closely. Now I want to keep both! DOH!!!!

By the way, I paid right around $ out the door for each of them. I think that's pretty darn fair. They both have some scratches and even a ding or two, but I still think that price is fair. The gray SR is a 2004 (pictured above and the black SR is a 2001 (no picture yet).

 

[AnthonyD]

So here's my question... Do you think the only differences I'm hearing are from the strings or do you think the fretboards are making the tonal differences?

Probably a bit of both, but seeing as how you've got the same strings on both basses and the "break-in" on one set is nominal I'd guess it's more a result of the fretboard. The maple board will provide a brighter response, the rosewood is a bit mellower.

Me? I'd sell the Jazz...

 

[SgtThump]

Probably a bit of both, but seeing as how you've got the same strings on both basses and the "break-in" on one set is nominal I'd guess it's more a result of the fretboard. The maple board will provide a brighter response, the rosewood is a bit mellower.

Me? I'd sell the Jazz...

The "older" strings have 2 gigs and probably 2 rehearsals on them. I guess they're probably past the brand new bright string tone, but certainly not well used or dead. I wish I replaced strings on both at the same time and really had a fair comparison, but that's just not possible.

I actually used the search feature and read a few threads about maple vs. rosewood and most people reported the tonal differences that I outlined above. I just didn't think it would be this noticable of a difference. It's real obvious switching back and forth between them. Hmmmmm...

But, but... The GL Jazz is a great instrument!!!!!!!!!

 

[SgtThump]

I also just noticed something else... The graphite pearl 2004 SR seems a fair amount heavier than the black 2002 SR. I don't have scales to check, but it's pretty noticible. Is there any chance the graphite pearl bass could have an ash body or something?

Chris

 

[SteveB]

I think those basses are probably made of the same kind of wood. But even the same kind of wood can vary in density and weight.

You are probably hearing tonal differences based on the strings *and* the fingerboards.

I personally like the snappier sound of a maple fingerboard on a bass. For guitars, I like to keep one of each.

So, I say keep those 'rays and sell all your other stuff, 'cause this is an addiction, after all.

 

[SgtThump]

I think those basses are probably made of the same kind of wood. But even the same kind of wood can vary in density and weight.

You are probably hearing tonal differences based on the strings *and* the fingerboards.

I personally like the snappier sound of a maple fingerboard on a bass. For guitars, I like to keep one of each.

So, I say keep those 'rays and sell all your other stuff, 'cause this is an addiction, after all.

I think the body wood, fretboard and strings are making a difference. I wish I had scales here to check the weight of each bass. It's a pretty noticible difference.

 

[Funky Chicken]

All of my basses (Sterling, Lakland 4-94 Deluxe, and '72 Jazz) have maple boards. The top end is a little more snappy, IMO. New strings can make a difference too, but if you had 2 basses side by side that were as close in weight as you could get them, both with brand new strings on them, the maple one will pop a little more.

 

[SgtThump]

 

[SgtThump]

All of my basses (Sterling, Lakland 4-94 Deluxe, and '72 Jazz) have maple boards. The top end is a little more snappy, IMO. New strings can make a difference too, but if you had 2 basses side by side that were as close in weight as you could get them, both with brand new strings on them, the maple one will pop a little more.

Yeah, I know it's supposed to make a difference and I have heard a difference before on guitar's I've owned that have maple, ebony or rosewood boards, but there's something else going on here too I think. The body wood, strings and fretboard wood are probably all contributing to the differences in tone.

Like I said, the bass with the rosewood fretboard and heavier body has a smoother lower mid tone, while the bass with the maple fretboard and lighter body sounds clearer. Kinda cool!

 

[Freddy-G.]

Hey SgtThump, how do you like that Marshall rig? Is that a 4x12 cab? 100 watt amp?

 

[cgworkman]

I would keep the black one. Maple neck with a black body is so shexy.

Of course, you could always keep all three basses.

 

[SgtThump]

Hey SgtThump, how do you like that Marshall rig? Is that a 4x12 cab? 100 watt amp?

I should point out that I'm a guitar player too and I don't use my bass through that Marshall rig, just in case you're wondering.

That Marshall rig is a JCM900 SL-X 50-watt tube head and a 1960B 4x12" cabinet with 75-watt Celestions. Sounds AWESOME!!!

For bass, I use this:

 

[SgtThump]

I would keep the black one. Maple neck with a black body is so shexy.

Of course, you could always keep all three basses.

I agree! That black with a maple fretboard is what I've wanted ever since I started thinking about a Stingray. I also REALLY love the clear-coated ash bodies and a maple fretboard. Those are badass too.

I can't keep all three, man. I wish I could, but I can't justify it. I'm just not sure if I should keep both Stingrays and sell the Gedd and a few smaller things or just go ahead and turn the graphite pearl SR back into GC.

Chris

 

[Freddy-G.]

I should point out that I'm a guitar player too and I don't use my bass through that Marshall rig, just in case you're wondering.

The only reason I ask is that Chris Squire (Yes) uses a Marshall 100 watt Super Bass Amp and Marshall 4 X12 cabinet (amongst other stuff) and I always thought that was so cool — using a Marshall rig for bass. You don't see that too often.

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

LOL! Definitely not! The entire plan was to just swap the black/maple SR out for the gray/rosewood SR. I knew I'd have both for a few days to compare them closely. Now I want to keep both! DOH!!!!

By the way, I paid right around $750 out the door for each of them. I think that's pretty darn fair. They both have some scratches and even a ding or two, but I still think that price is fair. The gray SR is a 2004 (pictured above and the black SR is a 2001 (no picture yet).

Ya man thats a kick ass deal. i paid 1700 for mine. But mine had like speical everything on it. and a piezo

 

[sandaas]

mmm, if only the prices were the same in europe as in the US.. A brand new four string SR costs about 2700 US dollars in norway

ohh well... about your basses, keep all three and sell the other stuff

 

[SgtThump]

The only reason I ask is that Chris Squire (Yes) uses a Marshall 100 watt Super Bass Amp and Marshall 4 X12 cabinet (amongst other stuff) and I always thought that was so cool — using a Marshall rig for bass. You don't see that too often.

Ya know, I used to own a '79 Marshall SuperBass head. That was before I started playing bass again, so I never even tried it for bass. Sounded excellent for guitar, though!

Chris

 

[SgtThump]

mmm, if only the prices were the same in europe as in the US.. A brand new four string SR costs about 2700 US dollars in norway

ohh well... about your basses, keep all three and sell the other stuff

LOL! I've sold off alot of gear that I never really used and don't have much left to sell to cover the expense of the new addition. I'm seriously leaning towards selling the Geddy Lee and keeping both Stingrays.