Slight StingRay frustration

[TSanders]

First off, frustration may be a bit strong, but I knew it would get your attention.

As many of you saw, I got a StingRay 4 with piezos not too long ago. Its a great playing bass, and is a lightweight compared to my 11 pound SR5, weighing in at between 9-9.5 pounds. Slapping some EB flats on the Ray, made it even sweeter than it was.

However, I have a small dillema with the Ray. Some days I pick it up and just love the tone to no end. Other days, I play it and just dont feel like its "me". On the days that Im not feeling the SR4, I pick up my SR5 and think "now THIS is me". Its a tonal thing, not a 4 vs 5 thing.

This is only frustrating me because my StingRay 5 has me spoiled in the fact that I fall in love with it all over again every time I play it. I dont want to be taken the wrong way either. When Im digging the SR4, Im really digging it (its a killer bass), but sometimes I just have that "its not me" moment. Since I think that I can hear a difference between the tone of an SR4 and Sterlings/SRs I just wonder if thats the whole deal.

So I guess I just want to know if anyone has played Sterlings/StingRay 5s for a while and just prefer that tone over a StingRay 4. Or even the other way around.

Or, am I just crazy? This is very, very likely.

 

[tplyons]

Of course you're crazy. SR4's are me. SR5's are me too.

 

[Big Poppa]

travis if you want a four try a bongo h or a sterling

 

[slucas]

I have all of the above mentioned basses as well as Bongos 4 & 5. Sometimes I feel somethings just not butterin' my toast and pick up another. But ususally if I give it about 10 minutes and get the settings right I feel like I am playing the best of the bunch. Of course some sound better with certain music styles but if I just give what I have in my hands at the moment a little time and it feels like the best sound. Then I realize I have five different "best" basses. Poor me

 

[TSanders]

travis if you want a four try a bongo h or a sterling

Well, I actually do enjoy having a 4 and a 5.

I had that Desert Gold Single H Bongo 5, and it forever etched in my mind how great the Single H Bongos are. Ive also owned a few Sterlings, and love the necks. Funny enough, two of the basses I wish Id hung onto most were that very Single H Bongo 5, and a white sparkle Sterling.

Itll be a while before I make a move, but your suggestion may just be spot on.

 

[bdgotoh]

It's not just you Travis. I've sold off all but my Stingray 2 band recently. That's four 3 band Rays in the past couple of months! The reason is my Sterling H and Sterling HH basses. I just can't stop playing them and I love the tone.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Travis, it's very unlike you to procrastinate like this about gear. Clearly, it's Bongo time.

 

[phatduckk]

The reason is my Sterling H and Sterling HH basses. I just can't stop playing them and I love the tone.

when u getting the HS?

 

[bdgotoh]

I got an HS after hearing people rave about them and it just wasn't my cup of tea. That black one changing hands recently used to be mine.

 

[RockinRayDuke]

Travis, the Bongo single H 4 string is the Secret Weapon. Trust me.

 

[bovinehost]

Travis knows this already, Ray. That DG Bongo 5 H I had a while back? I got that from Travis. (Belongs to HeavyDuty now and it appears to be in a good, solid home.)

 

[bdgotoh]

That DG Bongo 5 H I had a while back? I got that from Travis.

Oh sure. You'll sell me Stingrays and Sterlings and buy Bongos from me but will you admit it in public??

 

[Psychicpet]

Travis, the fact that you've stuck with an SR5 for so long in the midst of a dozen amps
I can't wait to see what you get to replace the SR4 with

hehehehe


but I do hear ya, when I hop back on the brazilian'd Bongo5 it's just hands down me and what i love to play and sound like. Although the Sterling is an AMAZING bass for a 4 string

 

[Randracula]

Travis, I think if there are times when you're really feeling that SR4 then you should keep it. IMO (due to the increased bridge and body mass) the massive tone of the SR5 just can't be replicated with a 4 string. The Sterling and SR4 are great in their own right though and I like all three of them.....It's a good thing to have different basses that are similar but not exactly the same....Just my 2 cents

 

[Figjam]

They just have different tones. I can tell the difference in the tones of my sterling and sr5, and its a big difference to me. Still think you're picky?

 

[Nickytwister]

Travis,
I totally agree with you - I've had loads of SR4s and my current one - a 2003 through body strung VSB rosewood 3EQ (made as a 2EQ then converted) strung with EB flats is my main bass. I've had it for 3 1/2 years.
However my VSB rosewood 5 is probably the better bass tonally - I think the ceramic/alnico magnetic thing plus body mass issue might be the reason - I'm sure Big Poppa would be able to explain this better.
I've also got a Bongo HS5 which is cool.
I keep the 4 'cos every time I sell a Stingray 4 I want another PLUS not all gigs/bands require or even like 5 strings! Therefore if I need a 5 I've got a Stingray ditto if I need a 4 I've got a Stingray. Get a double gig bag (like a Reunion Blues one) and when you're not sure take both with you.
I do also have old Jazz and Precision basses which I love but don't always work as well as a Musicman, especially in a live context.
Back to the original issue if I had to choose one to keep it'd probably be the 5..............but until I do (hopefully never) I've got both.
I still reach for the 4 first though!
N x

www.myspace.com/nickytwister

 

[Musicman Nut]

First off, frustration may be a bit strong, but I knew it would get your attention.

As many of you saw, I got a StingRay 4 with piezos not too long ago. Its a great playing bass, and is a lightweight compared to my 11 pound SR5, weighing in at between 9-9.5 pounds. Slapping some EB flats on the Ray, made it even sweeter than it was.

However, I have a small dillema with the Ray. Some days I pick it up and just love the tone to no end. Other days, I play it and just dont feel like its "me". On the days that Im not feeling the SR4, I pick up my SR5 and think "now THIS is me". Its a tonal thing, not a 4 vs 5 thing.

This is only frustrating me because my StingRay 5 has me spoiled in the fact that I fall in love with it all over again every time I play it. I dont want to be taken the wrong way either. When Im digging the SR4, Im really digging it (its a killer bass), but sometimes I just have that "its not me" moment. Since I think that I can hear a difference between the tone of an SR4 and Sterlings/SRs I just wonder if thats the whole deal.

So I guess I just want to know if anyone has played Sterlings/StingRay 5s for a while and just prefer that tone over a StingRay 4. Or even the other way around.

Or, am I just crazy? This is very, very likely.

Try not to drink so much before you play

 

[TSanders]

Try not to drink so much before you play

. Dave, you are a funny guy.