Sterling or Stingray?

[strummer]

Hey,

I'm a long time lurker and I hate starting off my days as an actual member by asking questions, I hope you don't mind.
This year the school band I'm in is going to be going to a huge Nation-wide Concert with camps of you instrument of choice, mine obviousely being bass. So my mom and dad agreed to let me get a new bass for the trip and I've always been a fan of MM basses, so I decided to go there in style.
I need to know which would be the most versitile bass, I will be playing classical, blues, funk, metal and rock. Basically I need one for almost every genre except punk. Could someone tell me what they think would be the best MM bass for me?

Thanks for your help,

Terry

Hi Terry
Please understand that the following is not meant as a joke.
Since you are obviously a big boy (and don't have to think about neck width/body size), my suggestion is to simply get the bass you like the looks of the most. A dual pick up version (HH or HS) will give you more to work with, bur all MM basses are the right choice for any kind of music.
Seeing your reluctance to get a Bongo as your first MM (somewhat, if not totally, understandable) I think you should get a StingRay HH or HS, with the (to you) most pleasing color/fret board/pick guard combo.

 

[roburado]

The SUB Sterling I tried was okay, but the real Sterlings were just exponentially better. I didn't bother trying the SUBs, because I know that I would just regret not spending the extra money on a regular EBMM bass. They're just that good! I'd just wait, save up, and get what I really want either used or new instead of going with a SUB. There's nothing wrong with them, but I'm always an advocate for waiting for what you really want instead of settling for a less-expensive version.

When I bought my first electric guitar, I bought one from that brand's regular line. That's the guitar I really wanted at the time. My feeling was that if I bought something "to learn on" (some inferior copy of the kind of guitar I really wanted) instead of a guitar I could "grow into" I'd just be wasting money on the "to learn on" guitar, because I'd just be trading up to the "grow into" guitar later. I want to learn how to play bass now, and I'm following the same strategy even though the SUB line did cross my mind.

 

[lamerjay]

I would say to go for the ray or sterling over the SUB, even if your travelling. I buy my basses as tools, and travelling w/ them is just part of it. The sterling will give you more options I think but I like the ray myself. Try them both and sleep on it.
Good Luck...