Sterling to Stingray

[BoogieMan65]

I have been playing a Sterling for about 3 years now. I wanted a more punchy and active bass than my old faithful Jazz (of 20 years). The Sterling kicks! I just purchased a Stingray 5 needing a little more smooth groove. It seems the pickup isn't nearly as strong as my Sterling and the tone isn't quite as happnin'. Can anybody give me some feedback on the design and purpose of the two basses?

Thanks!

 

[dlloyd]

I have been playing a Sterling for about 3 years now. I wanted a more punchy and active bass than my old faithful Jazz (of 20 years). The Sterling kicks! I just purchased a Stingray 5 needing a little more smooth groove. It seems the pickup isn't nearly as strong as my Sterling and the tone isn't quite as happnin'. Can anybody give me some feedback on the design and purpose of the two basses?

Thanks!

They should be pretty much the same.

Strings and set up?

 

[Jazzbassman23]

I think it's pretty well document that though the Sterling and SR5 appear to be the same instrument, there are differences. First and foremost is the three way switch. The differences are much more pronounced on the SR5 than the Sterling where I can hear only very subtle differences in tone.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>>Can anybody give me some feedback on the design and purpose of the two basses?

Part of an article from Guitarist magazine (circa 2001):


As far as new bass designs were concerned, the first major Ernie Ball/Music Man introduction was the five-string StingRay 5 in 1988. It was more than just a five-string version of the StingRay: it introduced a Silhouette-like contoured body, three-band EQ, and both a hum-cancelling phantom coil and three-position lever switch for the single pickup. The Sterling bass - named after Ernie's son, Sterling Ball, the head of the Ernie Ball/Music Man company - followed in 1993. "It was intended as a lighter, smaller bass," confirms Gimpel, "something more versatile in terms of sound. The Sterling is actually a four-string version of the five-string StingRay."

 

[BoogieMan65]

Thanks for the feedback. At least I know it's not in my head. I'm using the same strings and trying to get the action as close to my Sterling as I can. The necks on both basses are sweet.

So far, the strings on my Stingray seem a little "stiffer" on my playing (right) hand than on my Sterling, wich is like budda.

The tone is similar on both basses, but the mids are a little funky on the Stingray. Gotta keep messing with it.