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sterling vrs bongo vrs ray

Tanks....how about...

Think of it like this:

Stingray: Bedroom slut, dirty librarian. She meets the parents.

Sterling: Crazy redhead, but has a good work ethic. Dad loves her, Mom hates her.

Bongo: Cheerleader, life of the party. She's down for whatever, but your Mother thinks she is perfect and your Dad tells you to get a pre-nup. FO SHO

Which one to get? I read a lot...:D
 
Justbass:the quest for quality

II. bongo vrs stingray


well I drove for an hour to a store that had bongos and stingrays:


it went pretty much like this:


I could not get the bongo to sound like a stingray. so, to me, a Bongo cannot do what a stingray can do. This is not criticism. The difference is probably intentional.

but again, sound styles are not even close. A sting ray has a diamond clear abrasive growl and punch. The bongo is like the a very talented whale during mating season.

before I move on, let me admit I am not the best eq-ist


I have no patience or ear for eq knobs.


I would go so far to say that I have come to resent eq knobs, be they on an amp or an instrument.


so it could just be me. But I don't think it was.




the difference between the 4 and 5's was probably pysochological. but I think the 4 sounded better. (but I kinda want that 5th string. aaahhh!).

and so my dilema is lessened. it's between the stingray and a sterling, 4 string and 5 string.

(an aside)


one strange thing though.

the 2 five string rays sounded completely different. One sounded like a ray and the other sounded like a bass with dead strings (no the stringswhere not actually dead).

The good one, I was told, was orded special by the owner for himself. I'm calling tommorow so that I can write down what the difference is. I want to make sure that if I buy a 5 string ray, it has the same stuff that the "good sounding one" had.

to the eye they where identical though. strange.


I hope this helps anyone in a similar delimma.



`
 
Musicman Nut said:
like a Carpenter nothing wrong with having a few different hammers for different jobs but the Music man Hammer covers about pretty much everything most guys need, unless you need a 6 or 7 string then all they are, Are pissed off guitar players who figure they'll get more attention as a Bass Player.
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"With a MusicMan Bass, Every Song Is A Nail™"
 
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Nothing gets harmonics like the Bongo! I also dig the 24 frets for chords up high. That being said, I've always been a stringray kind of guy. I don't fiddle with EQ much, and the EQ on the Bongo is powerful! Believe it or not, the Bongo gives my MTD 535 a run for the money in the tone department.
 
Iyo ?

drgroovenstein said:
Believe it or not, the Bongo gives my MTD 535 a run for the money in the tone department.
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Agreed, MM basses are top level musician's instruments with legendary roots, tone and quality.

I've never played more expensive or exclusive gear; assuming I have the skill and ears to discover the difference, IYO are there good musical or ergonomic reasons to pay more than market MM prices for something like an MTD?

Curious,
SR5EP
 
Having played MTDs, I will tell you that they are very different. If you are looking for the aggresive style tone found in MMs, you will not be happy with an MTD. Many gospel, church, and jazz players like MTDs though. If you do want that tone, and the excellent craftmanship, there is nothing wrong with spending $4000 for an MTD. This is however a somewhat sour topic with some people so I'm hoping this wont open a bag of worms, lets just leave it be ;)
 
Espresso On The House

Figjam said:
... a bag of worms, lets just leave it be ;)
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Hi Figjam,
Thanks for getting your fingers a bit gooey showing me where the wormbag is; I'm off to the Songwriter's Workshop with my SR5 HP; I owe you a large coffee after you're all scrubbed up :)
SR5EP
 
I like the Stingray. Great sound all around. Finger-style, slapping, playing w/ plectrum or thumb-mute; it's all good. Suprisingly versatile for a "one-trick pony".:D
Also I prefer the Stingray neck over the Sterling neck. A big neck is not a problem for me.
In the studio or on stage, it has NEVER let me down.
For the things you pay money for in life, that bass has been my best investment.
How's that for an endorsment!?!:D
 
I like how the Bongo splits the difference between Rays' and Sterlings' necks. A few months ago I didn't care for the Bongo's looks but hanging out here got me warming up to its unusual look.
 
syciprider said:
I like how the Bongo splits the difference between Rays' and Sterlings' necks. A few months ago I didn't care for the Bongo's looks but hanging out here got me warming up to its unusual look.
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It IS unusual but it gets lots of attention. Didn't think about it spliting the difference in the necks, but now that I think about it you are right... shape and size are perfect for me.
 
The Sterling is a fantastic bass that I find very zippy (fast). I love the neck and I love the SR5 electronics so for me the SR5 and the Sterling are my perfect pair of EB MM Basses although I have had a few Stingrays and found lots of great uses for them too. I also love a fretless three band Stingray for days!;)
 
armybass said:
The Sterling is a fantastic bass that I find very zippy (fast). I love the neck and I love the SR5 electronics so for me the SR5 and the Sterling are my perfect pair of EB MM Basses although I have had a few Stingrays and found lots of great uses for them too. I also love a fretless three band Stingray for days!;)
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I agree with you there. My sterling and stingray5 are great. I dont have a problem with the way stingrays sound, I actually like them a lot as well, I just find the sterling more comfortable. Love that neck.
 
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