Stingray 4 and 5

[marleaux-user]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I've been reading off your posts for days now, but have yet to find anything pertaining to the question i'm about to ask here.

Before i do, I'd just like to say I fell in LOVE with the stingray tone for about a year now. Reason why i've yet to get one, is that I'm in Singapore, and its hella expensive here! I'll get down to it eventually

Initially, I set myself on an SR5 (maple board). But recently, I've come to ask myself, why i'd get a Stingray in the first place. A shameless secret: It was when i first heard Flea slapping his rear-end off in the song 'Aeroplane'. That IMO, should be the way basses should sound when slapped!! Period. Thing is, I know he used an SR4 (rosewood;black).

I had the opportunity to try an SR5 (maple) locally, but it was not quite the sound i heard in my head. Can any of you veteran SR users shed some light on the thread topic? Thanks a bunch.

 

[basserfire17]

Well, as for the sound of the stingray, I'm not very sure. If it was that far off from what you wanted it probably wasn't just the fretboard. Try switching the bass and amp EQ settings. Try a few other basses too, maybe a bongo or a sterling.
You may also want to try some other amps with the bass.
On another topic... I completely agree with you, That song is what turned me onto musicmans, and what made me want to really progress in my bass skills.

Good Luck

 

[Sloppopotamus]

...

I'm pretty sure Flea only used Stingrays live... If I'm not mistaken, he used an older Alembic Epic on most of their later stuff. Not sure if he did on Mother's Milk, but he definitely did on BSSM and I'm almost positive he did on One Hot Minute.

Either way, his live tone is why I wanted a Stingray, so I still know where you're coming from.

 

[MingusBASS]

Aeroplane WAS recorded with a Stringray even though most of One Hot Minute was not. But it's more than just the fact he used a Ray, I mean you have to add in the amp he was using(Gk?) and most certainly the fact it's Flea playing. It was also a stringray 4 not a 5 and to my ears they sound different.

Good Luck.

Andrew

 

[Sloppopotamus]

...

Yeah, I read in a Bass Player magazine interview with Flea that he MAY have recorded Aeroplane with a Ray, but I asked Rick Rubin at NAMM one year and he said he didn't think that was true. I know he used a Wal on some stuff too, but ultimately you're right.... none of that really matters.

Flea sounds like Flea because he's Flea and that's the way he plays. Add on top of that the fact (as you said) the variations of amps, the mics, the direct boxes, strings, the pre's, the board, the room, yadda yadda, etc. etc..

There are a million things that can get THAT sound, whichever one it is that you're looking for, and I'm sure there are more than one ways to get it.

 

[marleaux-user]

Thanks guys, will try out your suggestions!

 

[sublimeee]

i've seen an older video of flea playing an sr4 on a mesa boogie stack. the tone is similar to his live tone i'm guessing.

 

[roballanson]

There was an article in a mag that suggested Flea set his trable and bass controls full on onbaord the bass, cut the mids right down....and flat on the amp.....

who knows.....

 

[cgworkman]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I've been reading off your posts for days now, but have yet to find anything pertaining to the question i'm about to ask here.

Before i do, I'd just like to say I fell in LOVE with the stingray tone for about a year now. Reason why i've yet to get one, is that I'm in Singapore, and its hella expensive here! I'll get down to it eventually

Initially, I set myself on an SR5 (maple board). But recently, I've come to ask myself, why i'd get a Stingray in the first place. A shameless secret: It was when i first heard Flea slapping his rear-end off in the song 'Aeroplane'. That IMO, should be the way basses should sound when slapped!! Period. Thing is, I know he used an SR4 (rosewood;black).

I had the opportunity to try an SR5 (maple) locally, but it was not quite the sound i heard in my head. Can any of you veteran SR users shed some light on the thread topic? Thanks a bunch.

The SR and the SR5 are slightly different tone wise - but the SR5 can be made to sound almost identical to a SR using the on board EQ.