Stingray 4 Classic question

[JOEinCA]

I'm considering a new Stingray 4. I know about the basic physical differences between the standard SR and the Classic but I'm interested in hearing this community's thoughts on the differences tonally and with the playability. Which one did you or would you choose (giving no regard to the price difference). I can't do an A/B comparison at the moment but hope to at some point.

Kind regards,
Joe

 

[sanderhermans]

The classic is deffinitly the way to go as far as im consirned. The necks are awesome. Great figuring and a nice gloss finish is easy to maintain. The thiner frets work great for me too. Then youve got the string mutes wich are cool for some styles. The nice batery cover and slab body is just another thing that mekes these ones look great. As for the sound of the 2 eq, its slightly less "agressive" then the 3eq. But its got an amazing sound to me that really is like the original ones. Nice highs on these bases wich does make em growl nicely. But less mid based then the modern ones. Imo these are the perfect tribute to the heritage of mm basses with some small modern adjustements wich makes it even beter. Every ebmm and stingray enthousiast should have one of those basses. They beat the standard models every day for me. The extra cost is really justified for me.

 

[JOEinCA]

The classic is deffinitly the way to go as far as im consirned. The necks are awesome. Great figuring and a nice gloss finish is easy to maintain. The thiner frets work great for me too. Then youve got the string mutes wich are cool for some styles. The nice batery cover and slab body is just another thing that mekes these ones look great. As for the sound of the 2 eq, its slightly less "agressive" then the 3eq. But its got an amazing sound to me that really is like the original ones. Nice highs on these bases wich does make em growl nicely. But less mid based then the modern ones. Imo these are the perfect tribute to the heritage of mm basses with some small modern adjustements wich makes it even beter. Every ebmm and stingray enthousiast should have one of those basses. They beat the standard models every day for me. The extra cost is really justified for me.

One of my concerns has been the smaller frets....feeling like that might make it more work? IDK..what do you say?

 

[sanderhermans]

Im not the greatest bass player and i dont really notic a big difference. Actually it feels nicer to me then all the oversized frets they use these days.

 

[Lynottfan]

I missed out on a Coral Red/pink one, damn it played nice, was put off to start with by the slab body, I thought it would be uncomfortable, but it fit rather well and the weight was spot on.

The frets, I didn't really notice, I use a pick a fair amount of the time so found the sound was very warm and "bassy" I wasn't getting undue click from the pick, which I hate as when I hear that if don't feel I'm getting enough "note".

The neck, superb, I am a big fan of Graphite on my Ray, but I did love the smooth glossy feel. In fact I was a bloody fool for not buying it!

 

[JayDawg]

I love mine. It doesn't have the versatility of my Bongo's but it sounds so freaking good in a live mix.

 

[Golem]

`
Anyone considering a Classic should also be aware
of the EBMM SUBs, now approx 10yrs old. They're all
used but seldom used up, and are the precursors of
the Classic series in many ways ... but certainly NOT
as concerns the cosmetic of a Classic. SUBs are ultra
ultra plain jane [unless you find a cinnamon one].

 

[uOpt]

The 2-band EQ is very different from the 3-band in the standard.

The gloss painted neck is a major difference. I am indifferent to the fret size in this case.

Some classics are very heavy.

 

[sanderhermans]

`
Anyone considering a Classic should also be aware
of the EBMM SUBs, now approx 10yrs old. They're all
used but seldom used up, and are the precursors of
the Classic series in many ways ... but certainly NOT
as concerns the cosmetic of a Classic. SUBs are ultra
ultra plain jane [unless you find a cinnamon one].

Well i cant totally agree on that.... ive got both and the only thing the two have in common is a slab body. The elecronics are similar 2eq, but the parts (for example the pots) used in the sub are and feel cheaper. I think the bridge is made out of a different material too and on the sub its not string tru body. The body is a poplar one instead of the ash on the classic. And there are no dampers on the bridge. Then for looks theres the cheaper plastic batery cover vs the crome one. The painted neck is crap versus the laquered, figured one on the classics.
This all added up to a much much cheaper bass. Price vs quality the subs are great but compared to the classics they feel, look and sound way worse. If you want a good stingray that is really affordable then go for the sub. If you want an awesome stingray in every way, then save some more and get a classic sr.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

SUB 4 and 5 electronics are the same as SR4 2EQ (including pot controls)

(I'm talkin' 2003 to 2006 US made SUB Basses)

 

[sanderhermans]

I had heard musicman used cheaper electronic components but the same pickup and preamp. Anyway the controls on my classic feel way firmer and less loose then on my sub. In the sub a small breeze can make the eq pots turn on the classic the pots have a nice resistance.

As for the bridge material. Is there anny info on that? Ive never seen a rusty bridge with bad chrome on a ebmm. But alot of subs ive seen have corosion over the entire bridge. So there seems to be a bigger difference then the abscence of the mm logo...

 

[donkelley]

My fretted usa sub 5 feels and behaves identically in it's controls and sounds essentially identical to the two classics I compared it with at my local guitar store. Weight is the same.... Body was clearly cut using the same CNC pattern.... Pick guard shape is identical to the classic..... Tuners are the same. Bridge is excellent hardened steel same as the old school music man basses... No mutes but on every bass I just palm mute anyhow, and not being string through allows me to use any strings including piano string design. It never hurt fender....

The neck feels great but looks vastly inferior. Body Finish feels horrendous but everyone loves the tough look. Truss adjuster is identical. Fretboard design and wood quality is identical (except of course for neck and body wood). Nut is standard old school music man style and good quality and smells like bone when I file for setup (this is a good thing). Classics have the modern nut design that is excellent. Subs have plastic battery covers.... Mine are each a decade old and work like new.... Same as the plastic battery covers on my Warwick ( > $3000 ) and Carvin basses. Classic has metal.... Much cooler but actually better.... Not so sure.

Classics are beautiful.... Subs are not. But tone and electronics and parts quality are actually identical from what I can tell.... Or not inferior where they do differ. Finish and fancy pretty things aside of course which nobody can deny in a classic

And my fretless sub 5 is a winner through and through.

Oh and show me one sub with corroded bridge please. Both of mine look showroom brand new and both were gigged heavily by previous owners..... One was IMHO not taken care of at all.

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[donkelley]

I had heard musicman used cheaper electronic components but the same pickup and preamp. Anyway the controls on my classic feel way firmer and less loose then on my sub. In the sub a small breeze can make the eq pots turn on the classic the pots have a nice resistance.

As for the bridge material. Is there anny info on that? Ive never seen a rusty bridge with bad chrome on a ebmm. But alot of subs ive seen have corosion over the entire bridge. So there seems to be a bigger difference then the abscence of the mm logo...

don't get confused with import subs.

the USA preamp is identical to any ebmm ray 2 band.... this includes the pots and cover plate which are built into the preamp.

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[donkelley]

Classics are amazing.... But not as comfy as rays with the body contours.

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[sanderhermans]

If you think the tone of the sub usa's is the same as the classic series. You need to listen again. They are different! With this i dont mean inferior.... just not the same. However the poplar body of the subs is in my opinion a bit inferior although it has its own sound.

 

[donkelley]

Possibly... But it was IMho as similar to the 2 classics as they were different from each other.... Badly worded but i hope u understand my meaning LoL. 3 basses that sounded felt and controlled so similarly that they felt like 3 good hand made basses of the same model with typically slightly different tone, features, and feel.

Where as the sr5 I tried was dramatically different in feel, features, sound, controls, etc. All were great..... And my USA sub wasn't inferior at all and id take it over many other basses in the store costing up to a couple grand (new).

So my point being.... USA sub basses are excellent alternatives and not inferior unless you care about looks and prefer the different finishes on neck and maple boards etc optionally on classics. Oh, and resale value.

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[donkelley]

And don't forget some USA subs r wired parallel and some series.... Large difference in tone that is a careful electrical hack away from a solution if desired.

Anyhow.... Back on track... Classics rock but feel it first in case body contours matter to you

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[donkelley]

I wouldn't take my sub over a classic if price wasn't an issue .... OK im done lol

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[JOEinCA]

Great feedback as usual from this community. I didn't realize the similarities between the classic and usa sub.

 

[Golem]

And don't forget some USA subs r wired parallel and some series....
Large difference in tone that is a careful electrical hack away from a
solution if desired.

................

Question, re: ser or par wired SUBs .... Are you referring to the SR
type vs the Sterling type of USA SUB ? Or was there both versions
within the SR type depending maybe upon the year [IOW a design
specs change] ??

I ask cuz, in my own flock, my SR type SUB was similar enuf to
my SR 30th Anniv model that I found it a redundancy, and chose
to cull the flock ... keeping the fancy-pants red Ray and parting
from the plain jane black-on-black SUB. BUT !! ....

But later [5 yrs later] another plain jane called out to me from a
local shop wall, and I've had it for about a year now

OK, to the point now: My current USA SUB is waaaaay different
from my SR30th [still keeping both]. This is NOT sooprizing, as
my current USA SUB is the Sterling version [not the SR version].

The USA SUB Sterling version has no 3-way switch, but my ear
tells me that the Sterling version is very likely in Series Mode
[all the time] to differentiate it from the SR version.

I've never removed the PU in the Sterling version ... so I don't
know if it's alnico or ceramic. I've never hooked a meter to the
wiring either but did look inside the control cavity, and it looks
to me exactly like the guts of a regular EBMM Sterling 4H with
3-band EQ.

Sooooooo ..... whatz the story morning glory ? What are you
telling us, re: 'Some SUBs are series and some SUBs parallel' ?