Stingray Neck VS. Fender J Bass neck

[olorin]

Aight...I wont have a chance for another few days to do this myself so maybe you guys and gals could help a brotha out here. I play a Stingray, but I was just wondering if anyone can describe (In there opinion) how the neck on a Stingray compares to that of a fender J Bass. I've seen the radius specs and all that, but any subjective opinions would help. Thanks,

JP

 

[strummer]

Aight...I wont have a chance for another few days to do this myself so maybe you guys and gals could help a brotha out here. I play a Stingray, but I was just wondering if anyone can describe (In there opinion) how the neck on a Stingray compares to that of a fender J Bass. I've seen the radius specs and all that, but any subjective opinions would help. Thanks,

JP

The jazz necks have varied wildly, but here goes: The J has a neck that feels real narrow (surprisingly, it is narrow), and because of the smaller fret board radius I get the feeling I'm holding a stick. I hate the feel of a J neck. Hell, I hate the whole J bass concept. Personally, that is. I got rid of my last J some months ago, and it was not a day too soon.

 

[Moondog]

J-basses do vary...
If you have XL hands, you may experience cramping
after a while . . . probably not but I did.

I find the J's similar to Sterlings but prefer the Sterling
cuz there's more depth. I played a Geddy Lee a while
back and that thing is incredibly narrow and shallow.
Some like that but it's painful for me.

 

[philthygeezer]

To me a Jazz feels between a Sterling and an MIM P bass. I have smaller hands and I think the Sterling is easier to play on for me, as I dont have to shift my fret hand as much between strings. My Stingray feels wider than the Sterling, the J and the P, but if I play it a little while I seem to warm into it. Some days I feel the difference more than others: it's subtle.

 

[Oldtoe]

In a foot race, the J-Bass neck would win; but in a fight, my money's on the Stingray neck.

 

[PzoLover]

Wanna talk about it

I hate the feel of a J neck. Hell, I hate the whole J bass concept. Personally, that is. I got rid of my last J some months ago, and it was not a day too soon.

You seem bitter; maybe even angry

 

[Bill]

I have a 'Ray and a Jazz. The Stingray is by far my favorite of the two! The neck just feels perfect to me. On my particular Jazz, the neck is narrow, of course, but it's a bit "fatter" than the Stingray neck. If it wasn't like that, I'd probably say it's too small. But it feels pretty good to me. The Stingray is perfection, though.

 

[sandman@midlife]

I've got both. The jazz was my favorite till the Ray came along. The Ray just went north to make room for another Bongo. I broke a string on my last gig and had to use the Jazz. The neck felt really small and uncomfortable. It was a long night.

 

[draganr]

uh, lots of fender jazz haters around! to me jazz bass is THE BASS! maybe because i love sound of 70s, y know, funk stuff, and i got strong hands too. to me, for that money - all youll need is two basses - fender jazz 4 and stingray 5, and youre all set! as for necks, if theyre in good health and shape, youll get used on both. feel and sound cant be beaten in both! thank you.

 

[bovinehost]

Definitely not a Jazz bass hater here.

I got no dog in this fight, but I just wanted to say that I have owned many, many Jazz basses and still have one in the closet.

I like it, but it's no Stingray. Or Bongo. Or Sterling.

Jack

 

[nicolasd]

The jazz necks have varied wildly, but here goes: The J has a neck that feels real narrow (surprisingly, it is narrow), and because of the smaller fret board radius I get the feeling I'm holding a stick. I hate the feel of a J neck. Hell, I hate the whole J bass concept. Personally, that is. I got rid of my last J some months ago, and it was not a day too soon.

yeah, jaco pastorius was a fool.

that was sarcasm. nothing against EBMM's. i think even BP's said that a problem with Fenders P and J is that they've barely evolved in 40 years, (hence the bongo's stab into the 21st century). i've viewed the J as the black t-shirt and the P as the white t-shirt of basses: acceptable in a wide variety of settings, but it's still just a t-shirt.

-n.

 

[strummer]

You seem bitter; maybe even angry

Angry and/or bitter? No. It's just that for some reason I kept playing jazzes for the longest time, even though I never could get along with the necks, the offset body or the build "quality".

 

[strummer]

yeah, jaco pastorius was a fool.

that was sarcasm. nothing against EBMM's. i think even BP's said that a problem with Fenders P and J is that they've barely evolved in 40 years, (hence the bongo's stab into the 21st century). i've viewed the J as the black t-shirt and the P as the white t-shirt of basses: acceptable in a wide variety of settings, but it's still just a t-shirt.

-n.

Isn't that pretty much the case with any bass, even the mighty Bongo? All basses are just tools, and the trick is finding the right yool for the job and for yourself. jaco obviously liked the J tool, which doesn't really mean that particular tool has to be any good for me.

I did not mean to step on any toes, as I clearly stated that it was my personal opinion I vented. The fb radius along with the 1 1/2" width is one reason the J does not feel good to me, so I wrote so, ok?

 

[bovinehost]

Plus, let's admit it.

If you lean a Jazz bass against your amp, it's going to fall over.

 

[tkarter]

Plus, let's admit it.

If you lean a Jazz bass against your amp, it's going to fall over.

They do weigh enough to make any amp fall over

I always liked my Jazz. Right up until I seen the SR5.

tk

 

[draganr]

i had j bass '77, ash body, y know.... its was not heavier than my stingr5... as i recall. hey, you gotta do some weight lifting excersises then,eh? so bass guitar wont be heavy! just kidding ( halfway tough )

 

[nicolasd]

I did not mean to step on any toes, as I clearly stated that it was my personal opinion I vented.

no offense taken. no harm no foul.

 

[PzoLover]

I did not mean to step on any toes, as I clearly stated that it was my personal opinion I vented. The fb radius along with the 1 1/2" width is one reason the J does not feel good to me, so I wrote so, ok?

No toes stepped on here; venting can be good for the soul

Realizing this thread is likely aimed at 4 strs, my 2ps is about the SR5 and FAJzzDlx5 necks;
the SR5 neck feels perfectly fitted to my hands, and consequently the music seems to flow very easily; "a walk in the park"
the stock Jzz5 neck is wider, with wider string spacing, and forces me to reach beyond 'my' normal, and it feels almost like I'm fighting the instrument; "a workout at the gym"

In some other terms, the SR5 feels to me like it's been designed by musicians; while the Jzz5 feels like it's roots are in a marketing dept focus group

In fairness to different camps, some slappers with bigger hands or thicker and longer fingers might love the feel of the Jzz5

 

[Bill]

Plus, let's admit it.

If you lean a Jazz bass against your amp, it's going to fall over.

 

[tkarter]

If I was still playing 4 strings that Jazz of mine would be my only bass. I was happy when I had it. I wanted to try a 5 and EB provided me a whole new life. I loved my EB SR5 so much I gave my Jazz away. I knew it wasn't getting played any longer and knew it deserved to get played. It does have it's place in the world. Just not in my house any longer.

I got rid of 4 P basses while that Jazz held my attention.

I now have the SR5 to die for and a Bongo 5 H that is going to get wore out.


tk