Stingray, Sterling and P-Bass question

[paranoid70]

Hi bass players.

I don't post threads here much becuase I am mainly a guitar player. I do have a Stingray that I use for home recording... but it about starts and ends there.

My friend, a real bass player, is looking to get a new bass. He said he was looking for a Fender P-Bass. I have brought my Stingray several times to practice and he has used it. He says he likes it, but he says that the neck is too thick.

A few weeks ago, I was killing time at a Guitar Center and was messing around with the Stingrays, Sterlings and P-Basses. To me, it felt like the neck thickness was pretty much the same for all three. I am not necessarily trying to bug my friend into getting an EBMM bass, but *I* just think that a P-bass neck is not much different in size than an EBMM.

What do you guys think? You are guys are more of an expert than me. Do you find a significant difference in size between the three?

Thanks

 

[bdgotoh]

Most P basses have 1.75" wide necks, Stingrays are usually 1.625" wide, and Sterlings are 1.5" wide. Some current P basses have 1.625" necks so maybe that's what you tried. The back contours are different, your friend should try all three if possible and see what feels best to him.

The Sterling neck feels like home to me, on every single one I've played.

 

[oli@bass]

If he likes the sound of the 'Ray, he should go in a store and try a couple of StingRays and Sterlings (and Bongos?). Numbers are not the whole truth. Those necks can feel different, even if a mesurements tells you they are the same width.

For example, my Sparkle Black StingRay's neck feels slimmer than the Dargie Delight's. They feel different, but both very comfortable. And I've played SRs in stores that felt huge, others that felt very fast and slim. And it's not that old basses always feel better! The maple neck of a nice late 90's felt really fat, whereas the brand new 2007 SR4 HS I tried recently felt extremely comfy and fast.

Go out and try them.

 

[RobertB]

I don't think he's talking about width, bdgotoh. I think he's talking about thickness, right paranoid? I'm not sure what the thickness of a P's neck is, but even with the same thickness at the center, a different neck profile (C-shaped or D-shaped, for example) can give it a very different feel, like Oli was saying. I don't have a Bongo, but I do think it has the best feeling neck profile of the EBMM basses. Maybe have him play one. Then again, it may just be a mindset issue about making the switch & the whole "neck" thing is just a cover. Have him play a Bongo anyway.

 

[PzoLover]

what's the music calling for

If he likes the sound of the 'Ray, he should go in a store and try a couple of StingRays and Sterlings (and Bongos?). Numbers are not the whole truth. Those necks can feel different, even if a mesurements tells you they are the same width.

For example, my Sparkle Black StingRay's neck feels slimmer than the Dargie Delight's. They feel different, but both very comfortable. And I've played SRs in stores that felt huge, others that felt very fast and slim. And it's not that old basses always feel better! The maple neck of a nice late 90's felt really fat, whereas the brand new 2007 SR4 HS I tried recently felt extremely comfy and fast.

Go out and try them.

I think you got it on the head here Oli, what I'm also curious about is what , when all strung up and run through an amp sounds right for the music, including playing style, I took in a local blues gig recently where the bass player was using an SR4 and the way he had it and his ampEQd, just sounded wrong for the music, not the SR4's fault at all, but I had to finish my desert and hit the road asap, it was THat Wrong(to me) (maybe he could have also used a Markbass amp instead of the particular combo he played through
"Sorry dude, maybe your galpal(lead singer who's also tonedeaf likes your sound,but I was cash paying coostomer that night, and I bailed out
ATB,
/PL

 

[phatduckk]

id say the P Bass and Stingray and similar feeling to me. the sterling is thinner and feels more comfortable to me.

also - different setups feel different in my hands. if the action is a bit high (even just a hair) it makes it seem as if the neck is thicker in my hands. so IMO, as far as feel goes, i think that the "numbers" dont start and end with just the neck's measurements.

 

[Duarte]

My P neck is a lot thicker than my 'Rays. More of a handful, but comfortable nevertherless. The big difference to me is the finish, the Musicmans have a fantastic smooth finish (not sure what it is) but the fenders are laquered. This makes them more 'sticky' when you sweat. Still comfortable, but the Ray seems a lot faster becuase of this.

 

[paranoid70]

Interesting points of view.

To be honest, I'll just be glad if he gets something else... that crummy old bass he currently plays has no guts at all. It sounds so much better when I bring the 'Ray to practice.

 

[philthygeezer]

My Hot Rod P has the exact same string spacing as the Stingray (1.625" Neck), but somehow the P bass feels more comfortable and the strings feel like less of a jump. The Bongo is the same as the Stingray too, and it's more comfy. I coudn't tell you why...

Get him to try a Bongo. They are comfy and sound amazing.

 

[the unrepentant]

I wouldn't say there was much in it with a ray, but if he wants the thinner counterparts he should either try a sterling or a jazz in my experience, i'd much rather have a sterling but a mexican jazz would be much cheaper, but that's down to the build quality not being as good, pickups and materials not as good etc, and of course the name and the fact that USA workers like to get paid at least a little bit haha.

Also as zakduarte, i find glossy finishes uncomfortable and sticky, do stingrays have satin finish necks? i've not played one in years and i can't honestly remember. My SUB does, but to me satin feels much smoother.

 

[paranoid70]

^^^

The neck on my Stingray has no finish... that's the way I like it.

 

[the unrepentant]

ahh right cool

 

[Tajue17]

have him play the bass standing up if he hasn't already,,, I have both a P-Bass and a ray and I think they feel exactly the same except the P-bass dives and the Ray balances perfect!

with the ray balancing perfect the neck feels faster,,, the P-Bass basically to me takes some getting used to when I first pick it up..

 

[kirkm24]

I didn't like the feel of the Stingray neck initially either but because it sounded so good, I compromised and got one. After about a month of playing on it I got fully adjusted to its feel and now I can hardly play anything else.

If he must have a smaller neck, the Sterling would be a good option.

PS My Stingray neck feels like a slim J neck compared to my G&L L2500.

 

[SharonG]

To me, the Bongo is much faster, more comfortable and lighter than my P-Bass. The neck profile, width, action, and finish all play into that. I have played a Sterling once, and that felt narrower still. It all comes down to what fits for him best. Sound - wise, I love my Bongo! The P-Bass sits in its case.