Stingray Versus Fender American Deluxe Precision

[Randracula]

Arin...I am putting together a Stingray for fat Mike....Is that cool or what?

That's quite a step up from a Danelectro Hodad

 

[jongitarz]

I really like NOFX so this one is cool for me.....He has back probs so we found him a light body.....I hope he likes it.

 

[midopa]

Stingray Versus Fender American Deluxe Precision

Why, SR4 of course.

 

[basspastor]

Hamer Custom Jazz Cruise Bass any day over a Fender; I don't think they are available now.

 

[prickly_pete]

SR4 or SR5

 

[AnthonyD]

Stingray Versus Fender American Deluxe Precision

Godzilla vs. Bambi comes to mind...

 

[niftydog]

Nobody can answer these questions for you, they are just too personal. However, I can give you my insight as I too had to choose between these two basses earlier this year.

To jump straight to the point; I bought the Stingray because I have wanted one for SOOOOOO long. But, to think that I had wanted one for like 15 years, and a bass that I had only encountered in the last year or so came close to knocking the Stingray off it's pedestal is pretty remarkable.

They are both fantastic sounding basses, but my feeling is that the Fender has a little bit more versatility. It's also more "refined" sounding and not as aggressive in tone.

But, and it's a big but, the Stingray has the trump card because it's a Stingray! Lets face it, the history, the famous users, that classic sound pumping away behind countless hits from countless music genres... it's just got it all going on without having to scream loudly about it's huge list of features or complex electronics.

They are both great basses, but when it comes down to brass tacks they are too different to really make a fair comparison. I plan to own both, so there's my advice to you, pick one to buy first, but plan to own them both!

 

[Bill]

I have a '96 Jazz, and it had been my main bass ever since I bought it in '97 until recently. I got my first Stingray in '00, and I alternated between the Jazz & the 'Ray. In the last couple of months, I've traded that 'Ray and acquired a new SR4 and SR5. Both 'Rays play circles around the Jazz! The 'Rays' powerful tone & fantastic low action make the Jazz seem like one of those First Act basses you'll find in Wal-Mart. The build quality of the 'Rays is way above the Jazz's quality.

However, I love that ol' Jazz bass & I will probably never get rid of it. But I'll probably never play it quite as much as I used to.

 

[Rayan]

Yet Another BassPlayer Community Service

... I'm trying to decide between a Stingray 4 (or 5) and a Fender American Deluxe Precision (4 or 5).

~
DEAR (insert victim's name "NASHMAN" here),

"I feel your pain" - I'm your friend - I can help you solve your problem -

ASAP, purchase
1 Fender AmDlx P4 *OR* 5 (your choice)
*AND*
1 EBMM SR5 (my choice) -

Ship BOTH instruments freight prepaid to me immediately (remember to fully insure your shipment) for my personal quality control inspections, testing, adjustments and blessings.

When I have completed all the necessary procedures, I will ship back to you (freight collect) the instrument I believe will best suit your needs.
~
Your new best friend,
/R

ps. Oh yeah - make sure my new SR5 has a piezo bridge

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

The answer really depends on if you use flats or rounds.

 

[anthrobassist]

a P-bass might sound good alone, but it doesnt cut that well with a band. it usually stands out too much, gets muffled, or just sounds like an unclear bass. while the musicman always cuts through(never heard one record where i couldnt hear it), always have enough oomph. and supports a band sound.

 

[Samingo]

How much of a bass nut are you? Do you:

1. Do your own set ups?

2. Think basses are cmopletely beautiful?

3. Do things with your bass other than just follow the guitar?(ie explorative things)

4. Are you picky about your action/neck wood/strings/tension?

5. Do you love seeing how your bass would look in different finishes anywhere near as much as you love seeing how a special somebody might look in different types of lingerie?

If you answered yes to more than two of those, then you're probably not just a guy that plays bass in a band, but a Bass Player. And if you are a Bass Player, and love the concept and everything about the instrument as opposed to just playing it then I'd suggest a Ray.

A P-bass is great, but, IMHO, a Ray goes places that no Fender ever could, based simply on the attention to detail that EB and folks put into each and every bass.

 

[pattiejay]

A P-bass is great, but, IMHO, a Ray goes places that no Fender ever could, based simply on the attention to detail that EB and folks put into each and every bass.

you sum it up very well

played countless fenders before my SUB - nothing quite like it

 

[Rayan]

Seriously

I want to buy my final axe ... one that I will have until my sound is muffled 6' under. I'm trying to decide between a Stingray 4 (or 5) and a Fender American Deluxe Precision (4 or 5).

~
OK nashman, all kidding aside ...
Lottsa great answers already ...

Aside from some minor QC issues with my AmDlxJ5, she's a very fine instrument for a mass produced unit - a keeper -

But if you're serious about buying *ONE* final instrument, I have to recommend the SR5, for *ALL* of the reasons already mentioned -

The AmDlx is a music industry commodity built by a corporation -

An EBMM is a musical "Legend" created *BY* musicians *for* musicians - my own "once in a lifetime" is an SR5 fretless piezo, and she never fails to send shivers up my spine.
~

/R

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

My advice?

You and only you can decide. I've seen these types of threads for years now on a daily basis so if my my previous answer was flippant please don't take it personally as that was not the intent.

I also can't begin to count how many "Desert Island" basses I've taken in on trade or consignment over the years.

There is no answer to be found to your multiple choice question other than what you discover youself.

Next question?

 

[roballanson]

Some pretty sound sadvice here - best you try as many and varied bass as you can then come back to the Stingrays.
I have owned played broken a few fenders in my 20 year playing history, including the Jaco custom shop job, at the end of the day with Ps if I want that flatwound thump my 1930s English double bass does the job.
Saw the light a couple of years ago with a SR4......sold everything, apart from the double bass and a wacky five string Wish bass, and my SR5. - which IMHO is the best bass I have owned period.
I like the fact that Jon or BP tripped over it in the factory and a human saw it and tested it before shipping - something I never got with the Fenders.

So end of the day, sitting on the fence, go for a SR but wait for the dual pick up versions to come out because, and we all have confidence in BP's skills, they will blow Fender away.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

SR5HH...the most versatile of the pack IMO

 

[roballanson]

SR5HH...the most versatile of the pack IMO

Yeah you might well be right there steve, I went for the HS SR5 jusst cos I liked the look of the single at the neck end....reckon there will be no need for jazz basses any more......

 

[phatduckk]

I really like NOFX so this one is cool for me.....He has back probs so we found him a light body.....I hope he likes it.

woah ya ... i just caught this. i saw NOFX play a show at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley and Mike had just messed up his back really bad (tho from what i hear its been bad for a while) and he played the whole show lying down on a couch. he said "hey < bad word here >, its either this or we cancel the show ... and i didnt wanna screw you guys over". pretty cool huh?

Im glad he's getting a propper bass. for years he'd been playing dan electros (im not calling em crappy FWIW - never played one) cuz they were the lightest basses he could find.

on a back related issue ... Lars from Rancid now uses SGs cuz his back is all messed up too. coinciddentally happened at a show they were playing with NOFX about 2 years ago and the LPs are just too heavy. Wierder still ive seen him use SGs w/ P90s which i had never seen before ... you guys should send him a good axe too

that's super exciting Jon. I too love NOFX. One of those bands i always forget how good they are then i listen to em again and get flashbacks to 1995, skateboards and garage punk rock.

sweet!!!!

 

[sandaas]

I was looking for a P when I got my Stingray. I tried out maybe 30 different fenders and four or five MMs. The MMs were head and shoulders above the Fenders for what I needed.

There are legions of Fender owners who'll say Fenders are better than Musicman basses, and they might be right, in terms of what they need.

The only way you can figure out whether a fender or an MM is better for you is to try out a few of each.

+1

All that needs to be said, was said right there