What got you into the "Stingray" sound

[slaine01]

Growing up in New Zealand originally, back in the eighties, Stingrays were the cleanest, punchiest and usually way to expensive for a noob like me back then.
I remember going to see local bands with Stingray players and just drooling...
This is a band from Christchurch who were a crossover punk band called "The Gordons" and I used to go and see them regularly.
Just found this on You Tube and nearly died with memories - it was one of those flashback moments
This is the sound I remember the most - Stingray with the treble wound up and played with a pick - man it kicked ass! live.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oThSPqmIRxQ&feature=related"]YouTube - Gordons - Adults and Children[/ame]

Probably wouldn't "EQ" my Bongo like that but what the hell....

 

[oddjob]

A Bongo!!!!!!!




In all seriousness, Bernard Edwards - Dad took me to see him back in the day - no sound like him (and the Ray, which John Taylor now owns, is killer)

 

[slaine01]

hahahahah - MY Bongo ( he aint playing one - should have said My Musicman... hee hee)

 

[Baird]

When I started playing bass in Toronto in 1984/1985, I fell in love with Fender Precisions and played them exclusively for a while.

Then I started to slap and get funky. The P wasn't cutting it for funky stuff, and just I COULDN'T force myself to play a Fender Jazz back then. They were ugly as sin to me and almost all rock guys. Seriously, only Mike Levine from Triumph, Jazz weenies and a very small handful of others played Jazz basses back then (what a different world now!). Even Geddy Lee was playing Wal or Steinberger or something else at that time.

So I went into a pawnshop in '85/86, saw a beautiful late 70's/early 80's Stingray on the wall, played it, loved it (it gave me the punchiness of a Jazz, but was cool lookin'!) and slapped down $450 or so and left with my first MM (likely not EB, but I honestly couldn't tell you if it was a '78 or a beat up '84).

Good times.

P.S. That bass is long gone. I sold it to some "sucker" a few years later for $100 more than I paid for it!!!

 

[oddjob]

hahahahah - MY Bongo ( he aint playing one - should have said My Musicman... hee hee)

Don't get me wrong I love the Ray sound (and have owned one... The BP Special black/maple/black - and played many others) just didn't like the neck. If I would have toughed it out I probably would have gotten use to it.

 

[Steamthief]

Steve Miller Band growing up as a kid in the 70's. Awesome StingRay tone!

 

[slaine01]

Don't get me wrong I love the Ray sound (and have owned one... The BP Special black/maple/black - and played many others) just didn't like the neck. If I would have toughed it out I probably would have gotten use to it.

Yeah, once you"ve played a Bongo it kind of sets the standard does'nt it.
Still love the old Stingrays though - I remember going to see players when I was young and if I saw a Stingray propped up against the bass rig I knew I was gonna see a "player" that night (my theory back then was - if you could afford a Stingray you HAD to be serious about your playing..)

 

[Ole Man Blues]

I had heard about MM Basses for years but I was a diedhard F@@@@r man. So no interest in trying one out. One day at GC I picked one up (Ray) and pluck a few strings unamplified and felt the vibes off the body. Not bad I thought and played a few bars of a song I knew......playability was superb I thought. Playability is always 1st consideration in my mind. Then I plugged in and loved the tonal possibilities.

That's what hooked me.

I owned a couple of Rays and sold them. Back to the P Bass I went.......

Then I played a Bongo. Even though I sold the 1st Bongo I ever bought, why?...I really don't remember! It kept calling to me every time I saw one. I caved in....

I have a Bongo now and I will have it a long time...........

That's my story and I'm sticking to it............. OMB

 

[MK Bass Weed]

The neck of the SR5 back in '87.

 

[bovinehost]

I didn't know of anyone playing Stingrays when I got my first one. In fact - here's a hoot, considering my Bongo Problem - I thought they were WEIRD looking.

I suppose people were playing them. Carl Radle comes to mind, that guy from the Steve Miller Band and, later, John Deacon....but I didn't know that.

I did know the first time I plugged it in that something really cool was going on.

 

[Brim]

Tim Foreman of Switchfoot (he used to be an endorser). Back around 2000, I saw a music video of theirs and he was playing a trans orange Sterling w/ white pickguard...love at first sight!

 

[Duarte]

I've got a problem about buying basses when I have literally no money. My dad said 'Why not try a Music Man, and you'll never need another bass in your life'. I don't know how he knew about Music Man then, because he's a saxaphone player. I took his advice and started saving and listening to old 70's disco grooves. My dad was right, I won't be needing any other basses for a long time.

 

[MrMusashi]

tony levin on sledgehammer period

MrM

 

[Tom F]

The Stingray that had the most impact on me was when I first moved to NYC (almost 8 years ago at his point). I was waiting in the Subway and heard a pair of musicians laying it *down*. There was a flute payer and a bass player, who was also working a tambourine under his right foot as he played.

The bassist was playing what looked to be a early radio knob sunburst 'Ray with a maple board. It was beat to heck and sounded fantastic. The tone (fat punchy and clear) changed my impression of how a bass should sound, and his style gave me a new perspective on how a bass can work musically.

Just one of the reasons I fell in love with a 'Ray (and the 2-band EQ), but it's my favorite story to tell.

 

[jlepre]

The Stingray that had the most impact on me was when I first moved to NYC (almost 8 years ago at his point). I was waiting in the Subway and heard a pair of musicians laying it *down*. There was a flute payer and a bass player, who was also working a tambourine under his right foot as he played.

The bassist was playing what looked to be a early radio knob sunburst 'Ray with a maple board. It was beat to heck and sounded fantastic. The tone (fat punchy and clear) changed my impression of how a bass should sound, and his style gave me a new perspective on how a bass can work musically.

Just one of the reasons I fell in love with a 'Ray (and the 2-band EQ), but it's my favorite story to tell.

Tom,

Very cool story...I can almost smell the soft pretzles with their almost burnt aroma. I just remember always wanting a ray, but funds were tight, and now that I am somewhat successful, I have the money to get whatever I want, and I WANT MY BALLS!!

 

[adouglas]

This guy.

 

[Bobbo 77]

Órale,
When I first saw the 3+1 headstock, I thought it was ugly, since I was used to the standard Fender headstock. But, I still was intrigued by the look, staring at those old Guitar player/Musicman ad's. And then I heard the Jeff Lorber Fusion back in the late 70's, and saw them and bassist Danny Wilson playin' one....I was hooked.. BIG-TIME!!! Me and my 77' Stingray haven't looked back!
Bobbo 77'

 

[theoldmiami]

The Tears for Fears album "Elemental" a SR5 is all over that album (I'm pretty sure)

 

[Dellers]

Louis Johnson....When I first heard a song he played on I thought wow, how does he get that foonkay sound? The answer was his Stingray Got my first one today btw (the one in my signature)!

 

[Lynottfan]

Bernard Edwards was the one who caught my ear first, the saw the "Ray" Thought it looked cooler than most other basses wanted one. They fit me perfectly and they have a tight punchy sound, so I can thump and pluck on the funk or rock like Phil Lynott all on one bass!