Why are Stingray 5s so good?

[bovinehost]

This question was asked on another manufacturer's board, and here's my answer, copied for your amusement:

The Stingray is one of the best all-around bass guitars ever built – at any price point. As much as I love them, my Jazz basses get less and less work as time goes by. Stingrays, like Precisions, are sometimes pegged as one-trick ponies. Those of us who use either of these basses are well aware of how wrong that view truly is. I’ve been known to say that if you can’t do it with a Precision, maybe you shouldn’t be blaming the bass. More and more, I think the same is true of Stingrays.

The Stingray 5 is even more versatile than the four string version, at least in terms of available tones. Think of the players and types of music that have been played on SR5s. It certainly runs the gamut!

Tone. First and foremost, tone. SR5s are probably a bit warmer and a bit less aggressive than the SR4s, although some would argue that point. I own both and – to my ears – I find it to be true. But the preamp and tone controls WILL dial in a bit more growl if that’s what you need.

Playability. If, like me, your first fiver was a Musicman, it’s difficult to play anything else. RB5s are great basses but - to me - the neck feels like a superhighway. Of course, this is all subjective – isn’t everything having to do with basses? The string spacing is tighter than on some other fives, but as a Jazz bass fan, that seems just right to me. And the B string, as others have mentioned, is as good and tight and fat as they come.

Price. Not bad. Not bad at all, especially compared to Lakland or even Fender. You can buy a new Stingray 5 for around 1300, from what I’ve seen lately, and that ain’t bad! Used prices are even more reasonable.

Looks. Is the pickguard ugly? Well, you get used to it, but yeah, I wish MM would go ahead and give us a Sterling/Stingray type guard. In any case, the available finishes look great and I’ve seen some amazing natural finishes/wood. One of THE best quality control programs ever.

As the salesman told me when I bought what turned out to be my “desert island” SR5, “There are no Stingray dogs.” That’s probably an overstatement, but it’s certainly been my experience.

 

[bassmaniac]

The StingRay5 is a very well made instrument, that's why I have two.
Range of tones- it has that. For playing live you usually only have to find that one great tone that fits your band and cuts through to be heard, not a problem with the StingRay5.
Sure you can get a Lakland that is more versatile, but is it really $1700+ more versatile?............I don't think so!
The only thing I don't like about the StingRay5 is the big ugly uncalled for pickguard.
Funny..........most of the MM guitars, an instrument traditionally played with a pick have no pickguard, the bass guitars, intruments generally played fingerstyle all have pickguards. ......with the exception of the 6 string bass guitar that has string spacing that needs to be played with a pick
Not a big deal, but the headstock of the StingRay5 does not look as cool as the StingRay4 because the curve at the bottom of the head has less of an arc.
I see that the StingRay5 up for auction has a pickguard that should have been the most pickguard for the StingRay5 if any.

 

[Mike Racketbag]

p5 vs. sr5

I've played 4 strings all of my playing life.
I recently got a great deal on a 5 string Jazz Deluxe.
I love it, but despite my greatest efforts at the head and the bass' EQ, the tone is a little awkward for my needs.
I'm now about to decide between 5 string Sting Ray and a 5 string American P-deluxe.

Can anyone offer, from experience, their opinion of the differences between the two?

Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Mike

 

[DeepDown]

Preci5 vs sr5

Hi,

I own 1 Fretless SR5 1 regular SR5 a Fender Jazz American Deluxe a Fender Prcei V American Deluxe (new 4/1 Modell) and a Mexican Fender 5 jazz Deluxe.


As for your Question the Stingray5 and the Precision 5 are hardly
comparable.

The preci has a neck like a baseball bat (I love it) and delivers
the typical Fender Preci-Tone with very high definition and power.

The SR5 plays like 5Stringed dream. It has a easy to play neck
and a more pressing Sound than both Jazz a. Precision.

So it's a matter of taste. If you can afford it buy both ;-))

According to your to your Problem with the Jazz i would choose
the Stingray.

Hope this will help

regards DeepDown

 

[hands 5]

This question was asked on another manufacturer's board, and here's my answer, copied for your amusement:

The Stingray is one of the best all-around bass guitars ever built – at any price point. As much as I love them, my Jazz basses get less and less work as time goes by. Stingrays, like Precisions, are sometimes pegged as one-trick ponies. Those of us who use either of these basses are well aware of how wrong that view truly is. I’ve been known to say that if you can’t do it with a Precision, maybe you shouldn’t be blaming the bass. More and more, I think the same is true of Stingrays.

The Stingray 5 is even more versatile than the four string version, at least in terms of available tones. Think of the players and types of music that have been played on SR5s. It certainly runs the gamut!

Tone. First and foremost, tone. SR5s are probably a bit warmer and a bit less aggressive than the SR4s, although some would argue that point. I own both and – to my ears – I find it to be true. But the preamp and tone controls WILL dial in a bit more growl if that’s what you need.

Playability. If, like me, your first fiver was a Musicman, it’s difficult to play anything else. RB5s are great basses but - to me - the neck feels like a superhighway. Of course, this is all subjective – isn’t everything having to do with basses? The string spacing is tighter than on some other fives, but as a Jazz bass fan, that seems just right to me. And the B string, as others have mentioned, is as good and tight and fat as they come.

Price. Not bad. Not bad at all, especially compared to Lakland or even Fender. You can buy a new Stingray 5 for around 1300, from what I’ve seen lately, and that ain’t bad! Used prices are even more reasonable.

Looks. Is the pickguard ugly? Well, you get used to it, but yeah, I wish MM would go ahead and give us a Sterling/Stingray type guard. In any case, the available finishes look great and I’ve seen some amazing natural finishes/wood. One of THE best quality control programs ever.

As the salesman told me when I bought what turned out to be my “desert island” SR5, “There are no Stingray dogs.” That’s probably an overstatement, but it’s certainly been my experience.

Then why are there more than a few players that accquire to change the pup/electronics.Maybe it is not a 1-trick pony but it also not a very versatile bass for what it cost IMO.But I will admit that the construction is very good and there were no dead spots to speak of, besides it was design from the precision anyway

 

[bovinehost]

Q: Then why are there more than a few players that accquire to change the pup/electronics.

A: I would love to see the numbers on how many players actually change out the pickups and electronics. I would imagine there are relatively few who do so compared to the number of players who are perfectly satisfied with the original electronics. Having said that, bass players are often tinkerers, always in search of that elusive change that will give them just a bit more tone...I know I often change things, too, in seach of the Perfect Tone. But the Stingray 5 is not one of the things I'd subject to changes. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Q: Maybe it is not a 1-trick pony but it also not a very versatile bass for what it cost IMO.

A: As versatile as you want it to be, depending on your style and technique. I own quite a few basses and have owned many more in the past, and I find the Stingray and Stingray 5 to be capable of whatever I myself can do. Versatile? Larry Klein played one with Shawn Colvin. I saw one the other night with the Tonight Show Band. Flea played a Stingray. I'd say that's pretty versatile, and I'm not even mentioning a friend of mine who plays traditional jazz with his!

Q: besides it was design from the precision anyway...

This, to me, is like telling your wife, "Well, you're really just your great-grandmother."

You might do it, but I wouldn't!

Happy basses to you.

Jack

 

[basscat]

Re: Re: Why are Stingray 5s so good?

Then why are there more than a few players that accquire to change the pup/electronics.Maybe it is not a 1-trick pony but it also not a very versatile bass for what it cost IMO.But I will admit that the construction is very good and there were no dead spots to speak of, besides it was design from the precision anyway

In fact most electric basses are designed out of the P-bass. 34" scale, double cutaway, bridge and tuners etc.. IMO, just a fact. Soundwise Stingrays are very different from P-basses and from most other basses. They have rather been role-models of their own with a host of "copies" available in the market, like the Warwick FNA and the Modulus Flea bass.

Speaking of versatility, some people tend think that the amount of different sounds that can be created with a bass determines the versatility. I tend to think that versatility is more related to the number of different musical situations a given bass can be succesfully used. In that perspective the Stingrays (as well as P-basses) really shine, simple as they might seem. I thought that the Musicmans were not very versatile for a number of years because I always played dual PU basses but then I borrowed an SR5 for a week and used it in a number of situations and I was blown by how versatile it is. Think of it, is an acoustic piono not versatile or a saxophone or a violin? I think they are but they are still bassically one sound instruments.

Just my couple of cents.

Basscat

 

[hands 5]

Q: Then why are there more than a few players that accquire to change the pup/electronics.

A: I would love to see the numbers on how many players actually change out the pickups and electronics. I would imagine there are relatively few who do so compared to the number of players who are perfectly satisfied with the original electronics. Having said that, bass players are often tinkerers, always in search of that elusive change that will give them just a bit more tone...I know I often change things, too, in seach of the Perfect Tone. But the Stingray 5 is not one of the things I'd subject to changes. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Q: Maybe it is not a 1-trick pony but it also not a very versatile bass for what it cost IMO.

A: As versatile as you want it to be, depending on your style and technique. I own quite a few basses and have owned many more in the past, and I find the Stingray and Stingray 5 to be capable of whatever I myself can do. Versatile? Larry Klein played one with Shawn Colvin. I saw one the other night with the Tonight Show Band. Flea played a Stingray. I'd say that's pretty versatile, and I'm not even mentioning a friend of mine who plays traditional jazz with his!

Q: besides it was design from the precision anyway...

This, to me, is like telling your wife, "Well, you're really just your great-grandmother."

You might do it, but I wouldn't!

Happy basses to you.

Jack

Larry Klein also plays laklands.When I saw him with Joni mitchell he hardly picked up the MM5.Now there are quite a few players that does like the tone of the MM but the majority I have met said that they brought the bass because finances were the issue at the time(I think a lot of us aspiring muscians can relate to that)and the tone was at best decent,but if finances were no the issue they defintley would have bought something else.I personally felt the same way,that was why I changed out to what I felt better electronics but that is not to say that the Stingray 5 is not a good bass.but like you said :You might do it,but I wouldnt.Well my response to that is You may keep or buy another one.I can promise you I wouldnt

 

[Ian Wilko]

just wondering why Hands 5 browses this forum? he doesn't seem to like stingrays....

 

[hands 5]

just wondering why Hands 5 browses this forum? he doesn't seem to like stingrays....

I just didnt like the electronics that were in the bass but I still have mine because of what I have stated earlier and on other forums about this bass .The construction of the bass is very good the neck joint is nice and tight .there were no fret marks chatter,it may be a little heavy but It doesnt have any neck dive, so the balance is real good.I hardly use it because I have 2 other basses that I use.My son plays it alot though, he loves it.

 

[bovinehost]

"Larry Klein also plays laklands."

As have I. The Laklands do their own thing quite well, but they don't do the MM thing very well at all. Much more "civilized" and "tame" IMHO. You may well prefer that sound to the Stingray, and so may old Larry, but I prefer the Stingray. Additionally, I think many people (not you, necessarily) are swayed simply by the exorbitant costs of the Laklands.

"Now there are quite a few players that does like the tone of the MM but the majority I have met said that they brought the bass because finances were the issue at the time...."

So then you have a fairly large representative sampling of Stingray playing bassists? How many would that be, more or less? I don't think many of us consider the Stingray as an 'inexpensive alternate' to what we really want, if that's what you're trying to suggest.

"...and the tone was at best decent..."

You must realize that this is simply your opinion, right? That many of the world's finest bassists (and me!) love the unique tone of Stingrays?

"Well my response to that is You may keep or buy another one.I can promise you I wouldnt."

To which I say, good for you! Would you like a perfectly good link to the Lakland Forum or the Lull Forum?

 

[Ian Wilko]

okay Hands, another good point well made! it just seemed you were under the impression they are a budget bass, you must be rich!

 

[hands 5]

"Larry Klein also plays laklands."

As have I. The Laklands do their own thing quite well, but they don't do the MM thing very well at all. Much more "civilized" and "tame" IMHO. You may well prefer that sound to the Stingray, and so may old Larry, but I prefer the Stingray. Additionally, I think many people (not you, necessarily) are swayed simply by the exorbitant costs of the Laklands.

"Now there are quite a few players that does like the tone of the MM but the majority I have met said that they brought the bass because finances were the issue at the time...."

So then you have a fairly large representative sampling of Stingray playing bassists? How many would that be, more or less? I don't think many of us consider the Stingray as an 'inexpensive alternate' to what we really want, if that's what you're trying to suggest.

"...and the tone was at best decent..."

You must realize that this is simply your opinion, right? That many of the world's finest bassists (and me!) love the unique tone of Stingrays?

"Well my response to that is You may keep or buy another one.I can promise you I wouldnt."

To which I say, good for you! Would you like a perfectly good link to the Lakland Forum or the Lull Forum?

not quite my dear fellow what I said that the players that I came in contact with stated that I/they suggested that this was a bass that was in our price range at the time that was decent to pickup (In my case mind was given to me but ,that did not mean that my financial situation changed)I knew that I was going to make changes to this bass after a couple of days after I had it(electronics) it just so happen that some of the players around my area like the sound of my bass after I switched out the preamp/pup of some said if there finances were better they would have gotten something else but what they heard/like was the least inexspensive way to go to get the sound that they wanted. As for laklands -no thanks I dont really care for them IMO they are ok.Same as Mike Lulls but if you like these basses more power to you.Hey man,Good luck on any current and future gigs that you come upon.I'm sure that you're a great player.God bless you.

 

[hands 5]

okay Hands, another good point well made! it just seemed you were under the impression they are a budget bass, you must be rich!

Far from it.but it would be nice.Now as far as MM5's or 4's I dont know that you would call them budget basses especially around here.they're definantly not cheap and as I said before they arent cheaply made(hell they are almost completely hand made)

 

[basscat]

I think what makes the SR5s so good compared to most other 34" 5+ strings must be the combination of high quality woods, for the neck in particular, the six bolt neck attachment and the bridge. Compared to the 35" scale 5 I played before, the SR5 is better in all respects, inlcuding B string sound and feel. I think the B string feel, the overall sound, the overall construction quality and the versatility are the aspects that still amazes me most. Over here it's definitely not a budget instrument, rather a high end, but I think they compare favourably with all boutique basses I've played at prices up to USD 5500.

Just my humble opinion.

Basscat

 

[LJHSBassdude]

I've had my Ray5 for just under a week now. I've taken it to about 36hrs worth of rehearsels so far. The tonal variation is much more than i had anticipated just with the toggle switch thing. In series [the position closest to the neck, i forget if that's series or parallel] the tone is a lot fatter/rounded but it also has a decreased output, @ least on my bass, in Single coil + phantom the tone is like a much higher quality version of my Pilot + 5, in parallel [bridge position of toggle] it has a really great tone in that it is clear, cuts like a sledge hammer on a cheap peice of glass, and has some growl to it. That being said this is my first american/good bass, so far the rest of my basses cost less than $350. I haven't used my preamp nearly as much as i thought i would. Attached is a pic of the ray5-sorry about the crappy quality.

 

[bassmaniac]

Here's one of mine: