drTStingray

As I said before, the 3 band Stingray has an HPF. Whether you need one to deal with the Orange I don’t know but it sounds from the previous description of its EQ that the mids are vastly scooped. You could try boosting the mids on the Stingray but a multi band external EQ would probably enable you to pick the band to boost more accurately for your taste.

That’s an interesting suggestion re the Orange amp. I have only used an Orange set up once (valve), when provided at an outdoor festival - I use Stingrays and I found the sound somewhat scooped (but big bass booty in a good way) with the amp EQ centred. As far as the sound from the Stingray is concerned, I’m presuming you’re using a pre Stingray Special 3 band? The reason I query this is the Special is slightly different. Firstly the 3 band Stingray has an HPF (unlike the Stingray 2 band circuit). Presuming a single pick up Stingray, I tend to start with the bass and treble boosted slightly and the mid cut a little - not too dissimilar from yourself - note that cutting the mid significantly gets close to a 2 band sound. I boost the mids slightly more for songs where the bass might require to cut through more (but not be excessively loud). I use this setting on an SR5 also - for a two pick up Stingray using any of the combinations available which use both pick ups, I don’t boost the bass but would start with mids at centre and maybe boost them slightly. The EQ, and especially the mids, are voiced differently on the Stingray Special - as well as being an 18 volt circuit with neodymium pick ups. Howver we all hear things differently and have our own views on what constitutes a good bass sound - there is no right answer so whatever suits you. Playing style also has a significant effect. I got a decent sound from the Orange but felt it was naturally scooped, especially in the highs. I had the same experience with a Fender Rumble combo (again provided) - until I discovered it had one of the pre-set shape buttons activated so was excessively scooped (it was ok after I turned that off). I use a Mark Bass LM3 with Mark Bass 2 x 10s which give a certain mid presence, fat bass, and clear highs - whilst other amps can do this, they all have their own sound colouration, and a number of makes do seem to lean towards mid cut at centre detent.

I know that’s a viewpoint but I think there’s more understanding than that amongst audiences - who appreciate a good bass sound and contribution - just look at Hozier - the bassist has a Skjold bass and the bass sound live is phenomenal. However that’s not to say a good result can’t be had from a £300 bass - it’s just in the right hands, a better one can be had from a different, and expensive bass. I remember some members on this forum complaining of a growing trend for what they described a few years back I think as a tendency towards background pithering on bass - no doubt if that’s the role of the bass player then people probably won’t notice.

Very interesting article - very balanced opinion and reasoning. Interestingly quite a lot matches my own experience of electric instruments. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I know who’s opinion I would trust when comparing those of highly respected luthiers and interested amateurs with an opinion on the subject on the internet 😉😁 I suppose when a reasonable proportion of players are happy to play pretty rudimentary instruments designed in the 50s, anyone suggesting there is more to the subject of tone and functionality is almost bound to be shouted down. Thankfully other industries involving engineering do not rely on getting away with such things - I’m really glad my 2019 car doesn’t have 1950s spec wheels and tyres, and my train journey of 150 miles on Sunday is not going to be at low average speed on a ‘heritage’ train, or my dinner will not be cooked on an appliance designed over 60 yrs ago (in fact you can insert virtually any item and have a bit of a chuckle). It’s a funny old industry eh!!! 😁👍

I love that Wal - fabulous.

Item 3 - not necessarily - my Stingray Tim Commerford signature is passive (with a parallel/single coil/series switch and a boost (which is really a switch to remove the attenuation it normally runs with - great for solos!! But warn the sound person if you’re going to use it 😀) On EQs, the only real differences I’ve noticed with the Special are:- a) more headroom (18v power) b) different mid range voicing - you can boost it fully and still have a musical tone. c) the amount of bass boost available is substantial (similar to the Bongo EQ in that respect).

Definitely the original reason for having the Hofner, but not the reason for its resurrection.

Another couple of great influences of mine from the past - literally big hitters of the bass guitar (whacked hell out of the strings)!! Leo Lyons (Ten Years After) - Fender Jazz Larry (The Mole) Taylor - Canned Heat; John Mayall - Fender Precision (I liked the sunburst one he usually played but this picture shows him playing a black slab bodied Precision - which is OK as well)!! Sunburst with obligatory curly lead - playing a 10th (v unusual in 1968)!!

Considering he played a Wal for years, along with a Rickenbacker and others (including the Yamaha) this is unlikely. I understand Elvis Costello persuaded him to resurrect the Hofner, at the start of the ‘everything must be vintage 60s’ fad and hoodoo - prior to that McCartney had considered it an instrument which would be out of tune as much as in tune - however he managed to get someone to fix it so that it was more reliable - not sure what the sound’s like though. I have always liked his tone whatever bass he has been using, but it’s clear the Wal is far and away the best of all - however the weight of instruments becomes more of an issue for performance as age increases and no doubt the featherweight Hofner is great from that point of view. It’s incredible to think some of our famous artists are now octogenarians.

The wonderful Alan Spenner (Wal JG series) The wonderful Percy Jones (Brand X) - Wal The wonderful Bernard Edwards - 1977 Musicman Stingray (I know the bass has been mentioned before - no disrespect to John Taylor, but you can’t beat Bernard playing it). Boz Burrell - Fender Precision fretless Andy Fraser - Gibson EB3 Jack Bruce - Gibson EB3

I think this conversation was had in another thread. Certainly, on special bargain basement clearance deals but as indicators of new bass prices, my Stingray Classic was just short of £1700 in 2010 and my Old Smoothie 40th Anniversary Stingray over £2000 in 2016. I paid just short of £1300 for my natural SR5 in 2003. These are perhaps more indicative of retail prices. I think we have entered a period of higher inflation of prices combined with sporadic shortages of lots of products/ services. Multiple worldwide events to blame.

Ive not seen them before - blingy daleks!! EXTERMINATE……….. Yes I’d presumed site idiosyncrasies when I saw them as well ha ha.

This - it’s fabulous and Pino is great on it.

Thanks @Stingray5 - it most certainly is. My favourite 5 string (although I really love my Stingray 5s also!). Being so light and also the shape of the Bongo is so ergonomic, it feels very very easy to play - the stuff of dreams haha!! Not sure when it’s going to get a gig though currently 😕

Those mitigating circumstances sound very good to me 😀 the G and L looks nice as well - enjoy.

Question 1) yes - the 2 band was an option from when the 3 band was introduced at the end of the 80s, till 2017 (with the rest of the standard Stingray features including contoured body). Not very many people bought them, and particularly in the 90s. The 3 band is arguably far more versatile and you can get close to a 2 band sound by cutting the mids back significantly and boosting the bass and treble a touch. The 2 band does not have the HPF which the 3 band does - which avoids the boomier bass frequencies. Question 2) yes - I’m my experience they are capable of the normal sounds you’d associate with a Stingray. In fact I did a dep gig (mostly R and B), sone of which was recorded - I used my SR4HH Special - and I was pleasantly surprised that the bass tone was reminiscent of Bernard Edwards with Chic or Alan Spenner using a Wal. Which pleased me greatly as those are my favourite bass sounds. There are comparison videos on You Tube between the Special and the earlier Stingray. The main difference is headroom and the mid range voicing - there is also more bass boost available with the Special. Question 3) The Stingray nut (standard neck size) measured on my basses (not massively accurately) is 1 and 11/16”. The Sterling (US) and Stingrays with ‘SLO Special’ necks are narrower (1 and 1/2” I think).

I love Pino’s playing with John Mayer - as you say very understated and laid back - however he does have his moments and especially live!! 😉

They seem to be extremely rare - I’ve already got three natural Stingrays (SR4 3 band with rosewood; SR5 with maple and the TC passive with ebony). The natural Classic Stingray is a thing of beauty. Im really loving this Bongo however - such a fast action I’m getting into playing upper register lines across the whole fretboard. I see @Old Horse Murphy has already cracked in his quest to not buy any more basses - I will confess to having had a look around but absolutely no likelihood of anything new…….well for several years!! 😁

Sounds great - you’ll have to post some pics when you get it.

It pre-dates the ‘funk fingers’. I think it was on a Cutlass 11 (Sabre with a Modulus graphite neck). Whatever, it sounds excellent - and as on one or two other occasions with isolated bass parts, has shown I’m playing slightly more notes than TL did in the linking sections in the cover version we do. I use my Classic Sabre (mahogany body) with an octave pedal for the track - it sounds very authentic!! Thanks for posting this @Bart Funk Bass - it is a great example to demonstrate P basses with flats were pretty much anathema in the 80s and 90s!!

Congratulations. Love that SR5 Special - got to love a natural Stingray. How long do you think you’ll last before succumbing to GAS again? 😉

That sounds interesting - will you be having a filter EQ? Oh yes I know - however I haven’t looked at any on line bass shops since receiving these new basses haha!! 😁

Indeed - very rare. They didn’t make them for long - something to do with difficulties matching the neck colour to the body - which isn’t a problem on mine. I think it’s just another option, cheaper than via a dealer - standard spec instruments aren’t available through direct sales (The Vault) though. Wow - that’s very nice indeed (if somewhat expensive 😳) - however I won’t be buying any more basses for the foreseeable!!

Agreed - the SR5 20th Anniversary is a great bass (I think the mahogany tone block affects the tone - mahogany works very well with Musicman basses (30th Anniversary Stingray and my mahog bodied Sabre are other cases of this) Fabulous bass - love the white LEDs

Don’t be tempting me 😂