MattM

The full translation available in wall art form from a friendly Etsy vendor of your choice…tempted

Paraphrasing a famous quote, a 2EQ Stingray is as simple as it needs to be, but not simpler.

Having owned 2 Steinberger XL2s in my time, a subject close to my heart. I’d prefer to have too much than too little tbh as I can always damp it out if needed via foam, or my preference, I side-palm mute at the bridge while playing with a pick. My current ‘Ray Classic has mutes which I deploy more often than not, as it has amazing sustain for a wooden bass. Its like talking about space with cars and houses, too much is mostly never a problem, too little can be,

When I first got a chance to try a Stingray in 1985 in Sound Control in Glasgow, , it immediately said “yes” to me - sound, neck, build, looks everything. Couldn’t afford one at the time as I was a poor student from a single parent family. However now fortunate enough to have owned a few in my time, with an ‘88 2EQ and my current Classic being favourites, Still get *that* feeling every time I pick it up and my 13yo son loves it too. Chuffed that he can get the chance to play what, for me, was an unaffordable dream for years.

Guy famously owned a Steinberger L2 which got nicked and he revealed on here he still hadn’t got it back, thinks it’s in France somewhere.

I’ve had 2EQ Sub and Stingrays, my current squeeze being a Classic, and I always have bass up full, and use the treble like you would a passive tone. Start with it fully off, then bring it in until you get the bite you need. Or leave it off and go full-on dub/reggae...

“The MusicMan Stingray’s a one-trick pony”

It’s reassured me that my almost fanatical 35 year affection for 2EQ Stingrays is not unusual, that Precisions *need* to be beaten-up sunburst, with flats and a rosewood board, and that the Steinberger XL2 is a bona-fide design classic which I was lucky enough to own for the first time thanks to Basschat.

I’m a Stingray guy. For years, my ‘88 maple 2EQ was definitely the best I’d played and that included post-2000 2EQ and 3EQs. 88 had a great neck, loads of mojo and a brilliant sound. Had to sell for financial reasons. My current Classic betters even the 88. Neck as playable but looks amazing with Birdseye, sound is incredible - as good as 88 but with more sustain owing to through stringing, mutes needed to damp it down. Only other options would be an HH (don’t like the 3EQ though - albeit it does decent P and J tones) or maybe a Sabre Classic (2EQ but with two pickups and as rare as rocking horse droppings)

Some of Duran Durans stuff back in the day was decent albeit a bit octavey, as picked up by the great Guy Pratt in one of his skits.

Love a genuinely beaten-up sunburst/rosewood P. First one is a YOB late 60s I spotted on the ‘Bay but couldn’t afford, second is the great Martyn Casey’s of the Bad Seeds which is an early 60s I believe.

Sell it and get a Stingray HH. You can get decent P andJ approximations plus original Ray goodness. Jobs a good un’

Fortunate enough to have had both lined and unlined Stingrays in my time, and much prefer unlined as I tended to overthink/over rely on watching my playing with lined rather than just intonating from muscle memory. Spookily enough sold my last 2EQ Pino-inspired one to the previous poster, Mr Old Horse of this parish many moons ago...

The 2014 will also have rolled edges on the fingerboard, graphite-reinforced neck plus string-through body (high mass bridge can accommodate both conventional back-of-bridge stringing and through body). Probably a technically better bass, but if you’re into the vintage vibe, you’re into the vintage vibe... A worn sunburst nitrocellulose vintage P is a thing of beauty.

Good interview with Paul here: Where he mentions the weight of the bass and how the one he smashed up was the better bass. Definitely sounds like a 70s ash body. Cannot beat a white 70s Precision, just screams Paul or Dee Dee (in a good way)....

OK, you’ve a USA P, a Jazz, and a 54 P under construction. You need either a Stingray or a fretless,...

Dee Dee Ramone. That is all...

I concur, I would rarely, if ever, max out the bass and treble in a band situation. For me, it’s probably why a lot of folk think the ‘Rays a one-trick pony, yer average music shop try-out guy would default to maxing it out, and then playing Higher Ground... You’re 100% correct in the joy of a 2EQ is in the fine adjustment to get a great tone. 👍

One of the big advantages of the 2EQ is that you can use it pretty much the same as a passive. I always max the bass, then use the treble in exactly the same way as I’d use a passive tone control on a P bass. Full off, I can out-dub Jah Wobble, full on I can out scoop and slap Flea. I usually default to full,off, then bring in the treble until I have the cut and tone I need. I have had 3EQ ‘Rays in my time, but,found I tended to overthink the detente and interaction of the three controls, could never get exactly the same tone as a 2EQ. For me, the simpler the better. YMMV of course...

Can’t beat a 2EQ ‘Ray, been my bass of choice since a nice man in Sound Control, Glasgow let me have a go on one when I was a poor student 34 years ago. I’m now fortunate enough to own a sunburst Classic which is hands down the best bass, never mind ‘Ray, I’ve ever played. Now my 12yo sons getting good, my only issue is getting it back off him..,😉.

Would concur with the USA Sub option, as this has the same 2EQ active preamp as the standard 2EQ ‘Ray. IM (and many others) HO, 2EQ is the way to go, albeit 3EQ ‘Rays do have their fans also, Alternatively, post up your location and see if a friendly Basschatter will lend your their ‘Ray for a bit?

I've owned a few Stingrays (2 and 3 band) plus a SUB (2 band) in my time, and have to say my current Stingray Classic is by some measure the best of the bunch. What really stands out for me is the exceptional sustain (due to the through body bridge) which is so good, I'm having to resort to the mutes a lot of the time just to avoid having to side hand-damp to control it and get my usual licks down (nice problem to have though) I used to own a Steinberger XL2 graphite and sustain is in the same ballpark its that good. Finish is outstanding - more traditional than the new Specials obviously and the birdseye neck is an object of beauty. I've been playing for about 34 years and used to say my old '88 2EQ 'Ray was the best wooden bass I'd owned, the XL2 was the best bass I'd owned. The Classic surpasses them both, cannot recommend highly enough.