Fender Precision or a Musicman Stingray

[thebassist]

What do you prefer? I don't want to get onto the differences between the two basses, etc. I'm just after your preferences.

[eddiehoffmann]

I always played P Basses all my life. Had a Jazz for a while and it was an amazing one too, but it never sat on the mix as nice as the P Bass for me and I sold it. That's why I think the Precision is such a popular bass in records through the years. It pretty much automatically sits where the bass should in a mix. I never owned a Stingray but lately I've been feeling tempted to get one, mainly because of Bernard Edwards. I think the Stingray doesn't 'sit' so much in a mix and it stands out a bit more due to those high mids. Having said all that... You should try and get both

[Hobbayne]

I always hankered after a Stingray and bought one off here. But the sound was not really suitable for the stuff I was playing. So I sold it and bought the P bass in my sig.

[discreet]

I've found a P to be more versatile generally.

[Lozz196]

Precision - sits better in the mix, for me I might add, and if using provided rigs, again for me, easier to get a workable sound quickly.

[Musicman20]

Stingray, for the following reasons:

Paintwork
Comfort
Quality Control
Available options
Pickup placement for comfort with playing
Tone (subjective I guess!)
Versatility
Truss rod wheel
Style

[White Cloud]

Musicman for every reason.

[el borracho]

I've got both. The Stingray gets out of it's case every 6 months or so when I fancy a change - and I always wonder why I didn't bring one of the Precisions - or the Jazz. I've just never really taken to it.

[RhysP]

Precision.

I'm not a Fender fanboy by any stretch of the imagination, but I've played more Precisions I've liked than Stingrays.

My MIJ Precision is certainly far better quality & playability-wise than the Stingray 5 I owned briefly, and it cost a hell of a lot less.

[Steff]

Played a Stingray5 for 15 years but I will buy a 70s precision soon too. They're just different. If I had to choose one though it'd be the Ray. Never had a problem with it fitting in any genre from pop to soul to funk, rock, metal, whatever you think of. To me the Ray is more versatile because of the EQ (3eq on mine).

Also playability - the only one bass I've ever seen with lower action than mine was a £2500 Sadowsky.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Steff

[drTStingray]

They're both equally good for recording generic bass sounds.

However one bass goes many steps beyond - no prizes for guessing which.

Summed up:-

In my book one stands for pedestrian; the other for supreme!!

But seriously they are both great. The P lacks rather in the dynamic department but if you want to play pre 1970 stuff or pre 70 throw back material then a P will fit as well as anything (unless you're in a Cream tribute band; or a Beatles tribute band etc etc )

[Thunderbird]

I have tried most types of basses and have found that a P is my thing I do like Stingrays and think I would invest in one if I had the money I tried a mates Stingray and it was lovely but I personally think I prefer a P bass

[Dingus]

Fender Precision .

Despite its' reputation as[i] the[/i] quintessential simple and straightforward bass , the Precision has actually got a complex and versatile tone , and is capable of all kinds of variety. What does a Precision sound like? Is it James Jamerson on the old Motown records or is it Anthony Jackson with the O'Jays in the mid-1970's? Is it John Wetton with King Crimson , or is Rocco Prestia with T.O.P? The answer is it sounds like all of those, plus countless more examples besides. A Precision is a bass that allows you to impose various personalities upon it.

A Stingray, by comparison, is far more of a specialised and stylised sound, in my opinion , and will only ever sound like a Stingray. Objectively, the Musicman Stingray is a pretty weird-sounding bass, compared to the midrange-focused sound of a Fender. That is no bad thing , because it's got some very usable and very distinctive tones that we all know and love , but the Precision edges it for me because of the sheer versatility in its' simplicity. I am a big fan of the Stingray, but if it's a straight choice, I would have to get a Precision in my arsenal first, every time.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Dingus

[Dingus]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1388065627' post='2318220']
Stingray, for the following reasons:

Paintwork
Comfort
Quality Control
Available options
Pickup placement for comfort with playing
Tone (subjective I guess!)
Versatility
Truss rod wheel
Style
[/quote]

I would have to take exception with all of these points except the one regarding quality control, Gareth.

[molan]

P every day of the week.

I can get on with many different types of instrument but the good old Stingray just doesn't work for me at all

[Highfox]

If it had to be one, then the P.
Really depends a bit more on what kind of sound I'm after.

[discreet]

So do we conclude that if you want to stand out and be heard you will use a Stingray and if you want to sit in the mix you will use a P?

[eddiehoffmann]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1388073843' post='2318301']
So do we conclude that if you want to stand out and be heard you will use a Stingray and if you want to sit in the mix you will use a P?
[/quote]

Well... It's pretty easy to make a P growl and stand out in the mix, even without changing eq settings. Just play harder or really dig in with a pic. I have the impression that it's harder to tame a Stingray... Therefore I agree with the basschatters above who think the P is a more versatile bass. It can't be a coincidence that it features in so many records and it's played by such diverse players. I still want to give a Stingray a proper try though...

[Steff]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1388073843' post='2318301']
So do we conclude that if you want to stand out and be heard you will use a Stingray and if you want to sit in the mix you will use a P?
[/quote]


I'd say it depends on your playing and where you wanna place yourself in the mix but yes, the SR is easier to stand out and the P is easier to blend in. In my experience that is.

[martthebass]

Had a number of both. Problem I have always found with the Stingray is that on its own it can be hard to tame and sound crap onstage, go FOH though and it sounds great. With the P bass I find it gets lost on stage - with my weakening ears I find it hard to pluck out of a complex mix. I recently had to part with my old go to P bass for this very reason.

I will add though I play exclusively finger style so that no doubt makes a big difference.....some P basses only come to life when shown the pick.

[Paul S]

Precision for me. I keep trying all different basses and enjoy them for a while but the one that keeps me smiling is my Precision.

[risingson]

I've owned both but I've kept my P-basses. I love Stingrays but they do leave a less versatile tone print on stuff, whereas P-Basses are easy to sit just about anywhere.

[Dingus]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1388073843' post='2318301']
So do we conclude that if you want to stand out and be heard you will use a Stingray and if you want to sit in the mix you will use a P?
[/quote]

Yes, ... but not necessarily, no.

A Precision Bass can be very prominent in the mix if you play it and E.Q it in the right way. Listen to Tim Bogart back in the 1970's , or John Entwistle, or Bruce Thomas with Elvis Costello, or a whole host of Precision -with-a-pick players like Andy Rourke with the Smiths, for just one example.

Conversely, of all the basses I have ever owned , I think my my pre-EB Stingray was the hardest to get heard with, no matter how loud I made it, it always seemed to me anyway. A Stingray is very noticably scooped in the midrange frequencies , and that is to the detriment of the overall clarity in the mix. It's that peculiar frequency response that makes a Stingray so recognisable, but it's not really any more easily audible than a Precision, in my opinion. The reason I use a Reflex to get a Stingray-type sound nowadays is because it has more richness and support in the mids , whilst still being able to get that Stingray-like punch.

[JTUK]

The P Bass was pretty much THE workshorse and then Leo wanted to update it..or was in a position to update it
with the MM brand. And at that time, the upgrade worked but now people don't need an active bass for that workhorse
thing as they have much better bass systems and more sospisticated mixes...
There is no reason why a P Bass will not do that job of old now which is still why it is the workhorse of choice.
I think MM should have the edge in QC...as my MM was a great bass to play and rock solid...but you can shop around for
good basses easily enough.

If the showroom is the pub then MM have quite a useful following but if you have good P.A and soundmen, that 'advantage'
is less relevant and you go to the core sounds.

I think basses like passive Laklands have moved in on the same territory and not many people are after MM sounds so much.

Never been a P Bass man myself..always a J, but my MM was a far better bass, IMO at that time ...or rather, by far, my best bass.
Not so much now.
I only got rid of the MM as it was a 4 st and I went to 5...
I considered a MM 5 but never found one I liked... for a variety of reasons..

[herman]

Stingray for me,very versatile,and I liked Ed friedlands review.