If you watch my channel you know I am a Stingray guy, but I was super impressed with the P in this demo! If the situation was I had to run on stage, I think I would grab the P.
Hi, i've been using stingray for 4years....what do you think about the string tension? Which one is harder the ray or the P bass? Because i think ray is harder to a jazz bass (i owned a jazz bass long ago)...cheers
For grab n go the P wins every time. Passive and everything you need and nothing you don't. I like Ray's but a P sits in the mix great all the time. No surprise they're both designed by Leo Fender.
I actually worked at Music Man/Ernie Ball from 2005-2008. My bassisit had gotten a stingray bass and it totally brought him a sound that he didn't have with his previous bass. Then in '08 I had gotten one of the 20th anniversary silloute. And that guitar had become my number one. And the sound that his bass had and my guitar had when playing together definitely brought us a distinctive sound. And we we're a full on metal band. The great thing about the 20th anniv. Guitar is a "tone block" under the pick ups which gives it a certain sound. And up until they came out with that guitar I didn't really care for thier line up of guitars. The basses all sounded great especially the Bingo series. Best sounding bass I've ever heard. But ugly as sin. Looks like a can opener. But the range... Good Lord was awesome. So in short....lol I like the stingray bass. The Sterling sounds even better. But this is just my opinion. Take it... Don't.... Doesn't matter. Just speaking from my own experience. Ok.....Late.
Would grab the Pbass. Not because it's better or worse, but because in a pinch it's easier to get a workable tone out of it quickly with less margin for error!
Don’t agree at all, starting g playing a fender p bass I was a rubbish bass player, ditched it bought a mm stingray and my playing went up a notch almost over night. String ray handles better, much better, sounds better, looks better, is better. Fenders are grossly overrated in my book.
The musicman is still a fender (Leo fender designed it originally before ernie ball took over) so besides of the obvious pickup and electronic differences it's still for intents and purposes a fender instrument. The musicman offers more versatility tonality wise. P bass is classic and many argue the merits of it sitting in the mix live or recording settings. I say go with what feels and sounds right.
@@joncopperpot5333 Tbh all fenders/gibsons/mms are overrated, that being said the biggest thing here is tone I’ve found p bass tone just *works* better & more naturally. Although I love stingrays the tone is a very specific one that doesn’t just fit whenever, & if I’m being honest if your ensemble isn’t built around the stingray’s tone it’s just kinda meh, that being said it takes distortion wonderfully in metal
I'm a die-hard Fender guy, however, I love my Stingray. But if I was in a hurry going onstage, I would choose the Precision Bass because of the tonal simplicity. I wouldn't want to have to mess around with a 3-band EQ up on stage when I could just roll up a single tone knob. If I had the option though, I would choose a Jazz Bass, my favorite of all time, the Swiss Army knife of basses IMO.
In your scenario: P-Bass. I'm more familiar (even though I recently got into Musicman) and there's fewer options. To me the P-Bass's basic tone always works, so fewer ways to mess up the bass tone is better in a "hurry up" situation.
My P bass has a Badass bridge II, an absolutely beautiful birds eye maple Warmouth Neck, Steve Harris pickups and Hip-shot tuners. I play it one of every three practices. The Stingray is all Stock and I play it 2 out of every 3 practices. Bottom line, If you want to be cool and get laid, you need to have both these basses in your arsenal.
The P-bass is the emperor with no clothes.......Stingrays have always had a better overall tone that lets the bassists parts be articulated better.....your playing examples proved it. That being said...use what you like and color the sound to fit the song best, yes even a P-bass.
I played a P-Bass in a metal band for years. Whenever we want to record our first album in told the engineer that I would only used my p bass and he said "good cuz I was gonna make you use one anyway" lol
I guess the reason for that is that most producers/engineers like the bass sitting behind in the mix and are more familiarized with the Precision. For someone playing an in-your-face bass style like, Red Hot Chili Peppers or Jamiroquai, the Stingray would be a better choice.
The Stingray is way more mid/high and punchy sounding than the P. That's why the Stingray and the Fender Jazz are so common between slap-heavy, front of the stage players.
@@mindhead2005 you're being too literal. Of course you can do, but you'll have to compress a Stingray's mids and highs to make it sound warmer and less aggresive in the mix, while the P-Bass sounds like that naturally.
definitively the stingray ! Fender P bass might exhibit dead zone at the low part of the neck, mine did. the P bass tone is quite limited and being a passive bass dose not help at all. mostly you're buying a Fender tradition and name.
I own 3 p basses, sold all my other basses because you just can't beat the tone of the spilt single coil. I know it's not the sexiest of basses but it's the best all around bass you can get.
The squier contemporary active HH bass beats both of them. Fr. It's the best for me and i think it's the best of the both worlds. I lobe that active sound and the option to boos my bass and treble. Also, the HH p-ups are very meaty😍😋. It is like a p-bass with the sparkle and clarity of a j-bass. It is just brilliant. I want to try a pj-bass, i think it should sound pretty nice.
Stingray - Active EQ, humbucker, board radius, and board width make an obvious difference. (I own/play a P-Bass now.) I’d have to have the roadie set the knob detentes to 0 for each pickup, then adjust up or down when I got into the mix, if no time to rehearse. Was surprised at how “P-Bass-y” that bridge pickup can sound. (No surprise to Tony Levin, et al.) But if the roadie just had a P-Bass, I’d be right at home. NP. Win-win.
I would choose a P Bass over anything. It has the a timeless sound that has been used in countless hit records throughout the years. It is THE tone for recording.
P bass Has a deeper tone and the Music Man is a little louder and throaty. I like both. It depends on what you are playing. I found lately that for thumping and plucking the Stingray sounds a little cleaner.
I'm not a bass player, but I will say that as a guitar player, the Silhouette is a far better guitar than a Strat. That statement is based on one thing, playing both of them.
The stingray is more of my taste. The p bass sounds to muffled and weak sounding. The tone has more definition on the stingray, but that’s probably because it’s an active pickup with a 3 band eq .
P bass all day every day. I like stingrays and it might just be due to me playing a p since the beginning but it's a work horse. I've never been in a genre or situation it felt out of place in
P-Bass is fatter and richer, and sits very well in the low end of the mix - it's the go-to rock bass, and even has a dainty slap sound. Stingray sounds nasally in comparison, but I still love its sound in Sade songs. Paul Denman is a Stingray guy.
Not enough difference between the two it even matter. I take the act of base for the sole reason of it being active. It gives me more tonal options. Other than that they sound pretty much the same.
Gimme dat STINGRAY !!! MUCH more solid sound , true tone and actual volume naturally. Absolute best actual EQ system that really lets you dial in your sound instantly and intuitively.
What I like about a P Bass is the low end growl. The MMSR certainly is punchier. For 3 piece rock that huge bottom of the P Bass is more important. For multi instruments the MMSR would be a better fit.
**describes slightly different necks** WELP! Thats the differences! Nevermind the pickups or bridges or active vs passive electronics or literally any of the things that truly separate the two. 😂😂
@@abandonedaccount6878 I never liked P-basses in the past either but the sound just grows on you. At least it did for me. I was never a huge fan of the P neck so I took the neck from my 2004 MIM J-bass and slapped it on a P bass body I bought on reverb and its now my dream bass. I ended up buying a Fender fretless neck for the J bass to get my Jaco on. Too bad I suck at fretless!
More clear and full, better note definition and ass kicking lows....... I'll take the sting ray any day of the week. For 15 years I pretty much played all vintage BC rich bases with double P bass pickups in them but after I spent some time with a Stingray years ago, now all the basses I've gotten over the last 15 years all have Stingray style humbuckers with active EQ. It just gives you so many more options. Even P bass pickups Sound better with an active EQ added to them.
Yeah man, totally agree with that comment too. I was actually even wondering to myself while listening- '....hmmm, I wonder if the same type of strings are being used on both basses and if they were fresh out the pack?' The Ray def does have more 'clarity' or pronunciation (maybe is a good way to put it) to it's tone' Like I said in another comment....Ray->shit like slipknot or Rage or whatever of the sort. P->almost anything else.
The HH Ray is one of the most versatile basses in the world. Deep vintage early 70's sound or trebley Geddy Lee sound. Series (HB) or Parallel (SC) switch. G& L the same thing. The H version of the SR is only good for a clicky clacky sound that's popular today.
@@bflo1000 You don't have a single H StingRay or StingRay 5? Thank to the EQ this basses have the most massive but versatile tone you can imagine. There is more to Explore than simply maxing out high and low end. Just try it before talking bullshit out of lacking knowledge.
@@kongandbasses8732 No I don't. First of all I don't like the neck (I've at least played a SR). Prefer more of a J style neck. So for THAT reason alone I don't like the SR. I don't HAVE to own one to realize that the HH config would give me a hell of a lot more beef and if I WERE to buy one (IF I had the friggin money) then THAT'S the one I would get. And if you don't posts then don't fucking read them or reply back to them.
@@kongandbasses8732 Oh and honestly, before I even looked at a SR I'd first look at the Schecter Stage. Also active HH, more comfortable neck for easier and faster playing, NT, also great quality for about half the price...
The stingray had a “better“ tone. But in context with other instruments, I think the P bass would sound better. With few exceptions, the electric bass is an instrument of accompaniment, and how it mixes with the other instruments is paramount.
I Love both. But I would pick the Stingray. It allways works fine for me in live situations. Leo build the best basses in the whole world. The P the J and the Ray. He was a genius. They all work fine in every situation
The P bass. I appreciate the Stingray but each time I’ve bought a 2 band or the new 3 band, it just does not work for me. I’m a pBass or jBass guy. To each there own.
Passive basses are good, but active is better IMO. I’ve played the expensive $2500 model, Sterling is good, but SUB is definitely NOT a MM. P Basses are better for studio recording or playing at home. Music Man are better for Live playing. If you are into slap bass/walking like I am, MM is definitely better at both.
been messing with a stingray 5 for one year now and i feel like i should be able to give some decent opinions on the topic For starters, you will not get rid of that nasal sound. Period. It's just something that's a byproduct of it's only pickup being in the bridge section of the body and the natural tone of the bass. While still on the topic of it's annoyingly persistant nasal sound i'd like to point out that yes, even though it's got an Active 3knob EQ that won't fix this issue, for even the EQ itself suffers from it. You see, if my ears don't fail me the knob for the mids seems to affect *mostly* the low-mid range and that means that whenever you try to "flatten" the sound by cuting down on mids the bass will still sound nasal while also losing the "fullness" and definition of the notes themselves. In other words; yes, in theory you have a gigantic range of tones at your fingertips, but most of them besides the natural Stringtray tone will sound like a cheap knockoff version of the desired result. Another thing that messed me up; the highs. Personaly, i found the highs to be quite annoying as well because even though they have that distinctive bite to them that locks in with the mid-heavy nature of the stringray to create that aggresive growl of a tone they just really, REALLY like to pop for no apparent reason. No amount of trebble cutdown will save you from this and if you try to hit say, Jason Newsted's tone using a Stingray you'll become painfully aware of how bad it is. That's not to say that the Stingray has no strenghts to it though. On the opposite end of the table we have the lows. Oh god, the lows. Yeah, as if that beastly mid-range growl wasn't enough this fucker of a bass has enough low-end to fill your pants with the aftermath of the brown note with ease. I mean Seriously, treat the bass knob for the Active EQ as a weapon and give it proper respect or you'll blow either your roof or your amp, maybe both. Some say that it has too much low end and it makes the notes feel like they're stuck to mud, but that's mostly personal taste in my opinion. All in all the Stingray is a great bass if you want to cut through the mix. Great option to make melodic/complicated basslines and interludes come to life but no so much to lock in with the guitars since that mid-heavy tonality will fight with the guitars for the spotlight. If i had to describe owning a Stingray in the most mundane way possible, it'd be like being the parent of a noisy teenager. Sure, you can't help but admire how angry and full of life someone in their prime is, but sometimes you wish from the bottom of your heart he'd just shut the fuck up.
Loved that review. Every bass has its sound, some more distinct than others. I think the Stingrays just have a very characteristic sound that you did a great job describing. The P Bass is somehow similar (as in having a very peculiar voice), being the only difference the fact that we all just get to hear a lot more p basses in our lives because it is, still, the industry standard. So it's peculiar, but familiar. I also get a bit annoyed by the Stingray's highs. If you're slapping it with tone wide open and just a flat EQ, the pops already feel like a needle to me. Could be just personal preference, but even on jazz basses I roll the tone just a hair down not to get stung by too bright pops, and I think the stingrays are definitely on that side. But the growl, OMG. It's just unlike anything else. I currently own two basses: an American Pro P Bass (like in the video, one pickup) and a Flea signature jazz bass, which has those stacked knobs that allow you to roll down each pick up tone individually. I do want to get a 5 string bass and I'm a bit torn between a Stingray Special HH or a Warwick Corvette $$. If I get a Warwick I know I'll get a more adaptable, high quality, all-round modern tone that I can shape a lot. If I get a Stingray, I just get a Stingray.... but it's a Stingray.
You say this but watching Pino on a fret less stingray playing wherever I lay my hat ? The tone is 😮 maybe it’s not the tool it’s how the workman wields it ? Dig your comments tho i mainly play a p I picked up a bass level sub and am thinking of purchasing a ray all input is good input
James Jamerson, Geezer Butler, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Carol Kaye, Pino Palladino, Steve Harris, Willie Weeks, Sting, Paul Simonon , John Paul Jones... they all don't lie.
When you phrase it the way you did at the very beginning, not only is the answer P bass, but even most Stingray guys are going to pick the P bass too in that scenario. It's the safe "generic" choice for walking into an emergency situation like that. You want to make a good impression, you're humble, you're there to do a job and not steal the spotlight. It's a sign of respect to show up with a Fender in a situation like that. Not that a Stingray is a far out choice by any means, but between the two it has a far greater chance of doing something unexpected in the mix. As far as which "rocks harder", the Stingray certainly has a reputation for an aggressive sound, but a P bass can easily be made its equal in that regard while still retaining a sound that supports the band better. I love Stingrays too, and I own both. It's just that not many models compare favorably to a good P bass. The best way to regret buying that nice boutique bass is to sit down and compare it to your P.
if youre trying to really rock like he said, im not going to pick something "generic and safe". obviously, the roadie is going to have it set up for you. what rock shows are you going to that everyone is trying to be humble and not be in the spotlight? regardless the ray punches way harder and that's what you need at a live rock show.
The SR sounds good in this demo. But he's using his fingers. P basses wound better w a pick. a SR or JB sounds TOO articulate w a pick. Many rockers prefer playing w a pick.
@@bflo1000 stingrays still sounds good with a pick i think, bc it has a 3 band EQ so you can adjust the tone by yourself..you need a brighter tone? Just crank up the treble, if you need muddier or darker tone, just crank down the treble/mid
The Stingray has a sound that makes an impression, until you realize you can't ever get rid of that sound. It's like the bass that wants to be a guitar. The P just sounds like a bass is supposed to sound and always does.
unabonger777 I never saw it that way, it does make a lot of sense. Unless you absolutely love that Stingray sound or have enough cash to have both, you do get a much more neutral, classic tone with the P Bass. I personally own two basses: an American P Bass and a Flea Jazz Bass. I love to play around with the second because it has a lot of tone flexibility (being jazz and also having tone and volume stacked knobs for each pickup), but if I need to pick one, I always go with the P Bass reliability.
Querymonger that's part of it for sure but the P-bass also emulates an upright bass tone in a way, and I believe Leo considered that the original "standard".
P basses sometimes still burried in the mix and the user is mostly if it's not a rock/metal bassist then a pop bassist so it means less versatility, Stingrays won't.. it always fits in the mix and every genres of song..even if you're not a good audio mixer. So i think stingray is the winner...
I find the only time a P is buried in the mix is when the strings and/or pickups provide no upper mid content. If they do you never get buried. And you never worry about a battery.
@@mashilmy you are 100% correct. P Bass purists will argue all day, even though they know deep down inside the stingray was Leo Fender's best guitar ever
@@shuruff904 Best is subjective, but do you think the p-bass can do things the stingray can't, and visa versa? Both use one pickup, of different types. So I would assume sound wise and genre wise one would fit into a category better.
I love both basses, and he nailed it with “you can’t make a bad choice”. personally I generally enjoy playing the Stingray more than the P-bass. Let’s face it, it’s in the playing , but Tony Levin’s tone with a Stingray, wow!
The new Professional P feels much better to me than the recent American Standard stuff. Had a few of those and the neck was a little off, but these new ones feel great!
I could never get used to the stingray. Somehow it lacks personality IMO. Super bassy and super trebly, no mids. That sound of strings hitting the frets just drives me nuts. I mean no disrespect to anyone, please. That’s just my opinion not an unquestionable truth. And amongst the Fenders, PBass is king.
Real easy for me--I've been shopping for a better bass, and I have tried several of each. Being older and having small hands, fretting is generally hard for me. The EBMM, even the Sterlings, are infinitely more comfortable in my hands. I like to test ease of playing with one step intervals, both picked, and I find them more difficult to nail accurately on the Precision. I can take my POS Sterling Sting Ray, hold it out from my body, and nail them every time. I put my hands on a $2600 Stingray today, and it was like butter. I couldnt miss a note. As far as sound goes, if you are putting it into a DAW, then you are going to tweak it, anyway. Ease of playing is much more important in my world.
I put flats on my stingray and it offset the inherent brightness perfectly. From there I don't feel there's a sound that I can get from my p-bass that i can't get with my stingray.
A few years back I would've agreed with you (apart from the maple fretboard). I used to wax lyrical about my Quarterpounder until it failed. A luthier had put it into my Jap Squier Precision (for no real reason other than because he had it lying around and I was impressed by the meaty name) and I decided to try and get back to (as close to) the original as I could get on eBay. When I put it in I was knocked out. On paper it was not a particularly special pickup but the tone was warm in a way that still rocked and it has soul. Quarterpounders are seriously overweighted in the low end but have no real sonic appeal to my (older) ears. There are much better pickup options that give you far more tonal options and you can always dial up that low end bass with EQ or FX if that is your thing.Try going veggie - you won't regret it!
I have had both, and I gravitate toward the stingray. That said, I gravitate toward MY stingray, a passive stingray.. I am a big guy and I prefer to play toward the bridge of the bass so having the SR pickup right there is perfect for me, not to mention the wider nut makes things easier for my big hands. Also another little thing, the pickup on the SR is a lot bigger so it gives me more options for thumb anchoring. With the P bass, it sounds fine, but I always feel a little squished when I play it.
If I want to be Jamerson, Ronnie Baker or Duck Dunn, I'm going with the P. If I want to be Bernard Edwards, Louis Johnson or John Deacon, I'll go with the MM. Can't go wrong with either!
Which do you prefer? Can only afford one $1500-2k bass lol. I like the funky tones of the stingray but I have a fender Strat and always loved Fender’s look/shape.
I've been using them both for the last few years. Then... Sold my Stingray and bought another Pbass from 1978 ... No regrets. The way Music Man plays is almost unbeatable but the Power and sound of a good Pbass .... 😍
If you watch my channel you know I am a Stingray guy, but I was super impressed with the P in this demo! If the situation was I had to run on stage, I think I would grab the P.
Hi, i've been using stingray for 4years....what do you think about the string tension? Which one is harder the ray or the P bass? Because i think ray is harder to a jazz bass (i owned a jazz bass long ago)...cheers
For grab n go the P wins every time. Passive and everything you need and nothing you don't. I like Ray's but a P sits in the mix great all the time. No surprise they're both designed by Leo Fender.
I actually worked at Music Man/Ernie Ball from 2005-2008. My bassisit had gotten a stingray bass and it totally brought him a sound that he didn't have with his previous bass. Then in '08 I had gotten one of the 20th anniversary silloute. And that guitar had become my number one. And the sound that his bass had and my guitar had when playing together definitely brought us a distinctive sound. And we we're a full on metal band. The great thing about the 20th anniv. Guitar is a "tone block" under the pick ups which gives it a certain sound. And up until they came out with that guitar I didn't really care for thier line up of guitars. The basses all sounded great especially the Bingo series. Best sounding bass I've ever heard. But ugly as sin. Looks like a can opener. But the range... Good Lord was awesome. So in short....lol I like the stingray bass. The Sterling sounds even better. But this is just my opinion. Take it... Don't.... Doesn't matter. Just speaking from my own experience. Ok.....Late.
Not me!
@@brandyndillman5224 Don't you mean Bongo? And yes, those things are butt-ugly!
"Which one rocks harder?" Plays them like they're gonna break...
Hahahaha dude this comment had me laughing the whole video!!
Wtf !!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lol yes😂
haha, thought the same thing.
hahahahaha, no shit!!!
Kind of have to hear them rocking to know which one rocks the best.
The best is and will allways be the Fender.
Would grab the Pbass. Not because it's better or worse, but because in a pinch it's easier to get a workable tone out of it quickly with less margin for error!
I agree with your thoughts. After this demo I was super impressed with the new P tone.
But that means less versatility.
Don’t agree at all, starting g playing a fender p bass I was a rubbish bass player, ditched it bought a mm stingray and my playing went up a notch almost over night. String ray handles better, much better, sounds better, looks better, is better. Fenders are grossly overrated in my book.
The musicman is still a fender (Leo fender designed it originally before ernie ball took over) so besides of the obvious pickup and electronic differences it's still for intents and purposes a fender instrument. The musicman offers more versatility tonality wise. P bass is classic and many argue the merits of it sitting in the mix live or recording settings.
I say go with what feels and sounds right.
@@joncopperpot5333
Tbh all fenders/gibsons/mms are overrated, that being said the biggest thing here is tone
I’ve found p bass tone just *works* better & more naturally. Although I love stingrays the tone is a very specific one that doesn’t just fit whenever, & if I’m being honest if your ensemble isn’t built around the stingray’s tone it’s just kinda meh, that being said it takes distortion wonderfully in metal
The P, no eq settings to fiddle with since there's no opportunity for a sound check. Volume and tone all the way on and start playing.
I'm a die-hard Fender guy, however, I love my Stingray. But if I was in a hurry going onstage, I would choose the Precision Bass because of the tonal simplicity. I wouldn't want to have to mess around with a 3-band EQ up on stage when I could just roll up a single tone knob. If I had the option though, I would choose a Jazz Bass, my favorite of all time, the Swiss Army knife of basses IMO.
stingray its fender too so you are not disapointing anyone
@@SantiagoRodriguez-fe6ng Fender makes Stingrays?
@@Renegade8652 No, the inventor whose name is Fender also created the stingray, he was one of the founders of Music Man too.
@@SantiagoRodriguez-fe6ng Damn, that's crazy, I should have know that.
@@SantiagoRodriguez-fe6ng Stingray IS Music Man.... that's redundant. Did you mean he's also one of the founders both Music Man and G&L?
In your scenario: P-Bass. I'm more familiar (even though I recently got into Musicman) and there's fewer options. To me the P-Bass's basic tone always works, so fewer ways to mess up the bass tone is better in a "hurry up" situation.
I also think your demo puts the P-Bass at a disadvantage because it's slightly lower gain in your demos.
+kraigompls 👍👍👍👉👉👉👉
My P bass has a Badass bridge II, an absolutely beautiful birds eye maple Warmouth Neck, Steve Harris pickups and Hip-shot tuners. I play it one of every three practices. The Stingray is all Stock and I play it 2 out of every 3 practices. Bottom line, If you want to be cool and get laid, you need to have both these basses in your arsenal.
The P-bass is the emperor with no clothes.......Stingrays have always had a better overall tone that lets the bassists parts be articulated better.....your playing examples proved it. That being said...use what you like and color the sound to fit the song best, yes even a P-bass.
Grab the P Bass it never lets you down
I miss the old American Deluxe P Basses, that came with a P and a MM. Fender now offers their American Ultra, but it’s only a P with a single J.
I played a P-Bass in a metal band for years. Whenever we want to record our first album in told the engineer that I would only used my p bass and he said "good cuz I was gonna make you use one anyway" lol
Any studio or sound engineer prefer P Bass. Sounds way better in the mix....
I guess the reason for that is that most producers/engineers like the bass sitting behind in the mix and are more familiarized with the Precision. For someone playing an in-your-face bass style like, Red Hot Chili Peppers or Jamiroquai, the Stingray would be a better choice.
Better how?
It's possible to get almost any bass to site in a mix
It's what a mix is for
The Stingray is way more mid/high and punchy sounding than the P. That's why the Stingray and the Fender Jazz are so common between slap-heavy, front of the stage players.
Thiago de Andrade Neves
So assuming that's correct, they can't mix a stingray why?
I'm sorry but that's just lore
@@mindhead2005 you're being too literal. Of course you can do, but you'll have to compress a Stingray's mids and highs to make it sound warmer and less aggresive in the mix, while the P-Bass sounds like that naturally.
definitively the stingray ! Fender P bass might exhibit dead zone at the low part of the neck, mine did. the P bass tone is quite limited and being a passive bass dose not help at all. mostly you're buying a Fender tradition and name.
I own 3 p basses, sold all my other basses because you just can't beat the tone of the spilt single coil. I know it's not the sexiest of basses but it's the best all around bass you can get.
I like the Stingray better although the p-bass is favored for its stronger mid tones, I didn't hear that in your samples.
New recording gear coming next week so you should hear it more in upcoming videos. Thanks for chiming in!
I agree. The P bass sounded much flatter than the punchier SR.
The squier contemporary active HH bass beats both of them. Fr. It's the best for me and i think it's the best of the both worlds. I lobe that active sound and the option to boos my bass and treble. Also, the HH p-ups are very meaty😍😋. It is like a p-bass with the sparkle and clarity of a j-bass. It is just brilliant.
I want to try a pj-bass, i think it should sound pretty nice.
Learn something new everyday, here I thought I was rockin hard with my Jazz bass
Stingray - Active EQ, humbucker, board radius, and board width make an obvious difference. (I own/play a P-Bass now.) I’d have to have the roadie set the knob detentes to 0 for each pickup, then adjust up or down when I got into the mix, if no time to rehearse. Was surprised at how “P-Bass-y” that bridge pickup can sound. (No surprise to Tony Levin, et al.) But if the roadie just had a P-Bass, I’d be right at home. NP. Win-win.
I would choose a P Bass over anything. It has the a timeless sound that has been used in countless hit records throughout the years. It is THE tone for recording.
I would choose the stingray, I love their bright tone!
The Stingray 'rasp' did it for me in the demo.
Active vs passive played at low volume?
Bass is life
I like the p bass for punk
I like the stingray for slap
P bass Has a deeper tone and the Music Man is a little louder and throaty. I like both. It depends on what you are playing. I found lately that for thumping and plucking the Stingray sounds a little cleaner.
I just can't unsee the toilet seat hole-shaped pickguard on Stingrays.
That’s a tiny toilet seat.
If I'm playing a funk style I'm grabbing the Stingray , any other style P all the way
I'm a rocker.....You are right.
I'm not a bass player, but I will say that as a guitar player, the Silhouette is a far better guitar than a Strat. That statement is based on one thing, playing both of them.
In this video the P bass was nicer. But generally I'd grab a stingray cause it's the feel I'm used to.
Stingray feels better the tones are great too
Tough comparison because the fender was passive so it sounded a lot more subdued
Personally, I think the bolts (6-Singray, 4-P) might make a difference.
I love the USA Fenders Only but I'd Grab the Stingray
The stingray is more of my taste. The p bass sounds to muffled and weak sounding. The tone has more definition on the stingray, but that’s probably because it’s an active pickup with a 3 band eq .
P bass all day every day. I like stingrays and it might just be due to me playing a p since the beginning but it's a work horse. I've never been in a genre or situation it felt out of place in
P-Bass is fatter and richer, and sits very well in the low end of the mix - it's the go-to rock bass, and even has a dainty slap sound. Stingray sounds nasally in comparison, but I still love its sound in Sade songs. Paul Denman is a Stingray guy.
think p bass tones crisper plus i like a wider neck
I think in a mix the P-Bass might sound better
P bass definitely, it has a very iconic unmistakable sound
I like both
I grab the Precision ...why?.... I am a thumb anchor player like Billy Sheehan
Ok, ok, another "war" like Nikon-Canon in photography... btw, a prefer Nikon and Fender, I think because similar reasons... :)
Not enough difference between the two it even matter. I take the act of base for the sole reason of it being active. It gives me more tonal options. Other than that they sound pretty much the same.
Gimme dat STINGRAY !!! MUCH more solid sound , true tone and actual volume naturally. Absolute best actual EQ system that really lets you dial in your sound instantly and intuitively.
I hate everything about a Precision, but it pains me to say that they do sit in a mix better. That said, Rays rock harder!
And this is all about what rocks harder!
What I like about a P Bass is the low end growl. The MMSR certainly is punchier. For 3 piece rock that huge bottom of the P Bass is more important. For multi instruments the MMSR would be a better fit.
If i'm slapping I pick the stingray. Anything else I'll use the P-bass.
**describes slightly different necks** WELP! Thats the differences!
Nevermind the pickups or bridges or active vs passive electronics or literally any of the things that truly separate the two. 😂😂
Active vs pasive bass?? For real ?? 😀
Two different basses. I'd pick the P BUT maybe I'd pick both haha.
They both have the same dad
Great point. Leo made great kids 👶🏻
Yeah but my fav is always their middle brother. I'm a J guy
Jacob yeah, and the stingray.
i just dont like the p bass :/
@@abandonedaccount6878 I never liked P-basses in the past either but the sound just grows on you. At least it did for me. I was never a huge fan of the P neck so I took the neck from my 2004 MIM J-bass and slapped it on a P bass body I bought on reverb and its now my dream bass. I ended up buying a Fender fretless neck for the J bass to get my Jaco on. Too bad I suck at fretless!
There is a bit more clarity in the stingray. The P-bass wasn't bad, but, the stingray had a bit of a brighter, more clear tone.
DC Welker Yup! I play P-Bass, but i most definitely agree with you. There's no other way to say it
More clear and full, better note definition and ass kicking lows....... I'll take the sting ray any day of the week. For 15 years I pretty much played all vintage BC rich bases with double P bass pickups in them but after I spent some time with a Stingray years ago, now all the basses I've gotten over the last 15 years all have Stingray style humbuckers with active EQ. It just gives you so many more options. Even P bass pickups Sound better with an active EQ added to them.
Yeah man, totally agree with that comment too. I was actually even wondering to myself while listening- '....hmmm, I wonder if the same type of strings are being used on both basses and if they were fresh out the pack?' The Ray def does have more 'clarity' or pronunciation (maybe is a good way to put it) to it's tone' Like I said in another comment....Ray->shit like slipknot or Rage or whatever of the sort. P->almost anything else.
Its because of the fretboard's wood material.
@@ray1ashwin Haha no it's not. It's because of the active electronics. Unless you're reply was tongue-in-cheek.
Stage -> Stingray
Studio -> Pbass
One in each hand!
I have both and i definitely agree with luis
Agree....
Stingray hurts your back in Stage, so PBass live and Stingray studio xD
@@wrongname3636 If weight is a problem then you can use Ibanez SoundGear SR300 with a good effect & compressor to make it sounds heavy.
40 years of touring... Sting Ray 100% of the time
The HH Ray is one of the most versatile basses in the world. Deep vintage early 70's sound or trebley Geddy Lee sound. Series (HB) or Parallel (SC) switch. G& L the same thing. The H version of the SR is only good for a clicky clacky sound that's popular today.
@@bflo1000
You don't have a single H StingRay or StingRay 5?
Thank to the EQ this basses have the most massive but versatile tone you can imagine.
There is more to Explore than simply maxing out high and low end.
Just try it before talking bullshit out of lacking knowledge.
@@kongandbasses8732 No I don't. First of all I don't like the neck (I've at least played a SR). Prefer more of a J style neck. So for THAT reason alone I don't like the SR. I don't HAVE to own one to realize that the HH config would give me a hell of a lot more beef and if I WERE to buy one (IF I had the friggin money) then THAT'S the one I would get. And if you don't posts then don't fucking read them or reply back to them.
@@kongandbasses8732 Oh and honestly, before I even looked at a SR I'd first look at the Schecter Stage. Also active HH, more comfortable neck for easier and faster playing, NT, also great quality for about half the price...
Fender’s quality sucks these days. I love my Stingray5 man! Best built instrument I own.
I own around 100 guitars, but only one bass, and it's a Stingray.
Understandable.
Have a great day
100? what do you even do with 100 guitars?
so you dont play bass
badass
The stingray had a “better“ tone. But in context with other instruments, I think the P bass would sound better. With few exceptions, the electric bass is an instrument of accompaniment, and how it mixes with the other instruments is paramount.
I Love both. But I would pick the Stingray. It allways works fine for me in live situations. Leo build the best basses in the whole world. The P the J and the Ray. He was a genius. They all work fine in every situation
The P bass. I appreciate the Stingray but each time I’ve bought a 2 band or the new 3 band, it just does not work for me. I’m a pBass or jBass guy. To each there own.
same here, i used to have a few different stingrays but now I own an american P and J. Thats all I need.
Pbass. No battery, simple, + pure beautiful tone that just plain works... and for most about every application.
I just played my P at rehearsal a few days ago and you are right. Even some simple rolling of the tone knob really brought out some versatility.
Oh, does the Stingray not work in passive mode?
@@ljgarrison6910 There is no passive mode for the stingray
Stingray is better! Not SUB or Sterling, the better expensive kind actually made by Ernie Ball Music Man
Passive basses are good, but active is better IMO. I’ve played the expensive $2500 model, Sterling is good, but SUB is definitely NOT a MM.
P Basses are better for studio recording or playing at home. Music Man are better for Live playing. If you are into slap bass/walking like I am, MM is definitely better at both.
been messing with a stingray 5 for one year now and i feel like i should be able to give some decent opinions on the topic
For starters, you will not get rid of that nasal sound. Period. It's just something that's a byproduct of it's only pickup being in the bridge section of the body and the natural tone of the bass. While still on the topic of it's annoyingly persistant nasal sound i'd like to point out that yes, even though it's got an Active 3knob EQ that won't fix this issue, for even the EQ itself suffers from it. You see, if my ears don't fail me the knob for the mids seems to affect *mostly* the low-mid range and that means that whenever you try to "flatten" the sound by cuting down on mids the bass will still sound nasal while also losing the "fullness" and definition of the notes themselves. In other words; yes, in theory you have a gigantic range of tones at your fingertips, but most of them besides the natural Stringtray tone will sound like a cheap knockoff version of the desired result.
Another thing that messed me up; the highs.
Personaly, i found the highs to be quite annoying as well because even though they have that distinctive bite to them that locks in with the mid-heavy nature of the stringray to create that aggresive growl of a tone they just really, REALLY like to pop for no apparent reason. No amount of trebble cutdown will save you from this and if you try to hit say, Jason Newsted's tone using a Stingray you'll become painfully aware of how bad it is.
That's not to say that the Stingray has no strenghts to it though. On the opposite end of the table we have the lows. Oh god, the lows.
Yeah, as if that beastly mid-range growl wasn't enough this fucker of a bass has enough low-end to fill your pants with the aftermath of the brown note with ease. I mean Seriously, treat the bass knob for the Active EQ as a weapon and give it proper respect or you'll blow either your roof or your amp, maybe both. Some say that it has too much low end and it makes the notes feel like they're stuck to mud, but that's mostly personal taste in my opinion.
All in all the Stingray is a great bass if you want to cut through the mix. Great option to make melodic/complicated basslines and interludes come to life but no so much to lock in with the guitars since that mid-heavy tonality will fight with the guitars for the spotlight.
If i had to describe owning a Stingray in the most mundane way possible, it'd be like being the parent of a noisy teenager. Sure, you can't help but admire how angry and full of life someone in their prime is, but sometimes you wish from the bottom of your heart he'd just shut the fuck up.
Thanks for the useful insight
That is gold advice. Thank you. Parent of two teenagers. 😂
Loved that review.
Every bass has its sound, some more distinct than others. I think the Stingrays just have a very characteristic sound that you did a great job describing. The P Bass is somehow similar (as in having a very peculiar voice), being the only difference the fact that we all just get to hear a lot more p basses in our lives because it is, still, the industry standard. So it's peculiar, but familiar.
I also get a bit annoyed by the Stingray's highs. If you're slapping it with tone wide open and just a flat EQ, the pops already feel like a needle to me. Could be just personal preference, but even on jazz basses I roll the tone just a hair down not to get stung by too bright pops, and I think the stingrays are definitely on that side.
But the growl, OMG. It's just unlike anything else.
I currently own two basses: an American Pro P Bass (like in the video, one pickup) and a Flea signature jazz bass, which has those stacked knobs that allow you to roll down each pick up tone individually. I do want to get a 5 string bass and I'm a bit torn between a Stingray Special HH or a Warwick Corvette $$. If I get a Warwick I know I'll get a more adaptable, high quality, all-round modern tone that I can shape a lot. If I get a Stingray, I just get a Stingray.... but it's a Stingray.
Question, wouldn't a EQ pedal solve half of your problems?
You say this but watching Pino on a fret less stingray playing wherever I lay my hat ? The tone is 😮 maybe it’s not the tool it’s how the workman wields it ? Dig your comments tho i mainly play a p I picked up a bass level sub and am thinking of purchasing a ray all input is good input
James Jamerson, Geezer Butler, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Carol Kaye, Pino Palladino, Steve Harris, Willie Weeks, Sting, Paul Simonon , John Paul Jones... they all don't lie.
The music man stingray wasn't even around when any of them played so kind of unfair to say that.
You forgot the legend John entwistle
I have seen Palladino playing a Stingray as often as playing a p-bass.
But John Paul Jones played a J Bass.
@@del5582 ua-cam.com/video/0VqqM_1j6Sc/v-deo.html
Music man Stingray forever.
No
@@psyche5893 yes MTF
i have both. depends on the music
I would grab the stingray and run out of the building cause’ I don’t know how to play 😃
HA!
When you phrase it the way you did at the very beginning, not only is the answer P bass, but even most Stingray guys are going to pick the P bass too in that scenario. It's the safe "generic" choice for walking into an emergency situation like that. You want to make a good impression, you're humble, you're there to do a job and not steal the spotlight. It's a sign of respect to show up with a Fender in a situation like that. Not that a Stingray is a far out choice by any means, but between the two it has a far greater chance of doing something unexpected in the mix. As far as which "rocks harder", the Stingray certainly has a reputation for an aggressive sound, but a P bass can easily be made its equal in that regard while still retaining a sound that supports the band better. I love Stingrays too, and I own both. It's just that not many models compare favorably to a good P bass. The best way to regret buying that nice boutique bass is to sit down and compare it to your P.
Well said!!
if youre trying to really rock like he said, im not going to pick something "generic and safe". obviously, the roadie is going to have it set up for you. what rock shows are you going to that everyone is trying to be humble and not be in the spotlight? regardless the ray punches way harder and that's what you need at a live rock show.
Stingray. As much as I love the P-bass I think the Stingray is much more versatile and offers more of an aggressive tone.
The SR sounds good in this demo. But he's using his fingers. P basses wound better w a pick. a SR or JB sounds TOO articulate w a pick. Many rockers prefer playing w a pick.
Also, it's not only about sound. You would HEAR the SR better in the mix, but you FEEL the P bass more.
@@bflo1000 stingrays still sounds good with a pick i think, bc it has a 3 band EQ so you can adjust the tone by yourself..you need a brighter tone? Just crank up the treble, if you need muddier or darker tone, just crank down the treble/mid
Have you ever heard a P bass with overdrive? Probably one of the most aggressive bass tones you can get, especially played with a pick
@@am0ungth3l1ving ain't that the Truth! Since this comment I have gone through one p-bass and now I'm playing a jazz. Funny how things change!
The Stingray has a sound that makes an impression, until you realize you can't ever get rid of that sound. It's like the bass that wants to be a guitar. The P just sounds like a bass is supposed to sound and always does.
True. I had have a Stingray 5, finally tired of it too Stingraish tone. Now have Yama BB and a PBass.
unabonger777 I never saw it that way, it does make a lot of sense. Unless you absolutely love that Stingray sound or have enough cash to have both, you do get a much more neutral, classic tone with the P Bass.
I personally own two basses: an American P Bass and a Flea Jazz Bass. I love to play around with the second because it has a lot of tone flexibility (being jazz and also having tone and volume stacked knobs for each pickup), but if I need to pick one, I always go with the P Bass reliability.
The p-bass was the first bass guitar ever made, so it became the standard for how bass is "supposed" to sound.
You can find so great bongos on eBay for much less!
Querymonger that's part of it for sure but the P-bass also emulates an upright bass tone in a way, and I believe Leo considered that the original "standard".
The P bass is perfect in nearly all situations. It always sits perfectly in the mix and is a timeless classic...... and Steve Harris plays one.
P basses sometimes still burried in the mix and the user is mostly if it's not a rock/metal bassist then a pop bassist so it means less versatility, Stingrays won't.. it always fits in the mix and every genres of song..even if you're not a good audio mixer. So i think stingray is the winner...
I find the only time a P is buried in the mix is when the strings and/or pickups provide no upper mid content. If they do you never get buried. And you never worry about a battery.
@@67NewEngland Agreed! I love the sound of passive basses. Not having to worry about a dead battery is also awesome.
@@mashilmy you are 100% correct. P Bass purists will argue all day, even though they know deep down inside the stingray was Leo Fender's best guitar ever
@@shuruff904 Best is subjective, but do you think the p-bass can do things the stingray can't, and visa versa? Both use one pickup, of different types. So I would assume sound wise and genre wise one would fit into a category better.
P bass for me. Simple, rocks hard, the everything sound, iconic design, no battery..
Surprisingly, the Music Man Stingray, had a more responsive sound, from your doodling!! IMO.....leif
For live, I would grab the Stingray, but for sessions, it would depend on the session, but would probably grab the P Bass
I would never own a bass with less than 21 frets
Because I couldn't play the orion solo
Cause you compose alot on the 15th thru 21st frets all the time!? Lol
Lol, lol, lol that was pretty funny
work your finger muscles and bend....wait we are bass players why are you over 20th
I love both basses, and he nailed it with “you can’t make a bad choice”. personally I generally enjoy playing the Stingray more than the P-bass. Let’s face it, it’s in the playing , but Tony Levin’s tone with a Stingray, wow!
I own a couple of both and love them all but the P Bass is my favorite. The P ust has such a classic tone, great feel and rock solid build
The new Professional P feels much better to me than the recent American Standard stuff. Had a few of those and the neck was a little off, but these new ones feel great!
I have been playing bass since 1971 and I have played many, many basses. The P is still my favorite and works with every type of music.
... just realised you played before my dad was even born lol
I agree 👌🏼
Does it cut it for metal? such as Metallica and Pantera?
@@RK_peace With the right EQ and the right strings....yes!
@@Spritsailor what strings would you recommend ?
I could never get used to the stingray. Somehow it lacks personality IMO. Super bassy and super trebly, no mids. That sound of strings hitting the frets just drives me nuts. I mean no disrespect to anyone, please. That’s just my opinion not an unquestionable truth.
And amongst the Fenders, PBass is king.
P Bass every time. Instinctive, simple, versatile. Great sound. Welcome at any party.
You can never ever go wrong on a P bass.
Love them both, but if only one, P Bass for life. :)
Great video! I have a P-bass and a J-bass, and I dream of expanding my collection, by adding a Stingray to it. Maybe some day.
p 4ever. also: batteries suck
As im running on stage, i grab the stingray. Why? Everyone likes the p bass. So that makes the stingray seem cooler to a 14 year old like me
Stingray all day long the best necks in the world.
MrOrange true
P-Bass IS my go-to for stage and studio. I used to have a sweet Ray along with others over the years but a Fender P is my only must have. Rock on!
I've owned and loved both but I now just play the P bass.
Me too
-I’ve always wished the Stingray was designed to still have output even if the battery died like a G&L can.
I had a stingray for 10 years and loved it - both in studio and live. I now play an American Elite P bass and its the best bass I've ever had.
Have you played and American Deluxe? How does the changes they made from the Deluxe to Elite change the bass in your opinion?
Real easy for me--I've been shopping for a better bass, and I have tried several of each. Being older and having small hands, fretting is generally hard for me. The EBMM, even the Sterlings, are infinitely more comfortable in my hands. I like to test ease of playing with one step intervals, both picked, and I find them more difficult to nail accurately on the Precision. I can take my POS Sterling Sting Ray, hold it out from my body, and nail them every time. I put my hands on a $2600 Stingray today, and it was like butter. I couldnt miss a note. As far as sound goes, if you are putting it into a DAW, then you are going to tweak it, anyway. Ease of playing is much more important in my world.
I put flats on my stingray and it offset the inherent brightness perfectly. From there I don't feel there's a sound that I can get from my p-bass that i can't get with my stingray.
Flats on a stingray?....you’re a monster! Jk! Lol
Why would you offset the brightness of the stingray?!!! Heresy!
Stingray with flatwounds are very funky!!
Hello you play a stingray with flats ?
@@kafkareicer4549 I play a sterling by Music Man with flats
I love both.
But to answer your question, the Stingray.
But both are great.
P-Bass with Seymor Duncan Quarterpounder, Maple Fretboard and Flats
Lol ok Steve harris, try sounding like yourself.
A few years back I would've agreed with you (apart from the maple fretboard). I used to wax lyrical about my Quarterpounder until it failed. A luthier had put it into my Jap Squier Precision (for no real reason other than because he had it lying around and I was impressed by the meaty name) and I decided to try and get back to (as close to) the original as I could get on eBay. When I put it in I was knocked out. On paper it was not a particularly special pickup but the tone was warm in a way that still rocked and it has soul. Quarterpounders are seriously overweighted in the low end but have no real sonic appeal to my (older) ears. There are much better pickup options that give you far more tonal options and you can always dial up that low end bass with EQ or FX if that is your thing.Try going veggie - you won't regret it!
Yah man just like Steve Harris uses
Never buy a signature model bass or guitar, you want to sound like yourself not replicating another artist.
Haha that's not really at all an answer to the question he asked in the video... would be a pretty nice bass set up though.
I really loved the tone of the Stingray
P Bass. Hard to not get a good sound out of it. Not to mention, it's extremely F.O.H.-friendly straight from the DI Box.
Good point about FOH. If the sound man is happy, we are happy 😃
I have had both, and I gravitate toward the stingray.
That said, I gravitate toward MY stingray, a passive stingray.. I am a big guy and I prefer to play toward the bridge of the bass so having the SR pickup right there is perfect for me, not to mention the wider nut makes things easier for my big hands. Also another little thing, the pickup on the SR is a lot bigger so it gives me more options for thumb anchoring.
With the P bass, it sounds fine, but I always feel a little squished when I play it.
I've owned an American P bass for 40 years. That's all I need.
If I want to be Jamerson, Ronnie Baker or Duck Dunn, I'm going with the P. If I want to be Bernard Edwards, Louis Johnson or John Deacon, I'll go with the MM. Can't go wrong with either!
Have a P-Bass and a Stingray. Love them both. 2 classics!
Which do you prefer? Can only afford one $1500-2k bass lol. I like the funky tones of the stingray but I have a fender Strat and always loved Fender’s look/shape.
I've been using them both for the last few years. Then... Sold my Stingray and bought another Pbass from 1978 ... No regrets. The way Music Man plays is almost unbeatable but the Power and sound of a good Pbass .... 😍
I`ve owned both (amongst others) but the P bass is the best all -round, fit in anywhere instrument.
If you play like that it´s impossible to distinguish a Rat from a Mammoht !! If you are a Guitarrist just stay there.
un demo de bajos sin slap! aleluya!