Best Stingray knockoff?

[alex1fly]

In my opinion the Musicman Stingray is the ultimate bass guitar. It has the tone, playability, and looks that just resonate with me. The only thing I don't like is the price tag - even used, these puppies keep their value, and it's hard to find one for less than $1000.

There may not be anything like the real thing, but I'm open to attempts. My Korean-made PRS SE is great, as is my Chinese-made Epi LP.

Are there any decent foreign-made versions of the Musicman Stingray?

[jmh151]

There's the Sterling line, which is the licensed import brand of Ernie Ball

[alex1fly]

Think im just GASsing. new sterlings run almost the same price as a used stingray. should just save up, because i want the real thing.

[phil_104]

Think im just GASsing. new sterlings run almost the same price as a used stingray. should just save up, because i want the real thing.

Save up. My bass player has a Stringray 4 (natural, black guard, maple fretboard), and so much of the charm from the instrument comes from the fact that it's made with great woods and components, and just has a great feel.

If you like them, just save up.

[jtougas]

You can probably find an OLP used on the 'bay... they were supposed to be decent licensed knock-offs.

[speed2dirt]

Warrior makes a model that has the big Stingray humbucker & bolt-on neck (see eBay link below). I'm sure it will sound different, but you may like the differences. That pickup combination with the active preamp will give you a ton of versatility. The fact that they're handmade and use premium woods means you will get a higher quality bass. Submit an offer and see how low he'll go.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warrior-Bass...item20c5046614

[jdier]

I would check CL every morning and check the surrounding cities.

I have seen stingrays go for as little as $900.

[jtougas]

*nods* There's a pewter/rosewood one going around here for $700ish...

[uOpt]

Be quick, still sub-800:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170860572601...84.m1423.l2649

[uOpt]

Still 800 with just a couple minutes for the snipers to go:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-MUSIC-M...#ht_1020wt_997

[alex1fly]

Lordy those suckers are beautiful.

Would have to feel it in my hands before buying. Haven't bought a bass in years, plus I want a 5-string version, which can be hella unwieldy unless you get the right one.

[uOpt]

A 5-string stingray is more of a self defense thing. Pretty massive.

[Funkfingers]

+1 one on the five string version. I find the string spacing too cramped.

Own fretted and fretless SR four stringers. Tried S. U. B. and OLP equivalents. No comparison. The genuine article is expensive for a reason. The Real Thing will looks, feel and sound utterly professional.

Do you need your next bass to BE a Stingray or simply to SOUND like one? Plenty of high end bass guitars are available with the MM style pickup but with a whole bunch of other features besides. I lurve P, J and 'Ray basses but my five string is a Warwick.

[uOpt]

What is weird that I am really gassing for one of those black ones with maple fretboard. I hate the same color combo on a Strat.

And they seem to be consistently cheap, like most black guitars. ****.

[alex1fly]

+1 one on the five string version. I find the string spacing too cramped.

Own fretted and fretless SR four stringers. Tried S. U. B. and OLP equivalents. No comparison. The genuine article is expensive for a reason. The Real Thing will looks, feel and sound utterly professional.

Do you need your next bass to BE a Stingray or simply to SOUND like one? Plenty of high end bass guitars are available with the MM style pickup but with a whole bunch of other features besides. I lurve P, J and 'Ray basses but my five string is a Warwick.

Needs to be one. Its just in tune with my hands and mind. Ive played for 11 years, and no bass gets me like a stingray. I teach and produce... not a collector, so buying multiple basses isnt an appealing option.

[alex1fly]

EDIT: visited gc yesterday, tried three stingray 5s. Neck is perfect size, strings easy to reach. Why does this bass feel so good?? I tried two maple boards, one classic (one humbucker, two band eq, volume) and one "modern" (two humbucker, 3 band eq) . Supposedly the neck radius is different. They were both nce but the classic was just butter. Even ended up jamming with a gc employee for a bit while the store was dead. Also tried the rosewood boards, which were decent. Mapleboard models had more snap and note seperation, rosewood was more rumble and notes all going together.

I swear, and this happens to me every single time ive played a classic stingray over the years, the bass just melts into my hands, we immediately form a bond, i hear everything i play, my musical personality leaps out of the amp, and almost effortlessly i sound like a hoss! That bass just removes barriers between the creative ether of my brain and the real world. Love.

[Funkfingers]

I can understand why you dig Stingrays. The question then is what sounds you expect from it. Something with the MM bridge PU, a Jazz Bass neck PU, clever switching and 2-band EQ would cover most eventualities in one instrument.

Shoot. Now, I want a two pickup Stingray.

[alex1fly]

I can understand why you dig Stingrays. The question then is what sounds you expect from it. Something with the MM bridge PU, a Jazz Bass neck PU, clever switching and 2-band EQ would cover most eventualities in one instrument.

Shoot. Now, I want a two pickup Stingray.

Yeah you do

[Funkfingers]

Yeah you do

Yup. An MM/J pickup, fretted Stingray would replace two of my existing bass guitars. Then again, so would a Warwick with those pickups.

[gibson175]

Think im just GASsing. new sterlings run almost the same price as a used stingray. should just save up, because i want the real thing.

yes.