An affordable Musicman Stingray Bass? - Sterling by Musicman Ray24 Bass Review
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
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Here's my full review of the new Sterling by Musicman Ray24 Bass, an affordable version of the iconic Musicman Stingray Bass. The price of this bass bridges the SUB Ray4 and the Ray34.
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I have been playing for 12 years and have stuck with Fender and Warwick. I played this recently at my local music shop just to pass some time and was blown away by the feel and tone of this thing. Absolutely killer bass for $500.🤙
This is the Sterling 24 it's around 500 bucks
This one is $599 at GC and Amazon.
@@spacep0d Just bought the MM/Sterling Ray5,HH. From Amazon. Really impressed with this bass. Alot of fret ring outta the box. Easy two,
1/4 turns of the truss rod wheel. It plays so great now.
Mine is Red body/maple fretbrd.
I sold off my two, US Stingray 5s yrs ago. Glad i tried this $440 import.
@@ernieD Nice, yeah it plays so well!
where did you see the ray24 for $300?
i think your skills would make any bass sound great
Thank you!
While skills makes basses sound good. Some of the feel of basses are very different. You can tell when frets are smooth or not
esa es una verdad a medias
Musical gear companies hate your comment.
@@ChipsA17 a good luthier can close a lot this "feel" gap between premium and budhget
Such a good review and demo ! I reeeeeally wish all bass guitar demos were like yours, short and very useful and descriptive talk, incredibly high quality playing in every style, a complete test of its features ... Just a whole perfect video !!!
I got the Sterling with the butterscotch finish and the “SLO” feature, about six months ago. It’s an incredible bass, period, with money not being a factor. I compared it to a MM Stingray to other SUB basses and the $800. My guitar sounded and played better than all of them.
That tone is killer. I may have to pick one up
When he used pick , that’s when I realised why metal bassists prefer musicman :D
Great demo! I picked up one of these after being out of my bass game for waaayyyy too long. This thing is really no joke for the price point. I adjusted the nut slot height, truss rod, string height and intonation and this thing plays like a dream. Totally worth it, and definitely a classic design to boot.
I love the sound of an Stingray even the Sterling by Musicman basses, it has that real clean sound.
Just picked up a Sterling Ray34 and I absolutely love it the sound and the action are outstanding 👍👍👍👍
What do you think of this bass? Leave a comment and let me know!
It sounds great for the price. Would you say it would be a great choice for Louis Johnson type grooves in the vein of say Stomp?
Absolutely. Louis Johnson was famous for the Stingray and is one of the reasons it even exists! If you're looking for that sound, a Stringray is definitely the way to go and this one will give you that characteristic sound.
Thank you for the info, and also for the great vids ! I always learn something from your presentation.
Thank you Jeffery! I appreciate your kind words!
i bought one of these in mint green like 3 years ago. Still love it to this day btw it was the ray 43 and i picked it up for 599 new due to a memorial day sale
Even buzzes like a music man they nailed that!
Lol best comment ever
It can be hard to differentiate between “buzz” and rattle. If you play any instrument hard enough it will rattle. New round wound strings are bright and more sensitive to fret noise. This is not not a bug, many bassists over the years have made this a large part of their sound/style. Chris Squire, Flea ect,
Took me 2 years to run into this video, but I was wondering about these bass guitars. Great video bruh! I just got one today and love it!
I used to be a Fender guy... until I got my hands on a MusicMan. I now own four basses; two Sub Sterlings, one Ray 24 and a MM Stingray.... Love the feel and sound!!
Great review Marc! I don't think most people are realizing that you're testing the BRAND NEW Ray24 and not the 34. I didn't even know a 24 was coming out (to match the Fender Mexican basses I'd assume).
All in all, great characteristic Stingray sound and it kinda falls into the same category as the Mexican basses - you get almost the same sound but with cheaper electronics, wood and parts (except in this case with 1 less EQ option as well). Great iniative by MusicMan. I just wish they'd change the brand's name, Sterling by MusicMan sounds...well lets just say not appealing and very confusing since MusicMan Sterling already exists as well. But anyhow, excellent review and thank you!
Honestly don't worry too much about what bass you'll get. As long as it feels good in your hands, any bass works. People usually fall into the trap of always looking for "the right model" but you should be more worried about learning how to play first.
For a beginner the best bang for your buck choices are either the SUB4, the VM Squier basses or the budget-line Ibanez basses. I like Stingrays and I feel like the SUB4 is a great bass so if you like the sound go for it. And it's a bass that can last a lifetime, really. Besides, it's highly versatile since it has an active EQ which can shape your sound.
Jon Oz the Squier Vintage Modifies are awesome for the money. Nothing else comes close at the $300 price point in my opinion.
@@casebass2316 Yamaha BB234/5,TRBX174/204 blows the Squier VM out of the water.
T.I.N Mateus I’ve never played one. I’ll check them out if I get a chance.
Sorry that I have to correct you. You don't get "one tone option less" but the original StingRay EQ setting.
The three band EQ was a feature of the (original) Sterling of EB. In the StingRay series the 3 band EQ only comes stock with the SR5. The SR4 still is available with two band EQ or three band EQ.
StingRay connoiseurs say, that the two band EQ is better. It has a higher boost and cut rate of high end and low end, so you are able to cut high and low end to make the mids more pronounced, without lacking high and low end.
The three band EQ is a little easier to understand, just add or cut the eq band you like.
I own a StingRay 5 Classic, who have the 2 band EQ like all StingRays had in the beginning, and I have to say that I love the tone as much as I love the tone of my two SR5 with 3 band EQ.
I have a SR4 with 3 band EQ, but it would be no problem if he had the 2 band EQ, as I explained earlier.
Sterling basses got that thunger!thunder! The harder you play the better it sounds.
That bass boost all the way up and treble all the way down is sooooooo niiiiiiiicce.
Just purchased one, they play and sound amazing, love this bass...
Im sorry, but they look like toilet seats.
You set a great of example for how to review instruments! Great video quality, great audio quality, and most of all good signal chain to allow viewers to accurately hear what the bass sounds like. You also completely review and demo all the features of the bass, and play different genres. I'm looking for an upgrade to my starter bass guitar and I really needed an in depth review of this bass guitar. You are amazing! Only thing missing is a description your signal chain.
I just purchased the Sterling Stingray short-scale SS-4. It has exceeded my expectations. The fit, finish, sound & playability are very impressive. Low-action & No Buzz. oNe LovE from NYC
Student model flute made of plated brass is about $300 retail.
An intermediate flute with a sterling silver head joint is around $700, and a model you would take to college to get a degree in flute starts around $2000.
Pretty close to the same price range of basses.
Seems like a good option to get some of that Music Man sound without the Music Man price... :) I was looking at one of these the other day (the 5 string version of it, anyway). Thanks for this demo!
The solo on the beginning is the best bass solo i ever heard ,EPIC !
Thank you so much for sharing this video. I just purchased a sterling Stingray 5 and this video gave me the best idea of what I spend my money for. You went through all the styles without setting the bass up first and I really appreciate that. Keep grooving my brother and thanks again.
After playing guitar for 39 years, I decided to buy my very first bass guitar today. A Sterling Sting Ray, great quality for a starter bass player ( especially the active pick ups ). I tried out several other basses at the music store ( including Yamaha and Squire ), and I found the Sterling was the best for its price range. I'm just learning to play bass so don't expect me to play any Rush songs just yet, lol.
I own one. Just bought it today. Thanks to the reviews I was instantly having a love at first site moment. Like you said it's light. Something I wasn't expecting bit it came with was good hardware. It may not be curved on the body but it makes up for it in tone.
What's funny is when the Ray 34 first came out it was going for about $500 then they jumped up to the current price, I have the SUB which feels good in the hands and sounds decent but if you swap out the electronics it would sound a lot better probably as good as the Ray 34. This Ray 24 sounds really nice, it has the signature MM sound which the SUB really doesn't .
1thess523 I put a Nordstrand Big Blades in mine, makes it sound better than the ray34 IMO, and I've only got 400$ into it between the bass itself and the pickup replacement (which I did myself.) Definitely worth every penny I've put into it.
Bass sounds great, plays great, affordable, and ( most importantly ).... They ARE quite light.
No brainer, it's worth it's asking price, and then some.
stan broniszewski lol yeah going from my thunderbird 4 to this today. As I’ve only ever owned the thunderbird. When it got here I had to question if there was actually a bass inside the box. Feels like a feather in my hands and my back and shoulders thanked me after finishing a long practice just now.
I actually really liked the sound when you boosted the treble
Hell yes this bass is worth every penny! I got mine through an endorsement and they are amazing in the studio and live
Is this a passive or active bass?
I would get one in a heartbeat!!! It sounds great for the price! The only difference I see that the pickup has ceramic poles and the Ernie Ball has Alnico magnets. If it’s a big deal, change the pickup(s).😌👍🏾
Have one, love it - super bang for the buck!
Played many "real Rays" (I do repairs) and this thing satisfies my jones
for a Stingray !
Great review Marc! it should also be noted that the Ray24 is based on the classic StingRays. .. two band EQ and non-contoured body.
I got the 5-string version of this bass. I bought it at a local music store last summer for less than $570 after the tax charge. It was totally worth buying it.
Fantastic demo, really well covered.
I think this bass sounds great for slap style playing.
I bought one of these from Sweetwater, for about $600..I once owned a real Stingray..I think this bass is a steal at $600.Yes, it is well made, solid and sounds like a Musicman.I have a 5 string, the B string is very tight for $600..I thought about buying the $1800 stringray..No way, not worth, a grand more,.There is no way, a real Stingrays Quality is 3 better than this Bass..This is a GREAT bass for the money, the lack of a MID control is not a bummer...I recommend this Bass, for a Pro or beginner. This bass kicks ass..You can upgrade the pre-amp...But I would not, it might lose the Classic Musicman sound
is the neck strong, considering the thin nut?
I mean i just bought this as my first bass. I like it
After the jazzbass and precision , the Sterling ray 24 or 34, my next bass guitar !!!👍👍👍
A very comprehensive and thorough review combined with excellent technique, thanks Marcelo. Maybe this will be my Christmas present to myself!
Another outstanding review... You always cover all the bases answer the important questions And you're playing is just fantastic🎵 Thanks so much!
He definitely covers all the basses! :D
Maybe I'm a philistine, but I played the S.U.B bass recently and really liked it. Its neck is thinner than the StingRay, so it's actually easier to play. I didn't just think it was great for the price; I liked it better than some far more expensive basses. If I were going to go cheap and not get a StingRay, I wouldn't bother with the middle-priced Ray24 and I'd just get a S.U.B. The one in mint green looks very nice too.
Ordered mine yesterday. Now the waiting game!
is the neck strong, considering the thin nut?
Sounds great man. Thanks for the demo, I just played my friends SUB series bass today and was surprised at how much I enjoyed playing it!! Looking into the 24's!
I watched this vid 6 months ago, and decided against buying this bass. Watched it again, bought the bass, and enjoy it. I was always a Fender SNOB, glad I watched this, glad I made the purchase, thanks man
I picked one up. I haven't had anything musicman in a long time. Since a Bon go about 10 years ago. This is a very versatile bass. I love it. Great for the rock cover band I'm in
I owned one of these and I had the coolest color that I have seen, blue sparkle. I totally dug that bass and I thought that it was a great bass. It sounds killer in this video.
I love the sparkle colors!
Keith Pasculli where did you order it ? I'm Italian I don't where I can find it ,this bass is amazing ...now i have a trbx305 by Yamaha
I got it off of talkbass.com classified section.
Keith Pasculli The red sparkle is one of the most beautiful bass guitars ever.
Great review and man you've got some chops. I bought this as my first bass and it sounds incredible to me. I'm primarily a guitarist/vocalist so I find the short scale 30" bass easy to play. I use a pick....and it records great too! The slap sound you got out of it sounds amazeballs.
Dude! You’ll make any bass sound amazing...no fair!
Cool review, very intuitive and complete. Thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to produce this review Marcelo. I'm in the market for a Music Man so this informs my decision making. Full fledged Stingrays are now at $2,500 + in 2023...yikes!!
I can tell you for certain that jumping up to the full tilt boogie Ray34 that came out in '21, is worth it with the roasted maple neck and fretboard. It's got a punch to it that's balanced and full. Scored a B-stock in Firemist Silver for $749 a couple years ago.
Sounded the same to me. Now the slaps are killer sounding.
Hello and greetings from Germany. No question, what comes from the company ernie Ball, speaks for quality. And the sound is close to the Stingray. What bothers me personally, is the body shaping, or much more, the non-existent body shaping. But it's also at the classic Stingray! No question, the price must come from somewhere, of course (made in China?) A real option for people with a low budget, or beginner. But the original is undefeated... Sorry, for my English. Super Kanal, freundliche Grüße, Tobias!
i think it's made in Indonesia
ahimsax I have an SUB ray 4 that’s made in Indonesia
@ Your sure as hell not going to find a decent American made bass for five hundred....
@@morrisblanco4245 - That I know. However, some good basses that do hold up to primarily clubs & small venues can be gotten for less. But someone like Geddy Lee? Fergettaboutit! He needed a bass that could survive a war. But a ten thousand dollar bass can hold up just as good as a two thousand dollar bass. Most times, primarily paying for the name.
In Germany the price is about 1000 Euros. Too expensive in my opinion. But the original is 2400 Euros.....
Great sounding bass your right it does have that signature Stingray sound and at an affordable price 👍
Jungle Boogie ❤️
I KNOW IT,S 2021 BUT WITH YOUR SKILL THIS IS A GREAT DEMO OF THIS BASS. THANKS.
I picked up a Ray25 ca, and upgraded it with an Aguilar pickup and a Tone Monster 3 band preamp. It has become one of my favorites, especially for recording. It always sits perfectly in the mix. Well worth the money.
I was going to ask that! If i change the pickup only will this make a big differenxe? Because i hears the difference in pickup in the sub ray with the aguilar and its amazing
Surprisingly it sounded great with a pick
Dayum I love the start :D My head just goes crazy lol :D
You sold me sir. I now own the ray25ca and I'm playing right along with you,(not on your level of course)! The EQ is identical and the rosewood neck gives it the perfect contrast from the maple neck of my Music Man Classic Series Stingray 5.
Love my sub 4. My buddy has stingray 5 and paid over 2k. He played mine and felt he got robbed!. In fact, he borrows mine to gig with when he needs a 4
Still loving it? :) Thinking about getting one as my beginner bass!
Back in the early 2000s Music Man tried to release a lower-priced line of Basses that were still made in the USA, and came up with the “SUB” line (yet another reason to hate the “Sterling By Music Man” and current “SUB” names) - what they did was make them slab-cut bodies made from Poplar, which sounds very much like Alder for a fraction of the price (in the late ‘80s to early ‘90s, the full-on Music Men were made of either Ash, Alder or Poplar before switching to Ash almost full-time), a spray-in Matte Finish that didn’t need to be buffed out, saving huge amounts of time being made as well as matte-finished Necks as opposed to the Oil & Wax versions, slightly cheaper versions of the passive or 2-band active versions of the Stingray pickups and Hardware. Nothing was truly “cheap”: most of the money was saved was on the non-buffed finishes on slab-cut Bodies and 1-step finished Necks. But they were made in SLO right next to their Big Siblings, and played/sounded *fantastic* for the money. Ultimately EBMM realized they were losing money on the project and halted it, starting up the “SBMM” company a few years later.
I have an rare USA-made “SUB Sterling” in a color only used on *6* of the SUB Sterlings & owned a “SUB 5” for about a year (and yes, selling that off was a huge fault in my part: at the time I didn’t have a Preamp that worked well with it) but the Sterling is an amazing Rock Bass, and I’m keeping my Ebay eyes open for a USA SUB 5 Stingray rather than purchase a SBMM Ray 35 or 25.
I have the black one from 2004 I love it!
I have a matte black 2004 MM SUB and it sounds awesome
Absofuckinglutely. If anyone sees a SUB bass, the original one, go for it without question. I almost got into one but seller backed out. Still on the prowl for one.
I have a US MM SUB as well and this thing doesn't scream budget at all, it's a stingray where it counts.
Agreed
Bottom line is it sounds like a expensive Sting ray bass and so does the cheaper SUB bass I have the SUB and am very happy with it. I played a lot of basses in that price range and always came back to the SUB bass.
Bought the sub for 250.00 maybe 4 or 5 years ago.I am used to playing Fender P bass, and some jazz style basses that I made. At church It did not fit in the mix well.I moved the pick up towards the neck ,and put an aluminum pick guard on it.It has better bottom now.For slap, and tap ,and pick it a good bass.It,s maple neck, and light weight body make it the nicest bass physically that I own.I thought about putting a P-46 Bill Wilde pick up in it, but I have a 1983 Kramer Focus 7000 with the P-46 in it that is a killer bass for all around use, and a 1974 fender P bass stock, and a home made P bass with two sp-1 Duncan P bass pick ups in it that sounds great in the mix at church.I must say for the money that the sub bass is very nice.Sorry for being long winded, but I love bass. 71 years old ,and have been playing 48 years.
..great review! I own the Ray34ca and well, since then i love the Sterling Ray models, they are awesome ! ❤ 👍
I was never interested in a Musicman until this video! I need to try one. Nice job Marcelo.
Great review and playing @The Bass Wizard. I wish you could do a side to side review of the 5 strings version of this bass and your SR5.
There's a great story about Jaco pastorius showing Marcus Miller a bassline and Marcus saying 'yeah but I do it like this', and starts doing his slap based technique. Jaco looks at him and says 'yeah I can do that too but I don't...'
This is a very helpful review. I did not hear much different in the low end knob, but heard the changes in the treble knob. I was going to get a Ray4, but the Ray24 feels really better in my hands.
I think it sounds great.
But as others have said, you are clearly a great player and the sound is all in your hands.
I bet you make any bass sound good.
Bought one .Replaced the pick up with a Seymour Duncan and change the strings
.Will be playing through an Orange 25 for home studio use
Great review! Thank you. Helps me alot in my decision making!!
There was a little bit of fret buzz but seems like a solid bass a good alternative for the beginner that Dont want the usual jazz or p bass,or even a back up bass
And I'm here like "$500? That's cheapish range?" I gotta keep searching for the $69 bass.
Check out Glarry or Amoun products. I think they sell for about $69 (shipping included) and they're supposedly great for the money you're paying. I can't speak from experience though. I only own a fender acoustic bass
Craigslist and facebook marketplace are HOTT right now
harley benton p basses
Check out the Stingray SUB Ray4 or Ray5. It's cheaper, but still seems like a solid buy
@@morten1 I played the SUB Ray4 a few times and was going to get one, until I decided to play the Classic Ray24 and it was no contest. The Ray24 had a much better feel to it when playing it. Both are good and my choice is the Ray24.
This bass sounds great, however, so does the SUBray4 bass. I use one live and get many compliments.
Same. Is yours walnut with rosewood neck too?
@@PickleJar251 yes
@@rickb1266 nice I use mine when I play out due to it's versatility and people love the thing
@@PickleJar251 I do the same thing with mine. I have recently installed an Ernie Ball bridge mute kit to my SUB bass, just like the classic Stingray bass.
The tone on these is just sick. For the $ there's nothing else out there like it.
Budget instruments have come so far since I started playing back in '07 (not really that long ago I guess haha). I remember saving for my Sterling HH because the Subs weren't available anymore but I had to have that MM sound. I'd definitely put down $500 for one of these, it sounds fantastic!
Damn, we referring to the early 2000’s like that already ;-;
Instruments made over seas can be great with good QC from the parent company. Learned this several years ago when I got a PRS SE, made in S Korea
Sounds great so clean and pristine sound.
What better if the price is about 850$: Sterling Ray35 or Fender Player Precision Bass?
Depends on your playing style, but I would recommend the stingray
@@SprunkCovers Thank You!
Nice song choice . Jungle Boogie !
Got a trans blue just before Christmas, for the money there excellent. Nice and punchy for that funk sound
Louis Johnson would be pleased smooth slapping love it
What makes it worth paying $200 more over the SUB Ray4? Is it a better pickup? Better hardware?
Not sure if you are still interested in an answer but I've been searching for it too. I can't speak for hardware and electronics quality because they look the same internally and I haven't owned one long enough to test if they last but specs wise the sub4 is a 12 inch radius neck and the ray 24 is a 9.5 inch radius. Both have the same nut width 38mm.
So I’ve been looking at bass videos and realized I need a fender precision and jazz bass now lol I also have a stingray and I think it will stay in its case forever when I get a fender jazz or precision. it’s nice to see these are also somewhat good.
Sounds really good. Could definitely get use outta this. 👌
FYI, the Stingray classics also have a 2 band EQ.
True! I'm so used to having the 3 band that it feels weird playing a Stingray with only the 2 band
Most real Stingray's are 2EQ
The original Stingray from 1976 only had a 2 band EQ, and that is considered the best sounding Stingray ever. Believe me you do not need a 3 band EQ to get it to sound like a true Stingray.
Mike Murray i
I still have my 79' Pre Ernie Ball Ray with two band EQ, next year it will be 40 years old, I got it new and still giging with it.
These basses are top notch for the money. Sound great with the eq set flat, straight out of the box
One of the best deals ( Marcus's Sire Bass) on the planet. These basses play and sound better than the USA models. This is how the original MusicMan basses sounded..
I love the tone and sound of the stingray, I wanna get one
that opening groove though!
I may not NEED a Fodera but I’d LOVE one!
I have a few stingays. including a 79 with orginal 2 band EQ. i prefer the 2 band over the 3 band.
Love the way you shred! Great review!
Thanks, Marc! Excellent review!
i have a 79 and a couple early 2000s big difference between the 2 band EQ and 3 band they are both great and distinctive. most days i like the 2 band better.
Marc, great review, Thanks for posting
So for a comparison btwn the sterling and sting ray as far as the price.. Would a sterling be the way to go and the lightness or heaviness of the two pretty close?
The Ray 24 in your demo with the active bass and treble Eq is the same as the original Stingray that came out in 1976. The original had the same 2 knob active bass and treble controls. Music Man added the active mid control to the Stingray sometime in the mid to late 1980’s as I recall.
I just bought one of these used in mint condition cant wait till it gets here after eatching this im a big Flea fan and this was all I could fit into my budget right now sounds excellent pretty sure mine has an active pickup!!You sound slammin brotha Rock On!!
sounds great what a nice deep sound