Sterling Stingray Bass Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

I've had my bass since July and really can't say enough good things about it. I'm a luthier, so I did a full setup and bone nut upgrade right out of the box. Very little was needed in the setup, and it played perfectly fine out of the box. But after a setup it feels like a dream. I didn't even upgrade any of the electronics like I'd planned. It just feels and sounds so good as it is. Neck is wonderful, tuners are solid, bridge has not lost intonation at all since I first set it up. I really can't recommend this bass enough. I have a few pieces of gear I take everywhere with me for unexpected jam sessions, and this is the bass I keep on me. My guitars vary, but this bass is always in my lineup.Jason

The best bass on the market for the price. The neck is nice and solid and you can tell they hand picked the wood. The red finish is beautiful with no blemishes. The only complaint they installed the pots on top of the pickguard plastic so you'll have to unscrew the pots and output jack to get it all out. It has the OLP type bridge and the saddles move around so putting tiny pieces of foam rubber in between stops them from knocking together. The bass needed a total setup including pickup height. The pickups are loud and clear and the electronics are dead quiet. The preamp is surface mounts with polymer capacitors and they use the TL071 opamp. The B string doesn't flop around. These are great basses to mod. I replaced preamp with a Bartolini 2 band and added toggle switches for more pickup selections.BassDude

First let me say that I own several high end bass. My Fender Jazz American Deluxe is one of my favorites. So I decide I wanted a 4 string bass. This music man is all I needed. I love the tones it produces. I love the way the neck of it feels. This bass is a great buy especially for the price it's saying for. I had to make one minor adjustment to fret board.Leo

Sound: when you own a sterling bass you do know, what your getting in quality . this bass is heavier then my sterling sub music man. same bass just diff color .the pick up of course is still amazing ,from my sub to this bass today. Ease of Use: i pulled out the box, was not in tune from shipping of course. used my d,addario head stock tuner on it, was only off a little from shipping. easy to retune and play out of the box. Quality: i love these bass., i have small hands. witha full scale to the get the best of the tone possible, long scale is the only way for me. small hand will use the neck as a whole. Value: would buy this for any one starting. would also buy another my self lol i have two lol Manufacturer Support: never had an issue Overall: awesome for the money, get great workmenship right out of the box, a small tune . after shipping of course. love the balance and small necks for my small hands. does not take away sustain. bass talks if you listen. so this is the second one i owned and would own another.Mickey

Love this thing! I had a problem with the sound on the first one but Musicians Friend got me all straightened out. The midrange sound was really quiet while the highs and lows were loud. They sent me a new one and took the return on the bad one. The replacement sounds great! I had a setup and new strings done by my local music shop and she sounds amazing. Intonation is now spot on. I love the look and feel of this one with all the rounded edges. Love the sound. She has a snarl in the low end that I haven't heard with any other company. I also own a squire 60s classic vibe p bass but i think i like the sound of this one better. My only complaint is that she's a little heavier than my Squire otherwise im super happy with this purchase. Thank you Musicians Friend for the smooth return and your amazing customer service. If you're looking for a quality beginner bass this one is a great choice.Matt

Love the sound of this heavy, neck diving beast. There's lots of tone to play with using the 5-way pickup selector. If played light enough you can avoid the fret buzz, of which is hard to get rid of with truss and saddle adjustments, but that can be said of a heavy hand on most guitars in general. The neck dive is severe like all the weight is really just the neck, but I don't notice it much when playing. It's just something to keep in mind if you play standing and lift both hands off the guitar to quickly adjust a mic or amp knob settings. The finish is kind of satin, as if it were printed on with an ink jet printer. It leaves the soft wood body pretty vulnerable to slow moving collisions against sharp corners. The Pre-Black Friday sale price on this guitar is a STEAL though! Definitely worth it for a Music Man bass sound for recording, or gigging if your willing to put up with the minor issues of weight and neck dive.Zach

Almost 40 years of playing experience and this bass is by far the best value that I've experienced. I've had my share of Precisions, Jazz basses, etc. over the years up to the $1500 range. When the pandemic kicked in I had sold most of my equipment but decided I had to have one bass. The neck is solid and similar to a P-bass thickness which I prefer and I don't need a 24-fret, 2 octave one anymore based on playing blues, jam, reggae, and rock. The tonal landscape is phenomenal rolling off the treble or bass dependent upon what I'm playing. Bright highs and deep lows are easily accomplished. I've never written a review before, but this was worthy of the time. Enjoy!Steve

Sound: when you own a sterling bass you do know, what your getting in quality . this bass is heavier then my sterling sub music man. same bass just diff color .the pick up of course is still amazing ,from my sub to this bass today. Ease of Use: i pulled out the box, was not in tune from shipping of course. used my d,addario head stock tuner on it, was only off a little from shipping. easy to retune and play out of the box. Quality: i love these bass., i have small hands. witha full scale to the get the best of the tone possible, long scale is the only way for me. small hand will use the neck as a whole. Value: would buy this for any one starting. would also buy another my self lol i have two lol Manufacturer Support: never had an issue Overall: awesome for the money, get great workmenship right out of the box, a small tune . after shipping of course. love the balance and small necks for my small hands. does not take away sustain. bass talks if you listen. so this is the second one i owned and would own another.Mickey

I'm a long time guitarist with some really fine instruments who decided to pick up a "value" bass just to learn for fun. Knowing what to look for in guitars, I translated that over to basses and went to GC to try some out, see what appealed to me, and how far I could stretch the dollars I was willing to spend on an instrument to start out and, maybe, stick with. I found this Sterling by Music Man Ray4 in mint green that filled the bill on all fronts. As usual, the guys at GC let me try several instruments and test to my hearts content. I do all my own guitar set-ups and would never buy a guitar sight unseen, being worried about how much adjustment might be needed. The Ray4 wasn't too bad out of the box (quite literally because I didn't like the display instrument and they had another in stock for me to try). Once home, I did adjust neck relief, string height, intonation, and pickup to a point that I liked best. The pickup required the most adjustment actually because it had gotten stuck in an odd and very high position, perhaps from being jostled in shipping. There is some fret sprout on the higher frets, but nothing that would bother my hand. Bottom line: Everything could easily be adjusted to where I really like it and has been stable now over several days. It's comfortable to play and is, in my opinion, a real "looker." The satin finished neck is great and, although I usually don't go for maple fret boards, I do like this one. I'm very pleased with my purchase decision and would buy it again. Now onto attack that fret sprout . . .AARP Rocker

Overall: I've been playing bass for 16 years and I've always played with p basses. Recently I've been getting into playing funk music and decided I would try a different bass. I didn't want to pay over two grand to get a Stingray, so I chose this one. Right out the box it is a beautiful bass, it seems to be very well made. For $500 I couldn't believe how good the quality the bass was. Having the active electronics is great along with the powerful pickup. Perfect for cutting through the mix. It has a nice growl and is suitable for playing just about every genre of music. Only thing I had to adjust was the action and intonation. No sharp frets. I regret not having gotten this bass sooner. I have no experience with the manufacturer support so disregard that rating. Anyway this is a well made bass at a great price. Highly recommended.Miguel

Before this bass I've owned four other Stingrays in my life, including a vintage '76, an original MIA SUB, a modern American 4 string, and a modern HH 5 string. I like this one as much or better than any of them. It gives me the tight, focused punch I loved so much about my vintage Ray, and in fact plays BETTER than either of my Americans. I love the Jazz width neck. The lack of a belly cut doesn't bother me (even with my paunch!). One niggle – the nut extends about a 1/16" out from either side of its slot, and the frets could have used just a tad more filing, but these are not surprising on a bass at this price point. Well worth twice the price.John

I got this bass a few months ago, and wasn't expecting to buy a bass that day, but since then it's always come out to either jam sessions, or shows with my band. I practice on it every day as well. The neck is really smooth and has an extremely playable feel, it fits perfectly to my hand. These basses come with a bridge that has decent mass to it, so the sustain and resonance is there in in the hardware. The tuning pegs hold tune really well, and the only modification I've done is add a hipshot drop tuner and dunlop strap locks, otherwise, this bass sounds amazing right out of the box. Highly recommend trying one out, it'll probably end up in your collection like mine did!BCass

I'm an experienced guitar player and builder, but a dabbler in bass. My current instrument is a 6 string Ibanez with active pickups and 3 band EQ, but I wanted something simpler with a short scale. I originally looked at the Music Man version of this instrument, but as a hobbyist, $2000+ seemed a bit much. The Sterling version made more financial sense, and Musician's Friend's Memorial Day Sale sealed the deal for me. This is a good, workable instrument with decent action and great tone. (Disclaimer: I've only played this bass through a set of modellers – A bass amp is in my near future.) The single pickup is fine – And all of the positions on the 3 knobs are musical. The quality dropped copper finish and hardware belong on a much more expensive instrument.Mark V

I bought this mostly just for fun and noodling around. I hadn't had a short scale in a long (ha!) time. Solid instrument SUPER HOT output! This thing is loud. Somehow. It's passive which surprised me. When I tried this out in-store, nobody knew what the controls were. So, now I know. The electronics are completely different from (oh no do we need a new retronym now?) a … "regular?" … StingRay: 1. Volume with push/ push boost 2. 3-way switch in the middle on the plate allows you to run the pickup in series/ parallel/ single coil. 3. Passive tone control. In the looks department, it compares favorably to its Big Cousin, the StingRay. A case that fits just about perfectly: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Road-Runner/RRDWE-Deluxe-Wood-Electric-Guitar-Case.gc … I asked the staff at GC Atlantic City their opinion of the fit and they were like "Oh wow that really is a great fit!" This exact case is shown in the photos with the bass in it. Might want like an extra 1/2" of padding for top-to-bottom security maybe. We'll see. The bad: fret ends were not well finished. I had to get some putty to fill them in a bit. Not sure if this is a "sat in a box across the ocean for a while" kind of problem or a fit/ finish build problem.Mike

I was looking for a good short scale bass to ease my shoulder stress during long sets. I also didn't want to spend too much as I already have several basses. The cutaways, low weight, and thin neck make it very comfortable to play so I think I chose right. The pickup is also right up my alley as I have never really liked active basses. The three way switch has some good variance and haven't really disliked any of the tones I've gotten from the bass. If you're looking for a short scale you should definitely look into this one. My only gripe was I noticed some neck dive while playing. I bought the dropped copper version which is made of a different wood than the other colors so maybe the nyatoh wood is lighter than the mahogany versions. I plan on switching out the stock tuners soon to lighter tuners to correct that issue, but even as it stands currently I wouldn't say it's a deal breaker.Josh L

Quick set up and this bass rocks. I like my action a little lower than factory. Plenty of great tones right out of the box. Classic Stingray sounds and some thick usable sounds with the flick of the switch. Neck is finished beautifully and the quality is there. Preamp gives you a ton of tone shaping options. Finish is deep and has the look of more expensive basses. It's a little heavy but that is expected. Looking forward to playing it in a live situation, been only studio work so far. The only drawback is the split coil sounds are significantly quieter than the Humbucker settings. For me it's a plus, but some players might not think so. Love the look, the feel and sound.Verbass

This bass covers all of the critical functions by design! Good neck feel, tunability, great tone with dynamic sustain and flexible sounds for any sitution..Dave Z.

I just received this replacement today. I had gotten one and one of the tuners was broken out of box. Now this replacement, the nut on the bass is not leveled at all which is weird. I’ve never seen that before. Out of the box the bass needed to be set up. I’m starting to think I have the worse luck with basses from AMS.Marco G

Overall: This is a really well constructed bass with swamp ash body,active pickups,coil splitting option and bladed selector similar to a Stratocaster. The body takes some getting used to.Mine weighs in at 12.5 lbs but it's well balanced with no neck dive .The neck as well takes a little getting used to.It's 45 mm like most other 5 strings.Not as wide as a Fender but wider spacing than Ibanez.The profile on the neck is pretty thick also but the frets are well set and there is no buzzing up and down the board.As far as tone it's very versatile.Really a 2 pickup bass when you factor in the coil splitting.It has excellent low end but can get really detailed with the notes popping out for solo work.All in all this bass is very well put together,has excellent components including a very hefty and stable bridge and stays in tune well.After you get used to the neck width and the weight it will really grow on you.I expect these to really go up in price in the future.Raul

Overall great bass for the price point , the only improvement should be a drop in battery compartment that doesn't use a battery clip lead these are apt to break with frequent use the drop in style I have on other Sterling and Music Man basses are much easier to use and more reliable and are available for only a couple dollars online as replacements .John

It was good for the first like 2 weeks I had it but then I started to notice I have fret buzz on the e string fifth fret till about the 8th. Everything else is great about it it's just the front buzz it's kind of depressing.Joseph

Very cool bass. Feels great, excellent sound, and looks good. A bit on the heavy side though. I play and record at home these days, but I'd be happy playing this at a concert. I'm an amateur musician, been playing about 20 years now. I traded in my old bass because I want to incorporate more slap/popping, and needed a bass that would do the job. After playing at GC for an hour, I settled on this one. Not at all disappointed; so far I love everything about it.Pat

Sound: when you own a sterling bass you do know, what your getting in quality . this bass is heavier then my sterling sub music man. same bass just diff color .the pick up of course is still amazing ,from my sub to this bass today. Ease of Use: i pulled out the box, was not in tune from shipping of course. used my d,addario head stock tuner on it, was only off a little from shipping. easy to retune and play out of the box. Quality: i love these bass., i have small hands. witha full scale to the get the best of the tone possible, long scale is the only way for me. small hand will use the neck as a whole. Value: would buy this for any one starting. would also buy another my self lol i have two lol Manufacturer Support: never had an issue Overall: awesome for the money, get great workmenship right out of the box, a small tune . after shipping of course. love the balance and small necks for my small hands. does not take away sustain. bass talks if you listen. so this is the second one i owned and would own another.Mickey

Love this thing! I had a problem with the sound on the first one but Musicians Friend got me all straightened out. The midrange sound was really quiet while the highs and lows were loud. They sent me a new one and took the return on the bad one. The replacement sounds great! I had a setup and new strings done by my local music shop and she sounds amazing. Intonation is now spot on. I love the look and feel of this one with all the rounded edges. Love the sound. She has a snarl in the low end that I haven't heard with any other company. I also own a squire 60s classic vibe p bass but i think i like the sound of this one better. My only complaint is that she's a little heavier than my Squire otherwise im super happy with this purchase. Thank you Musicians Friend for the smooth return and your amazing customer service. If you're looking for a quality beginner bass this one is a great choice.Matt

Love the sound of this heavy, neck diving beast. There's lots of tone to play with using the 5-way pickup selector. If played light enough you can avoid the fret buzz, of which is hard to get rid of with truss and saddle adjustments, but that can be said of a heavy hand on most guitars in general. The neck dive is severe like all the weight is really just the neck, but I don't notice it much when playing. It's just something to keep in mind if you play standing and lift both hands off the guitar to quickly adjust a mic or amp knob settings. The finish is kind of satin, as if it were printed on with an ink jet printer. It leaves the soft wood body pretty vulnerable to slow moving collisions against sharp corners. The Pre-Black Friday sale price on this guitar is a STEAL though! Definitely worth it for a Music Man bass sound for recording, or gigging if your willing to put up with the minor issues of weight and neck dive.Zach

This Stingray from Sterling is a very pretty and well-finished slab of swamp ash in a natural finish. The neck and fingerboard are roasted maple. The neck is smooth enough for comfort and there's some nice visual texture to the fingerboard. Hardware is good quality and pots seem solid and smooth. Took a bit of effort to loosen the trussrod for a minor tweak, after which it moved smoothly. Bass came well set up for neck relief, string height and intonation. Really every sign of good care being taken. Sonically, it's got every bit of that classic Stingray bite and the preamp has a very wide range of adjustment. At the price I paid here (on sale) it's a really fine value. Only two complaints: (i) I had to do about an hour of filing down protruding fret ends, but then I got the bass on about the driest day in winter so the neck probably had contracted from the warmth and humidity in Indonesia; (ii) This thing is even heavier than my mighty Peavey T-40, a massive 11.25 lbs. I really enjoy it sitting down-standing up not so much. Gig bag is mid-quality.Mike L.

This bass is so smooth and sounds so nice. You can get a lot of sounds out of it. I know it's not "Made in America". It's made in Indonesia. As you may know, Indonesia is one of the world's largest producers of tree crops so they have a lot of wood!! We can certainly expect their to be some artisans with mad carpentry skills. Additionally, these bass guitars arrive in the U.S. and get processed through the factory in San Luis Obispo, CA. for final assembly and set-up. And, it has Sterling's name on it. It's a Sterling by Music Man and it's a StingRay!! This is a great bass guitar!! I have a 100W Fender Rumble Amp and this bass guitar sounds amazing! I've played bass for a few years now and I'm no expert. I have a long and rewarding road ahead after 40+ years of drumming. I'd been searching for a new bass after starting with a Yamaha [the RBX-170Y was a great beginner bass]. In my search, I always liked picking up Music Man basses. They were comfortable and sounded great. When I got to check out the Sterling by Music Man StingRay it was love at first sight. I saw the price drop at MF [$599] and went online to order. It came packaged in a very nice soft case. For a soft case, this is one of the best I've seen. It is well padded, durable and has several storage pockets. The bass itself: I love the natural wood look. It has such magnificent wood characteristics [see photo and the beautiful knot in the wood]. The roasted Maple is a beautiful compliment to the natural wood grain of the body. The neck is super comfortable and feels amazing! The entire neck is roasted Maple. It's not just a laminate or stain. The frets are medium, very smooth and super playable. It has a heavy duty bridge. The reviews you see online are all positive. Obviously, this isn't the "World's Greatest Bass" with none better…… but, you put Ernie Ball Cobalt flat wounds on this bass and she just hums and growls like a pro! The pickup is a Sterling by Music Man designed humbucker. I find it a great place for my thumb to rest. I think I'm going to offend Fender fans and I don't mean to. I suppose you mold a Fender into the guitar you want with fret work and adjustments. However, I've picked up a basic Fender P-Bass and Jazz Bass and my fretting hand felt like it was going through a cheese grater. The frets were so sharp and the neck did not feel as smooth as this bass. I'd rather have a Music Man!! [Or, Sterling by Music Man]. Listen….. I want a Fender American Professional II Jazz Bass too! Don't mean to knock Fender. They're the King of basses. I just want everyone, if possible, to try out this bass. It's basically a Ray34 with the natural Ash wood grain finish. If you do, I believe you will enjoy it as much as I do.Michael

I've been playing bass for 20+ years and always wanted an EB StingRay but could never justify the price. Well, I still can't justify the price, so I went with the Sterling version – and I have no regrets. It's beautiful, the neck is incredible, the tone is exactly what I wanted (and can be easily shaped with the 3-band EQ). The only sticking point for me is that it's heavy, but not a dealbreaker. The bass came with dirty pots, but I didn't know that was the issue and had contacted Sterling's support. As mentioned in another review, they were extremely slow to respond (multiple weeks). I ended up taking it to a local shop, who cleaned the pots at no charge. Overall I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again though. It's the perfect compromise if you want the classic StingRay sound without the hit on your wallet.CJ

I've had this bass for a few months now and it is incredible. plays and feels really nice, no rattling when tuned down, and it sounds amazing as well. I've been definitely putting some time on it and it's still holding up amazing.Ej

Bought this on a whim after demoing a good portion of the basses on the store wall. This one had better sound than most of the basses I played at a price that doesn't break the bank. Bought this a week after buying a high end bass as the Musicman sound is what I was after. The bass is on the heavy side, but so are my high end basses. I do plan to swap out the 5-way switch, bridge, tuners, and nut down the road. But for now I'll use this to jam and record as it's great out of the box. No visual imperfections that I can find on it.Musicman

these Sterling basses are so awesome. this was my second purchase of one. I'd recommend these for anyone whose looking for a quality instrument. They have great pricing going from real affordable to expensive so you can stay within your price range if you have too.Michael M

I bought the Ray 35 Sterling by Music Man. This is my first 5 string bass and I enjoy having the extra string. The finish is excellent. This instrument is made overseas. My advice is spend the extra cash and buy an American made Music Man. I've been a Fender guy for 40 years, however Music Man has a better feel to it. I'm used to that fender sound that I'm still working on to achieve with this new bass. So far I've installed new light strings with a .115 B string. It comes with a .135 B string which, in my opinion, is to low. All in all I'm satisfied with this as my first 5 string. If I go with a 5 string exclusively, I'll probably get a US made Music Man.Veteran bassist

Bought this bass a a great sale price, it is as good or better than expected. The tone is typical of Music Man StingRays, but with good variability in the tone with the 3 band EQ and 3 position pickup switch. That said, it makes it very easy to dial in a good Active StingRay sound at the expense of being able to emulate the sounds of other basses. Definitely a more modern tone. Quality of the components, from what I can tell is very good, no complaints. The body is a thick, heavy slab of Ash with good grain and the neck is a very smoothly finished satin maple. It arrived already set up very well with a low, easy to play action. I may still tweak the neck and saddle adjustments, but I'll let it break in and get used to it as is before making any changes. I haven't compared mine side by side to an American made StingRay5, but the only difference I could reasonably expect is better finishing and maybe slightly different tone due to different electronics. The only "flaws" I've noticed are the pickguard lifting very slightly where it meets the top edge of the neck, a small scratch in the pickguard near the selector switch, a small stain or scorch beneath the finish on the back of the neck, and being able to see obvious deep sanding/machining marks in the body through the smooth clear poly finish in bright direct sunlight. None of these cosmetic imperfections affect play-ability in any way, so I intend to keep this one for a very long time. If you want absolute perfection, by all means, spend the extra money for the American Made StingRay5. If you want a great, playable, solidly built instrument it's hard to go wrong with this one.danvanderipe

Look, I know we all have reservations when it comes to buying an imported version of a guitar/bass that is usually made in the USA. But let me tell you that you have nothing to worry about. This bass is fantastic. And compared to my old late 90's Music Man Stingray 5, I would pick the Ray 35 over that any day. The feel of the bass is real solid. The neck is smooth and VERY easy to play on. The action is perfect, if you keep it in Standard tuning. I would suggest going to a .135 gauge string if you plan on tuning down…or just turn that truss rod a few notches, which is extremely easy. The bass comes with all of the tools needed to setup, including adjusting the bridge, truss rod, and removing the knobs. As for the sound… yeah, this thing makes my Euro Spector and Schecter Stiletto Elite sound/feel like entry level basses. The others sounds good, but the Ray 35 just busts right through the band mix and plays like a dream. At the end of the day, if you like a bass that cuts through the mix and plays awesome, all while being in the sub 1,000 range, this Ray 35 might just be your best bet. I'd even say, other than the actual Stingray 5, this bass competes with the sub 2,000 basses. You will not be disappointed.MusicMan

I'm an experienced guitar player and builder, but a dabbler in bass. My current instrument is a 6 string Ibanez with active pickups and 3 band EQ, but I wanted something simpler with a short scale. I originally looked at the Music Man version of this instrument, but as a hobbyist, $2000+ seemed a bit much. The Sterling version made more financial sense, and Musician's Friend's Memorial Day Sale sealed the deal for me. This is a good, workable instrument with decent action and great tone. (Disclaimer: I've only played this bass through a set of modellers – A bass amp is in my near future.) The single pickup is fine – And all of the positions on the 3 knobs are musical. The quality dropped copper finish and hardware belong on a much more expensive instrument.Mark V

I bought this mostly just for fun and noodling around. I hadn't had a short scale in a long (ha!) time. Solid instrument SUPER HOT output! This thing is loud. Somehow. It's passive which surprised me. When I tried this out in-store, nobody knew what the controls were. So, now I know. The electronics are completely different from (oh no do we need a new retronym now?) a … "regular?" … StingRay: 1. Volume with push/ push boost 2. 3-way switch in the middle on the plate allows you to run the pickup in series/ parallel/ single coil. 3. Passive tone control. In the looks department, it compares favorably to its Big Cousin, the StingRay. A case that fits just about perfectly: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Road-Runner/RRDWE-Deluxe-Wood-Electric-Guitar-Case.gc … I asked the staff at GC Atlantic City their opinion of the fit and they were like "Oh wow that really is a great fit!" This exact case is shown in the photos with the bass in it. Might want like an extra 1/2" of padding for top-to-bottom security maybe. We'll see. The bad: fret ends were not well finished. I had to get some putty to fill them in a bit. Not sure if this is a "sat in a box across the ocean for a while" kind of problem or a fit/ finish build problem.Mike

I was looking for a good short scale bass to ease my shoulder stress during long sets. I also didn't want to spend too much as I already have several basses. The cutaways, low weight, and thin neck make it very comfortable to play so I think I chose right. The pickup is also right up my alley as I have never really liked active basses. The three way switch has some good variance and haven't really disliked any of the tones I've gotten from the bass. If you're looking for a short scale you should definitely look into this one. My only gripe was I noticed some neck dive while playing. I bought the dropped copper version which is made of a different wood than the other colors so maybe the nyatoh wood is lighter than the mahogany versions. I plan on switching out the stock tuners soon to lighter tuners to correct that issue, but even as it stands currently I wouldn't say it's a deal breaker.Josh L

An absolutely gorgeous bass guitar with an incredible sound. Definitely has that "punch" you need for heavy alt rock/metal.Michael

I got this bass a month ago and have been enjoying it every day since then. It has the classic Music Man Stingray sound and the all black look is so sleek. The set up out of the box was pretty solid but I gave it some minor adjustments to fit my style and playing. I can't wait to start recording with this and play it at my gigs laterJoe P.

If you like PUNCH, this Bass has it. If you like warm it has that as well. I am VERY impressed with the versatility of this guitar. The pickup selector coupled with the treble, mid and bass settings, endless shaping at your finger tips. Andy was my Salesman, HUGE Help with my purchase. Andy is at the Fairlawn, Ohio location, if your in Ohio, GO SEE ANDY. He is also an experienced musician with wonderful advice.Dale

This is my second Ray 34. I preform live and do records so a good bass that sounds great and holds tuning is key. This meets every requirement I need. The tone is spot on for the Hard Rock I play. Sounds great in Pro Tools with no added effects other than a simple EQ. The finish looks great. I would definitely say if you want a Stingray bass and can not afford one get a Ray 34. I have had no problems or complaints with them.Bob On Bass

Overall: I own quite a few bass guitars and this one is fantastic. It's is well balanced and feels incredibly comfortable. Practically plays itself. Electronics are high quality as is all the hardware. Mine is in Natural and it looks beautiful. All the quality of a Music Man at an amazing price.Robert

The pictures don't do it justice. The 3 band EQ is very responsive. It stays in tune, frets super easy. The quilted maple top jumps out at you. Very high quality.Ant

I've owned a couple MM basses in the past and IMHO , this is the best sounding MM bass I have ever played . I bought this bass because of the amazing tone ……I like it so much , I'm thinking about buying the white one with the rosewood neck .JAMES

I love how this bass sounds. Has a nice growl. The pickup is hot for a passive. My hands hurt from manual labor so the short scale bass is much more comfortable to play on the weekends with my jam band. I like the 3 way switch for the variety of tones. I like the parallel the best. Has a fat bottom with a bite. Ive played several ernie ball music man basses and this sterling sounds just as good as the music man.Josh

Overall: The neck is smooth and plays great, only downside is that this thing neck dives since it’s a heavy neck. The HH configuration with a 5 way selector provides a variety of great tones giving you the ability to play whatever style of music. Also the 3 band EQ also adds more flavor of tone presence depending on your preference. Gig bag provided has a sturdy exterior, but a thick velvety plush interior knowing you’re bass will be secured. Overall it’s a great affordable bass that’s very close to a US stingray. Don’t be fooled by the branding on the headstock cause it doesn’t say EBMM, it’s solid and can walk the walk.Matthew

Played this for about half an hour today, tried multiple techniques. Bass is great looking with the stealth black, I love the roasted maple, lots of great tones and great for slap. But it felt like I was fighting the bass the whole time to get all the notes out, despite super low action. B string was particularly disappointing in feel and tone, as was the tendency for the G string to pop off the side of the fretboard between the 7th and 12th frets. I had similar gripes with the more expensive stingray 5. So I'll give this one 5 stars because it felt like the same bass at less than the cost. And it really does a lot of things nicely. Much better than the fender jazz. Maybe I'm just used to my Lakland 55-02 with the 35" scale and wider string spacing. I've always wanted one of these Ernie Ball's but just not for me. Maybe if you're coming from a fender or Ibanez you will love it. If you can reign it in it's probably great.Brian

Bass came with no paperwork, setup was poor for a 900 dollar Bass. I have a squire and Ibanez that were setup better and were only 400 dollars apiiece.CarefulDinosaur-86388

An absolutely gorgeous bass guitar with an incredible sound. Definitely has that "punch" you need for heavy alt rock/metal.Michael

I got this bass a month ago and have been enjoying it every day since then. It has the classic Music Man Stingray sound and the all black look is so sleek. The set up out of the box was pretty solid but I gave it some minor adjustments to fit my style and playing. I can't wait to start recording with this and play it at my gigs laterJoe P.

If you like PUNCH, this Bass has it. If you like warm it has that as well. I am VERY impressed with the versatility of this guitar. The pickup selector coupled with the treble, mid and bass settings, endless shaping at your finger tips. Andy was my Salesman, HUGE Help with my purchase. Andy is at the Fairlawn, Ohio location, if your in Ohio, GO SEE ANDY. He is also an experienced musician with wonderful advice.Dale