I was saving up money for a jazz bass cause all the cats were using them. The day i was going in to guitar center to buy my very first bass, i saw a stingray in between two jazz basses. I picked it up and it felt warm and smooth. It felt so easy to play on and i bought it right away.
I have 1976 STINGRAY bass - it says so on the inner neck joint (july 1976) - its tobacco sunburst, maple neck with an ebony fretboard - beautiful old instrument Ive had for many many years
My first attempt to get a Stingray sound was putting two EMG active jazz bass pickups in the "correct position" on a Fender P bass. A pickup sweet spot can be reproduced faithfully on any scale length of instrument if you match pickup placement with the pitches of harmonics on every string over the pickups. On a Musicman Stingray, (looking down at it from the playing view) harmonics on the G string, either side of each pole piece magnet (represented |● ●| ) gives you a high G>●●
Love the sound of a Musicman Stingray. Tidbit: Leo Fender was deaf in one ear and could only hear highs . The sound of the bass comes from the preamp and the alnico magnets in the pickup. Thank you Johnny for giving positive bass content.
I bought one in April of 1978, a late '77 model, natural with a maple neck and black pick guard and a 005000 serial number. I paid $477.00 for it, a load of money back then, especially when I was only making $2.35/hr as a twenty year old kid. I've played it all these years, yet it's still in about 95% condition, and in fact, only got it's first ding about four years ago. It sounds and plays like butter. A definite keeper!
Keep coming back to this video just to hear Mr. Johnny Lee Long again express the depths of his singular appreciation for his MM Stingray. My own heavily modified Sterling Stingray may well be my favoritest and the best sounding bass in my small collection.
I recently bought a sterling ray 5 as my second bass. I LOVE IT! It sounds so good, and it is really versatile. You can use it for anything from funk to heavy metal.
I really appreciate you making this video.. The old 2 band Stingray bass is the best there ever has been in my opinion... jazz,funk,rock,R&B,soul,country, spiritual/inspirational,contemporary Christian,southern gospel.. it does a superior job at all styles of music..the very best 👍
Actually 1976 is the year when this "Milestone" of electric bass guitars came to life and changed the history of playing style & recording, as it happened in 1951 with the P-Bass and 1960 with the J-Bass...and behind all this was the one & only man that we all know and will be devoted & thankful forever! Love you Leo!!!
The greatest bass ever invented. I played Fender Precision, Jazz, Alembics both passive and active and nothing is like a Stingray. It will always be my main bass. I made my own preamp for it and run it at 32 volts
Great video man! Louis (Thunder Thumbs) Johnson was a force to be reckoned with and one of my favorite bassist. However, I bought my Stingray Classic as a result of listening to Bernard Edwards, another great bassist of the same era. Those guys were phenomenal and contributed so much to the music scene in the 70's and 80's. Thanks!
This video right here is what youtube was invented for. Great content and nice playing too! One day I'll be able to afford a Musicman Stingray but for now Sterling Ray here I come.
I still have my Louis Johnson instructional video from "Starlicks". Excellent post for the Stingray. I will have one soon. Thank you Johnny ! Tucson, Arizona
Nice video man. You're clearly insane in the best posible way. I love the agression of the Stingray, I play heavy metal so very different to you but it just slices through two heavily distorted guitars so easily. It works with distortion so nicely as well whether it's just a driven amp or a full on nasty fuzz. I never slap but I use a pick about 50% of the time and it works so well with the Stingray.
I have always been a Jazz bass fan. I built my own with quality parts. Warmoth body ,mim fender neck, EMG active pickups,schaller tuners, and it was my go to bass. Then I bought a sterling sub bass, on sale at G.C. $229 on sale . Great frets, great straight neck, decent pickup, jazz thin neck(comfortable).New strings are a must. Took a little time to set it up. Now its my new go to bass. I might upgrade the pickup down the road.
I am blessed to be playin for a really talented country duo and they want me to get a 5 to play live with them, so I am about to pull the trigger on a Stingray Special 5 HH. When I bought my first bass, an american fender p, the only other bass I played that day that I liked just as much if not more was the stingray, but I couldn't afford it. my time has come lol. I am on the preorder list on my sweetwater for it and I could not be more excited for my first 5 after playing that p bass for the last decade!
There's something magical about the Music Man tone. I've played one for the last 15 years but for my current project I've been using a Jazz and PJ bass. They sound good but not magical. I abandoned those when our sound guy said " your tone is great, but when you pick up that orange bass (my MM)... That thing cuts through the mix and sounds so good." Back to my trusty Music Man it is then haha. Love your chops man. So good n' tasty.
Love that Stingray sound. Incredible bass sound used by: (some of my favorite players) Pino Palladino, Bernard Edwards & Paul Denman (Sade band). I just bought the SS-4 = exceeded my expectations. oNe LovE from NYC
Besides being a killer Bass Player and very knowledgeable about music in general person, you are hilarious I could be in the worst mood and I turn on one of your videos and you just make me laugh thank you. Many Blessings to you and yours.
My first memory of hearing and noticing a Stingray was Stomp by Brothers Johnson. I was at my high school prom on the dance floor with my date and the DJ played Stomp. It wasn't just the way Louis played but the tone of his bass I noticed and loved. I didn't know it was a Stingray then, I didn't play bass then and knew nothing about basses until years later. After the prom for years everyone once in a while I'd notice that same bass tone on songs. Square Biz by Teena Marie. Or from the 80s (like Sade). Always loved the unique sound but still didn't know what it was. Finally one day in the 2000's I found out that it was a Stingray that sounded like that. I was hooked. I knew I had to have one some day. Eventually in about 2003 or so I visited a Sam Ash and they had a used Ernie Ball Sterling. It looked a lot like a Stingray so I played it. BINGO! Same tone as a Stingray. I bought it right then and there. Only diff is Sterling is thinner neck and lighter and has 3 way pickup switch and 3 band EQ. Other than that it's the same tone. When I took it home and plugged in and played it was a sound from heaven. Something about that tone, that bottom. Eargasm.
Leo Fender invented the Stingray for Louis. Louis asked him to make a bass for slapping. Louis also helped Leo get the sound from the preamp. He gave the first prototype bass to Louis
Super! I got my Stingray 5 string darkray days ago and I don't trade it or will sell EVER! And I will go for those passive one but now they come with neodymium pick ups!
Big fan of Lewis Johnson R.I.P. that is bass is a biG WHOA in my opinion its not for a rookie. I love it the way it sounds. That is a dream instrument and you running it through the Mark enhances it so much😎⭐
Hey Maestro JLL, The emblem on the headstock of the vintage MMSR in your video does represent George and Louis Johnson. Leo Fender along with the Ball Bros' redesigned that particular bass (the Stingray) particularly for Louis because he had adopted the playing style of Larry Graham (who to this day calls it "Thumping and Plucking") but Louis padded more FLARE to it . LF beefed up the magnets and the preamp in the bass (takes LJ to really describe what happened) and moved that GREAT BIG Humbucker down closer to the bridge to get it out of the way of LJ's right hand. The emblem signifies The Brothers Johnson's picture on the cover of their 1st album entitled "Look Out For #1". Google it and then compare them and you'll see what's up!😉😎🤟🏿👍🏾💪🏿❤️🔥🔥
I say for a beginner this is a fantastic bass. If you're learning the bass it's just a mater of time until you discover disco, funk, and R&B and when that happens you'll be ready. I have the Sterling Ray24 and it's crazy how nice these imports have gotten.
I've got 6 Fender basses which they're great for Punk, why I got them.....but I'll agree Music Man is perfect for Funk- Slap and why I gotta get one now getting into Parliment, Funk. Just subscribed- great playing- love the owl man! My Country Uncle got the same 🦉
Matt Foley The Caprice, another welcome newcomer to the Modern Classic family of instruments is a bold new statement in passive design. A workhorse bass that is capable of blending two distinct pickup voicings offering a variety of tones suitable for any musical environment. This compact offset design provides a body shape that is comfortable and balanced along with a slim neck profile that makes this bass a pleasure to play. The top-loading bridge is made from hardened steel and complemented by a newly designed oversized headstock with the familiar 3+1 tuner arrangement. As with the Cutlass, the Caprice is a sleek modern bass with vintage features that stays true to its Music Man heritage. This info from the Musicman web page😊
I enjoy telling the story of how I stumbled onto Stingray basses. Knowing nothing of the rich history of this bass, I only bought it because it matched my Cutlass in firemist silver. Only afterwards did I realize how good of a deal and choice I'd actually made.The roasted maple necks and fretboards are outstanding features that add to the overall comfort these guitars are already known for. Very happy with both of them and certainly won't be parting with them anytime soon.
Even at $2399.00 she is worth every penny. You will find nothing else like it in your arsenal and you will also have a best friend for life. My Stingray is 30 years old and still outperforms and sounds better then everything and anything I have ever owned.
Just got one and the bullet truss rod frozen ….. the bridge saddles lower then they froze too . I had older stingray and I could lay strings on bass this bass either defective or I’m messed up in head
Leo made them in '75, and introduced them in '76. I have a '77 that I bought used YEARS ago, and it remains my fave. I have people still tell me to this DAY that nothing sounds like it.
My opinion is that Musicman is the very best bass for slap style, they just have the best sound when you pluck and when you thump and they have that beautiful growl.
Nate Watts used a music man on Stevie Wonder's "do I do". I always knew it was a music man just from listening to it. But Nate confirmed on a video that it was infact a music man sting ray. You can hear the difference between the Sting rays and Jazz basses and precision's. Very distinct.
Damn! I have to sell my soul for one of those! Was eyeing one here locally since there are few in my country, and unfortunately it got sold;( They sound insane!
Also check LJ's instructional video from back in the late 80s to early 90s... he's playing the prototype that LF made for him and talking about the SAGA of the bass... though he fabricates about his influences by not really mentioning Larry.. eventually he did give Larry props before he (Louis) passed away..😌😊
Hey , is that the original pickup? I bought a 1979 white stingray new and it came with a black pickup. Always been my favorite. Came with a leather Musicman strap and case, all for $500. Those were the days.
Man I love your energy and your tones brother. That Stingray is an absolute thing of pure beauty. What finish was that? It looks like it was a white colour and has faded to tobacco yellow from bar gigs. I would crawl across broken glass for an original Pre Ernie Ball Stingray, but for now my 2005 OLP Stingray will have to do. Cheers from Australia!
I just bought a Sterling Ray5. How do you have your bass EQ and volume set? I’ve read that MM bass with pre-amp should be set at 1/2 volume. Also I how do you EQ your amp for the MM? Thank you sir!
