Why bother buying USA? | Musicman Stingray VS Sterling Sub Series Ray4

Conclusion: 1) Buy the Sterling. 2) Replace the bridge. 3) Replace the knobs. 4) Spend the remaining £875 at your local.

USA has superior attack and a much more stable neck. I have 4 USA Stingrays, a Ray34, and two Subs. The Ray34 is actually much more of a contender to the USA IMO. I also found the Sterlings to muddy up quicker and have shrinking fretboards over time, leading to noticeable fret ends. YMMV.

I love my Ray4, especially after upgrading to Aguilar pickup and preamp. I watched Low End Lobster's upgrades to several Ray4s and opted for Aguilar. I now keep my Ball Family Reserve Sting Ray for special occasions and use the Ray4 for everyday practice and gigs .

Got my own Sterling sting ray. With flat wounds it really milds out that stingray sizzle to a much more versatile level. Couldn’t be more happier. I personally hate satin finish on instruments but a gentleman told me if you buff it with polish it will turn into a normal clear coat finish. I kept my expectations low and gave it a shot and he wasn’t lying! It buffed out to what I would describe a a “worn vintage clear coat.” Couldn’t be more happier with the Sterling!

I have an EMG MMHZ in my Ray4. Had an EMG pre for a bit but stripped it out and just run a volume knob now. The MMHZ is a fantastic pickup!

I have both a Ray 34 and 35 and I’m in love with them.

Sterling definitely won in the tone department. That USA sounds way too thin in comparison

I bought the Sub 2 pickup model with the 5 way switch. It had only 3 knobs as well. I upgraded to 2 semore Duncan pickups with the electronics. It came with 4 knobs with a pullup volume knob. I paid around $500 for the hardware including a bottom input hardware and 4 black matte metal knobs and a graphic nut. The work costed and $250 so around $750. I also upgraded the ugly whote pick guard for a pearl gray on over the lime green Bass color. It was so worth it and it sounds great. My bass is heavey as well.

Great comparison video. Just recently bought a 2019 mint sting ray for £1500 off reverb. Practiced with it last night and literally loved it. Sound wise, it just cut through the mix perfectly, I had the bass middle and Treble set to middle, and the band were very complimentary of the sound As for the weight, I have A fender Jazz, a Fender P and a Mike Dirnt Signature P. In my opinion, the weight didn't feel too dissimilar too my above mentioned basses, therefore to me they weight isn't an issue.  The neck of a stingray is the neck of a P bass but without lacquered finish, so the matt finish makes it an absolute breeze to play. 12 month ago, I played the sterling and the stingray, and for me the stingray won. I have been saving for 12 months, and it was definitely worth the wait

I have a pickup modification in my Ray4 to a Seymour Duncan SMB-4A. sounds good. preamp still standard. thinking maybe an aguilar obp-1? The neck of the Ray4 is much nicer for me than the USA

I recently bought the ray 4 Walnut stain satin finish. Maybe I got lucky but I set the action and intonation and this thing plays like a dream. the tone is nothing less than stellar. Part of me says if it sounds this good stock how much better would it be with a high-end preamp? Then the other part says don't fix it if it's not broken you might break it. My other four strings are a Geddy Lee Japanese model and a Signature guitars custom jazz prototype. This bass just shelved both!

I had buyers remorse when I bought an EBMM Stingray (special) last year, and it took playing that back to back with a Ray34 for me to solidify my decision was the right one. The MusicMan just has MORE everything, not to mention how wonderful the satin neck feels.

I have the "sub ray 4" model, older and made in China, the one with "SUB" written in giant letters. the bass came with the factory problem that made it sound distorted (very low quality pickup and preamp), and the sound of the strings was not crystal clear, even with new strings. I replaced the pickup and preamp with a "Seymour Duncan" combo, the "SMB4DS". The change in sound was spectacular, resembling its American big brother. Although the tuning pegs and the bridge are generic, they fulfill their function. Also, since the bass body is made of basswood, it sounds different from its American big brother. I think that the "Sterling Sub Series Ray4" is an excellent platform to make modifications, but investing more than 500 or 600 dollars in modifications, seems to me a nonsense, considering that the "ray34" sounds practically the same as an American stingray. Anyway, a tremendously functional and good bass, if you change the pickup and preamp, perfect for any use, both professional and amateur.

Grt vid JD. Thank u. 🤙

I own a '93 Stingray with the 3 band preamp, and a Stingray Classic which has the 2 band preamp. Both have the large bridge with the string mutes, but the Classic has a String thru body design. The Classic definitely has a different sound than the '93, but then I got a John East preamp for the 3 band Stingray, and with the mid knob in neutral position, thr bass and treble knob now responds and sounds almost the same as the 2 band Classic preamp.

i have a sterling ray34 thats a bit over 13 lbs its like a boat anchor but its the best sounding bass I have ever played.

I have a Musicman and love the punch, brightness, and bottom end, especially if you're slapping. It has a little more depth to the notes but I was surprised at how much bottom end the Sterling had. It sounded a warmer and a completely different tone, kind of like the MIM Jazz basses. I might get a Sterling as a backup bass, it sounded good.

I would gladly take a Music Man if it was given to me or if I could afford one but I've own a blue stained SUB before and they feel really nice especially the neck. The stock sound isn't bad but after hearing what Lowend Lobster did with his SUB upgrade series owning a Music Man sounding SUB sounds like a really good option, Now the bridge is something I wish you could find a replacement for 😕. Now with all that said I am currently playing an old OLP MM2 STINGRAY that is passive yet still has that Stingray growl and it feels closer to a Music Man than a Sub, I got it for $100 at a pawnshop

Sorry if I missed this, but what strings were on each?

Honestly, the sterling ray 34 is the sweet spot for me. I’ve got the black one with the maple/rosewood neck