Ernie ball classics vs Ernie ball

Jscriv

Jscriv

Feb 3, 2017
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Tonawanda NY
#1
I find myself really just constantly looking up and staring at musicman and sterling classic. The GAS is very very real here. The finished neck really draws me in. If anyone owns both...is the difference significant? Or just the GAS getting ahold me?
 
#2
Have you played both? I have a standard StingRay and a StingRay Classic. For me, the biggest selling point for the classic model is the two-band eq, which I prefer to the three-band. (The muted are cool, too.) The finished neck may or may not feel tacky to you.
 
#3
Pet Sounds said:
Have you played both? I have a standard StingRay and a StingRay Classic. For me, the biggest selling point for the classic model is the two-band eq, which I prefer to the three-band. (The muted are cool, too.) The finished neck may or may not feel tacky to you.
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I don't have access to play both. I own a regular ray and a sterling. I have plenty of finished necks, they don't bother me at all. Just wondering if the finished neck and 2band really change the sound all that much. I'd really like to get a classic ray and a classic sterling.
 
#4
Pet Sounds said:
Have you played both? I have a standard StingRay and a StingRay Classic. For me, the biggest selling point for the classic model is the two-band eq, which I prefer to the three-band. (The muted are cool, too.) The finished neck may or may not feel tacky to you.
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You can get regular Stingrays with the 2 band EQ - they're a little cheaper than the standard 3 band EQ, but only come with a soft gig bag, rather than a hard shell case.
 
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#5
My SR5 Classic is the end-all be-all for me. The two band has less upper midrange than the three band (the sproingy sound is the best way I can describe it) and it seems to have more low end. It’s still plenty bright, but it’s much easier to get a smooth tone out of the two band.

Having said that, it still sounds like a Stingray, not a night and day difference. I actually prefer the unglossed neck of the regular SRs, which is why I recently bought a standard SR with the 2-band. Best of both worlds. I love it, but the Classic is still #1 to me.
 
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#6
@Wood and Wire , I didn't know about the regular, 2-band Ray with the gig bag. Good to know.
@Jscriv , I think the 2-band is quite different than the 3-band. Others can explain the technical reasons for it, but somehow the 2-band has a rounder, richer tone to my ears, not as reedy. Still sounds like a StingRay, though. Maybe you could try ordering a Sterling Classic from a place with a good return policy and spend some time with one...
 
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#7
Pet Sounds said:
I think the 2-band is quite different than the 3-band. Others can explain the technical reasons for it, but somehow the 2-band has a rounder, richer tone to my ears, not as reedy. Still sounds like a StingRay, though.
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At the risk of boring the socks off anyone who's read any of my previous posts on the subject ;

I think the biggest perceived difference between the 2 band, and 3 band Stingrays, is due to the majority of people not really understanding how they work - and consequently, expecting comparable sounds with the knobs dialled in to the same positions.

The 3 band EQ was designed to sound the same as the 2 band version (with bass & treble turned up full), when the 3 band has the bass & treble up fully, but the mid left flat, in the centre detent.

The 3 band EQ offers cut & boost control, which means 50% of the pot's throw covers the boost range, and 50% throw covers cut.

The 2 band EQ is boost only, which means 100% of the pot's throw is dedicated to finer control over the level of boost added.

So when translating settings from a 2 band, to a 3 band, you can see there are several considerations, and limitations :

A 2 band with the bass pot set at about 30% is going to sound completely different to a 3 band with it's bass pot in the same physical position (which would actually equate to a 45% bass cut).

Furthermore, there's the issue of matching the mid control. As mentioned, the 3 band with bass & treble at 100%, and mid in the centre detent (50%) position, sounds the same as the 2 band with bass & treble at 100%.

Conversely, the 2 band with bass & treble at 0%, has the same tone as the 3 band with bass, mid & treble in the 50% position.

There are some minor caveats, in that due to the way the filters are implemented in the 3 band, there is slightly less sub bass produced (and personally, I think there is a slight resonant peak around 2kHz-ish, due to the crossover, that can become obvious depending on the EQ settings), and the 2 band appears to have a low pass filter that is engaged with the treble pot at it's lowest settings (presumably to kill any high frequency noise).
 
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#8
Wood and Wire said:
At the risk of boring the socks off anyone who's read any of my previous posts on the subject ;

I think the biggest perceived difference between the 2 band, and 3 band Stingrays, is due to the majority of people not really understanding how they work - and consequently, expecting comparable sounds with the knobs dialled in to the same positions.

The 3 band EQ was designed to sound the same as the 2 band version (with bass & treble turned up full), when the 3 band has the bass & treble up fully, but the mid left flat, in the centre detent.

The 3 band EQ offers cut & boost control, which means 50% of the pot's throw covers the boost range, and 50% throw covers cut.

The 2 band EQ is boost only, which means 100% of the pot's throw is dedicated to finer control over the level of boost added.

So when translating settings from a 2 band, to a 3 band, you can see there are several considerations, and limitations :

A 2 band with the bass pot set at about 30% is going to sound completely different to a 3 band with it's bass pot in the same physical position (which would actually equate to a 45% bass cut).

Furthermore, there's the issue of matching the mid control. As mentioned, the 3 band with bass & treble at 100%, and mid in the centre detent (50%) position, sounds the same as the 2 band with bass & treble at 100%.

Conversely, the 2 band with bass & treble at 0%, has the same tone as the 3 band with bass, mid & treble in the 50% position.

There are some minor caveats, in that due to the way the filters are implemented in the 3 band, there is slightly less sub bass produced (and personally, I think there is a slight resonant peak around 2kHz-ish, due to the crossover, that can become obvious depending on the EQ settings), and the 2 band appears to have a low pass filter that is engaged with the treble pot at it's lowest settings (presumably to kill any high frequency noise).
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
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#9
I've played both the "regular" and the Classic extensively. For my tastes, the regular in a 3-band EQ is perfect.
  • I am not a fan of boost-only preamps (a la 2-band).
  • I am not a fan of sticky, finished necks.
  • I am not a fan of slab/non-contoured bodies.
  • I am not a fan of Stingray's with small-radius necks.
  • I am not a fan of battery covers that require a screwdriver to open.
  • I have no use for bridge mutes.
 
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#10
I have a neckthrough Stingray 3 band and a regular Stingray 2 band (both with Rosewoods boards) and here are some of my observations:
1. The 3 band is significantly louder.
2. The 3 band is significantly brighter.
3. The 3 band produces noticeably more string/fret noise.
4. The controls work differently in that the 3 band has a much more “gradual” range. The 2 band gets really bright only in the last 8/10s of the treble control range.
5. The 2 band has a littler fuller sounding lowend.
6. The gloss neck on the neckthrough is ok, the oil/wax finish on the regular Stingray is amazing!

I tried a few classics 4 Rays and I found them all too heavy at >10.5 pounds. I think there are lighter ones out there, but they are rare. Never cared for the slap body or string mutes.
 
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#11
There are some minor corrections to what has been said about the 2 and 3 band preamps.

The 3 band has a filter which cuts some of the potentially boomer sounds created with the bass EQ control - the 2 band sounds like it has more bass because it doesn't have this.

The 2 band EQ controls are cut and boost but with no centre detent.

The mid EQ control on the 3 band has to be cut significantly to get towards the 2 bands sound.

The EQ controls on either a 3 band or 2 band tend to be somewhat inter active - I.e. altering any of the controls can impact on the perception of the other frequencies.

With the 3 band, a number of people (me included) set a basic sound on the guitar with amp set flat (maybe bass and mid boosted a little and mid cut somewhat - and then use the mid control to change the sound as desired.

The Classic 4 strings tend to be around 9.5 lbs in weight but there are lighter ones.

I have both variants and the lacquered neck is a breeze to play and not at all sticky - even playing in very hot summer conditions. The oil and wax finish necks however super slick and are a delight to play.

I hope this all helps you.
 
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#12
I prefer the 2 band preamp and the glossed necks. So much so that I’ve lost my interest in regular EBMM. the Classic Series is everything I love about Music Man Basses. They feel, play and sound amazing and they sit in the mix like a 58 Caddy taking up both lanes.
 
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#13
It's all pretty helpful. I like hearing other people opinions. I've played exclusively finished necks my entire life until I got my first stingray last summer. And I do love the feel of the unfinished neck. But I also love every one of my glossy maple board fender necks. As far as wieght, I'd go with a sterling. I think if I find the right one for the right price on gunna pick it up but PLEASE, continue with your griping or praise of these. The more options the better
 
#16
I too prefer the 2 band, I own a Classic but have borrowed a friends 3 band just to match the tonal possibilities. Don't get me wrong the 3 band is a great Bass but to me sounds more hi-fi modern verging on clacky. I find the 2 band cut and boost (yes it is Cut and Boost, although many people say it isn't) on both treble and Bass is better than the 3 band which may sound crazy but for me it is true. Cut the Bass and Treble on the 2 band and the mids really do cut through.
 
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#17
Caca de Kick said:
When did they change to a bag? Was it this year?
it's been a while but the last three 2-band regular StingRays I orderd came with hardshell cases.
Click to expand...

I don't think they did - however a few years ago the UK distributor offered 2 band Rays in either red, white or blue colours, in gig bags rather than hard shell cases at a special offer price (£999 new).

Also, during the early 2000s they provided new basses in gig bags for a while - I think there was an issue with fluctuating exchange rates and presumably did this to keep costs competitive, such are the vagaries of macro politics from time to time - or almost permanently it seems currently...........
 
#19
I've had a 96 3 band for years, if I had a chance to do it over I'd go with a 2 band. The 3 band is simply to aggressive and bright. Also from what I've read they are more prone to the weak G string thing, mine certainly was and nothing i tried worked until i replaced the pre-amp.
 
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