I'm not going to preface this with much, so I'm leaving it very wide open for opinions. Main concerns are sound/tone and build quality. I'll leave it at that for now.
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Yamaha BB735a or Sterling Ray35
- Thread starter oysterphish
- Start date
These are two very different basses. Which tone do you prefer?
I really like the sound of the Ray, but I feel like it gets lost in the mix, especially the G string. Next favorite tone is a Fender Jazz, but I've had it with Fenders for so many reasons.
I've read that P basses sit best in a mix, so I figure a PJ would give me the best of both.
Also curious if the string through body of the Yamaha yields better sustain.... I feel the Ray is lacking there.
I've read that P basses sit best in a mix, so I figure a PJ would give me the best of both.
Also curious if the string through body of the Yamaha yields better sustain.... I feel the Ray is lacking there.
Thanks for sharing. Since I can't play one in-person, it's nice to hear the different tones from other folks.
I can only speak to the Yamaha, but I can confirm that the BB735A is built like a tank and they thought of pretty much everything with the design. If you want a 5-string P, it will do that; if you want to mix it up with the bridge pickup and/or preamp, you can get many usable sounds out of it. It’s not a J or a Ray, though it can probably get close to either if you fiddle with the knobs and set the pickup heights just right. I use mine like a hot-rod Precision, and grab my Ibanez ATK when I want something more Ray-ish. I hope that helps.
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I've owned 3 different Yamah BBs, have owned and own several Jazz Basses and own 2 Stingray5s, my main players for the last 20 years. IME Stingray works way better than anything else in a mix (either recorded or live), meaning, you can always distinguish the bass, no matter the loud or quiet it is in the mix, it occupies a certain space that will make it CLEAR, some "sawtooth burp magic" in the low mids that for me sets it apart from everything else (easier to understand if I say it sounds "PRRRRRR" -with a hard Spanish R- instead of "BBBBBBB"). Stingrays getting lost is nothing like my experience. General consensus tends to agree.
Now, while a Musicman shines within the context of a band mix, IT SUCKS FOR PLAYING ON YOUR OWN, just doesn't sound delicate, it's too "in your face" and overal rustic sounding on its own. That's why I choose anything else but my Stingray5s to play on my own (usually at home). And most times it's a Jazz Bass. I prefer the tone of a Jazz Bass to any P+J (I've owned two BB-615s, a BB425X, a Fender Am Dlx P5 and a Maruszczyk Jake 5a+ P+MM). P+J sounds rather generic to me, compared to a Jazz Bass, and in this regard, my experience with BBs, despite being really well manufactured basses, has been unremarkable as per tone.
If you're fed up with Fender, but still like Jazz Basses, there's many alternatives. Have you tried any V Sires? I recently got a V3 and it's simply way better than any Fender I've owned (including said Am Dlx P5, plus 2 Japanese Jazz Basses I've owned, one fretted, one fretless).
Now, while a Musicman shines within the context of a band mix, IT SUCKS FOR PLAYING ON YOUR OWN, just doesn't sound delicate, it's too "in your face" and overal rustic sounding on its own. That's why I choose anything else but my Stingray5s to play on my own (usually at home). And most times it's a Jazz Bass. I prefer the tone of a Jazz Bass to any P+J (I've owned two BB-615s, a BB425X, a Fender Am Dlx P5 and a Maruszczyk Jake 5a+ P+MM). P+J sounds rather generic to me, compared to a Jazz Bass, and in this regard, my experience with BBs, despite being really well manufactured basses, has been unremarkable as per tone.
If you're fed up with Fender, but still like Jazz Basses, there's many alternatives. Have you tried any V Sires? I recently got a V3 and it's simply way better than any Fender I've owned (including said Am Dlx P5, plus 2 Japanese Jazz Basses I've owned, one fretted, one fretless).
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I have the Yamaha BB735a and it’s one of my favorite basses to play. Kind of has its own sound in my opinion but certainly (as others have mentioned) can achieve some familiar sounds associated with other iconic basses.
Here’s a clip of John Patitucci playing one on a gig with his electric quartet:
Here’s a clip of John Patitucci playing one on a gig with his electric quartet:
First, consider the string spacing, ray35 is closer and makes string skipping easier. BB735 string spacing is slightly more, so easier for slapping.
second, ray35 3way selector single H or 5 way selector HH. BB735 uses a pickup blend.
2pickup gives more tonal options and pickup blend gives more control to the tone variations. So I’m voting bb735.
Saw some earlier post regarding poor quality tuners for sbmm ray, not sure if that’s fixed.
Had previously owned EBMM Sub5, EBMM stingray5, EBMM sterling 4, SBMM Ray34ca, OLP tony levin. All single humbucker.
second, ray35 3way selector single H or 5 way selector HH. BB735 uses a pickup blend.
2pickup gives more tonal options and pickup blend gives more control to the tone variations. So I’m voting bb735.
Saw some earlier post regarding poor quality tuners for sbmm ray, not sure if that’s fixed.
Had previously owned EBMM Sub5, EBMM stingray5, EBMM sterling 4, SBMM Ray34ca, OLP tony levin. All single humbucker.
I have a BB735a but I don't have any experience with the Sterling Ray35. I have an Ibanez ATK300 which gets into the same ballroom as the Ray35 but it's a diferent bass, with a diferent flavour.
I really love my BB735a and it's my most played workhorse that adapts to every settings.
I can't compare both basses since my experience is with only one of them but I can share a recent story. I went to sub a bassplayer 2 months ago. He usually plays with a Musicman Stingray 5 strings and I used my BB735a. The gig went really good and in the end the drummer an guitar player came to me and said that they loved my tone. That it sounded fuller and with more bottom end but also very articulated, compared to their regular bass player.
But the Sterling Ray35 is also a great instrument and I think you won't be dissatisfied with any of those.
I really love my BB735a and it's my most played workhorse that adapts to every settings.
I can't compare both basses since my experience is with only one of them but I can share a recent story. I went to sub a bassplayer 2 months ago. He usually plays with a Musicman Stingray 5 strings and I used my BB735a. The gig went really good and in the end the drummer an guitar player came to me and said that they loved my tone. That it sounded fuller and with more bottom end but also very articulated, compared to their regular bass player.
But the Sterling Ray35 is also a great instrument and I think you won't be dissatisfied with any of those.
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I agree with this except I love the way my StingRay Specials sound playing alone at home.
But Yamaha is great product too.
The Ray35 would be my choice. If you prefer the StingRay tone, nothing else is going to do it.
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Unfortunately I've never even seen a Special first hand 'round here. Truth be told, my SR5s are both ceramic pickup, but I've owned a SBMM Ray35 (alnico) and have played many alnico Stingrays of all kinds and they're a little more delicate in the high end. I'm talking roundwounds. I occasionally put flats in one of my SR5s and that's way more compelling for home "soul ride" playing.
Also my style of playing and limitations might play a role, I find a Jazz or a P way more forgiving.
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Unless you specifically want the Stingray tone (which the BB can't do) I would get the BB. I honestly can't think of any objectively better basses in that price range. The BB will also be more versatile. It depends on whether you need the Stingray tone (and ONLY the Stringray tone...).
I would add that Stingrays always sound like Stingrays, but Stingrays have more than one tone. Personally, I find Stingrays quite versatile.
For the most part the differences are going to be personal preference, I personally prefer the tone of the BB and I find the quality of Yamahas at that price range to be excellent. I would be more concerned about the quality of the Sterling because they have the whole American Made line to upsell you to. I have only played American stingrays so i could be wrong about sterling quality (The Short Scale sterling I have is well built with cheep materials).
I think it will come down to the tone you prefer. Both are good quality instruments.
I have a love/hate relationship with the Stingray 5 as it has that high end clickiness that you can't really dial out. The Specials may be different.
I tend to gravitate towards the P-Bass sound, so P/J's have been my main basses for a quite a while now. While they do not always sound the best soloed, they sound good in a mix. You get the P sound. You get a more-scooped Jazz-ish sound (but with more midrange character). Overall, a more traditional sound, but with a little more bite with both pickups on.
I'd just make sure you get one (either) that has a decent weight. I think they both can get pretty heavy.
I have a love/hate relationship with the Stingray 5 as it has that high end clickiness that you can't really dial out. The Specials may be different.
I tend to gravitate towards the P-Bass sound, so P/J's have been my main basses for a quite a while now. While they do not always sound the best soloed, they sound good in a mix. You get the P sound. You get a more-scooped Jazz-ish sound (but with more midrange character). Overall, a more traditional sound, but with a little more bite with both pickups on.
I'd just make sure you get one (either) that has a decent weight. I think they both can get pretty heavy.
Man, this is so tough, you guys! So far it almost seems very 50/50. I'll tell you why I was considering the BB700 series. I was watching Cardinal Black on YouTube and their bass player was rocking a BBP. It's just sounded so well rounded and full. Looks great, too. Then I noticed a few other YouTubers using the bb734/735. Funny how that works, eh? Anyway, it got me thinking it'd be a good alternative to a Fender, which is what I was originally after, but finding one that doesn't need a ton of TLC is impossible. I feel like I've nabbed the only well set up "good" Fender Jazz from here to California. All the ones at Guitar Center were so warped, so bad. Here in my hometown, all the necks needed work. I searched far and wide for my Fender MIA Jazz, and still, it's tone is far less articulate than any of my MII basses.
Anyway, I was curious if the BB would be far more versatile than a Fender. More, clear, even. So far I've gathered the craftsmanship is better.
Anyway, I was curious if the BB would be far more versatile than a Fender. More, clear, even. So far I've gathered the craftsmanship is better.
I totally agree, the high end "clacking" is hard to dial out. The threshold on the treble knob is razor thin between a good and a bad tone. The American MM don't have that issue, IME.
Man, I wish I could at least try a BB! It'd sure make this decision easier.
I dont know how a stingay is lost in the mix, I havent experienced that. I have a 3band fretless and 2band classic, both are very different yet still stingrays and dont get lost. I had a couple BB300s back in the 90s that also did quite well, i dont know how this Yamaha compares tone wise but Id think both would be great options. Id suggest spending plenty of effort on finding the right strings for you and your situation with either bass.
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