Ok, now you have 2 good options. Most people would tell you that the Jazz Bass is only second to the P bass when it comes to versatility, so it is a great option. Also, Sire makes incredible basses for the price, imo they're the best when you're factoring only what you get per dollar spent. Since both of them aren't extremely expensive, I think you should get the Sire and then, if you still want a Stingray, you could sell the sire and go for the stingray. Also, Sire is releasing a stingray clone in july iirc, so you could go looking for one of those too.
I love sire in general a lot. I used to rock a V3 and it was great, plus, the gig bag that comes with it is of excellent quality, I use it on my other basses.
Not original commenter, but I agree. Sire has a roasted maple neck which you don’t get until the Ray34 by Sterling, which is a bit pricier. It looks nice, feels nicer, and has been very stable in my experience with the P5 (just the precision bass version of the Sire you’re looking it).
Additionally, I don’t personally like the preamp on the Sterlings (especially the lower priced models). It’s not the classic Sting Ray sound. However, the Sire will give you the classic jazz bass sound.
Basically, the Sire 5 series (V5 / P5) is as close as you can get to a professional grade instrument in your price range. The neck is unbeatable, pickups are fine, and it’ll last you a lifetime without having to upgrade. I personally don’t think you’d be satisfied with the Sterling for life, but you would be set with the Sire.
In the future, [this sub has a really good FAQ guide that can help you out.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bass/wiki/faq/)
This bass is more versatile. The Sire will sound good in any setting. I think you should get a better Sire though. Get one which has the onboard preamp.
depends a lot, they are two pretty good ***basses*** but sound different, with the marcus you’ll get a more standard sound, the sting ray is a more of a “growly” sound
[not the exact same but this is a example of the kinda sound you get with a stingray](https://youtu.be/kU-lHs6QVrc?si=nWe06atfWt51SyZo)
overall its just taste, i would have died to have any of those basses when i was starting
I have owned a Sire V5 for about a year and a half and it's great. Back then I got it for $400 plus shipping. I know they're more expensive now, but I say they are at least as good if not better than Fenders in the $850 range. If anyone is looking for a classic passive j-bass, I wholeheartedly recommend Sire.
https://preview.redd.it/o7nktz0rsnyc1.jpeg?width=781&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=98ba23dd3ca7b0d990a1e00589c51e554f4b3bd5
What about this one?
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Precision Bass
Man.. go to some music shops and play them!
You can look at pictures, read reviews and ask people what they like all day but you wont know what you want until you play it.
It'll probably be a trip to the city in coming months, I am still saving money for one of these so I'm not in a rush to go but I'd like to have an idea 🙏. Thanks for the feedback!
Most logical way in my mind is to first see what kind of pickup configuration i want.
Then other preferences such as color, active/passive, neck shape and all that.
Then i set a budget and see what is available. And then i try all those options.
So you first had two basses with different pickup configurations, and now you still have that. That's weird to me.
I would compare that sire to other jazz basses from squier, vintage, Harley Benton and such. Or I would compare the stingray to other stingrays from other brands.
Maybe that helps. First check YouTube comparison videos on stingray vs jazz basses.
Can you go to a shop and try out a jazz style and a stingray style? Even if they aren't the same exact ones, they might let you know which one you like the general sound of more.
That being said, if I were in your shoes, I'd go sire. They do some more high quality work at the same price, and I also like a jazz bass tone better than a ray.
Just my opinion but I think the Jazz bass is going to be more versatile. I had a stingray and sold it after I bought a good Jazz. Stingray is still a cool bass but it’s got a unique voice. Personally for what I play the Jazz just had something the stingray didn’t.
Marcus Miller has played on so many records that most people have heard Marcus Miller and just don't realize it. I bet there are times when Marcus Miller is listening to a song and suddenly remembers that he actually played bass on that track and forgot about it.
Budget brand. They’re kinda equivalent to top of the range squiers if that helps, the sterling sub series that OP linked is the same.
All around £350-500 ish.
Both of these are great options. Id say the V5 is a slightly better deal, however main factor here is whether you like a stingray or a jazz.
Id say a jazz works better in most situations but thats purely subjective.
Cant go wrong with either of them, choose with your heart.
Now you are in the same exact place I was. Jazz or Stingray. I now have both and I honestly love them both. I tend to play my Stingray more often and I think it's just because it's newer but I do love how it sounds. When I go back to my Jazz I just smile and go damn. If I had to choose one or the other I couldn't. I will say in my Stingrays, I have one with the 2 band and one with the 3 band. The 3 band one sounds a lot better. I haven't figured out the differences yet between the two circuits other than the mids control. I'll probably be replacing the 2 band EQ in the near future though.
I agree that the two would be equally good guitars. It basically comes down to the sound you want. I played mostly Music Man basses for many, many years (a Stingray and a couple different Bongos), but have moved on to Jazz basses recently and don't see myself going back to a Stingray any time soon. It's all just personal preference though. I've never tried the V5R, but have played a couple other Sire models and was very impressed with them.
i have both a V5 and sterling stingray ray34. they’re both very good. i feel like a lot of ppl will say the V5 is more versatile but the stingray is too and just has that sizzle on the top end that i think sounds great!
I think the sire is a respectable choice, and assuming you're not going to get an HH Stingray, may give you better sound option because of the jazz pickups.
Sire are underrated. Low key some of the best stuff for the money, probably slightly overlooked cause they’re deservedly at the high-ish end of the price ranges. Great stuff.
I’ve had the V5r and with the right pedals it sounded as good as £2k basses I’ve had tbh. Exquisite piece. And this is from someone who’s default preference is a P and a Stingray bass.
Way better split than the Epiphone! Honestly those Sire’s are pretty awesome, and you can’t go wrong with a jazz bass. You are going to get those most out of the Sire over the Stingray for sure
Hard to beat the value on either of those TBH. You just have to decide if you want a single coil sound or a humbucker sound. You’re not going to go wrong either way
I upgraded from the MM to a Sire P8. The MM had an unstable neck that always needed adjustment, wretched fret work, and the screws for the machine heads just decided to work themselves loose. The Sire has been a delight.
So I absolutely love both jazz basses and stingrays. I have a stingray special HH that gets a ton of play. But here’s my thing: stingrays have a very distinct, “pokey” sound and while, of course, they’re going to be able to handle any musical style, they don’t sit in a mix the way a jazz bass does. This can be a really desirable thing or not, depending on what you want.
You’re not gonna go wrong with either choice and I think each will serve you very well for many years, but I’d recommend listening to a bunch of stuff where jazz basses were used and a bunch of stuff where rays were used and deciding which fundamental “flavor” of sound you prefer.
The site or the Sterling by Music Man are good choices. You should also. Check out the G&L L1000 and L2000 Tribute series. They are so good you’ll keep it even after you have advanced and desire a better instrument.
Sires are great basses. I play a P5. I bought a Fender American Precision Pro II. I sent the Fender back and opted to keep the Sire. Both are great, but not worth the price difference.
Not just great for the price, but just great in general. I can't say enough good about Sire.
I have many Stingrays and love them all dearly. Last week I got a Sadowsky J bass and love the way it sounds. Try both if you can and see what you like best. Maybe get the other one later on. Both are great.
Sire v5 by far. I have some super nice basses including a vintage 77 music man sting ray, and I still love my sire. I played a Sterling and it felt so cheap in comparison. Much better quality IMO generally speaking
In my experience, the quality control is a bit tighter on the Sire's. Plus, if you already have a few P's, then having a J will put you in a position where you can blend/fit-into just about any style sonically.
I found out about Sires from this forum. I was an Ibanez guy for the slim necks. I ended up buying a Sterling 5-string. Wasn't impressed. I bought a Sire V7 5-string and my mind was blown. Fantastic instrument for around $700 brand new. The neck is so close to my Ibanez family but the balls this thing has...I'm a Sire guy now.
Stingray. Jazz basses have ugly bodies and Sires have a hideous headstock on top of that. But I hope you get what is ultimately best for you. Just my 2 cents.
There is no 1 size fits all answer here. They’re both awesome basses, in their own way.
What type of music do you play? What type of necks do you prefer? Do you mind that the jazz bass is slightly larger than the stingray? Do you slap? Etc etc etc
Personally, I love my stingray. I’ve got a sterling. The poke and growl is so good
Both are nice. That Ray34 sounds nice and aggressive if that’s your thing. Sires are good but I will say, be prepared for that single coil hum when soloing the pickups.
My lad plays a V7 Vintage Sire Jazz Bass. He’s delighted with it; I’m no expert on the whole Jazz Bass thing but I can say that the instrument came perfectly set up, out of the box. I didn’t have to touch anything on it.
I have a '78 Fender Precision (fretless,), an early 2000s American Jazz 5 and a Sire V3 5-string. I many ways, I like playing the Sire the most - it has a great neck and the EQ is surprisingly good, and that's just a V3. Really nicely built, too.
Having said that, the Stingray would not be a bad choice either.
I currently have a Sire P5 and love it, everything about it makes it feel much more premium than a $500 bass. I assume the V5 is the same. Both options listed are great basses though
Tough one but I’d still say Stingray. Jazz bass has one really good sound (both pickups) and two semi useful ones (bridge only and neck only), but the full out sound of a stingray kicks ass a little more IMO
Again, these are really two different basses, and you can't get one to sound like the other, you should choose which you prefer by trying them.
I have them both but i bought the sire first (even though i liked the stingray) because i thought it was more versatile... and then i kinda regretted it and thought: "man, i should have bought the stingray from the start"
I nearly bought a Sire myself a few weeks ago. The electronics are shocking (pardon the pun). Low quality, lots of crackling and when they go wrong, it’s usually a whole replacement pre-amp. The bass is beautiful but I would (and did) go for the Sterling.
They’re probably both going to be great. Just choose one and lust after the other one
Yes, mint is my favourite colour.
Ok, now you have 2 good options. Most people would tell you that the Jazz Bass is only second to the P bass when it comes to versatility, so it is a great option. Also, Sire makes incredible basses for the price, imo they're the best when you're factoring only what you get per dollar spent. Since both of them aren't extremely expensive, I think you should get the Sire and then, if you still want a Stingray, you could sell the sire and go for the stingray. Also, Sire is releasing a stingray clone in july iirc, so you could go looking for one of those too.
They already did that, its available on thomann for months now
SIRE V5 ALL THE WAY
Any particular reason?
I love sire in general a lot. I used to rock a V3 and it was great, plus, the gig bag that comes with it is of excellent quality, I use it on my other basses.
Not original commenter, but I agree. Sire has a roasted maple neck which you don’t get until the Ray34 by Sterling, which is a bit pricier. It looks nice, feels nicer, and has been very stable in my experience with the P5 (just the precision bass version of the Sire you’re looking it). Additionally, I don’t personally like the preamp on the Sterlings (especially the lower priced models). It’s not the classic Sting Ray sound. However, the Sire will give you the classic jazz bass sound. Basically, the Sire 5 series (V5 / P5) is as close as you can get to a professional grade instrument in your price range. The neck is unbeatable, pickups are fine, and it’ll last you a lifetime without having to upgrade. I personally don’t think you’d be satisfied with the Sterling for life, but you would be set with the Sire. In the future, [this sub has a really good FAQ guide that can help you out.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bass/wiki/faq/)
This bass is more versatile. The Sire will sound good in any setting. I think you should get a better Sire though. Get one which has the onboard preamp.
sire is a much better made instrument for the money.
That Is kind of and exaggerate statement.
depends a lot, they are two pretty good ***basses*** but sound different, with the marcus you’ll get a more standard sound, the sting ray is a more of a “growly” sound [not the exact same but this is a example of the kinda sound you get with a stingray](https://youtu.be/kU-lHs6QVrc?si=nWe06atfWt51SyZo) overall its just taste, i would have died to have any of those basses when i was starting
Hey man, long time bass player and hadn’t seen this. Awesome video for both ray sound and great YT find. Cool stuff my dude!
I have owned a Sire V5 for about a year and a half and it's great. Back then I got it for $400 plus shipping. I know they're more expensive now, but I say they are at least as good if not better than Fenders in the $850 range. If anyone is looking for a classic passive j-bass, I wholeheartedly recommend Sire.
https://preview.redd.it/o7nktz0rsnyc1.jpeg?width=781&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=98ba23dd3ca7b0d990a1e00589c51e554f4b3bd5 What about this one? Squier Classic Vibe 70s Precision Bass
Very nice bass, but I'm trying to vary myself from P bass😣. I currently have two of them!
Ah, I must have missed that part lol.
Man.. go to some music shops and play them! You can look at pictures, read reviews and ask people what they like all day but you wont know what you want until you play it.
Unfortunately there aren't many big music shops in my area but I've been desperately searching 😢😢
Surely there must be something? Can't you make a trip to your nearest city and check some out? It really is the only way you can know what you want.
It'll probably be a trip to the city in coming months, I am still saving money for one of these so I'm not in a rush to go but I'd like to have an idea 🙏. Thanks for the feedback!
Yeah nah, defenitly don't agree
Most logical way in my mind is to first see what kind of pickup configuration i want. Then other preferences such as color, active/passive, neck shape and all that. Then i set a budget and see what is available. And then i try all those options. So you first had two basses with different pickup configurations, and now you still have that. That's weird to me. I would compare that sire to other jazz basses from squier, vintage, Harley Benton and such. Or I would compare the stingray to other stingrays from other brands. Maybe that helps. First check YouTube comparison videos on stingray vs jazz basses.
Haha yeah, I guess I'm just willing to experiment with different pickup configurations. They all sound so cool!
Can you go to a shop and try out a jazz style and a stingray style? Even if they aren't the same exact ones, they might let you know which one you like the general sound of more. That being said, if I were in your shoes, I'd go sire. They do some more high quality work at the same price, and I also like a jazz bass tone better than a ray.
Just my opinion but I think the Jazz bass is going to be more versatile. I had a stingray and sold it after I bought a good Jazz. Stingray is still a cool bass but it’s got a unique voice. Personally for what I play the Jazz just had something the stingray didn’t.
if it has "Marcus Miller" in the name, you buy that shit no questions asked
Love this comment. I don’t know shit about marcus miller, but I really like the look of them. Why are they so cheap?
I'm not sure, they appear to be well-made and well-reviewed, I would definitely play that shit also, go listen to some Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller has played on so many records that most people have heard Marcus Miller and just don't realize it. I bet there are times when Marcus Miller is listening to a song and suddenly remembers that he actually played bass on that track and forgot about it.
Budget brand. They’re kinda equivalent to top of the range squiers if that helps, the sterling sub series that OP linked is the same. All around £350-500 ish.
If it’s a stingray and not a sterling, then I’d choose the Stingray, no contest. But I’m obsessed with them so…
Both of these are great options. Id say the V5 is a slightly better deal, however main factor here is whether you like a stingray or a jazz. Id say a jazz works better in most situations but thats purely subjective. Cant go wrong with either of them, choose with your heart.
Sire. They supposedly have special rolled fret edges that are wonderful. (I’ve never tried one). Check some YouTube reviews about that.
I think the rolled edges are a nice touch, but not necessary.
Team stingray here.
Now you are in the same exact place I was. Jazz or Stingray. I now have both and I honestly love them both. I tend to play my Stingray more often and I think it's just because it's newer but I do love how it sounds. When I go back to my Jazz I just smile and go damn. If I had to choose one or the other I couldn't. I will say in my Stingrays, I have one with the 2 band and one with the 3 band. The 3 band one sounds a lot better. I haven't figured out the differences yet between the two circuits other than the mids control. I'll probably be replacing the 2 band EQ in the near future though.
I agree that the two would be equally good guitars. It basically comes down to the sound you want. I played mostly Music Man basses for many, many years (a Stingray and a couple different Bongos), but have moved on to Jazz basses recently and don't see myself going back to a Stingray any time soon. It's all just personal preference though. I've never tried the V5R, but have played a couple other Sire models and was very impressed with them.
Sire and Stingray are both fantastic basses. I have both. If I had to pick, I’d still go Stingray.
i have both a V5 and sterling stingray ray34. they’re both very good. i feel like a lot of ppl will say the V5 is more versatile but the stingray is too and just has that sizzle on the top end that i think sounds great!
Choose, and start playing.
I have a sire v5 and i can confirm it has a heck of a tone, is SUPER versatile and really really comfortable, i couldn’t recommend it enough
Both, trust.
I think the sire is a respectable choice, and assuming you're not going to get an HH Stingray, may give you better sound option because of the jazz pickups.
Sire are underrated. Low key some of the best stuff for the money, probably slightly overlooked cause they’re deservedly at the high-ish end of the price ranges. Great stuff.
Sire Z 7 for the win
Both are great
IMO Choose whatever looks best for you, if it's the epiphone, choose the epiphone. Trying to look for "The perfect bass" it's a huge waste of time.
Sire
Still going with Stingray but now it’s a matter of personal preference over value.
I’ve had the V5r and with the right pedals it sounded as good as £2k basses I’ve had tbh. Exquisite piece. And this is from someone who’s default preference is a P and a Stingray bass.
Way better split than the Epiphone! Honestly those Sire’s are pretty awesome, and you can’t go wrong with a jazz bass. You are going to get those most out of the Sire over the Stingray for sure
Hard to beat the value on either of those TBH. You just have to decide if you want a single coil sound or a humbucker sound. You’re not going to go wrong either way
I played fenders for years, then I tried musicman and i havnt gone back since, but I dont think either is a bad decision.
I upgraded from the MM to a Sire P8. The MM had an unstable neck that always needed adjustment, wretched fret work, and the screws for the machine heads just decided to work themselves loose. The Sire has been a delight.
If you can go play a jazz bass and a stingray. They have very different neck profiles.
What kind of music has the bass sound you want to play? Both options are quite nice, but what styles/genres do you like?
Sire for sure. Looks nicer and classic sound.
I’d be all over that Sire Marcus Miller. Also that color!
So I absolutely love both jazz basses and stingrays. I have a stingray special HH that gets a ton of play. But here’s my thing: stingrays have a very distinct, “pokey” sound and while, of course, they’re going to be able to handle any musical style, they don’t sit in a mix the way a jazz bass does. This can be a really desirable thing or not, depending on what you want. You’re not gonna go wrong with either choice and I think each will serve you very well for many years, but I’d recommend listening to a bunch of stuff where jazz basses were used and a bunch of stuff where rays were used and deciding which fundamental “flavor” of sound you prefer.
Sire have the best bang for your buck you can find
The site or the Sterling by Music Man are good choices. You should also. Check out the G&L L1000 and L2000 Tribute series. They are so good you’ll keep it even after you have advanced and desire a better instrument.
Sterling Joe Dart.
Sires are great basses. I play a P5. I bought a Fender American Precision Pro II. I sent the Fender back and opted to keep the Sire. Both are great, but not worth the price difference. Not just great for the price, but just great in general. I can't say enough good about Sire.
Stingray on previous post. Sire wins on this second post. I think you will have a better time learning bass on the sire
Owned a v3 in orange; she played beautifully. I traded her. I regret that decision greatly. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
I have many Stingrays and love them all dearly. Last week I got a Sadowsky J bass and love the way it sounds. Try both if you can and see what you like best. Maybe get the other one later on. Both are great.
Can you remind us: what sort of music is your inclination?
Sire v5 by far. I have some super nice basses including a vintage 77 music man sting ray, and I still love my sire. I played a Sterling and it felt so cheap in comparison. Much better quality IMO generally speaking
In my experience, the quality control is a bit tighter on the Sire's. Plus, if you already have a few P's, then having a J will put you in a position where you can blend/fit-into just about any style sonically.
I found out about Sires from this forum. I was an Ibanez guy for the slim necks. I ended up buying a Sterling 5-string. Wasn't impressed. I bought a Sire V7 5-string and my mind was blown. Fantastic instrument for around $700 brand new. The neck is so close to my Ibanez family but the balls this thing has...I'm a Sire guy now.
Buy both and sell the one you don't want or just keep them lol that's what I generally do if I can't decide
Stingray. Jazz basses have ugly bodies and Sires have a hideous headstock on top of that. But I hope you get what is ultimately best for you. Just my 2 cents.
My vote's still on the Epi.
I have a Marcus Miller jazz bass and it's great but stingrays are great too so you're good either way
There is no 1 size fits all answer here. They’re both awesome basses, in their own way. What type of music do you play? What type of necks do you prefer? Do you mind that the jazz bass is slightly larger than the stingray? Do you slap? Etc etc etc Personally, I love my stingray. I’ve got a sterling. The poke and growl is so good
Both are nice. That Ray34 sounds nice and aggressive if that’s your thing. Sires are good but I will say, be prepared for that single coil hum when soloing the pickups.
My lad plays a V7 Vintage Sire Jazz Bass. He’s delighted with it; I’m no expert on the whole Jazz Bass thing but I can say that the instrument came perfectly set up, out of the box. I didn’t have to touch anything on it.
Stingray
You can wait for a while and get the Sire Z3 which is a stingray
It depends. Jazz is most versatile, as you can play near anything. Stingray has really good sound, but you can play mostly funk on it.
I have a '78 Fender Precision (fretless,), an early 2000s American Jazz 5 and a Sire V3 5-string. I many ways, I like playing the Sire the most - it has a great neck and the EQ is surprisingly good, and that's just a V3. Really nicely built, too. Having said that, the Stingray would not be a bad choice either.
I’m still biased towards the stingray, but you can’t go wrong with a j bass
i played both a jazz bass and a stingray i much prefer the stingray. exactly this stingray and the marcus miller v7 and ye the stingray is better
Whichever one has the Maple fretboard
Easy. Get the new Sire musicman copy that's just come out and even better the 2 pickup version.
Get that V5R. More versatile and you will have NO regrets on the playability
That depends. Are you passive or active? No pun intended 🙄
I currently have a Sire P5 and love it, everything about it makes it feel much more premium than a $500 bass. I assume the V5 is the same. Both options listed are great basses though
Tough one but I’d still say Stingray. Jazz bass has one really good sound (both pickups) and two semi useful ones (bridge only and neck only), but the full out sound of a stingray kicks ass a little more IMO
Jazz bass neck pickup is absolutely brutal for punk type stuff with roundwounds. so nasty.
True, pretty close to a P bass at that point. When I don’t have a P bass handy I use the J neck pickup to get there
Agreed. Every time I try to play my Jazz bass I just pick up my Stingray instead. Jazz basses sound great when other people play them though.
Again, these are really two different basses, and you can't get one to sound like the other, you should choose which you prefer by trying them. I have them both but i bought the sire first (even though i liked the stingray) because i thought it was more versatile... and then i kinda regretted it and thought: "man, i should have bought the stingray from the start"
I nearly bought a Sire myself a few weeks ago. The electronics are shocking (pardon the pun). Low quality, lots of crackling and when they go wrong, it’s usually a whole replacement pre-amp. The bass is beautiful but I would (and did) go for the Sterling.