Musicman StingRay 5 Comparisson: ALNICO vs. Ceramic, 2-Band vs. 3-Band

This is my comparisson of three different StingRay 5 types, all with maple fretboard, ash body and equipped with Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinkys. You will note the significant differences in the tone that is related to the different Pickup, CERAMIC vs. ALNICO, and Pre-Amp Types, 3-Band vs. 2-Band.

A brief history of StingRay 5: The model was introduced in 1987. By that time equipped with an ALNICO PU. For some reason Music Man changed the PU type to Ceramic in 1992. This obviously inspired the four-string version of the StingRay 5 - the Music Man Sterling, introduced in 1993. With the introduction of the first Sterling 5 string model in 2008 (that has the same PU and Pre-Amp architecture as the StingRay 5 had) the StingRay 5 was evolved into its current incarnation and is available from March 2008 on again with an ALNICO PU. The Pre-Amp was changed slightly, too: Instead of Parallel/Singlecoil/Series the current Pre-Amp features Parallel/Series with a filter/Series.

In 2009 the StingRay Classic model - 4 and 5 String - was added to the line. It is obviously inspired by the Pre-Ernie Ball Musicman StingRays with some modern features, e.g. trussrod-wheel. In addition the 5 string model for the first time features the egg-shaped pickguard and the body and neck-woods are top notch highly figured pieces. The PU is ALNICO and the EQ is a 2-Band - the same as in the 4 string 2-Band EQ StingRays.

Basses:
1. StingRay 5, 2005 - Black/Maple - Ceramic PU, 3-Band
2. StingRay 5, 2013 - Pacific Blueburst/Maple - ALNICO PU, 3-Band
3. StingRay Classic 5 , 2010 - Mint Green/Maple - ALNICO PU, 2-Band

Strings: Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinkys
Bass Pre-Amp Settings: All flat at center detent (3-Band), 50% Treble/50% Bass (2-Band)

Video: Panasonic Lumix G70. Sound: Bass ... Boss GT10-B - all flat, no EQing ... Ableton Live, Mac. Rendered in iMovie.

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