Sterling by Music Man Ray34CA (2013) in 3-Color Sunburst

I “discovered” the Stingray bass many years ago when I watched Jethro Tull’s Heavy Horses music video. The bass player was a man named John Glascock and he was playing a natural-finish Stingray with a white pickup cover.

Back then, in my mind, there were Fender basses and Everything Else. It wouldn’t be until over a decade later that I learned much more about the instrument that I loved, the Electric Bass Guitar. And the more I learned, the more I wanted a Stingray.

Unfortunately, Stingrays were out of my price range. However, in 2021 Sterling by Music Man (SBMM) had a bass they called the Ray24CA. After receiving the bass, it turned out that I did not get along with it. It was nicely made but the ceramic pickup was far too bright and the two-band EQ did not shape the tone nearly enough for my taste.

Finally, in 2023, I was able to trade away a Fender Player P Bass for this exceptional SBMM Ray34CA. The “CA” means “Classic Active” which refers to the two-band EQ. This older generation of Ray34 has the “slab” body and alnico pickup instead of ceramic.

I loved this Stingray from day one. It is an absolute Tone Monster despite having “only” a two-band EQ. During the flurry of bass swapping and selling I put myself through, this is the bass I have had the longest amount of time. The only bass that I could ever imagine replacing it would be a genuine (very expensive) Music Man.

This was the original “Keeper” for me and continues to be so.

Yamaha is making superb basses and I’m glad that I was willing to give them another chance after 30+ years. I look forward to experimenting with the new bass.