Sterling StingRay Ray35PB Dark Scarlet Burst Satin 5-string with case!

Up for grabs is a sweet specimen of a Sterling Ray35 in the gorgeous and rare Scarlet Burst finish on a Poplar Burl top. I have been playing bass for over 35yrs, including many years professionally and semi-professionally. I don't play junk. Yes, it's an import, but this ain't junk. I got the Stingray itch a couple of years ago after having not owned one for years. I tried one of the Sterling Ray35s in that gorgeous light blue sparkle finish with the white pickguard. Sexy as all get out, but it was heavy, and a beast to play. It was like someone slapped strings on a brick. The thing did not resonate at all. I felt like I was fighting it to get the notes out. I sold it pretty quickly. But the bug bit again maybe a year ago, and I took a shot on this one. I'm glad I did. After doing a ton of research, I had a far better experience with this one that the sparkle variety. I attributed that difference in tone to the sparkle bass having the hard lacquer finish, while this poplar version has a satin finish. I believe the satin finish allows the bass to resonate and breathe better. That might not be backed by science. It might just be my opinion. I'm not sure. Maybe I just lucked out with a better specimen of wood for the body and neck. But either way, this bass plays easily and sounds every bit of a Stingray. I watched a myriad of videos on YouTube of various Ray35 basses, and I do believe the finish makes a difference. One video in particular really sold me on the bass. It was a video of a 4-string PB satin finish variety that didn't even have the 3-way switch. But it still sounded more like an actual Stingray to me than the other Ray35 videos I watched. The 3-way selector switch is a real gem. In the bridge position, it's a classic Stingray. In the middle, it's a smooth single coil sound. In the neck position, it's got midrange punch and power for days. In reality, though, I am getting older and have way too many basses. I can't play them all, and I have decided I'm more of an old-school passive P-bass or J-bass kind of guy.

The bass is in excellent++ condition with just a couple of light scratches on the back and one nick on the side, which the bright sunlight . . . while it makes the overall bass look much more dramatically cool in photos . . . makes the scratches look worse than they are. It is set up with a nice, low, playable action and DR Nickel Lo-Rider strings. Plays like butter. It will come with a Road Runner hardshell case that is in excellent condition. Pristine on the inside and only some lighter scratches on the outside. Functionally pristine. Even still has the keys. There is only one uniquely odd thing about the bass that you'll want to know ahead of time. I did not know this and initially thought the bass had an issue, but it most definitely does not. The output jack has what can only be described as two stages of "engaged." You'll push it in until there is a soft click and think it's fully plugged in, but it's not. The output at that point will likely be weak and distorted. Once it lightly clicks once, you keep pushing a little harder and it clicks in again and THEN is fully plugged in. And once plugged in, that plug ain't going anywhere. Maybe the original owner replaced the output jack with some newfangled technology. Either way, it works great. Rock solid. You can jump around on stage to your heart's content. No worries about the plug falling out.

Here are some specs:

Key Specifications

• Body: Carved nyatoh body with a striking poplar burl veneer top
• Neck: Roasted maple neck with a 6-bolt attachment for enhanced stability
• Fingerboard: Rosewood with a 34" scale length, 12" radius, and 22 medium frets
• Nut Width: 1.77" (45mm)
• Pickups & Electronics: Available in single Alnico humbucker (H) or dual Alnico humbucker (HH) configurations, paired with a 3-band active preamp for deep tone-shaping
• Hardware: Black hardware, open-gear tuning machines, and a Sterling-designed bridge
• Actual weight: 9.4lbs (not a boat anchor)

I will ship via UPS within two business days of receipt of payment. Feel free to check my feedback and purchase with confidence. I'm not a shop. Just a dude and lover of all things bass.

Thanks for looking!