Sterling by Music Man - StingRay RAYSS4 Purple Sparkle

Sometimes, all it takes is shortening the distance between two frets slightly to experience a completely different feel when playing. The Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAYSS4 Purple Sparkle, a 4-string electric bass guitar, features a 762 mm short scale, which makes the neck more compact and particularly comfortable to play. This design will appeal to bassists who like to have the notes more readily within reach, as well as those looking for a comfortable bass for long sessions, repetitive grooves or lines that require frequent finger movement.

With its Nyatoh body and bolt-on roasted maple neck, the instrument offers a natural and comfortable playing feel. The rosewood fingerboard has a radius of 240 mm and features 22 Medium Jumbo frets, with dot inlays for easy navigation along the neck. The 38 mm nut width complements the compact design of this four-string bass, offering a particularly appealing grip for bassists who prefer narrower necks. The dual-action truss rod allows for adjustments to maintain neck alignment over time.

In terms of sound, this RAYSS4 keeps things simple with a single Sterling Neodymium humbucker at the bridge. The passive configuration maintains a direct signal path, with a volume control featuring a Push/Push Volume Boost function and a tone control to adjust the instrument’s response. The 3-position switch offers further customisation options. This combination is equally suited to funk grooves as well as rock, pop, blues and contemporary music, with a bass that prioritises a simple and immediate playing style. Open-back tuners complete the package, fitted with Ernie Ball 2852 Regular Slinky Short Scale Bass steel strings. In Purple Sparkle with black hardware, this StingRay certainly has a particularly striking look.