Yeah, the black ash is a Ray34 only.
the Ray 35 they only have the two colors in the single pick up config, which is black and natural ash.
In the HH (two pick up config) they have black and a light blue color.
Kind of like EBMM, they have limited colors except for on certain 5 string models.
They change up colors once in a while.
I think that natural with a red pick guard would look cool is what I was saying tho.
Yes it would⌠or my vinyl rose on the black pick guard. 
@T_dub do you have any idea why this black one is $200 less than the natural one?
Now THIS would look good with a red pickguard.
LOL, I showed the picture of the black one to Sara and sheâs already dreaming up things she can do with that pick guard 
Yes that one really grabs me too
I really really hate that Pickguard shape they changed to a while ago on the five strings, just looks all wrong on a ray.
I agree, it does bug me, but I am sure that Sara can come up with a way to make it unique and better then what it is.
@PamPurrs, let me look at the priceds and see if I can figute it out.
Yeah that bothers me too. I donât know why they felt the need to do that.
Yes, I do.
The natural is Swamp Ash, and the black is Mahogany body. I guess Swamp ash is more desirable, and / or better looking when natural.
Also
They both have a Roasted Mable neck, but the Natural one has the Roasted Maple Fretboard, but the black has rosewood fretboard.
Does the Natural have an advantage over the Black for performance and sound. Performance probably not, sound, there may be some tonal difference, but 1 - We might not even be able to hear it, and 2 - Better sound is subjective, you may like the sound of the black or you might like the sound of the swamp ash, but only if you can hear it.
Plus, you may prefer to play on a Roasted Maple fretboard OR you may prefer to play on a Rosewood.
For instance, I love playing on my Ray4âs Jatoba neck, but I do appreciate and enjoy playing on my Ray 34 Hard Maple neck and my Ray 4HH Hard maple neck. IDK why, its not that I play better, but I like playing on the light wood fretboard, I really get joy out of it, but I canât explain why, it is just personal preference. I canât tell the sound difference between the basses because of the fretboard, it is the pick ups, pick up placement and then with the Ray 34, it is because it is a higher class of bass, upgraded materials / electronics.
Itâs starting to make the jump from the 5 to the 35 kind of a no brainer. You can return to GC for refund, right, you donât have to use it to get the other bass if you do return it, right?
Or can you get GC to match that price? That would be easier, it just sucks that GC doesnât stock these things locally, or at least in more centralized warehouses.
And I wanted to talk about that too.
The people at your local GC need to be tarred and feathered.
They are horrible employees and liars to boot.
OK, so I should not accuse without SOLID evidence, and I only have circumstantial evidence, bordering on Semi Solid, but it is hard not based on similar experiences that I have had.
Those Lazy F#@$ers that canât ever be bothered, cuz they are too busy just standing around sucking up air, never actually check to see if they really have what you are asking for. They only go to where it SHOULD be on the wall / floor / shelf / case, but they never really check the stock shelves to see what is in all those organized boxes.
All of the GC in your area, I mean GREATER PHOENIX down to TUCSON have AT MINIMUM 3 different models of stingray, and they ALL have AT LEAST ONE 5 string model, the one you actually want to buy, just not sure about color.
When I asked a clerk in GC what colors that the Ray 4 came in, he lied to my face and said that all the colors are on the wall. Not until I named two colors that were not on the wall did he check the computer. He then told me he did not have any there, but they had the blue one in Mission Viejo.
So, I drove to Mission Viejo to get it.
When I got in the store, I was escorted around due to COVID, cuz we are not allowed to wander or browse, we have to get in and shop and get out.
He walked me to the bass wall, and I asked where the Blue Stingray Ray4 was, and he looked around (not really knowing what he was looking for) and then asked if I saw one, and i said, no, I donât even see a Ray 4, but I know you have one.
He proceeded to lie to me and say that just because it says it is in stock on the computer, that it doesnât mean it is in stock in the store, and if it is not on the wall, they doinât have it.
I then told him, that the Fountain Valley store showed me the stock list, and you have at least 2, plus you have about 12 others that are not on the wall, they are in the warehouse.
So, he went to check, and then came back and said, ok, maybe we just got some in, I will go look.
He came back with the box, like I told him it would be there.
I wish I could tell you that he opened the box, gave me the bass, I paid for it and left, but NOOOO, that was not the case. The one he pulled out of the box was Black, not blue, SOOO he went to get the other one. He pulled out ANOTHER black bass, not blue. I wish I could blame GC for this, but it was clearly a Sterling mix up, as the boxes were clearly marked blue.
So, I asked where there is another one local, and he said the Block at Orange.
I said, ring me up and put it on Curbside pick up
He said, OH, you can just pay for it there (the lazy F$%#er)
No, I donât want to wait in line again, to go and get a bass that should have been here, Oh and while you are ringing that up, call them and have them OPEN the box and make sure it is blue
So he did, I paid, I waited a few hours, went to the Block at Orange, and got the bass, that was not on the wall, it was in a box in the back, and they didnât even open it to check, so i made the curbside guy open it for me, and finally it was blue. YAY!!
So, my point is, I am guessing your lazy ass GC cashiers (thats all they are, they donât know didly squat) just looked on the wall, did not see the oneâs you asked about, and just told you know. But if you had known this, and told them check the computer and stock in the back, they probably would have had one there, and who knows, it may have even been RED. And if in the off chance that the Computer website is wrong, and all the stores in your area donât actually have all the basses they say they do, then so be it, but I know, almost for fact, that one of the stores, probably all of them, have at least a 4 string in stock, in a box in the back, not being sold cuz the cashiers donât care.
Sorry for the essay, but they infuriate me, and I had to vent, and let you know, so in the event you continue to shop there (I hate them now, and I always say I am not going to shop there anymore, and then I always end up getting something there cuz they have it and I want it.) as I know you are at your wits end with them, you will know next time to tell them to just get up and get one out of the back room.
Well, the good news is the nice UPS man brought me thisâŚ
Update on the StingRayâŚ
I played it for awhile, even switched between my Yammie and the Ray while playing some familiar bass licks, and honestly cannot feel any love for the Ray. Sorry @T_dub Toby.
There is something magical about the Yamaha, and I think @howard will agree with me on that.
Iâve had my eye on a âNearly newâ Yamaha BB735 on Reverb, and made an offer. 3 counteroffers later, we came to an agreement, and I bought it. As soon as it gets here, I will put my Yammie BB235 up for sale.
I guess Iâm a Yammie gal.
Heading to Guitar Center tomorrow to return this defective StingRay.
Looks like it has character but if it is brand new I might send it back
It is brand new, and yes itâs going back.
@PamPurrs I bought my Squier used and it has dings in the paint and a few chips but that is the deal with a pawn shop bass some people do not care for their equipment.
Nice work Pamđ @PamPurrs
I think I would prefer the Yamahađ¤
Sorry @T_dub , Toby
I know, I know, I love Johnette from the Blonde and she plays a RayđŹ
But the Ray if just a spin of Leo made after parting ways with Fenderđ¤ you just canât go past an original P Bassđ
Cheers Brian
I agree, and since I already play the BB235, the BB735 will fit me like a new pair of gloves.
