? about a Sterling Ray34CA Mint Green I just bought

Gadgetech · #1 11-13-2011, 05:24 PM

I have a question about this bass (pictured below) that I purchased from Guitar Center today. It is labled as a Sterling Ray34CANB-MG/M Bass Mint Grn on their tag. It is a mint green bass from Sterling but all the mint green ones I see from Sterling floating around have a rosewood fingerboard but as you can see the one I purchased has what appears to be a maple fingerboard. I am wondering if GC switched the neck w/ a different Sterling and there are other things that don't seem to add up. I cannot locate this particular neck/body color/price on GCs website either. The bass I bought has the three knobs w/ plug-in on the face like the Ray34CAs but has the price ($599) of the 4 knobbed Ray34 Custom in white. I'm totally knew to bass instruments as I've been a sax player for 20+ years and I just want to be sure I'm not getting some hack job bass here. Thank you for your feedback!

bassgod0dmw · #2 11-13-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadgetech

rosewood mapleboard

I just have to quote that for awesomeness.

i don't know enough about the Sterling series stuff to really say, but I doubt that GC swapped the neck. Maybe it was a color combo from last year that is no longer offered? I do see a few maple fret boards on their site.

dedpool1052 · #3 11-13-2011, 05:45 PM

i saw that same bass at my GC just today. maybe they're just new and not many have popped up yet.

Gadgetech · #4 11-13-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

I just have to quote that for awesomeness.

i don't know enough about the Sterling series stuff to really say, but I doubt that GC swapped the neck. Maybe it was a color combo from last year that is no longer offered? I do see a few maple fret boards on their site.

Thanks for the reply and for bringing a little humor to my 'new word'. Gotta love being a newb.

infamusblkdeath · #5 11-13-2011, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

i don't know enough about the Sterling series stuff to really say, but I doubt that GC swapped the neck. Maybe it was a color combo from last year that is no longer offered? I do see a few maple fret boards on their site.

the CA's came out this year...

anyhow, i played literally the exact same bass today. i was wondering about that as well cause it also had the maple board. it certainly didn't play like a hack job bass though..hahah. i'm pretty sure they are legit and i think they are probably offering different options without posting it. these things are BEASTS though that's for sure. to my ears it actually sounded like a 3 band ray. D string seemed a bit weak though.

bassgod0dmw · #6 11-13-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadgetech

Thanks for the reply and for bringing a little humor to my 'new word'. Gotta love being a newb.

Quote:

Originally Posted by infamusblkdeath

the CA's came out this year...

anyhow, i played literally the exact same bass today. i was wondering about that as well cause it also had the maple board. it certainly didn't play like a hack job bass though..hahah. i'm pretty sure they are legit and i think they are probably offering different options without posting it. these things are BEASTS though that's for sure. to my ears it actually sounded like a 3 band ray. D string seemed a bit weak though.

It's also possible it's a GC only thing. Gibson makes plenty of guitars only for them...

Gadgetech · #7 11-13-2011, 06:07 PM

Maybe when they post the video, it'll answer my question. After looking at the price tag again, it looks like it just came into inventory on the 10th. I appreciate all the fast replies.

Gadgetech · #8 11-13-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

It's also possible it's a GC only thing. Gibson makes plenty of guitars only for them...

I wondered about that too.

Lucas G · #9 11-13-2011, 06:39 PM

I played one of these at my local GC last weekend, it was amazing! I have a friend who works there, and whenever I go in he shows me the coolest stuff they have gotten in, and because I have a bongo and a SUB he had me check it out. He said he thought the quality had gone up a little bit, I plugged it in and it sounded great. Felt super good, too. The neck was great, the finish was super good too. The white pickup cover is a nice touch. If I were in the market at the moment, that would be a hard bass to pass up. A whole lot of bass for a pretty reasonable amount of money.

Gadgetech · #10 11-13-2011, 07:21 PM

I was originally going in to look at a Schecter 5 string but after seeing this beauty, I had to rethink that. I'm brand new at playing bass so I wasn't dead set on the string count. I'm super excited to get going and start really jamming with this thing. It's going to take some time though...the ol' hands and fingers don't seem to want to contort like that.

Lucas G · #11 11-13-2011, 08:20 PM

Well, you certainly picked a great bass to start playing with! Keep plugging away, those fingers will do whatever you want in no time.

**MAJOR METAL** · #12 11-13-2011, 08:24 PM

I like that color, pearliod pickgard would work well with it.

Gadgetech · #13 11-13-2011, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAJOR METAL

I like that color, pearliod pickgard would work well with it.

I agree that would be nice. I take it that's something easily purchased?

infamusblkdeath · #14 11-13-2011, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

It's also possible it's a GC only thing. Gibson makes plenty of guitars only for them...

that is also VERY true. anyways these things are incredibly well made for the price. you've got a top quality instrument there no doubt. i was looking at a tribute L-2000 when i saw this thing on the wall. i really wanted the burst but i HAD to try it out. i know they say the 2000 can get good ray tone and then some and it did. but the ray's punch just blew it right out of the water if you ask me.. only downside was that it was a bit heavier though.

EighthNotes · #15 11-14-2011, 09:04 AM

I played one of those yesterday too. I hadn't thought about it until now that it had a maple board! When I first saw it on the website, I remember thinking maple would look so much better than rosewood. I didn't even think anything of it when I was playing it.

aln413 · #16 11-14-2011, 08:45 PM

I played this bass just this last saturday through an Ampeg classic and an 8/10 cab and it sounded awesome!! I immediately came home and did some research on the web and found this post. long story short, i went to my local GC today and it was still there, played the heck out of it again and fell in love. I put it on layaway. I like that fact that its got some weight to it. Im going to go with mint green for the pickguard replacement. I cant wait to hear it through my Ampeg svt 4 pro, sansamp rack, and 8/10 cab. Can anybody recommend where to get the guard?

infamusblkdeath · #17 11-18-2011, 06:38 PM

idk if anyone saw, but a big GC catalog came in the mail yesterday and it turns out this IS a GC exclusive. i second aln's post in where to get a pickguard for this thing cause i'm actually considering picking one up..i'd just rather have a black guard on it (tort or white isn't really my cup of tea)

Gadgetech · #18 11-18-2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infamusblkdeath

idk if anyone saw, but a big GC catalog came in the mail yesterday and it turns out this IS a GC exclusive. i second aln's post in where to get a pickguard for this thing cause i'm actually considering picking one up..i'd just rather have a black guard on it (tort or white isn't really my cup of tea)

Cool to know...I wonder what the specs on this thing are since I didn't really see anything on their site and I don't get the magazine.

Limeman · #19 11-18-2011, 08:05 PM

Hmmmm... as some have suggested, the maple fingerboard may indeed be a GC thing for the Ray34CA. I'm highly doubtful anyone from GC removed and installed a different neck. The guys there can barely tune an instrument, let alone install anything sucessfully. I am pretty sure the street price on these is $599, so that is nothing special either. Regardless, the Sterling Rays are are quite good for the dollar.

I recently purchased a natural body/maple fingerboard Ray34 from The Bass Emporium in Arizona. After making subtle adjustments to the action over the course of a few weeks (it arrived way to high/slow for my tastes), it now plays like a dream. Several of my bass playing friends are astounded at the feel of the action for the price. As for the sound, I'd say it is about 75% to 80% USA Stingray, with a nod to a bit more harsh in the upper treble, but in a band setting, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. Build quality, while very solid for this price point, upon closer inspection reveals a few shortcomings in comparison to the US brethren as well. None of this affects the over-all playability, and if you are looking to add the "Stingray sound and look" to your arsenal on the cheap, this is clearly a great way to go.

The 2-band pre in the CA is, IMO, superior to the boost/cut 3-band of the standard Ray34, but I just cut the mids about 50% or more with mine for a close replication. Again... live in a loud band setting, you'd be hard pressed to hear a difference. I got my Ray34 for $499 and am totally satisfied with the purchase.

infamusblkdeath · #20 11-22-2011, 12:27 AM

^^ what's odd is that earlier tonight i took a look through that GC catalog again, it says it has a 3-band eq..
and i thought it sounded more zingy like the 3 band rays too. so i guess they got rid of the volume knob then?? it also has a phantom coil too apperently.
i don't think either are the case with the other CA's. guess i'll check the site.