The Official Sterling by Music Man Owners Club

[Corey Y]

Originally Posted by Bassmunnky

How do you like the neck shape. I love the CLASSIC..which is beefy for sure...Let me know will ya?

It's a beefy neck. Just a hair narrower than a Precision, but a little thicker front to back, I think. I have big hands though, so I actually find it very comfortable. I enjoy a slim narrow neck when I'm playing up the fretboard, but sometimes when playing near the nut it can make my hand get a bit a cramped. So you know, it's a matter of taste, but personally I like the neck profile. I haven't tried a Sterling model though, so there's a chance I could like that better. I'd like to try out an SB14 at some point and compare them.

Originally Posted by LuvMusic

You ask and I respond......#86

I really like the Classic line.

Thank you kindly. I agree, I never had much GAS for Stingrays in the past. They just never really showed up on my radar much I suppose, but I love this bass. I really couldn't praise SBMM enough, they really knocked it out of the park with the Ray34CA.

Originally Posted by larryelwood

That's simply one of the coolest basses i've ever seen. That tinted slim neck on black..wow.

I love everything about it, but the black pickguard the original owner put on really put it over the top for me. Love at first sight. Other people are more tuned in to this sort of thing than I am, but I think a black/black/maple CA option would sell like hotcakes.

[gandsfjord]

Some good shots of my black Ray 34 in this mobile video from the gig last Friday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0URc_...eature=related
Playing through a GK210 with an extra 15" cabinet.

[larryelwood]

Originally Posted by gandsfjord

Some good shots of my black Ray 34 in this mobile video from the gig last Friday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0URc_...eature=related
Playing through a GK210 with an extra 15" cabinet.

cool man. nice tone too.

[larryelwood]

Just got a used Vintage Cream Ray34ca on Ebay! I've had 2 stingrays and a sterling over the years. The quality has always knocked me out. However the neck shape just didn't and they went away. I'm hoping this smaller neck will do the trick.

[LuvMusic]

Updated list for this page!

Member Listing (updated as often as possible):

1. DaymonJ11 - Mint Green Ray34ca - 2/28/11
2. Tsunami1052 - Sunburst Ray34 - 2/28/11
3. LuvMusic - Electric Blue SB14 - 2/28/11
4. JohnD@508 - Silverburst Ray34 - 2/28/11
5. caesarbass - Natural Ray35 & Mint Green Ray34ca - 3/6/11
6. FatFingerz - Limited Edition White Ray 34 - 3/9/11
7. red hot zeppelin - Sunburst Ray34 - 3/13/11
8. Funkslap Mama - Ruby SB14 - 3/15/11
9. Funkycoldmedina - Silverburst Ray34 - 3/21/11
10. Paddy McBass - Limited Edition White Ray 34 - 3/23/2011
11. dave_bass - Black Ray34 - 3/24/11
12. Hattori Hanzo - Silverburst Ray34 - 4/8/11
13. CrackenStein - Silverburst Ray34 - 4/8/11
14. Peledog - Limited Edition White Ray34 - 4/9/11
15. mathewcanhaz - Custom Candy Green Ray34 - 4/26/11
16. lokikallas - Silverburst Ray34 - 4/26/11
17. mrandev - Honeyburst Ray34 - 5/7/11
18. Yurtra - Candy Apple Red SB14 - 5/17/11
19. Xavier Zed - Fretless Honeyburst Ray34 - 5/22/11
20. JeffK - Silverburst Ray34 - 5/22/11
21. Dannoman - Black Ray35 w/ hottie wife - 6/1/11
22. sd5 - Honeyburst Ray35 - 6/22/11
23. bovinehost - Mint Green Ray34ca - 6/25/11
24. kens117 - Black SB14 - 6/28/11
25. insuranceguy - Tobacco Sunburst Ray34ca - 7/15/11
26. TFM 53 - Silverburst Ray34 - 7/20/11
27. jkjgiants26 - Silverburst Ray34 - 8/6/11
28. chasfur - Limeted Edition White Ray34 - 9/7/11
29. radname - Tobacco Suburst Ray35 - 9/12/11
30. Gonzar - Black Ray35 - 9/18/11
31. TrojanMan
32. Bengals
33. HMZ
34. Gadgetech
35. basswave
36. darkbass
37. laneline
38. reasonbass
39. bassplayer1494
40. MikeB_30
41. mixx80
42. 88persuader
43. DerTeufel
44. j_micho
45. Lowactnsatsfctn
46. Slackerprince
47. JohnnyAngle
48. atreyu2112
49. Zoomie
50. Quadzilla
51. jeff7bass
52. zhaddock
53. lonote
54. Spleenface92
55. gandsfjord
56. TallFred
57. Toneonbass
58. TheBamaSlamma
59. bass335
60. SGbassist
61. Merqu
62. Sopirate55
63. KyleSerlington
64. MoeGJBeaner
65. ChadenBass
66. tREBOT
67. eccles77
68. grayta
69. NathanGaskins - sbmm 2011 ray 34 in white with a black pickguard
70. tastybasslines
71. Edubagio
72. Chili Bo Billy
73. VB_VB
74. 4stringsenough
75. Substandard
76. Bobster
77. NatalyPlaysBass
78. yamark
79. SBMM (Yes, THE SBMM!)
80. Miketallica315
81. SunnBass
82. MidnightRadio
83. Gabriel51
84. scapegoat
85. Ray34HH
86. Corey Y
87. larreyelwood
88. Chrishi87

How long before we make triple digits? Only time will tell!

[LuvMusic]

Originally Posted by larryelwood

Just got a used Vintage Cream Ray34ca on Ebay! I've had 2 stingrays and a sterling over the years. The quality has always knocked me out. However the neck shape just didn't and they went away. I'm hoping this smaller neck will do the trick.

And you sir are number 87...post a pic when you CA arrives.

[larryelwood]

Originally Posted by LuvMusic

And you sir are number 87...post a pic when you CA arrives.

Thanks!

[Chrishi87]

Oh oh oh
I want the 88 please

Sold my SR5. And bought a Sbmm, I am not dissapointed.
Maybe sometimes with a pearl PG



https://www.dropbox.com/s/oghxs3aqw5...023_082002.jpg

[nicopiano]

I didn't bring my new Ray35 to a luthier for set up yet, but I'm wondering if this is possible to get a real low action on it without buzz.

I ajusted the truss rod but it wasn't as I like.

Do I need to have the ask for fret level?

Great sound by the way!

[LuvMusic]

Originally Posted by Chrishi87

Oh oh oh
I want the 88 please

Sold my SR5. And bought a Sbmm, I am not dissapointed.
Maybe sometimes with a pearl PG



https://www.dropbox.com/s/oghxs3aqw5...023_082002.jpg

Chrishi87.......double eights it is. Welcome to the community!

[LuvMusic]

Originally Posted by nicopiano

I didn't bring my new Ray35 to a luthier for set up yet, but I'm wondering if this is possible to get a real low action on it without buzz.

I ajusted the truss rod but it wasn't as I like.

Do I need to have the ask for fret level?

Great sound by the way!

After about 18 months my SBMM needed a fret level. I'd ask the luthier to check the height of the frets first.

Or, you can do it yourself, it's pretty easy. Get a ruler or staight edge ( six inch is good) and place it along the tops of the frets. If it rocks, you have a high fret. Move up and down the neck to check them all. Or, in your situation, check around the area where you are getting fret buzz.

Also, did you adjust the string height? You may have gotten it too low. Maybe you took out too much neck relief when you adjusted the truss?

Good luck! I'm sure you'll get it the way you like it.

[robzuki]

Here's one of me with the Ray35 in Black. If only it had a maple fingerboard!

Originally Posted by nicopiano

I didn't bring my new Ray35 to a luthier for set up yet, but I'm wondering if this is possible to get a real low action on it without buzz.

I ajusted the truss rod but it wasn't as I like.

Do I need to have the ask for fret level?

Great sound by the way!

Definitely, the setup is probably exactly what you need. Though mine was fine right when I got it used.

[SBMM]

Originally Posted by LuvMusic

Or, you can do it yourself, it's pretty easy. Get a ruler or staight edge ( six inch is good) and place it along the tops of the frets. If it rocks, you have a high fret. Move up and down the neck to check them all. Or, in your situation, check around the area where you are getting fret buzz.

I'd highly recommend taking it to a luthier/repairman.

Unless you have these tools (and most importantly, the experience to use them!), you cannot do a proper level without possibly damaging the other frets!

[LuvMusic]

Originally Posted by SBMM

I'd highly recommend taking it to a luthier/repairman.

Unless you have these tools (and most importantly, the experience to use them!), you cannot do a proper level without possibly damaging the other frets!

Sorry, I just meant checking to see if they are level.....not actually leveling them. If they are not, I agree, time for a trip to the luthier.

[nicopiano]

I took it to a luthier today. The set up out of the box was fine but I like very low action.

Thank you for your advices.

[Chrishi87]

What do you think?
I haven´t installed it yet, just layed it on.

[VeganThump]

Originally Posted by Chrishi87

What do you think?
I haven´t installed it yet, just layed it on.

I definitely like it better than the black, looks good!

[Ray34HH]

Hi. I did not find any information who is the Indonesian manufacturer. Is it Cort?

[Bobster]

Hi Brian,

My Ray35 is an older one and the "Made in Indonesia" logo on the back of the headstock is different than the one currently being used.

It's a style match for the EBMM "Made in San Luis Obispo California, USA" one, much larger, and located near the "B" tuner.

I really prefer this one. In my opinion the larger logo shows more pride in the instrument's home. After all, Indonesia has really built up a good reputation for instrument production in the last few years.

Are there any plans to go back to this logo?

Thanks

Bob

[SBMM]

Originally Posted by Bobster

Are there any plans to go back to this logo?

I've not given much thought to it actually.

We left that logo quite some time ago specifically because the all on one line "Made In Indonesia" flows much better.

More than likely we will stay with the current all on one line logo for now. We have, however, been toying with the idea of changing the color every year so that it is easier for end-user customers to at least date their particular instrument to a year.