The Official Sterling by Music Man Owners Club

[scharroo]

Forgot to mention... I like this bass so much, I even got the head tattooed on my arm (I'm Dutch so my englisch isn't so good!)

[scharroo]

And thanks for adding me to the list!

[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
89. robzuki
90. notsogr8bassist
91. MLouis1981
92. Aznslappadabass
93. Pimmsley
94. Durockrolly
95. nicopiano
96. Epidot
97. Jnumme
98. Luke S Mouse
99. scharroo
100. pizzazombie

Welcome to #100....pizzazombie!

[SBMM]

Have no fear my friends, no chopped liver here!

I was planning a separate post I was preparing for release tomorrow, but, since you insist, I'll have to do it from home today!

First and foremost: Everybody here at Sterling By Music Man would like to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!
I would personally like to thank all of you for your support and loyalty to Sterling By Music Man! I listen to you and the comments made for additions, subtractions, features, and colors to add to our lineup. I can't please everybody, but, I do try!

2013 is going to be a great year, and, for us here at SBMM, quite a BIG year, with the addition of new models, both bass and guitar. For OBVIOUS reasons, I'm only posting the bass news here. Won't bore you with those extra strings

Well, here it is.
The Bass lineup for 2013 from SBMM:

Ray34CAFL Fretless!
With it's 38mm nut, slab body, and "Vintage Tinted" neck, Ray34CAFL is the perfect vehicle for our addition of a Fretless Bass to the Sterling By Music Man product offering for 2013!
Features a "Lined" Rosewood fretboard (side dots only)
Available in the following finishes:
Vintage Cream
Mint Green
Black
Sunburst
Silver Metallic - 2013 Limited Edition

Ray34CA
Ray34CA is now available in the following finishes:
Vintage Cream
Mint Green
Black
Sunburst
Silver Metallic - 2013 Limited Edition

Ray34
Ray34 is now available in the following finishes:
Black
Tobacco Sunburst
HoneyBurst
Natural
Transparent White Blonde - 2013 Limited Edition (Awesome finish! Ash wood grain shows though amazing!)

Ray34LH-NAT
Our Lefty bass, the Ray34LH gets a new, Limited Edition 2013 Natural Finish!

Ray35
Ray35 is now available in the following finishes:
Black
Natural
Transparent White Blonde - 2013 Limited Edition (Awesome finish! Ash wood grain shows though amazing!)

So there it is kiddies! Now, get ahold of your favorite USA/Canada Independent Mom and Pop Guitar Shop and tell them to stop by and see all these fantastic instruments at the Sterling By Music Man section of the Ernie Ball/Music Man Booth (#5440) at NAMM and come on board with us!

For my International Friends: Drop an email to the distributor who services your country/region from this link to our website http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/dealers/international
We are meeting with all of our International Distributors at NAMM as well, and I know they'd love to hear some feedback from their potential customers that they service!

I want to thank all of you who have taken their hard earned money and chose to spend it on our products! It truly is you who keep us going and endeavoring to create new and exciting models year by year.

I'd also like to thank those of you on here who participated in my call for help when doing R&D for our new Fretless model, Ray34CAFL. While ebony would have been the top choice, at the price point we adhere to, it would have been impossible, so it gets Rosewood. Also, the choice of making it "Lined" was a tough one, but, again, at our price point, I wanted to make it less daunting to someone who may be picking it up as their first foray into a fretless world.

Also, if you notice the lack of SB14 on the list, have no fear. The model is still available, but with no new changes to it, (and some big ones in the works!!!) I decided to omit it from both the catalog and the written lineup. It remains on our price sheet for dealers as well as our website.

Again, thank you everybody!

[LuvMusic]

Originally Posted by SBMM

Have no fear my friends, no chopped liver here!

I was planning a separate post I was preparing for release tomorrow, but, since you insist, I'll have to do it from home today!

First and foremost: Everybody here at Sterling By Music Man would like to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!
I would personally like to thank all of you for your support and loyalty to Sterling By Music Man! I listen to you and the comments made for additions, subtractions, features, and colors to add to our lineup. I can't please everybody, but, I do try!

Also, if you notice the lack of SB14 on the list, have no fear. The model is still available, but with no new changes to it, (and some big ones in the works!!!) I decided to omit it from both the catalog and the written lineup. It remains on our price sheet for dealers as well as our website.

Again, thank you everybody!

Brian,

Thanks for checking-in, Happy New Year to you and the SBMM family! We thank you for your insight and support in this forum!

Looking forward to news about changes to the SB14, still really like mine though a Ray34CA in vintage cream could be very cool!

Can't wait for more updates, keep up the good work!

[Aznslappadabass]

Oh my SBMM, tempting me with my nearly nonexistent budget with a silver metallic finish on the ray34ca? I'm doomed lol

Edit: I just saw pictures of the white and silver colors...clearly I bought my bass too early because I wouldn't have even looked at honeyburst had I seen the silver or white colors. Ahh SBMM you're killing me =D

[RJKaneao]

Aloha folks

[Pimmsley]

Hello all...
Had my Ray34 (nat) for two months and absolutely loving this instrument...

Brian is there a way I can tell the date of manufacturer from the serial # ?
Cheers

EDIT: May I have a number please ? thanks...

[mattattack187]

I'm caught up between the Ray 34 & the Ray 34ca. I'm really digging the Burst/Maple ca but I see it's only a two band EQ. How much difference in tone is there between the 3 band and the 2?

[CorrosionMedia]

I have a white SBMM SUB Ray 4.
Best bass I've ever owned.

[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
89. robzuki
90. notsogr8bassist
91. MLouis1981
92. Aznslappadabass
93. Pimmsley
94. Durockrolly
95. nicopiano
96. Epidot
97. Jnumme
98. Luke S Mouse
99. scharroo
100. pizzazombie
101. Pimmsesley
102. CorrosionMedia
103. spkbri

[LuvMusic]

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

Hello all...
Had my Ray34 (nat) for two months and absolutely loving this instrument...

Brian is there a way I can tell the date of manufacturer from the serial # ?
Cheers

EDIT: May I have a number please ? thanks...

Originally Posted by CorrosionMedia

I have a white SBMM SUB Ray 4.
Best bass I've ever owned.

Welcome to our SBMM community!!

[spkbri]

Hi everyone, I've used to read this forum for a long time, looking for news about new models coming out and opinions about some that I fancy and/or wanted to buy. But now I've seen this thread and it made me register

So... as a proud owner of this marvellous bass, I shall share some (bad) pictures:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/23310897/IM...222_003704.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/23310897/20...-58-36_HDR.jpg

(this is what I traded in to buy it)
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/23310897/20...-09-13_HDR.jpg

The first picture had been taken as soon as I got home from the shop where i bought it, on the 21st of February 2012

Then I put on some Neon Pink strings (I love the Neons, they last at least 4 or 5 months).

About the bass: well, I love it and I hate it in some ways.
When I first plugged it in at home (in a Line 6 Spider II 30Watts guitar amp) it sounded EXACTLY like I wanted it to. I mean, it seemed an identical copy of what you can hear here (obviously he uses a MMSR)
And then the days later too.
But no more
It's still a lot better than my previous bass, but it hasn't got that StringRay-ness inside that it had before, and I can't understand why.
I've tried with the same strings that it had when shipped but nothing changed (and ernieball strings wear off in about 3 or 4 reharsals ).
But I can stand it, because i hadn't bought a MusicMan for 1400€, but a Sterling by MusicMan for half the price.

Now the jack plug if i walk to and forth (is that correct, "to and forth"?) the amp or wherever i may go, the sound goes away or makes some nasty noises (like when you unplug the bass with the amp still on). I have to stir the jack and move it for some seconds to make the connection clear again.

And the fretboard is going green/brown/something, but that started in just a month of use.....................
And the pickup poles have a layer of rust on them.

Was I expecting more? maybe.
But i still love this bass, because it's beautiful

(sorry for bad English)

[LuvMusic]

spkbri, welcome! I've not had the issues you have had. Do you wipe down your bass occasionally? Also, have you tried different strings to get back that familiar sound?

[spkbri]

hi, thanks!
No I don't wipe it occasionally, here is why:
as you can see, the bass I had before had a Rosewood fingerboard, and in 6 years I've never wiped it, except once every 5 months with a humidified cloth when I happened to change strings; I didn't know this was to be done with maple fingerboards, nobody said it to me and I went on playing. Then, after a month or so, the damage was already done so I didn't bother to start wiping it because it was already too late. Now I wipe it when i change strings with something used to clean wood that we have here in Italy which is called "Pronto" (I don't know any trademark for such a thing in the USA), and after an hours or so the result is minimal or null. If i'll find 150€ on the road to pick up, i'll take it to a Luthier to clean it and paint it like Fender maple fingerboards.
Then, the back of the neck is another piece of maple, with a treatment that keeps it clean, but in two sposts that are becoming green. That's bad finishing to me. And the area between the A and D strings in the first fret is clean because it seems that some of that paint(?) went there too. I don't know if I've explained that in an understandable way, I can take some photos eventually.

I've tried different sizes of strings:

• ErnieBall SUPER SLINKY BASS NICKEL WOUND

The ones that it had on originally, which lasted for as long as (or may I say "as short as"?) 2 weeks being generous

• DR Neon Pink (45-65-85-105)

Those were good, but just that. Not the sound I had in principle. Good as can be on any other bass guitar (except a Rickenbacker. Everything is good on that marvellous thing).

• ErnieBall EXTRA SLINKY BASS NICKEL WOUND

They didn't have the super slinky so I went with these. Don't do that for any reason in the world, they were a disaster

• HYBRID SLINKY BASS NICKEL WOUND

Which I have now. Standard ErnieBall anonimous sound that I could have had with a Squier Affinity or a 150€ whatever-bass.
I couldn't find the Super Slinky anymore, to be honest, but I don't think that the subtle change between super and hybrid is that important

I would add to the list of problems I seem to have (I don't really know if it's a real problem) that I can distinctly hear my pick plucking the strings, from the pickup (passing through an amp with haedphones on).

But all of the above is nothing compared to the fact that sometimes I'm there playing and sometimes I'm still there playing but the sound goes off because of the jack plug

[Bobster]

The most important thing here is to fix/replace the jack.

That could be responsible for the other sound problems as well. These basses use a standard stereo jack (stereo for the preamp power).

Any lutherier should be able to replace it very inexpensively.

All the best,

Bob

[Pimmsley]

Originally Posted by LuvMusic

Welcome to our SBMM community!!

Thanks LM !

[spkbri]

Originally Posted by Bobster

These basses use a standard stereo jack (stereo for the preamp power).

All the best,

Bob

thank you, I think I'll take it to a luthier, when I have time, yes.

Are you sure the preamp takes power from a stereo jack? I've always used regular mono jacks. there's the battery to supply power to the preamp i think

[bsh21]

And what about the battery ? Did you check or replace it ?

[taowin]

Hi,
New to Sterlings, in fact I haven't bought one yet. There's a mid 90s one for sale but before I bought it I'm wondering is there an advantage to old vs. new? Is there sound value in it being vintage? Have they upgraded so there's sound value in the more recent models? Four string single pickup I bet. I play funk R&Bb and jazz mostly. Recently mostly a Skjold 6 string.

Thanks,

Jeremy