Should I buy the musicman Sterling or hold out for a Stingray?

EvanCalz · #1 10-21-2010, 02:00 PM

I finally have enough to buy a musicman Sterling, their cheapest model at around $649.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sterling...95-i1441962.gc

Or

Should I continue to save until I can purchase the stingray.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Music-Ma...82-i1148748.gc

Is there any real significant difference?

SantiagoGT15 · #2 10-21-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvanCalz

Is there any real significant difference?

Sure there is a difference , about $700...

I own a ray34 and well I played an EBMM Stingray and ... it was awesome , but when I played the ray34 I liked it a lot more , it has great tones pouring from it ...

As for me I'd definitely buy another one if something happens to mine

and as if you need ratings:

Ray34 = 9.5
MM StingRay 4 = 10

EvanCalz · #3 10-21-2010, 02:29 PM

thanks a lot:]

plangentmusic · #4 10-21-2010, 02:29 PM

Two different basses. The question should be "should you hold out for the real Sterling."

There's a difference, but I'm not sure it's a $700 difference -- if you find a good Ray.

FunkMetalBass · #5 10-21-2010, 03:24 PM

You want an HH Bongo. The other MM basses can't even hold a candle to it.

MagicMan_841 · #6 10-21-2010, 03:29 PM

You only need 150$-200$ more to a nice, used, genuine Stingray.

**jlepre** · #7 10-21-2010, 04:27 PM

One is made in the USA, and one is NOT.

Craig_S · #8 10-21-2010, 04:37 PM

Hold out for the real deal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantiagoGT15

Ray34 = 9.5
MM StingRay 4 = 10

Sorry, but I'm not with you on that.

manwiththedogs · #9 10-21-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantiagoGT15

Sure there is a difference , about $700...

I own a ray34 and well I played an EBMM Stingray and ... it was awesome , but when I played the ray34 I liked it a lot more , it has great tones pouring from it ...

As for me I'd definitely buy another one if something happens to mine

and as if you need ratings:

Ray34 = 9.5
MM StingRay 4 = 10

/thread

Thunderthumbs73 · #10 10-21-2010, 04:46 PM

I don't think the "real" Stingray is $700 better. But you be the judge of that for yourself.

chuck3 · #11 10-21-2010, 04:47 PM

there may be a difference in fingerboard radius that could affect which you prefer. If talking Fenders, do you prefer J or P? Sterling more like a J, Stingray more like a P in terms of the radius.

Bassbuster · #12 10-21-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck3

there may be a difference in fingerboard radius that could affect which you prefer. If talking Fenders, do you prefer J or P? Sterling more like a J, Stingray more like a P in terms of the radius.

I think he is comparing the MM Stingray to the Sterling Ray34 as opposed to the MM Sterling.

grunz7 · #13 10-21-2010, 05:00 PM

chuck3 put it spot on - the USA sterling (not to be confused with the import sterlings from indonesia) has a J neck width, the stingray a P neck width, the sterling also has a slightly smaller body, also pickup and electronics are different ...

If you desire a sterling neck (there's also a cheap indonesia import sterling out there, called SB14, quite nice and around 500) I would suggest to look for a used one - GC has used US sterlings starting at 700 - and they are really nice basses ...

Good luck

faulknersj · #14 10-21-2010, 05:25 PM

I would highly recommend buying a used American made Musicman Sterling bass off of a fellow Talk Bass Member. While these basses were about $1400 new, you can get a used on for $750 - $850. I have owned both. Sterlings and Stingrays both sound quite similar imo. If you are a big guy, I might reccomend a Stingray, but for a little guy like me (5'8) the Sterling is my perfect match. As has been said, the Sterling has a smaller body and a more narrow neck. It is also typically a pound or 2 lighter. Finally, based on many years of experience buying and selling basses, you are much much better off buying a nice used bass. You will get SO MUCH more for your money and you are more likely to break even if you sell the bass in the future. Help a TB'er out...there are some nice Music Man basses listed right now. Best wishes!!

FakeWhiteMan · #15 10-21-2010, 06:06 PM

The Op is looking at the Sterling ray 34 vs a MM sr4... With that said, a friend and I were playing stingrays at GC and grabbed a Ray 35 thinking it was a normal Stingray... To make a short short even shorter, I ended up buying a Sterling Ray 35 because, IMHO, they sounded almost exactly the same.

JB36 · #16 10-21-2010, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

I would highly recommend buying a used American made Musicman Sterling bass off of a fellow Talk Bass Member. While these basses were about $1400 new, you can get a used on for $750 - $850. I have owned both. Sterlings and Stingrays both sound quite similar imo. If you are a big guy, I might reccomend a Stingray, but for a little guy like me (5'8) the Sterling is my perfect match. As has been said, the Sterling has a smaller body and a more narrow neck. It is also typically a pound or 2 lighter. Finally, based on many years of experience buying and selling basses, you are much much better off buying a nice used bass. You will get SO MUCH more for your money and you are more likely to break even if you sell the bass in the future. Help a TB'er out...there are some nice Music Man basses listed right now. Best wishes!!

Agreed. I went through this a few months ago. I was looking at new SBMM and ended up with a used EBMM Sterling and have been quite happy. Sure it has a few dings and a few swirls, but I don't mind. I based my decision on depreciation. A new SBMM for $650 would be worth a $400 in a short time. I paid $800 plus shipping for my EBMM and it's still worth close to that. Keep and eye on the TB classifieds were there are some deals to be had.

The Sterling/Stingray thing: I love the erg0nomics of the Sterling, but fatter tone from a Stingray would be nice.

meatwad · #17 10-21-2010, 11:45 PM

Hold out for the real thing. There are great deals out there on used StingRays all the time.

I must say though, I really dig that silverburst!

mantaraya · #18 11-10-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvanCalz

I finally have enough to buy a musicman Sterling, their cheapest model at around $649.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sterling...95-i1441962.gc

Or

Should I continue to save until I can purchase the stingray.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Music-Ma...82-i1148748.gc

Is there any real significant difference?

No musicman sterling, either sterling by musicman

Jimmy Stump · #19 11-10-2010, 04:43 PM

Just reading this thread is making me dizzy. EBMM, Ernie Ball, MusicMan, Sterling by MM, Sterling, Stingray.

Did Sterling Ball really need to name their offshore company Sterling by MM when he already sells a MusicMan Sterling

Anyway, I've played both the offshore and USA made instruments. Really, there is little difference. If you can afford it, I would go for a used USA though. It's the real deal, and will likely be similar in price to a new offshore model.

If you're considering an SB14 (the offshore version of an EBMM Sterling), there is a difference between that one and a USA version. With the SB14, you can not get a translucent or natural finish, and you can't get a maple fretboard. Thats a deal breaker for me. Not sure about the Ray34 / Stingray though.