Sterling by Musicman??

anthowl · #1 09-20-2010, 08:41 AM

i did run a search but couldn't find much on it, so if this has been covered, feel free to link me through.

how are these beasts?
how do they compare to full on Musicman basses?

i'm normally a jazz bass guy but i played a really nice Stingray the other day and think one could work well for me.. but i don't have tonnes of money to throw around.

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 09-20-2010, 08:45 AM

Don't know about things on your side of the world, but for the price those Sterling basses new, you could (almost) pick up a used EB MM Stingray here.

progrmr · #3 09-20-2010, 08:45 AM

I had an SB-14 and a Ray-34...they are GREAT basses. Well worth the money and capture the sound/feel of the full EBMM's well.

LuvMusic · #4 09-20-2010, 08:49 AM

I've also got an SB14 and love it. FYI, try using "SBMM" for your search phrase, you know how we love our acronyms!

Here is a thread to get you started: Sterling by ErnieBall/Musicman and Sterling by Musicman

Cheers!

anthowl · #5 09-20-2010, 08:52 AM

checking ebay they seem to be going about a grand cheaper.. not sure what i could talk a store person down to.
do you guys reckon they'd be better than, say, an OLP would have been?

JMac4strngr · #6 09-20-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthowl

checking ebay they seem to be going about a grand cheaper.. not sure what i could talk a store person down to.
do you guys reckon they'd be better than, say, an OLP would have been?

I have had both and the SBMM is miles ahead of what the OLP's were. The build quality is better, and the tone and feel of the US made versions are there. All around they are better instruments.

The OLP's weren't bad, they were just kind of hit or mis. I was never over the top in love with the tonal options of the OLP, as they just didn't offer a lot with the V-V-T passive setup.

LuvMusic · #7 09-20-2010, 09:00 AM

Never played an OLP so I can't compare. However, I did compare my SB14 to a MM Sterling before I bought it and blindfolded it would be hard to tell the difference.

Here, let me feed your GAS!

plankspanker13 · #8 09-20-2010, 09:02 AM

Sterling::Musicman
G&L Tribute::G&L USA
Squier::Fender

I refuse to draw comparisons with the Skyline and USA Laklands, or the Tokyo & NYC Sadowsky's, since even the import versions of these instruments can exceed the price of a USA Fender or G&L.

Bobster · #9 09-20-2010, 09:15 AM

Do a search for "sbmm" which stands for Sterling by Music Man, and you should find a lot of info. The brand's been around a year or so.

To synopsize, these are well-made Indonesian instruments licensed by Ernie Ball Music Man (EBMM). They are built in the same plant the Lakland Skylines are made and are equivalent to an XX-01 Lakland bass, with non-US electronics, like the XX-01.

New or used, they are about 1/2 the cost of an American-made Music Man. In other words, a used SBMM is about 1/2 the cost of an EBMM.

The majority of people who post on this board, and have made a comment feel the SBMMs are very close in sound to the EBMMs. The biggest difference between any of the SBMM basses and it's EBMM counterpoint, is the SB14.

The SB14 is the SBMM version of the EBMM Sterling and it has a basswood body, rather than Ash. The Ray34 and Ray35 are ash. This isn't a huge issue and many EBMM instruments are actually made of basswood.

some kid · #10 09-21-2010, 03:15 AM

Australia kid here. I paid some $1400 for my Sterling Ray34. My other bass was falling to bits, and I wanted a Stingray, but when I tried out the Ray34 against the Stingray, I decided that I'd get the Ray34. As extravagant as it may have been, I don't necessarily regret not saving up an extra $1000 for a name. The Ray34 is as solid as a Stingray, and sounds and feels just as well (audiophiles may disagree).

Stuff is still way expensive in these parts... 'Specially in the west.

What I do dislike is the lazy naming. You've got the EBMM Sterling, and the Sterling SB14. So, the SB14 is Sterling's budget version of the Sterling by EBMM. Mind-boggling. The sales guy was like, "You can get the Sterling Ray34, or for a bit more, a proper Sterling."

Fender32 · #11 09-21-2010, 04:21 AM

I wrote a fairly long post about my Ray34 when it was new

...

Just pimped my Sterling Ray34.

I'm still really happy with it and feel that, all things considered, it's the best 'StingRay' that I've ever owned - really

!

As has been pointed out though, in many parts of the world, you could have a used EBMM for just a fraction more than a new one of these (although the EBMM one will either have nitro neck lacquer, or oiled wood, neither of which I like

).

Good luck with deciding!

perogato02 · #12 09-21-2010, 04:29 AM

Or keep your eyes open for a used EBMM Stingray SUB ...

basswave · #13 09-21-2010, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by progrmr

I had an SB-14 and a Ray-34...they are GREAT basses. Well worth the money and capture the sound/feel of the full EBMM's well.

Same here...I Still have the Ray-34

When I picked up my Ray I just came back from a GTG and played about 8 different EBMM / SBMM basses. The best playing & sounding one combined was actually a SBMM Ray-34.
I did not do pick it up because of price but rather what I stated above.

rojo412 · #14 09-26-2010, 08:25 AM

I (sorta) have Basswave's SB14...

HOLY $#@*&%#^@^%!!! It is phenomenal. The feel and tone are right there with the US models (and having owned several of those over the years, trust me when I tell you).

If this were an SAT question, I'd put it like this:
Sterling : Ernie Ball as _________ : ___________
a) Squier : Fender
b) OLP : Musicman
c) Skyline : Lakland
d) Epiphone : Gibson

The correct answer is C.

The Sterlings, as far as I can see, are like the Skylines. They are made overseas, but no one would have an issue of the build quality, tone, feel, or otherwise. And they will hold value pretty well too.
They are better than Squier by a longshot (and I LOVE Squiers).
They are more akin to MIM : MIA, maybe even MIJ! (If we're talking Fenderese).
OLP is garbage... they are cheap basses and okay as far as that goes, but should in NO WAY represent the abilities of Musicman basses.

So yeah, LOVE the SBMM stuff.
And for the record... the Norstrand pickup upgrade is a fantastic mod for these basses! Output is beefy and authentic.

jsingles · #15 09-26-2010, 08:36 AM

The only real difference I found between these and the more expensive models is that they weigh more, though its not like the expensive ones are that light anyway...

I agree with rojo, it would be right to compare these to skylines as far as quality goes.

basswave · #16 11-04-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsingles

The only real difference I found between these and the more expensive models is that they weigh more, though its not like the expensive ones are that light anyway...

I agree with rojo, it would be right to compare these to skylines as far as quality goes.

+1
I now have a Ray35 and I'm digging that as well.
I'm additiced to single coils but the Ray35 is one of the better sounding B strings in a 34" scale in a wood neck.

SantiagoGT15 · #17 11-04-2010, 09:36 AM

I have the ray34 and it is just awesome ,I A/B played it with an EBMM and the Ray sounded a lot more "alive" to me ...and well If you can get your hands on one get it

Only problem I have ever had with it is that mine had some issues with the grounding..might have to shield the cavities , the other problem is weight , mine weights around 12 lbs (It's the heaviest I have played :C )

Honeyburst is a killer , just throw a white pearl PG and you have one of the most beautiful basses you've ever seen and with great EBMM vibe

so here's a pic to get your GAS going

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attach...1&d=1288884980

SteveC · #18 11-04-2010, 09:42 AM

They are nice basses.

phillipkregg · #19 11-04-2010, 09:42 AM

If you want to hear these basses in action, here's Ed Friedland's review:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Fo7AKwfA0

Strychnine · #20 11-04-2010, 09:50 AM

I've been gigging with an SBMM SB14 as my primary for almost a year. It's been dropped a few times, has experienced numerous strap anchor failures, and is still going strong. Some Gorilla Glue fixed both of the strap anchors.

I took several trips to GC to play it against the EB Sterling H when I was originally considering it. Not many will notice the tonal difference, as I've only read about it, but couldn't hear it. If it's cheaper than a used MIA EB model that you're looking at, you absolutely cannot go wrong with one.