Does anyone know the difference between the Sterling by ErnieBall/Musicman and Sterling by just Musicman? I've been searching and all i know is that the one by Ernieball is more expensive, so I'm assuming the quality is better. But does anyone know for sure?
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Sterling by ErnieBall/Musicman and Sterling by Musicman
- Thread starter themurm523
- Start date
Ernie Ball Music Man (EBMM) is a San Luis Obispo, CA based company that makes all Music Man basses.
Sterling by Music Man (SBMM) is an Indonesian company that makes non US versions of the Stingray 4H called the Ray34, The Sterling 4H called the SB14 and the Stingray 5H called the Ray35, as well as versions of several EBMM guitars.
Think of SBMM as the "Lakland Skyline" version of Lakland. Good quality instruments made outside the US with lower labor costs. And different (although good) electronics.
SBMM basses cost approximately 1/2 of the cost of the US ones.
Hopefully that helps.
Sterling by Music Man (SBMM) is an Indonesian company that makes non US versions of the Stingray 4H called the Ray34, The Sterling 4H called the SB14 and the Stingray 5H called the Ray35, as well as versions of several EBMM guitars.
Think of SBMM as the "Lakland Skyline" version of Lakland. Good quality instruments made outside the US with lower labor costs. And different (although good) electronics.
SBMM basses cost approximately 1/2 of the cost of the US ones.
Hopefully that helps.
Thanks that really does help a lot, i guess its like my Fender jazz MIMexico rather than a MIAmerica I also have another question what are the differences between the stingray or the sterling?
Body shape. The Sterling is slightly smaller, and lacks the metal cover over the knobs. Sterling has a pickup selector switch (which I imagine on the H model would allow you to switch between the front and back coils of the pickup). Sterling neck is smaller (If the Stingray neck is P like, the Sterling neck is Jazz like).
As far as tone, I believe the Sterling is slightly grittier sounding, however that is up for debate.
A "classic" Stingray has one alnico humbucker wired in parallel with a a three-band equalizer. The Stingray is sort of P-bass sized.
A Sterling has one ceramic humbucker with a three position switch with series/series +phantom/parallel modes. The "phantom" is a third pickup coil under the humbucker which keeps the bass from having single-coil hum when using just the neck coil in series+phantom mode.
The 4H Sterling has more, and different sounds than the 4H Stingray. The Sterling is also more jazz bass sized, with a slimmer neck and smaller body than the Stingray.
A Sterling has one ceramic humbucker with a three position switch with series/series +phantom/parallel modes. The "phantom" is a third pickup coil under the humbucker which keeps the bass from having single-coil hum when using just the neck coil in series+phantom mode.
The 4H Sterling has more, and different sounds than the 4H Stingray. The Sterling is also more jazz bass sized, with a slimmer neck and smaller body than the Stingray.
While they are both more affordable versions made overseas, Sterling by MM is not really like Skylines. All but one model of Skyline uses the same US electronics as the US models and everyone comes through the US factory for inspection.
Sterling by MM is 100% run by an outside company and past design Ernie Ball has nothing to do with the instruments.
Does that mean they will not sound as good or have the same quality? Or will it be ok if I decide to save $600 in the process and still have a good rock bass?
The electronnics use some US sourced parts, including pickup bobbins. They are designed to be voiced the same as the US versions. I've got a Ray35 and and another on the way. I think they compare favorably with my US Stingray HS and Sterling H.
No it absolutely doesn't mean that and I apologize if I implied that. I was just pointing out that there was a difference in those two lines.
The reviews on these basses are very good and most people seem very pleased with them. I have not gotten around to checking one out yet but it is on my to do list.
I am sure the quality is better on the real thing but it is also over 2X as expensive so you would expect there to be a difference.
No thank you for your help you didn't imply anything i just want to be completely sure before I go out and spend 5-700 dollars and find it was a complete waste, and could have waited a few extra months to get good quality but spent some extra money. I appreciate the knowledge very much.
I recommend side-by-side comparison. Try both and see if there's an obvious difference for you. If not, you can certainly save some $$$.
If you closed your eyes and listened to both EBMM and SBMM instruments you may be hard pressed to tell them apart as they sound 99+% alike. The EB basses have an edge in playability but that may have something to do with how much set up time is dedicated to the instruments from the US factory. I am sure that if you took the SBMM home and lavished attention to it to you can get to play just as well as the EBMMs.
I had a SB14 (in my avatar) and it was awesome. It was much better than the EB Sterling that was at the same store at the time of purchase. It was not as good as the nicest EB Sterling that I have ever played, however. So, it is an instrument to instrument type of thing. Sometimes you pick up a dog, sometimes a diamond, although Ernie Ball instruments do tend to be very consistant in the (high) quality department.
One clear advantage of the US EB line is the variety of options available, colors, maple and rosewood boards, pickups, etc.
One clear advantage of the US EB line is the variety of options available, colors, maple and rosewood boards, pickups, etc.
The SUBs were US economy versions of the Sterling and Stingray 4 and 5. Less detatiled paint jobs, metal pickguards, and also no toggle switch on the SUB Sterling.
This is a question about the difference between a Sterling and a Stingray. I saw the comments above about Sterling is more like a J and Stingray is more like a P. And I understand what that means as I have both a J and a P.
But I went to the EBMM website and looked at the neck specs for the Stingray 5 and Sterling 5, and they are identical: 11 inch radius, 1 3/4 to 2 3/4 for neck width. What's the difference in the necks if those specs are the same?
Reason I ask is, I also have a Stingray HH 5 which I love but it bothers my hands sometimes (cramps - I think it's the 11 inch radius which is quite different from my Fender fours), and I was wondering what it would be like with a Sterling 5 in contrast to the 'Ray
But I went to the EBMM website and looked at the neck specs for the Stingray 5 and Sterling 5, and they are identical: 11 inch radius, 1 3/4 to 2 3/4 for neck width. What's the difference in the necks if those specs are the same?
Reason I ask is, I also have a Stingray HH 5 which I love but it bothers my hands sometimes (cramps - I think it's the 11 inch radius which is quite different from my Fender fours), and I was wondering what it would be like with a Sterling 5 in contrast to the 'Ray
This is a question about the difference between a Sterling and a Stingray. I saw the comments above about Sterling is more like a J and Stingray is more like a P. And I understand what that means as I have both a J and a P.
But I went to the EBMM website and looked at the neck specs for the Stingray 5 and Sterling 5, and they are identical: 11 inch radius, 1 3/4 to 2 3/4 for neck width. What's the difference in the necks if those specs are the same?
Reason I ask is, I also have a Stingray HH 5 which I love but it bothers my hands sometimes (cramps - I think it's the 11 inch radius which is quite different from my Fender fours), and I was wondering what it would be like with a Sterling 5 in contrast to the 'Ray
You're right, the P-ishness of the ray neck goes away with the 5 string. I didn't actually know there is a sterling fiver available these days. So now the difference is in the body size, pickguard and pickups.
