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Am I stupid for wanting to do this?

#21
John, get rid of it.
I had a 1400 dollar sterling. The salesman who I traded it in for looked at me like I was crazy when I did it.
Reason why?

I could never get rid of the zingy, hollow tone. Flats, different settings, nothing worked.

Sure, the bass had excellent craftmanship. But the tone was just not there. The switches only produced slight variations on the same zingy, glassy tone.

In the end, I decided if I wanted a super glassy tone I would go with a hi end active bass, but the tone I really craved was satisfied by any American made Fender. I guess to each their own.
It just wasn't for me, though I know a lot of people swear by them.

Funny, but the Bongo basses I have tried all had much better tone then any sterling or stingray. Not trying to start any **** up, but that's a fact. You could back that aggresive treble off with the Bongo's electronics. There were more variations. I also liked all G and L's much better.
 
#22
lucas vigor said:
John, get rid of it.
I had a 1400 dollar sterling. The salesman who I traded it in for looked at me like I was crazy when I did it.
Reason why?

I could never get rid of the zingy, hollow tone. Flats, different settings, nothing worked.

Sure, the bass had excellent craftmanship. But the tone was just not there. The switches only produced slight variations on the same zingy, glassy tone.

In the end, I decided if I wanted a super glassy tone I would go with a hi end active bass, but the tone I really craved was satisfied by any American made Fender. I guess to each their own.
It just wasn't for me, though I know a lot of people swear by them.

Funny, but the Bongo basses I have tried all had much better tone then any sterling or stingray. Not trying to start any **** up, but that's a fact. You could back that aggresive treble off with the Bongo's electronics. There were more variations. I also liked all G and L's much better.
Click to expand...

You guys know that the pre-amp can like change the tone, right?
 
#24
spade2you said:
You guys know that the pre-amp can like change the tone, right?
Click to expand...

Who are you who are so wise in the ways of knobbage?

But I think that if you want a Jaguar, get one. If the Sterling doesn't work for you, get rid of it.

However, I have owned a few Sterlings and strung them with flats; never thought the tone was too zingy.

But that's why there are all those different basses out there.....
 
#26
the one thing that I really almost require on a bass these days is a passive tone control knob. I don't find I can accomplish the same thing with just eq, as sometimes when I roll all the treble off, it just sounds wrong, or the zing is still there. and sometimes I WANT the zing there. The only control that lets me have both is the passive tone control.

I pretty much don't gig anything without one these days.
 
#27
lamarjones said:
the one thing that I really almost require on a bass these days is a passive tone control knob. I don't find I can accomplish the same thing with just eq, as sometimes when I roll all the treble off, it just sounds wrong, or the zing is still there. and sometimes I WANT the zing there. The only control that lets me have both is the passive tone control.

I pretty much don't gig anything without one these days.
Click to expand...

Just a side note, my last CB bass has a Bartolini pre-amp (not sure of exact model) but the treb knob will actively boost but passively cut like a tone knob. It has really opened the bass up for a nice vintage tone, although I think I prefer having a tone knob and treble knob so I can cut the volume when I really crank the lows and low mid.
 
#29
BassDudeSA said:
I'd be careful on the Jaguar. Granted I am a Jazz fan, never cared much for the P, but I thought a Jaguar would be another variation on the Jazz. I really didn't care for it. I bought a Jag stock and bought one nicely upgraded and sold both soon thereafter. But whatever you do, don't just play one in a store or in your house alone and decide you like it. Ya' gotta' try out ANY bass within the context of your band. If you do, and you like it, go for it. IMO, I think the Jaguar is far inferior to a MusicMan, but to each his own.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with this. I was really hot for a sexy white Jag so I got one, thought it would give me the bark of a J bass but found I could only get close but not really nail it. It's a good versatile bass and has it's own sound (you may actually like the passive mode a lot) but I don't think it's in the same class with a Sterling, Stingray, or an American Jazz. Mine also hums, which irritates me considering what I paid for it. But as they say, each to their own. It's still a very attractive instrument.
 
#31
lamarjones said:
the one thing that I really almost require on a bass these days is a passive tone control knob. I don't find I can accomplish the same thing with just eq, as sometimes when I roll all the treble off, it just sounds wrong, or the zing is still there. and sometimes I WANT the zing there. The only control that lets me have both is the passive tone control.

I pretty much don't gig anything without one these days.
Click to expand...



Most definately!!!!!!
 
#32
spade2you said:
Just a side note, my last CB bass has a Bartolini pre-amp (not sure of exact model) but the treb knob will actively boost but passively cut like a tone knob. It has really opened the bass up for a nice vintage tone, although I think I prefer having a tone knob and treble knob so I can cut the volume when I really crank the lows and low mid.
Click to expand...


That's a very handy option! I have come across some active EQ's and pre-amps that will cut the treble down all the way, how a passive tone knob can. Most don't, though.
 
#33
lucas vigor said:
That's a very handy option! I have come across some active EQ's and pre-amps that will cut the treble down all the way, how a passive tone knob can. Most don't, though.
Click to expand...

Most don't, although this might become more of a common option. I know Glockenlang is also doing it now. I'm probably gonna throw a Pope pre in an upcoming Stambaugh, which will have both passive tone and treble boost/cut, but it would be nice if this new trend became more standard. Perhaps someone will start offering a push/pull treb/tone knob to avoid having excessive knobs and switches.
 
#36
Get the bass that helps you to make the music you want to play. The EB Sterling you have is a very fine bass indeed, but it's not you. Get the bass that makes you happy and sell the Sterling off to someone for whom it may be their dream machine. I have no guilt for selling off some very nice basses I've owned in the past that just weren't doing it for me. Makes no sense to stay in a less than happy owner relationship with any musical instrument.
 
#37
Going by your other thread about strings, you are just not used to the sound of new strings. Play it for a few weeks, the tone will become more what you have been used to. If you liked the way it sounded with old strings, you know you like the tone of the bass, you are just not diggin the new styrings.
 
#38
After seeing the thread about different strings........try other strings and other amps before you sell it at a loss. There's another dude who posted a thread like this because he couldn't get a good tone from a Peavey Millennium through another cheapo amp. I own a Millennium and once owned a Sterling. Both basses are more than capable of good tones, but the actual bass is only a piece of the overall tone. If you don't believe me, listen to a song through a nice sound system, then crappy computer speakers. The bass will suck.
 

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