He said the only thing stopping him from buying the bass is the cost of $1800. I think he may be talking about the classic series. But I maybe wrong. (Usually am)
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Deciding on a bass. Musicman or...
- Thread starter rage941
- Start date
You're right, finding one that feels perfect is rare. I'm going to keep looking used but they don't pop up too often and even when they do they're still too expensive. This is referring to Classics only since I can't be sure a non classic would feel just right. I wanted to stay under $1000. I know I could get a non classic for about $1000. In my current situation it's quite literally impossible for me to save up money. My only way is like you said selling stuff, but I already sold off everything I could, so now I need to get a new rig too, so I can't blow it all on a bass.
Oh, definitely check out the regular Sterlings and Ray's then. Never played a classic, but I heard the classic necks are laquered and a 7.5 radius as opposed to the 11.5 regular EBMM unfinished/oiled.
I've played and owned both EBMM and SBMM basses and currently one of my gigging basses is a SBMM Ray 34. They are not EXACTLY the same ... not exactly, but I'd challange ANY bass player to sit in a room of 3 SBMM bass and 3 EBMM basses all the same (Say 3 Stingrays VS 3 Ray34s with the same pickup configuration) BLINDFOLDED playing threw the exact same amp , have someone hand them the basses and play each one for 10 minutes without seeing the logo. I'd bet money most wouldn't be able to tell which was the original and which was the copy. They AREN'T EXACTLY the same but they're so close I know in a test like that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
THAT SAID I TOTALLY understand someone wanting an EBMM over a SBMM. After all the EBMM is the real deal, it's made in America, there are more color and pickup choices and frankly there's more prestige connected with an EBMM than a SBMM. REGARDLESS how good SBMM basses are they will always be looked down on by some people because they are cheaper copies. (And they ARE) BUT ... for people on a budget SBMM for the most part kick A$$! And they are not like most other brands cheaper copies, like i said I'd challange ANYONE to do the blindfold test I discribed. The big crowd I played for this past Friday and Saturday sure couldn't tell, they just thought my "new Stingray" sounded awesome!
If money's not tight get an EBMM, you'll probably feel better about it, but if money is a concern don't discount SBMM basses, they are simply great instruments at a bargan price. (BTW i have no affiliation with SBMM, just love the product) ............... OK ... I'm off my soap box now!
Haha you guys are making this more confusing than it has to be. I'm talking about the US made sterling. Some people suggested trying the over seas made ones as a cheaper alternative.
I can't find a regular sterling to check out in person. I don't think I'll mind the unfinished/oiled neck, but how will the 7.5 vs 11.5 feel? Is that what gives it the sharper edges?
Haha I'm gonna have to go with 4StringsEnough on this one. I don't get how it's the most popular bass (I'm referring to Pbasses as I've never REALLY played a jazz). The necks feel like crap in my hand, they play like crap, and I never liked the tone. This is all just my personal feelings though. I thought it was because mine was mexican, but after trying several American Standards my opinion didn't change.
Now that I think about it, would the SB-2 sound like a P? It has the split pick up and all... If that's the case that's a turn off for me.
That's good to hear about the similarity in feel and sound. I do not care about the prestige associated with it. However, I DO care about the reliability and quality. Feel and sound are nothing if it's cheaply made and falls apart after a year or two. I'm sure my mexican P bass sounded and played great the day it was sold, but now there are so many little things that annoy me about it that I feel would not be there on an American made one. I'm a fan of the "do it nice or do it twice" motto. I've been through a lot of music equipment, as well as a lot of cars and car parts (I'm also a car enthusiast) and I'm quite fed up with sub par quality stuff and having to buy and sell and buy and sell to find something I like. It's exhausting.I've played and owned both EBMM and SBMM basses and currently one of my gigging basses is a SBMM Ray 34. They are not EXACTLY the same ... not exactly, but I'd challange ANY bass player to sit in a room of 3 SBMM bass and 3 EBMM basses all the same (Say 3 Stingrays VS 3 Ray34s with the same pickup configuration) BLINDFOLDED playing threw the exact same amp , have someone hand them the basses and play each one for 10 minutes without seeing the logo. I'd bet money most wouldn't be able to tell which was the original and which was the copy. They AREN'T EXACTLY the same but they're so close I know in a test like that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
THAT SAID I TOTALLY understand someone wanting an EBMM over a SBMM. After all the EBMM is the real deal, it's made in America, there are more color and pickup choices and frankly there's more prestige connected with an EBMM than a SBMM. REGARDLESS how good SBMM basses are they will always be looked down on by some people because they are cheaper copies. (And they ARE) BUT ... for people on a budget SBMM for the most part kick A$$! And they are not like most other brands cheaper copies, like i said I'd challange ANYONE to do the blindfold test I discribed. The big crowd I played for this past Friday and Saturday sure couldn't tell, they just thought my "new Stingray" sounded awesome!
If money's not tight get an EBMM, you'll probably feel better about it, but if money is a concern don't discount SBMM basses, they are simply great instruments at a bargan price. (BTW i have no affiliation with SBMM, just love the product) ............... OK ... I'm off my soap box now!
And I'm really over thinking this and getting a lot of input because of the amp situation I just went through. Like I said, since I'm not a fan of buying cheap stuff and having to keep upgrading, I wanted to buy the best of the best right off the bat and be set. So I went with an Ampeg SVT-4 pro and an ampeg SVT 4x10 cab. One of the biggest names in the biz, a head with a tube pre amp, and plenty of power to spare. Money well spent right? No, the thing sucked major nuts. It had reliability issues and was never quite right even after paying to have it fixed. It didn't seem to have the power it said it did either.
THEN I bought a markbass lm iii without trying it in person and I really don't care for the sound of it. So that's also making me extra cautious about buying stuff without trying it first!
I'd say, considering your concerns I'd stick with EBMM basses, you'll feel better about the purchase. Around 10 years ago i owned a EBMM Sterling and it was a great instrument, solid, a lot of different tones, stayed in tune and had that great Musicman punch. I'd recommend one of these in a second and frankly am sorry i sold it. BTW if you buy used from the Guitar Center (any store in the US on line) you have 30 days to send the instrument back and if you don't like it. It's an option if you can't try before you buy, at least you get that 30 day money back deal to help you feel better about taking the chance.
good luck
good luck
Oh just to make things more confusing ;-) check out this review.
Sterling By Music Man Basses - YouTube
Sterling By Music Man Basses - YouTube
I'm not bashing SBMM. But there is a difference in both price and quality of a EBMM and a SBMM.
I've had both as well and yes, the SBMM Ray35 that I had was a great bass. But there were differences. One being the neck. It was nice but my Ray 5 was much better feeling and less chunky. Also the Ray35 preamp was pretty noisy compared to the dead silent pre of my Ray 5.
For the money, you can't go wrong with a SBMM but EBMM is on a whole other level when it comes to quality.
I've got a stingray with an slo neck and love it. You know already that they're unfinished rather than glossy, but for my that's a good thing. Not knocking glossy necks but love the EBMM unfinished necks. IMO if you loved the feeling of a classic sterling neck you'll love a non-classic Sterling. Plus, you then get the different pickup options - H, HH or HS.
There has to be some difference, no argument there my friend, but a thousand dollars worth of difference? That i question. Honestly i never tried the Ray35 so can't really relate to your observations 1st hand in regard to neck and noise (although I believe you) but I don't experience any noise at all with the Ray34 and neck feel is really a personal preference. I'm coming from my main gigging bass being a Carvin LB76 (6 string) so ANY 4 string neck feels small to me.
There's a couple of used Classic Sterlings on Musicians Friend website, as well as a used Stingray SLO.
I don't want to be controversial but Leo Fender and company said G&L were the best guitars that he made. I own them and all the Leo Fender era basses and many people say they are amazing in sound and feel
Leo thechampion said:
Well, of course they would say that, that was the last company he created, so he is not going to say "actually, we are not as good as my previous company who is now my competitor..."
;-)
madbassplaya said:
I have a ray 35 and have played ray 5's and the EBMM definitely feels a bit nicer, but noisy pre-amp? I've heard no such thing.
I had an early G&L L2000 many years ago (one with the 3 bolt neck before they went to 4 bolts) and it was an awesome bass except it had one dead spot on the neck. I brought it to be checked by two different guitar techs and neither could fix it. It was suggested it was one of those sonic issues. Still besides that small issue it was an amazing bass. And from what I hear ANY bass can have dead spots.
If you are able to try a Sterling and like it, this guy in the chicago CL has been trying to sell this forever locally.
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