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Deciding on a bass. Musicman or...

#61
Comfortable is to a large extent subjective.
For me, a P bass neck is more comfortable than a Jazz. I prefer a Stingray over a Sterling mostly because of the neck...
Different strokes etc.
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I know it's very subjective and is different for each person. I have a Precision that I love and use in certain situations. But the OP said that he loved Sterling's neck. That's why we are helping him with a smaller neck.
 
#62
Jean-Pierre said:
I know it's very subjective and is different for each person. I have a Precision that I love and use in certain situations. But the OP said that he loved Sterling's neck. That's why we are helping him with a smaller neck.
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I was merely pointing out than calling a certain type of neck "more comfortable" is not necessarily a good general descriptor.
 
#63
I understand what you're saying and it's good point. It's very subjective and depend on your hands size. And everyone is different; that's why there are a lot of basses on the market. If not, everybody would have the same bass.
 
#65
DerTeufel said:
Take a look at the Sterling by MusicMan basses. I had been wanting a EBMM Stingray 5, but just couldn't swing the price. I discovered the SBMM basses and to me, they look, feel, and sound like the U.S. made MusicMan basses...without the higher price. Yes, they are made overseas (like the G&L Tribute and the Lakland Skyline), but the quality is outstanding. You should be able to find used SB14's or Ray34's for around 400.

In regards to how the MM fits in the mix, my band plays a lot of rock and blues, and the MM sounds awesome in the mix in comparison to my p-bass pickup'd 5 string.
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I have owned a few Musicman Sterlings in the past. i now have a Sterling BY Musicman. It cost less then half the price of an American Sterling but looks and plays the same. For a little over $500.00 you can't go wrong...Check them out if you can.
 
#66
Got a classic on the way! I didn't think I would find a used one since they're still relatively new and people aren't getting rid of them yet, and if they are they are asking close to the new price. I was about to pull the trigger on a regular sterling (which I know I would not have been happy with; I tried one at bass central and the neck wasn't as comfortable as the classic) and I decided to wait one more night and I found this the next day! only thing that could have been better is if it was coral red with a tortoise pick guard. White would have been my second choice though!
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#72
I don't know I have all the tools and it looks pretty straight forward, I would just try adjusting the action at the bridge. If that didn't work I would take it to a pro to mess with the nut or truss rod.
 
#73
rage941 said:
I don't know I have all the tools and it looks pretty straight forward, I would just try adjusting the action at the bridge. If that didn't work I would take it to a pro to mess with the nut or truss rod.
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I can't see the bass or touch the bass or play the bass so I can't tell you what you should do, but I can tell you what "I" would do.

a. Do not go mucking around with the bridge saddles UNLESS they are way out of whack from some numbnuts thinking this was a good way to adjust the action. (It is not.)

b. Check the relief in the neck. My guess here is that it has too little relief in it (but refer back to my "can't see" etc comments). Some people (and they're not smart) even loosen the truss rod when they ship a bass.

c. Get a little screwdriver or a nail or railroad spike or an extremely stiff drinking straw and turn the truss wheel about a quarter turn.

d. Get yourself some coffee and watch one (1) episode of "Property Virgins".

e. Go see if things have improved. My bet is they will have. Only turn the truss wheel a bit at a time and you're unlikely to actually hurt anything. But you might just fix that fret buzz. If it appears to be worse, you're turning it the wrong way.

f. If/When that works, you owe me, um, let's say 40 dollars.

Jack
 
#76
bovinehost said:
I can't see the bass or touch the bass or play the bass so I can't tell you what you should do, but I can tell you what "I" would do.

a. Do not go mucking around with the bridge saddles UNLESS they are way out of whack from some numbnuts thinking this was a good way to adjust the action. (It is not.)

b. Check the relief in the neck. My guess here is that it has too little relief in it (but refer back to my "can't see" etc comments). Some people (and they're not smart) even loosen the truss rod when they ship a bass.

c. Get a little screwdriver or a nail or railroad spike or an extremely stiff drinking straw and turn the truss wheel about a quarter turn.

d. Get yourself some coffee and watch one (1) episode of "Property Virgins".

e. Go see if things have improved. My bet is they will have. Only turn the truss wheel a bit at a time and you're unlikely to actually hurt anything. But you might just fix that fret buzz. If it appears to be worse, you're turning it the wrong way.

f. If/When that works, you owe me, um, let's say 40 dollars.

Jack
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As a general rule of thumb, if it buzzes on the 1st five frets, you loosen the truss rod, if it buzzes above the 12th fret, you tighten the truss rod...


- georgestrings
 
#77
georgestrings said:
Agreed - by far the best truss rod adjustment scheme ever made...


- georgestrings
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georgestrings said:
As a general rule of thumb, if it buzzes on the 1st five frets, you loosen the truss rod, if it buzzes above the 12th fret, you tighten the truss rod...


- georgestrings
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these ^^^ :bassist:

if you haven't done it before, just take it to a tech - you have (likely) a VERY well made, excellent bass that just needs a couple tweaks...
 
#78
georgestrings said:
As a general rule of thumb, if it buzzes on the 1st five frets, you loosen the truss rod, if it buzzes above the 12th fret, you tighten the truss rod...


- georgestrings
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I should have mentioned that but I started drinking and listening to the devil's music and - well, you know how that goes. Thanks for the cleanup in aisle five, Master George!
 
#79
Bochafish said:
If you really dig the Sterling Classic, find a way to get one. Save extra money, sell stuff, etc. A bass that really feels right in your hands is somewhat hard to find. If you've found it, just keep checking for a used one. Economy sucks and people always sell bass stuff.
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+1

If you don't get what you REALLY want, you'll wind up buying something you're not happy with and then eventually buying what you really wanted in the first place. Save time and money - buy used.

Oops, I just read that the OP bought a bass; well, my advice stands.
 

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