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Differences with Music Man models?

P

paulorr

Apr 5, 2007
181
0
71
#1
I have played Music Man basses twice at GC and I have to say they keep impressing with the build quality, feel, and the amazing combination of tones that I can get from the single pickup version (I like this model best I think).

Can someone give me a short run down on the different models and perhaps what the differences are?

I have played the Sterling .... and like it a lot ... but I hear folks say "Bongo" but no nothing about that model. And what is the StingRay model all about?

I have a Fender American Deluxe Jazz and a Fender American Deluxe Precision, and a Warwick Corvette FNA 5 string. That one has the single MEC humbucker and can't come close to the combinations of sounds the single pickup Music Man's push out.

Any help will be much appreciated. Maybe I will buy one but I like to know as much as I can before I do any buying.

Paul
 
#2
I'll give you a quick summary

Stingray - Agressive tone, wide neck
Stingray HH (dual pickup) - above tone plus many others
(the Stingray is a classic. Its one of those tried and true instruments)
Sterling - Smaller body and neck than a Stingray. Never played one, couldn't comment on it
Bongo - Very advanced electronics (18V preamp), lot of tonal variety. Wierd looking. I've never tried one but supposedly they are very comfortable.

To help narrow it down, are you looking at a four or five string?
 
#4
Sterling - slightly thinner neck and smaller body than the stingray. Slightly thinner sound, but a killer funky stingray-like one for sure.

Stingray - a little more beef all around. Neck is a bit thicker but not the huge deal that people seem to think.

Bongo - most of them come with 2 humbuckers, and 4 band EQ. IMO they're the most versatile of the 3, and have the most bottom end. The don't really get the classic stingray sound, as the other 2 do, but they get a sound all their own which I believe will be classis soon also. :)

Everything above can be purchased in 4 or 5 string, the Bongo is now available in a 6. All the above can be bought with a single humbucker, 2H, or a single coil and humbucker.

Go to www.ernieball.com to learn more, and go to www.ernieball.com/forums to learn even more than that.
 
#9
I own both the Sterling and a Stingray. I have also owned a Bongo V. The body and neck of the Sterling have a great feel to them. I prefer the 3-way selector along with the 3 band preamp on the Sterling. This combination gives a lot of possibilites in the tone department. The Stingray is all "meat". That bass will cut like the best of them. My recording may require it someday but I will play the Sterling as my first choice. I would love to see a Sterling with the 18v preamp they put in the bongo. All the best electronics in an already kick-a$$ bass. Anyone want to throw that out to Sterling and see what he says? :-)
 
#11
the stringray to me seems to have a more pronounced "character" to it. has that tone that seems to bite through no matter what. the bongo is a little more flexible (i have the HH version) and a much hotter instrument in terms of output. both are awesome, i couldn't pick just one of them!
 
#12
bwv1013 said:
the stringray to me seems to have a more pronounced "character" to it. has that tone that seems to bite through no matter what. the bongo is a little more flexible (i have the HH version) and a much hotter instrument in terms of output. both are awesome, i couldn't pick just one of them!
Click to expand...

I will have to play the Stingray a bit more. I do like the switching on the Sterling. And yup, I am a gittar player leaning towards the Sterling. I don't recall playing the Bongo .... I shall have to. It just looked a little funky to me.

All in all I am very impressed with the Music Man bass line. Very well made and great tone.
 
#13
Baird6869 said:
Stingray - feels kinda like a Fender Precision
Sterling - feels kinda like a Fender Jazz
Bongo - feels kinda like neither of the above. It is a modern sounding/playing bass.
Click to expand...

Can't say I agree with this. The Stingray neck and string spacing is decidedly narrower than a P Bass. As a Stingray 5 player, I find it feels closer to a Fender Jazz.

The Stingray 4 has always had a Alnico pickup, the Sterling has always had a Ceramic pickup, hence the slightly different sound. It used to be a little confusing because the Stingray 5 had the ceramic pickup of the Sterling. I guess that made it a half stingray, half sterling (Stingling maybe?). Mine is a Stingling :)

Musicman have just tidied all this up. All Stingray Models (4 and 5 string) now have Alnico pickups, and with the introduction of the Sterling 5, all Sterlings have ceramic pickups.
 
#14
Petebass said:
Can't say I agree with this. The Stingray neck and string spacing is decidedly narrower than a P Bass. As a Stingray 5 player, I find it feels closer to a Fender Jazz.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on the SR5. My SR5 feels very close to how my 2 (just sold) MIA Jazz V's did.

If you are taking about 4 stringers, I disagree. The neck profile/nut width on a Sterling is closer to that of a Fender Jazz IMO (it is definately thinner than a SR) and the wider necked SR is closer to a Precision. It isn't as wide as a P neck, but to me a SR reminds me of a (slightly) slimmed down P bass.
 
#15
The Bongo sits in between the StingRay and the Sterling, in my opinion. Tonally, the Bongo is more versatile than both. You have a choice of single humbucker, double humbucker or Humbucker and Single Coil. All three have amazing tonal qualities all their own.

The neck on the Bongo is just slightly wider and fatter than the Sterling but not as wide or fat as the StingRay. It feels fantastic (as do all MM necks). The Bongo is perfectly balanced, feels very comfortable sitting or standing and is a killer bass.
 
#16
Stingray HH FTW - that may be my next bass. The one bass to rule them all....

Well, it can't do a good P sound and my P kicks serious butt. And it won't replace my Sabre which has a rather unique sound. But surely it'll kick the butt of my frankenjazz, but it is a jazz and I may want to keep, plus it's warmoth parts so has no resale value and I'd keep it to experiment on... And my ABG is awesome so it stays. Oh and the Hofner is just so warm and woody I couldn't get rid of it. I may sell off my 8 in favor of some other model of 8....
 
#17
OK good information so far.

Now ... what's the deal with this Bongo? I read ar Harmony Central really good reviews.

Can it sound like a Jazz or a P or just about anything else? It looks so homely maybe its a bass before its time. Seems like everyone who steps out or the classic shape for this bass just flat out loves it.

Paul
 
#19
Petebass said:
Can't say I agree with this. The Stingray neck and string spacing is decidedly narrower than a P Bass. As a Stingray 5 player, I find it feels closer to a Fender Jazz.
Click to expand...

The Stingray neck is exactly midway between the P and J widths.

FWIW Leo Fender Bass Timeline:

Fender Precision -> Fender Jazz -> Music Man Stingray -> Music Man Sabre (?) -> G&L ASAT

Each company has morphed quite a bit since Leo departed each, but it's always interesting to know about this stuff.

phunku said:
do u guys know much about the Sabre????!?!?! how would u discribe the tone?
Click to expand...

Depends on the exact year. There's a lot of variation in the Sabres, and lots of different models - the "newer" ones with the 5 way switch, some older ones with more G&L style electronics layouts.

I have the old G&L style layout & I love the tone - but it's a very unique tone & not very flexible at all.
 

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