EBMM Sterling best slap tone?

Didn't do much better here. Sorry I got nothing for you, but I feel bad you didn't get any answers so here's a bump. Maybe the EBMM's own forum would be the place to ask?

 

Sub'd !
I am on the search for a Sterling, Stuart. Your bass not only looks like it was hand made by the Greek God, Apollo god of music, but it has the tone to match.

I think I need the Sterling that does series / parallel. The series sounds like a jazz bass, so it can be very useful, and the parallel is god like tone...

So does anybody have an answer to the OP question ????

 

I have a Sterling. The build quality is awesome on it and I love the feel of it. It's tone is unique to it's self but it doesn't sound like a Jazz or a Precision. ...and I don't slap...or really like listening to slap, so I can't comment on that. Lol

 

Well, Stu, I just bought the black SB14 you told me about

I will have it by this time next week. Me excited.

 

Hi,
here is actually a link to a fantastic video reviewing the HH model of a 5 string by the ed friedland:


As far as I know on the HS and HH models you can get the exact tone that the four sting gives you when the switch is in the 1st position. However, it does not switch the wiring on the bass as far as series or parallel. The switch simply switches between what coil you are using. Where as the single H model the switch does the following:

 

additionally found these two schematics on the EB site. Hope this helps.

 

Awesome, thanks Clef ! THAT's the answer I've been seeking. BTW, I love Ed Friedland.
Question 2 - Are the preamps on the Indonesian versions the same as USA versions ?

 

Question 2 - Are the preamps on the Indonesian versions the same as USA versions ?[/SIZE][/QUOTE]

They developed the whole line with the help of Dudley Gimpel, MM's Designer, Luthier and Head of Engineering.
The inside cover of the SBMM catalog's last sentence is:
" From the the bass pickups and preamps to the body shapes, everything is as close to the originals as possible."

I A/B'd my Ray 35 to my SR5 HH bridge to bridge and was
blown away by how similar they sounded.

 

Thanks !!

So for the sake of argument, would a USA preamp fit ? Are they interchangeable ?

 

I would think a US pre amp would fit perfectly, but ask Brian
of SBMM to be sure. I was just on the SBMM site and noticed
this paragraph on the Ray 35 section which is a bit confusing
compared to the liner info in the catalog, so I guess a little
clarification is needed. Again this pertains to a Ray 35 the SB14 just says "active 3 band preamp". I'm going to ask
Brain for some help on the SBMM thread.

"The Music Man® designed humbucker, equipped with Alnico magnets is paired with the award winning Music Man® 3-band active preamp. Onboard controls for volume, bass, mid and treble. "

 

I am asking particularly about the SB 14.

 

I wish i could help on the pre amp thing but i simply dont know. Im so glad others have jumped in too. This is a great example of how TB is a wonderful community.

 

I am sorry if that was confusing. Yes the four string HH and HS models are exactly the same as the five strings as far as the switch.
The major difference is between the single H and the others.

To my ears here is the big differences

for the single h model:
position 1: classic musicman sound very good for slap
position 2: single coil and phantom coil best analogy I can give is 60's jazz bass bridge position sound but to me it just sounds empty
position 3: musicman sound with more output and gritter sounding.

for the HH model
position 1: exactly the same as the single H model
position 2: coil 1 + 4 to me not very good for slap, sounds empty
position 3: All four coils, I personally don't like that sound for slap at all. Very thumpy. Very good for palm muting and old school motown - this is the only parallel series for this configuration. All other position are series.
position 4: coils 2 + 3 same situation IMO as position 2 for slap
position 5: coils 3 + 4 very bassy, think bridge pickup on a Rick, of not exactly like a Rick but just a rough comparision. Not very good for slap IMO because it is too bassy for slap.


HS model:
position 1: exactly the same as all the others
position 2: exactly the same as position 2 on the single H model
position 3: 1 + 3 in series and coil 2 in parallel Will give you a similiar sound to the HH position 2 but the parallel of 2 gives it more presence. More bass really. So so great IMO for slap. This position sounds really nice for regular finger style
position 4: is the same as the HH model. Empty for slap
position 5: coil 3 and phantom coil - very bassy awesome tone for jazz and a melodic line but not for slap


So i guess IMO the short answer to this very long answer is I like position 1 on all the pickup configurations for slap. It gives you that classic musicman sound that begs to be slapped. I don't think the multiple pickup configurations add anything slap wise, now they do add tonal options for other styles of music that sound really good on those bass.

Also as a side note I have know people that say the HH model is tight for slapping because the second humbucker is where some people "pop" when they slap, but that is a matter of comfort individually

I hope this helps and is the information you are looking for. The best thing I can say is if you have a GC or Sam Ash simply go with your friend and play around with all the configurations. GC usually has a good selection of MM bases.

 

The dial pickup models don't have the classic parallel tone, just the series setting from the H. Such a mistake. IMHO, the H is the only way to fly. The other tones on the HS and HH are not all that useful, and you miss out on the best sound EBMM has to offer. If you need a neck pickup sound, get a P Bass to go with your punchy/shiny musicman H.

 

Thanks Stuart for starting this thread. Talkbass Rules !

There is a lot of good information here, BUT/AND I am glad I made the decision to get the standard single H model Sterling SB 14 to start out with. It has the same wiring as your USA Sterling does, and to me, your 2008 Limited Edition Sterling is an end all, be all bass. It is "bassically" perfect.

If I decide that I am in love with it and can't live without it, then I will decide to move up to a USA model, but for now an SB 14 makes financial sense, and considering that it's a $975 msrp bass, this is well above the SUB entry level, so I am still getting a pro bass at a "let me try it first" budget of around $500 at the end of the day, as you know for our conversations.

I DO like the idea of the HS and having a jazz bass ability, and the HH sounds useless to me for a lack of better words. I have my Peavey Cirrus for the dual humbuckers, and all it does.

The Sterling H did all the sounds I desired and in my opinion parallel (which I don't know if it's position 1 or 3 depending on which direction you look at it ) has THE slap tone, and the series has a Fender jazz bass tone (at least in the mix it will qualify as one ) so again, I think the Sterling H is the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" bass.

Plus, I think the Sterling is just a more versatile bass than a Stingray and with the smaller, lighter body, it's gig friendly, too which is huge to me.

So @ inthebassclef - Not that it is a big deal, but is your reference to position #1 and so on starting left and going right as you look down ? (to keep the OP in line)

 

All in all, I think this simple, elegant paragraph explains it nicely based on the collective knowledge so far. It also seems that EBMM put in two HH just for looks or to have another model to sell with out thinking it through. Like you said, the single H is the way to fly.

 

If you want a Sterling, they sound better in series. Get a HS...best of all worlds plus the single coil options.

If you want the traditional parallel/alnico, get a Ray.