Help me decide…. SBMM or EBMM?

[bigdaddybass12]

Hard question, is the EBMM 6 times better than the Sterling? Judging by my Sterling, I would say the EBMM is 1.2 times better. That’s not much difference for an additional $2000. But hey, if you got the extra cash buy it. I only gig one or two times a month little hard for me to justify it. Plus I wouldn’t want to take a $2400 bass to the beer joint we play at. don’t get me wrong, I would love to have one, I like the stingray sound.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Like these?

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5 H | Reverb

Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 5 USA - Blueburst | Reverb

The first one, yes. The second one is Blue Dawn and has sparkle in it. It was also a nice finish. Fortunately, that price (and weight) is enough to put me off.

 

[Mastermold]

I recently bought a budget Sterling Ray5. It's not as nice as my EBMM Stingray 5, which has better hardware, better neck, and better feel, but for $399 is a very nice instrument and if I couldn't comfortably afford a new EBMM I'd be content with it.

You don't need a perfect bass to make great music. If your Sterling plays well I'd just play it and wait to get an EBMM when money is such that you don't have to post a TB thread because you're worried about overspending. My two cents.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Like these?

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5 H | Reverb

Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 5 USA - Blueburst | Reverb

And yet, I keep going back and looking at it. This is why I don't search for them too often!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

The first one, yes. The second one is Blue Dawn and has sparkle in it. It was also a nice finish. Fortunately, that price (and weight) is enough to put me off.

I think the price is too high on the 1st one. But under 10lb isn’t bad for a 5 string.
They are both very bluetiful !!!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I think the price is too high on the 1st one. But under 10lb isn’t bad for a 5 string.
They are both very bluetiful !!!

By contrast, there's a local one (in a different finish, different vintage, but not a Special) that's listed for $1850 (Canadian). That's more where I expect them to be priced. But then again, everything is going up.

 

[Tony G]

So you've pointed out some mostly minor issues with your SBMM Ray34 4H. I think that if you think those things will bother you over the coming months and years, then maybe an EBMM might be the way to go. If not and you enjoy the bass as much you think you will either way, stick with the Sterling by MM.

The other thing to consider is if you think you want the refinements that the Specials offer. If so, you have your answer.

I think this is the conclusion I’ve come to. Your post hit it spot on. I just bought a EBMM Stingray Special 4HH from the TB Classifieds. Excited to get it!

US EBMM's are so ridiculously expensive now. Unless you can snag one used cheap, just be happy with the one you have, especially since you're not using it on gigs.

New ones definitely are incredibly expensive. No, I’m not gigging right now, but I gigged for 20 years. I still have my Nordy vJ5 and my Bergantino Cabs. Nice stuff, not getting gigged right now. Not going to get rid of them though. I may gig again when family things slow down at some point. I would really like too anyway. Does that mean I need an EBMM Stingray right this second? No, but I want it. Playing at home for myself is what I do to relax and wind down. I love playing and pick up and play an instrument every single day.

I have great gear. Where my head is, if I decide to buy something new I want to make sure I’ll cherish it and that it will gain a spot in my use. I just don’t see that happening with a SBMM, however good those might be…

I’m with you here. Similar reasoning made me pull the trigger on the bass I mentioned above.

If you can live with the cosmetic flaws and the suboptimal slap sound, then keep it. But, it sounds like those things are going to bug you down the line, no matter how much of a deal you got on it.

Or, you can fork over the cash up front and enjoy the full Ray experience for years to come…as the kids today say, Cry Now, Laugh Later.

Agreed. See above. You guys are making a lot sense to me.

I own both and I think a big reason that not a lot of people are coming to defend the Ray34 is because the quality did drop during and after COVID. Prior to COVID you wouldn't hear of Tuner or Truss Rod issues like you do now. They seem to have rectified that now, but there are still some in the stores with these issues.

With that said I do own both SBMM and EBMM Stingrays and even though I do like the Ray34's a lot, you do get what you pay for with the Stingray Specials. A nicer feeling neck, lighter weight, better hardware, SS frets, newer preamp at 18 volts and immaculate finish.

If you can afford the EBMM I would recommend it. In time you will probably be able to get your money back on it and then some. They depreciate and then seem to gain in value. If you can't afford it then the SBMM is a fine choice. It looks and sounds just like an older 3 band Ray. IMHO

Another great post, thank you.

Hard question, is the EBMM 6 times better than the Sterling? Judging by my Sterling, I would say the EBMM is 1.2 times better. That’s not much difference for an additional $2000. But hey, if you got the extra cash buy it. I only gig one or two times a month little hard for me to justify it. Plus I wouldn’t want to take a $2400 bass to the beer joint we play at. don’t get me wrong, I would love to have one, I like the stingray sound.

I do get it, and I agree with your assessment mostly, but maybe put my valuation at 1.5x to 2x better. I’ve always gigged with fairly nice equipment. I keep a separate insurance rider on my gear, and since I’m not a professional musician, that insurance covers me wherever I take it.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I think this is the conclusion I’ve come to. Your post hit it spot on. I just bought a EBMM Stingray Special 4HH from the TB Classifieds. Excited to get it!

Congratulations! I hope you like it and get joy from playing it.

I have come to the conclusion that it's fine to have nice things and if you can afford it and will enjoy it, then why not? There's no other justification required!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I think this is the conclusion I’ve come to. Your post hit it spot on. I just bought a EBMM Stingray Special 4HH from the TB Classifieds. Excited to get it!



New ones definitely are incredibly expensive. No, I’m not gigging right now, but I gigged for 20 years. I still have my Nordy vJ5 and my Bergantino Cabs. Nice stuff, not getting gigged right now. Not going to get rid of them though. I may gig again when family things slow down at some point. I would really like too anyway. Does that mean I need an EBMM Stingray right this second? No, but I want it. Playing at home for myself is what I do to relax and wind down. I love playing and pick up and play an instrument every single day.



I’m with you here. Similar reasoning made me pull the trigger on the bass I mentioned above.



Agreed. See above. You guys are making a lot sense to me.



Another great post, thank you.



I do get it, and I agree with your assessment mostly, but maybe put my valuation at 1.5x to 2x better. I’ve always gigged with fairly nice equipment. I keep a separate insurance rider on my gear, and since I’m not a professional musician, that insurance covers me wherever I take it.

Great on the EBMM good choice!!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I think this is the conclusion I’ve come to. Your post hit it spot on. I just bought a EBMM Stingray Special 4HH from the TB Classifieds. Excited to get it!



New ones definitely are incredibly expensive. No, I’m not gigging right now, but I gigged for 20 years. I still have my Nordy vJ5 and my Bergantino Cabs. Nice stuff, not getting gigged right now. Not going to get rid of them though. I may gig again when family things slow down at some point. I would really like too anyway. Does that mean I need an EBMM Stingray right this second? No, but I want it. Playing at home for myself is what I do to relax and wind down. I love playing and pick up and play an instrument every single day.



I’m with you here. Similar reasoning made me pull the trigger on the bass I mentioned above.



Agreed. See above. You guys are making a lot sense to me.



Another great post, thank you.



I do get it, and I agree with your assessment mostly, but maybe put my valuation at 1.5x to 2x better. I’ve always gigged with fairly nice equipment. I keep a separate insurance rider on my gear, and since I’m not a professional musician, that insurance covers me wherever I take it.

Smart move !! You will appreciate it and enjoy it even more. Spending the extra is often very worth every penny. It’s your money. Spend it on what makes you happy!!

 

[Brich]

Having owned many EBMM basses, the Ray35 is an excellent choice as well. 2016 (what is believe is 1 piece ash body)

 

[ahbradot]

I have Sterling by Music Man StingRay Classic Electric Bass Butterscotch Black Pickguard
The Classic, Active, “SLO Special” with its comfortably narrower 38mm nut and 9V powered Active 2-band preamp it's a great bass;

But I love my Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling HH 2007 Honey Burst even more;

 

[VeryTallBassist]

Here's some perspective. I had a pre-EB Cutlass 1. Eventually the graphite neck developed enough of a view that it became unplayable. I soon missed the tone. By absolute chance, I walked into GC for strings and walked out with a mint used Ray25CA for $230. With good bones and a price like that, I had no issues putting some money into it to make it right. Hipshot Ultralites, John East 2 band preamp, Seymour Duncan SMB-5D pickup, and a new pickguard all set me back maybe $450. I also sanded the neck and refinished with Tru Oil. For under $700 I have a bass that plays and sounds better than my old Cutlass 1, looks great, and is exactly what I wanted. It may be worth considering a project if you have the time and desire to do the work.

 

[Tony G]

Congratulations! I hope you like it and get joy from playing it.

I have come to the conclusion that it's fine to have nice things and if you can afford it and will enjoy it, then why not? There's no other justification required!

Thank you, I am excited to get it and really hope I connect with it. I’ve been a 5 string player primarily for a long time, but have this urge to simplify back to 4 strings. The 4HH configuration should keep me very happy. The only justification that I have to prove to myself is that the SBMM I have is 1/4 the price of the EBMM I just bought. Is the EBMM worth 4x as much? Maybe…

Smart move !! You will appreciate it and enjoy it even more. Spending the extra is often very worth every penny. It’s your money. Spend it on what makes you happy!!

Thank you, and see what I wrote above. I’m am certain that the Stingray Special is worth every penny, especially the used price condition that I purchased it in. However, I am not sure that the SBMM, which I paid 1/4 the price of the EBMM, is only 1/4 of the quality and tone.

Having owned many EBMM basses, the Ray35 is an excellent choice as well. 2016 (what is believe is 1 piece ash body)
View attachment 5217976

Yeah, that looks like a great bass! I have to believe that the Ray34 I bought might be a factory second based on the poor body paint finish. The neck is great though, other than the stiff truss rod wheel.

I have Sterling by Music Man StingRay Classic Electric Bass Butterscotch Black Pickguard
The Classic, Active, “SLO Special” with its comfortably narrower 38mm nut and 9V powered Active 2-band preamp it's a great bass;
View attachment 5217989
But I love my Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling HH 2007 Honey Burst even more;
View attachment 5217990

I used to have a EBMM Sterling 4 in that same color! Great bass, which I never got rid of it.

Here's some perspective. I had a pre-EB Cutlass 1. Eventually the graphite neck developed enough of a view that it became unplayable. I soon missed the tone. By absolute chance, I walked into GC for strings and walked out with a mint used Ray25CA for $230. With good bones and a price like that, I had no issues putting some money into it to make it right. Hipshot Ultralites, John East 2 band preamp, Seymour Duncan SMB-5D pickup, and a new pickguard all set me back maybe $450. I also sanded the neck and refinished with Tru Oil. For under $700 I have a bass that plays and sounds better than my old Cutlass 1, looks great, and is exactly what I wanted. It may be worth considering a project if you have the time and desire to do the work.
View attachment 5218053

Yes, similar thoughts crossed my mind. With my SBMM Ray34, I can get over the poor body paint job, as it isn’t noticeable unless you are outside in bright natural lighting. The pickup sounds great, especially fingerstyle, and the preamp seems to work very well, with smooth turning pots. The neck is great, love the roasted maple, and the fret work is very respectable. The tuners are not bad, and replacing them is an easy upgrade. The very stiff truss rod does give me some pause though. I’m a little concerned about its adjustability long term.

 

[ics1974]

Keep in mind the Ray34 is wired in series and EB Stingrays are wired in parallel. They sound different because of that

 

[Tony G]

Keep in mind the Ray34 is wired in series and EB Stingrays are wired in parallel. They sound different because of that

Interesting! I actually was not aware of that. I did pick out a HH EBMM Stingray Special because I wanted a very versatile 4 string with many options. As I said though, the fingerstyle tone on the SBMM Ray34 is very good. In what way does being wired in series vs. parallel affect the tone?

 

[sawzalot]

I’ve played EBMM basses for decades now, long before SBMM ever existed. So I don’t know that I would ever switch. But I do know that playing my 1994 “golden-age” Stingray makes me feel a certain way and I play differently and better because of it. Sometimes it’s the intangibles that make all the difference.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

Just go for it and get the USA Ernie Ball MM Stingray or better yet a Special or take it up a notch go with one of their limited edition BFR models. New or used, these models lack the flaws you described. Also, the memory of owning those funds will rapidly erode and playing one will accelerate that process.

They are not at all cheap but they are comparable in quality to a US Made Sadowsy or MTD. I own all three of these brands and I can attest that they are all similar in build quality. However, the EBMM is more competitively priced. That is mainly because the SD and the MTD are meticuously made by hand while the EBMM uses more automation. These are all different animals but I don't find anything lacking with my two Ball Family Reserve models. While the USA EBMMs seem pricey they cost significantly less than most off the shelf boutique basses. They're a good value within the range of off-the-shelf (non custom) boutique basses.

I might be the devil on your left shoulder talking but this is TB by the way so there's that.

 

[ics1974]

Interesting! I actually was not aware of that. I did pick out a HH EBMM Stingray Special because I wanted a very versatile 4 string with many options. As I said though, the fingerstyle tone on the SBMM Ray34 is very good. In what way does being wired in series vs. parallel affect the tone?

yes it does change the tone. series sounds thicker and louder then parallel. Parallel sounds clearer to me. My EB Stingray 5H has the option of parallel and series. I like parallel the best. Here is an example with a ray24 that was modded.

 

[stuntbass77]

I’ve owned a ray34 and still have an SB14. If you want to make it your main bass I would go with the MusicMan. I love my Sb14 and plan to keep it ( have for over 10 years). It could be anyone’s main bass, only said that because it’s very close but not exactly a MusicMan Sterling. The tone in a mix would sound the same. Played alone I would say it has about 89 percent of the tone. It plays amazing but with hard inspection one could tell the difference in feel and tone. They make a better import than Fender IMO. Can’t go wrong with either.