Music Man basses ?

The thre common models are the Stingray Stingray 5 and Sterling. The Stingray has controls for volume bass and treble. There is a mid option and a piezo option. The Sterling has the mid control as standard and a series/parallel/single switch. The pickup is different to the Stingray but I'm not quite sure how. The Sterling body is smaller and the neeck is different (not sure how).

The Stingray 5 as discussed here ad nauseam is has many Sterling features.

Musicman basses were made by ex Fender employees until cease of production. Ernie Ball bought the rights to the line and reproduced the Stingray and developed the 5 and the Sterling (as well as the guitar range). Pre-Ernie Ball basses command more coinage but I for one think that the EB build quality is incredible.

The early EB basses had a lacquered neck. In the mid to late 90's they went to an oiled neck. Currently they have a satin neck.

I've played many EB basses and many have birdseye maple necks as standard. I ordered my Stingray 5 assuming it would be birdseye because due to blind luck every bass I had played at that point had birdseye. Mine did not, Anyway I got it home and when it caught the light noticed a very llight flame in the maple neck

I don't think that there are any years to avoid and so I've been as thorough as possible because you might have neck preferences. Also the colours changed recently. And there is a matching headstock option.

Finally there have been some oddballs.

The Fender era range included a Sabre which is a two pup Stingray. THere was also a limited edition Cutlass that had a carbon fibre neck.

In 1997 there were Anniversary basses which was a Stingray with a quilted maple top, there were 1997 of them and they cost $1997.

I forget whcih year but there was a more recent special bass which is a grey Stingray with a carbon Fibre neck made by Status.

Whew I'm lying down.

 

Didnt know this, my bass was made in 96

 

Also most pre-EB Stingrays have the "epoxy" pre-amp. It is completly coated in a black plastic so you cannot see the components. My understanding is that EB did not get the rights to that pre-amp so they made their own (the now current EB pre-amp), but I am not sure.

I have owned both a '88 EB stingray with normal EB pre-amp and a '78 stingray w/ epoxy pre-amp. The '78 blew away the '88 in terms of sound and feel (much warmer and punchier at the same time). I plan to keep it as long as possible. I didn't keep the '88 long.

 

CS, you are correct in most of you information, but the pickup between the ray and sterling is the same. The preamps, as mentioned are slightly different, with the series/parallel option.

 

I really like my Sterling! Small, light, comfortable, versatile, and TONE!!!!!!!

 

If you shop around, a two or so year old Stingray with a few small dings should run you about $700-800. It's well worth it to buy these used and save about $300...you can't break them.

 

Agreed. Yummy Sterling.

 

[homersimpsonvoice]

mmmmmmmmmmmm sterling

[/homersimpsonvoice]

 

Hi There,

The pickup in the StingRay uses alnico magnets while the Sterling and SR5 (since '92) use ceramic magnets.

The neck in the Sterling is narrower than in the SR (kind of jazz neck vs precision neck)

keep groooovin'
Fran

 

I would highly recommend looking for one with the piezo pickup option. Beautiful, simply beautiful.

 

Just to give you another option to make sure you get exactly what you want,check out a G&L L-2000,or L-1500 also.
I've always liked Ernie Ball basses,and still do,but ever since I played some G&L basses,I always seem to gravitate towards them over the Ernie Balls.
Here's their website. www.glguitars.com They offer a few different neck sizes,two fretboard radiuses,and of course your choice of fretboard wood at no extra charge,so be sure to click on the options link on the left of their homepage.
The poles on their pickups are height adjustable,and their preamps have a mini toggle switch that bypasses the preamp for passive mode,turns it on standard in position 2,and boosts the highs in position 3.There's also another mini toggle switch that serves the same function as the EB's 3 position toggle.
Just figured I'd give you another choice to look at.I'm absolutely in love with the G&L stuff.

 

I'll second the G&L, which happens to be the company Fender created with George Fullerton after Fender's Musicman company. I own both a G&L and a EB Stingray and I find myself playing the G&L more due to more versatility. You can also pick up a used one for around the same price as a used EB.

 

I bought mine from the guys at basscentral.com -- it was an awesome transaction and the instruments they sell have usually never been out on a sales floor. I'm getting ready to seel my 2002 and 1975 Fender Precisions. Since the Sterling came along, I don't stop to play anything else.