• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Music Man SUB vs Sterling Ray 34

rnilson

rnilson

Mar 8, 2008
921
8
Kansas City, MO
www.mixedmethodmusic.com
#1
So I am thinking of getting a "cheap" Stingray.
My choices are either a used MM Sub or a used SBMM Ray 34; they run around the same price used. ($500ish) Where they are made doesn't really matter to me. Although I do think the subs are ugly as hell while the ray 34s look nice. (Especially in natural.) What I care about is comfort (ergonomics) and tone. Has any one done a head to head comparison of these basses?
 
#2
rnilson said:
So I am thinking of getting a "cheap" Stingray.
My choices are either a used MM Sub or a used SBMM Ray 34; they run around the same price used. ($500ish) Where they are made doesn't really matter to me. Although I do think the subs are ugly as hell while the ray 34s look nice. (Especially in natural.) What I care about is comfort (ergonomics) and tone. Has any one done a head to head comparison of these basses?
Click to expand...

Plain and simple
I owned a SUB and currently own Ray34.
My preference is the Ray34
 
  • Like
Reactions: nateh415
#4
Interesting, I was at a big ol' jam party last weekend and there was one of each of these (plus my EBMM Sterling 5). I played each of them for one or two songs. Impressions:

SUB - Light for a Music Man-related product! Had a tough time dialing in a tone that I thought was useful... it was boomy. The neck was not comfortable, but it seemed to be in pretty serious need of an adjustment (so take that with a grain of salt).

SBMM Ray - Superior in every way except weight. The finish on this bass (honeyburst) was, under normal lighting, as beautiful as the finish on my honeyburst EBMM Stingray 5. The tone controls were infinitely more responsive and usable than the SUB, and I got a nice balanced tone with plenty of grunt, some power in the mids and a bit of top-end zing. The neck was more comfortable and the action was very even overall.

Of course, when I went back to my Sterling... well, let's just say I wouldn't trade the Sterling!
 
  • Like
Reactions: nateh415
#5
Go for the Ray34. I owned one and it played and sounded just like my US StingRay. I only sold it because it was too much like my Ray and was redundant to keep lol.

I played a SUB and didn't care for it that much. It never felt or sounded quite right to me.
 
#6
j_micho said:
Why?
Click to expand...

First and foremost (it been said in this thread already) playability and tone. I have a Ray34 and Ray35

Its sounds to me just like a EBMM Ray and I actually prefer the playability of SBMM Ray35 to a EBMM Stingray 5. :hiding: might sound odd but true.

After this comes fit and finish which is just as good as anything else on the market.

NOTE: To be honest they do vary a little and I played a good amount of them, but with that being said the worse of the bunch still was not that bad and on par with what I felt about the SUB. The 2 that I have I love.

Hope this helps.
 
#8
I have a Sterling SB14. It is in the same class as the Ray 34 but has more options. The neck is more of a jazz style neck so imo it is more comfortable than the Ray. Also, the SB14 has more tone options. The Ray has that classic tone but the SB14 has a range for any style. They are equal in quality and tone. Its just your personal preference. The Ray is around $650 new and the SB14 is around $600.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#11
I played a Ray 34 for the first time the other day, and have had serious GAS since. I absolutely loved it; the neck was one of the nicest ever. Lots of tonal variety, comfortable, etc. I was very tempted to get it, but knew I`d get murdered when I brought it home lol !
 
#14
I seen in this post twice now the desire for the 2 band with the Ray 34.

Just curious why (asking in a real way, not flippant).
 
#15
The 2 band EQ is generally considered to be less edgy and a little warmer and deeper in the low end. I've had both. I kept my 3EQ Stingray and Sterling maybe a year before I tired of them.
MY 2 Band EQ, I had for 22 YEARS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lewink
#16
SJan3 said:
The 2 band EQ is generally considered to be less edgy and a little warmer and deeper in the low end. I've had both. I kept my 3EQ Stingray and Sterling maybe a year before I tired of them.
MY 2 Band EQ, I had for 22 YEARS.
Click to expand...

Aghh ok...gotcha

I tend to never touch my highs or mids (rare occessions highs just a touch) and leave it flat but I usually turn up the bass a bit all the time.
 
#17
basswave said:
Aghh ok...gotcha

I tend to never touch my highs or mids (rare occessions highs just a touch) and leave it flat but I usually turn up the bass a bit all the time.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I LOVE the three-band EBMM pre. I've played the new two-band Classic series and am unimpressed.

I keep my lows bumped just barely above center, and usually keep highs there too (although I may dial them out fairly heavily if I need a more retro sound). The mid knob is my best friend... I use it as a "snarl" control, rolling it back for mellower tunes, goosing it for rockers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lewink
#18
FromTheBassMent said:
Interesting. I LOVE the three-band EBMM pre. I've played the new two-band Classic series and am unimpressed.

I keep my lows bumped just barely above center, and usually keep highs there too (although I may dial them out fairly heavily if I need a more retro sound). The mid knob is my best friend... I use it as a "snarl" control, rolling it back for mellower tunes, goosing it for rockers.
Click to expand...

I like this setup too. The other configuration I find myself using ALOT is the bass slightly above center, the mids(where this bass excels) higher - then I mostly change the highs...roll it back for my mellow sound and up higher for snappier, agressive play
 
#19
FromTheBassMent said:
Interesting. I LOVE the three-band EBMM pre. I've played the new two-band Classic series and am unimpressed.

I keep my lows bumped just barely above center, and usually keep highs there too (although I may dial them out fairly heavily if I need a more retro sound). The mid knob is my best friend... I use it as a "snarl" control, rolling it back for mellower tunes, goosing it for rockers.
Click to expand...

All so subjective but I liken it to buying a pair of good home stereo speakers. At 1st, the ones that have an excessive amount of highs and lows seem more impressive. But, in time they grow fatiguing to our ears and we scream for a more natural reproduction. There is a place for MM bases in my heart but they are anything but "natural" sounding, however the 2 EQ seems easier on my ears.
Again, this is my humble opinion after living with Stingrays for 20+ years.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back