NBD sterling SUB

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by theinfamous, May 12, 2019.

  1. theinfamous

    theinfamous

    Dec 22, 2014
    20190512_174034.jpg

    So I picked this guy up locally on the old Facebook marketplace today for what I would consider to be a very decent price. I am completely impressed with this instrument. This thing punches well above its weight and could hang with many American made basses. I can't believe how far "cheap" basses have come in the last 15 years. It's insane. I'm to the point where I think if you get a good knockoff version of the brand (squier, epiphone, sub, etc) the only reason you'd want the American made equivalent is because of the name on the headstock.

    Now I am not gonna go crazy and say this is totally on par with an ernie ball, but it is good enough.

    Obviously when I got it I had to immediately tear it apart to see what makes it go. 20190512_154623.jpg
    And there it is... what I assume to be stock wiring. About ten washers per pot because all they had in the parts bin were long shafts I guess?

    20190512_160050.jpg

    That's the humbucker you get. I'm not even mad its bar magnets. The thing sounds great.

    Now obviously the thing was filthy when I got it from the guy, but the strings have life in them still and it's a fantastic player.
     
    tpa, BassmanM, garp and 6 others like this.
  2. JakobT

    JakobT

    Jan 9, 2014
    Oslo, Norway
    Congrats! The SBMM Sub is a great bass for the money. Enjoy!
     
    theinfamous likes this.
  3. nnnnnn

    nnnnnn

    Oct 27, 2018
    Australia
    Nice colour.
     
    theinfamous likes this.
  4. 92aceshigh

    92aceshigh

    Feb 11, 2017
    Brighton, UK
    Very nice OP. What's the weight like? Are the SUBs as heavy as the EBMMs?
     
  5. JRA

    JRA my words = opinion Gold Supporting Member

    it's a good looking ax, OP. i like the 'presentation' --- and it's great that it delivers the "punch" for you. congratulations on your new instrument! :thumbsup:
     
    theinfamous likes this.
  6. daveyo

    daveyo

    Nov 6, 2013
    Cograts,great bass,very good quality and great player,I may buy one myself
    David
     
    theinfamous likes this.
  7. theinfamous

    theinfamous

    Dec 22, 2014
    It is heavy. I don't own a scale so I couldn't tell you exactly how heavy, but it feels heavier than my mexican fender PJ which I consider to be "kind of" heavy. It doesn't help that the pickup itself probably weighs a pound by itself.... (that might be an exaggeration but it is pretty weighty) I have yet to try it out live, so I'm going to see how that goes.

    I would definitely recommend it. It seems like they are a little hard to find used, but it looks like you can get them new for 299 everywhere, and I would consider that a very good deal for a bass of this quality. Like I said, if you don't care what it says on the headstock you can't go wrong.

    The only thing I would point out that is lacking about the bass is that the fret ends are slightly rough in places, but that seems to be a common issue with cheap guitars. They aren't cheese graters, but you can notice if you try. Also, the truss rod is a bit tight when its adjusted to spec, but that might change as it settles since I messed with it for a while.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2019
  8. garp

    garp

    Feb 7, 2009
    Connecticut USA
    Congrats!
    That is one of the wackiest things I've ever seen underneath a control plate. But from a manufacturing standpoint, maybe it's simply cheaper to buy washers than to keep multiple shaft lengths in inventory.
     
  9. theinfamous

    theinfamous

    Dec 22, 2014
    For sure I would say its cheaper to buy washers. From what I've seen there are surface mount versions of this bass too (-no control plate) and that would dictate a longer shaft pot. Now really its just lazy to fire a few washers in there to compensate for the correct pot, but if it keeps the price point low and it works, who is going to argue?
     
    garp and ed morgan like this.