New Mike Herrara Sterling bass

[JohnnyChatter]

$449 for the sterling by mm
An Ernie Ball one has been for sale local to me for over $5000 for it seems like a couple of years.

That was the first one I thought about when I saw it. There was that one and another one that was posted a few years ago for like 4K.

I didn’t realize the Sterling was only around 500. I’m assuming it’s Ray4 quality.

MXPX still have a pretty big underground following. I sometimes forget I’m young in comparison here. A lot of the music we grew up listening to in my age bracket is still going strong just not as prevalent as it was and honestly it doesn’t seem like many new bands pop up that often. Just the same old dudes going at it.

 

[warptheory]

That was the first one I thought about when I saw it. There was that one and another one that was posted a few years ago for like 4K.

I didn’t realize the Sterling was only around 500. I’m assuming it’s Ray4 quality.

MXPX still have a pretty big underground following. I sometimes forget I’m young in comparison here. A lot of the music we grew up listening to in my age bracket is still going strong just not as prevalent as it was and honestly it doesn’t seem like many new bands pop up that often. Just the same old dudes going at it.

At Punk in the Park this summer, and the NOFX Fairwell Tour last year, the average age is definitely over 40 pushing 50. Lots of younger people, but you can tell that this music isn't growing like it once was when I was in middle/high school.

I'm also surprised that they did it with Mike Herrara, he's great, but isn't in the public consciousness much anymore, and even when punk was in it's heydey, they were a great band, but there were plenty of others. I think a big part of it is how long he's been playing Ernie Ball, like decades, and he's the frontman, and he's really cool. His bass is in the spotlight when they perform, and if you were starting out bass, and could buy the exact thing your hero had and endorsed, it's not a bad marketing strategy.

After all, the "signature" part of this bass is the color, pickguard, and wiring. It's not much different than any other factory instrument they already produce.

 

[Fender_Bender]

This is getting downright silly. Buy a Sterling Ray 2 for $300. If a "signature" bass has a unique feature set that appeals to me, maybe. But this one knob, no knob stuff mystifies me. Then again, I'm old, and I've done more than my share of coaxing great playability out of less than mediocre basses, AND making hot messes out of basses that would have been far better off never having had the misfortune of crossing my path! BUT - you do you (or emulate the guys whose signature basses you crave).

BBB

I guess I’m getting too old, never heard of him or the band before . Looks like a pretty standard model with a pickguard graphic.

 

[ac100X]

Seeing flea have Fender essentially make a stingray is like having your new GF dress and act like your ex. Fender naming it the "flea active jazz bass" is even funnier. Anyways I've been saying for a long time Musicman and Flea should just kiss and make up already.

Or start your own brand Flea.....

 

[warptheory]

I guess I’m getting too old, never heard of him or the band before . Looks like a pretty standard model with a pickguard graphic.

I agree, that is the one odd thing about this bass. It's differentiating feature is the pickguard and the 2 dummy knobs. Is it a custom pickup or anything? I think it's one of the standard models.

Because of the no "extra signature features" if you've never heard of him, there's literally no reason for you to get this bass.

I don't hate on it though, this is the exact same setup he uses touring the world. It works for him, and having a jerry rigged bass is kinda punk rock, I mean the tone is full open the entire time anyways.

If you have heard of him, maybe it's worth the extra $150 to have a signature bass of a dope artist you like.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Or start your own brand Flea.....View attachment 7362848

After all of the hoopla at the start of that the Flea bass venture it just sunk like a stone. I’ve never even seen one, but find it disappointing that he didn’t seem to be involved with either getting the quality up or problems solved.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

At Punk in the Park this summer, and the NOFX Fairwell Tour last year, the average age is definitely over 40 pushing 50. Lots of younger people, but you can tell that this music isn't growing like it once was when I was in middle/high school.

I'm also surprised that they did it with Mike Herrara, he's great, but isn't in the public consciousness much anymore, and even when punk was in it's heydey, they were a great band, but there were plenty of others. I think a big part of it is how long he's been playing Ernie Ball, like decades, and he's the frontman, and he's really cool. His bass is in the spotlight when they perform, and if you were starting out bass, and could buy the exact thing your hero had and endorsed, it's not a bad marketing strategy.

After all, the "signature" part of this bass is the color, pickguard, and wiring. It's not much different than any other factory instrument they already produce.

Oh I totally agree with that. You don’t see nearly as many younger punk style bands these days.

Mikes a great dude and I grew up listening to them but am always surprised how packed the shows are out this way when they play. It’s a bunch of 30-50 years olds for sure. Which Punk in the Park did you go to? I’m always looking for other bass player friends to go to shows with.

 

[PizzaBall]

The neck (at least from pictures) seems to be the same neck they use on the Intro series, except with a painted headstock.

 

[warptheory]

Oh I totally agree with that. You don’t see nearly as many younger punk style bands these days.

Mikes a great dude and I grew up listening to them but am always surprised how packed the shows are out this way when they play. It’s a bunch of 30-50 years olds for sure. Which Punk in the Park did you go to? I’m always looking for other bass player friends to go to shows with.

Portland OR. It's not often that we get good bands here, especially on the weekends.

Picked up one of these shirts from a Facebook group, starting to see them on actual bands too which is pretty cool.

 

[LAST_C]

If I ever buy this bass, because I love that maple neck and the matching headstock, I'd switch the pickguard for a regular white pearloid and add a functional tone knob.

 

[mydogfarted]

The neck (at least from pictures) seems to be the same neck they use on the Intro series, except with a painted headstock.

Is that a bad thing, because I actually like the neck on my Intro.

 

[cyclealt]

Or start your own brand Flea.....View attachment 7362848

Man even then when he would play that thing live for Rain Dance Maggie he had a heavily modded one with his lane poor back in the MM position with an aguilar preamp in it.

How cool would it be to see a promo video on youtube released and it's flea playing a stingray again? Full circle. I'd personally love it.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

Portland OR. It's not often that we get good bands here, especially on the weekends.

Picked up one of these shirts from a Facebook group, starting to see them on actual bands too which is pretty cool.

View attachment 7363071

Noice!!! I got mine a while ago! Erics a great guy. There’s a few of us rocking those shirts over in Denver. We seem to get skipped on tours pretty often also. The music scene has some great locals though!

 

[Yahboy]

When I reading this thread, my brain still thinking about mod on sterling bongo to single H .....

 

[ac100X]

After all of the hoopla at the start of that the Flea bass venture it just sunk like a stone. I’ve never even seen one, but find it disappointing that he didn’t seem to be involved with either getting the quality up or problems solved.

This orange Flea bass sold for $499.00 not really a high end bass, then they lowered the price when they started selling the last of them, that's when I got mine.

 

[ashtray]

$449 is a good price - looks cool, supposed to be lightweight, BUT - it has 2 dummy knobs and an empty battery box?! I’d want to buy a preamp and install it - but that’s another $150 or so? I mean, I appreciate there’s room to install the preamp and battery! But $600 for what might feel like a $350 bass might not be great value, unless you like the artist.

 

[urkel3000]

MXPX is so good live. I grew up on punk and hardcore but they were never my favorite. I saw them a month or two ago and they were awesome!

I was at pdx punk in the park, too. I'd never listened to the interrupters a ton before that, but I'm a fan now