New (to me) bass day! (American) Music Man Sterling.

[basslicks]

New bass day!


With much hesitation I got rid of my 5-string Music Man StingRay. I absolutely loved the bass, but I have back problems and that sucker weighed just a hair shy of 12 lbs and I couldn’t go more than 30 minutes standing up before my back would start screaming at me. I really didn’t want to see it go, but I found myself avoiding the bass because of the pain, though the tone is probably my favorite of all the basses I’ve played.


I went to GC today to check out the used section and I found this baby. I’m not normally into purple basses (though it is quite a dark shade), and I tend to err on the side of rosewood necks over maple, and she’s a little scuffed up, but as soon as I picked her up and started playing I immediately fell in love. I couldn’t pass it up for $750 (sold the 5-banger for $1000).


It has that Music Man tone that I really like and it’s 90% of what the Ray sounds like, but it also has a little bit of its own character. Super fast neck, MUCH lighter than my old Ray (a hair above 8 lbs) and very comfortable overall.


She might be a bit girly looking, but whatever, you really can’t help falling in love when it happens, ya know?

 

[2cooltoolz]

She might be a bit girly looking, but whatever, you really can’t help falling in love when it happens, ya know?

No, man!! I love this bass!! This one spoke to you! That happens... I love the mojo maple fingerboard and the pearloid pickguard and 8 pounds!?? Have fun with this puppy, man!!

This is YOUR bass!

 

[wizard65]

Nice score! I picked one up about a year ago. Very well put together bass.

 

[FingerDub]

People are so proud of the American label, they have to put it in every post lol.

 

[wizard65]

While all Ebmm Sterlings are American, I suspect he added 'American' so it's not confused with the licenced Stingray copy, Sterling by musicman.

 

[Microbass]

Nice score. Love the mojo neck and the purple is sweet.
Wish we had these kinda deals on EB/MM instruments in the U.K.!

 

[FingerDub]

While all Ebmm Sterlings are American, I suspect he added 'American' so it's not confused with the licenced Stingray copy, Sterling by musicman.

I will say that the purple is banging.

 

[basslicks]

People are so proud of the American label, they have to put it in every post lol.

I really mostly did that because there's so much confusion between 'Sterling by Music Man' and 'Music Man Sterling'. And also, yeah, there's a bit of pride involved too - I won't lie! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[wvbass]

Years ago, I traded an Urge I for a jazz bass. It was the only MIA bass in the store. It was purple. It was, and is, a great bass.

 

[Immigrant]

Congrats! That's a nice looking bass.

The whole Sterling/Sterling thing has always bothered me.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

People are so proud of the American label, they have to put it in every post lol.

I would be...I would much rather own an American Sterling than a Sterling by Sterling from Indonesia...
But the way my life is, the Indonesian Sterling looks to be more in line with my band account...

 

[Bodeanly]

She might be a bit girly looking

If by "girly" you mean "super fly with curves all up in the right places," then yeah.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Played one for years! Great bass.

 

[ubernator]

I always wanted a sterling rather than a stingray. The price (new) was a bit out of my range then (98-2000), but I was always in guitar center playing them. $750 is a good price, and I also like that purple finish. The thing I like about the sterling over the stingray is mainly the 1.5" neck, and the 3 pickup modes. I do kinda like the metal control plate on the stingray though.

I am one of the bothered ones on the whole sterling/sterling issue as well.

 

[mgauge]

Dude! What girly? Even if it was? Who cares? I love my sterling. Really love the neck.

 

[mgauge]

And yes, the purple looks awesome!! Go you! I love my music man sterling beyond words.

 

[Commreman]

Not girly looking at all! I LOVE Sterlings. I have one in regular rotation. I installed a Nordstrand MM4.3 and this thing just sings!

 

[jakka1]

Yeah... the Sterling/Sterling completely muddles the water and to me has undervalued the USA Sterling. Good for buying them on the used market, but overall seems they have become less popular because of it. As an owner of both Stingrays and Sterlings. I prefer Sterlings... hard to beat the neck and they are typically lighter weight.

Nice score BTW... I dig the purple.

 

[basslicks]

Yeah... the Sterling/Sterling completely muddles the water and to me has undervalued the USA Sterling. Good for buying them on the used market, but overall seems they have become less popular because of it. As an owner of both Stingrays and Sterlings. I prefer Sterlings... hard to beat the neck and they are typically lighter weight.

Nice score BTW... I dig the purple.

It is a bit annoying when shopping for things. For example, mine didn't come with a case so I've been looking around on ebay and other sites for a used MM Sterling case and I can never tell if the case in question is for Music Man Sterling or Sterling by Music Man (it's even annoying to type). Apparently they are different enough to where one won't really fit the other.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

A few scuffs, that's called Mo & Jo!