• 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.

Opinions on the Sterling SUB ray 5

#3
It's my favourite bass, but that's just me. Mine might also have been one of the better ones produced. I've tried another one in the store once and I didn't like it as much.

I definitely have no trouble with the B not being heard or sounding off. Unamplified the B is lackluster, but through an amp it tears the house down.
 
#5
AndreasR said:
It's my favourite bass, but that's just me. Mine might also have been one of the better ones produced. I've tried another one in the store once and I didn't like it as much.

I definitely have no trouble with the B not being heard or sounding off. Unamplified the B is lackluster, but through an amp it tears the house down.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I live in a small town & don't have many guitar stores around. Just don't have many guitars to try out. I hate to buy one online without looking at it. New or used, but don't have much other options !
 
#6
jlepre said:
I had no problem with any of the strings being heard. My problem, and the reason that I returned it was the pre-amp volume control had no sweep. It was either all the way full, or off. No variance. Now the SBMM regular 4 is nicer in my opinion to the Sub Series, but not MUCH better.
Click to expand...

Same here. Sold mine because volume was all or nothing and I didn't want to fiddle with the electronics. The neck also seemed really deep front to back, but that might be because I was used to my MM StingRay.

Art
 
#8
Mine's a keeper. Only issue I ever had with mine was how to tame the ferocious output from the pre, which I solved by lowering the pickup not quite flush with the top. Helped put a bit more play into the volume control, too. Neck and playability are perfect for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kyle_S
#9
I recently had a SUB 5 and it was incredible for the money I paid for it. Less than 200 bucks (used) for a bass that sounds like one of much higher value. I sold it because I bought a Lakland Skyline because I needed a little more versatility in tone. I highly recommend it.
 
Last edited:
#10
love the SUB rays - 4 and 5. anyway, if you buy new from AMS (americanmusical.com) or probably other big box stores, they'll take it back if you're not happy. AMS took back a sansamp i didn't like recently and let me trade it in for a short scale 5 string bass - didn't charge for return shipping, either. last year i got a buzzing hofner, and they exchanged it for me - had their head tech check the replacement for buzzing and overnighted the replacement to me, too.

since AMS, GC and MF are owned by the same evil overlords, they may well have the same return/exchange policies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pappabass
#13
pappabass said:
What are your opinions on the Sterling SUB ray 5? My son has a Sterling Ray 4 it is pretty cool, is there much difference in the SUB ? I hear about the 5th string not being clean. Is that true ?
Click to expand...

Just wanted to ask if you want a comparison to your son's Sterling SUB Ray 4 or is it the Sterling Ray 34? As it also looks like you want a comparison to the SUB line in general.
 
#15
pappabass said:
It's a ray 34
Click to expand...

The Sub Rays are great basses for the price, not on the same level as the Sterling Ray 34 or 35 but given the price difference, they're pretty close and worth the price-there's understandably some corners that had to be cut in terms of quality. One thing that comes to mind was the fretboard on my 5 string was pretty inferior in quality, it had a number of holes.
I had the Sub Ray 4 and 5 string, didn't have a problem with the B string on the 5'er..
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back