I just tried out a Sterling SUB in Walnut Today..Wow what a steal!..Great playing Bass..and it even sounded good being on a wall at GC.
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S.U.B. Club
- Thread starter chrism2sych
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With all the talk about the new ones I wonder if the USA ones are any better at all. Anyone play both of them?
I'm a baaaaad boy.
Walked into a local mosic store close to my home to pick up a few misc cords that I needed. Saw a used teal SUB for $300. Assumed it was a newer SUB but upon closer inspection it's an "older" USA SUB. AND, it came with a MusicMan HS case!
I couldn't hold out. I had to buy it. Heckuva nice bass. Feels very solid but is not that heavy and balances perfectly. Sounds like a MusicMan! Neck is straight and all the frets seem to be level.
Can't stand the paint job/finish on the body and neck. Looks like a somebody rolled on textured paint on the body and the neck is too glossy for me. And the pickguard? Oi vey. That had to go right away.
But DAMN!, what a nice playing and sounding bass. Really plays well. Going to get some nice flats and throw them on there and have some fun.
Walked into a local mosic store close to my home to pick up a few misc cords that I needed. Saw a used teal SUB for $300. Assumed it was a newer SUB but upon closer inspection it's an "older" USA SUB. AND, it came with a MusicMan HS case!
I couldn't hold out. I had to buy it. Heckuva nice bass. Feels very solid but is not that heavy and balances perfectly. Sounds like a MusicMan! Neck is straight and all the frets seem to be level.
Can't stand the paint job/finish on the body and neck. Looks like a somebody rolled on textured paint on the body and the neck is too glossy for me. And the pickguard? Oi vey. That had to go right away.
But DAMN!, what a nice playing and sounding bass. Really plays well. Going to get some nice flats and throw them on there and have some fun.
they are amazing basses. The paintjob is not the prettiest, but they are really good instruments.
Sure, I have - the USA SUBs are every bit the quality bass that any other EBMM is, just not as pretty... The newer import SUBs are good instruments - especially for the money - but not in the same class, IMO...
- georgestrings
I agree george. By now I have tried the imports and they are mighty nice but don't have the feel that the US models do. Congrats Diaper Geni! I got a similar deal on mine. This may be the best value in used basses out there, but my MIJ Fernandes is up there as well.
I don't mind the finish on either the neck or the body with mine- actually I like them. The body finish is so tough- it makes good sense to the overwhelming pragmatic majority in me. I know it isn't sunburst pretty but that isn't me anyway. The neck finish is glossy and unpopular, but it doesn't gum up on me as bad as Gibson or Fender RI lacquer necks. As a result this bass represents a particularly unbelievable value for me since I actually dig the odd finishes it has.
I don't mind the finish on either the neck or the body with mine- actually I like them. The body finish is so tough- it makes good sense to the overwhelming pragmatic majority in me. I know it isn't sunburst pretty but that isn't me anyway. The neck finish is glossy and unpopular, but it doesn't gum up on me as bad as Gibson or Fender RI lacquer necks. As a result this bass represents a particularly unbelievable value for me since I actually dig the odd finishes it has.
sj_bass
Supporting Member
Yes and congratulations on your find! I've got #42 for you if you wish...
As far as your neck and body questions are concerned, you could sand and go for a nice sparkle from Marty Bell, but you would probably want something opaque (jus' saying..)
Check out this neck refin from Dostradamas:
Just got my first Music Man. Always loved em but never found them in my price range & they were all active for so long. Then I ran into this. I love the range of tone in that PUP. Two fingers to thumb to pop & slap sounds great. Then I grabeed a pick for a little nostalgia & wow that sounded great to. Had to get rid of that pickguard & sand the crappy paint off the neck. Very happy with everything so far.
& a custom thumbrest gives me lots o positions & sounds!
My new # 1
Leave it alone.
The finish may be ugly, but it is incredibly rugged...about as close to indestructible as there is.
If I can live with purple, you can live with teal.
I lucked out and got a passive, which is perfect for me as I'm only recording these days since the hand mangling in '11.
Good recording basses are rare, and this one with flats is remarkably consistent in terms of having virtually no discernible dead and hot spots. Great studio bass...really.
The finish may be ugly, but it is incredibly rugged...about as close to indestructible as there is.
If I can live with purple, you can live with teal.
I lucked out and got a passive, which is perfect for me as I'm only recording these days since the hand mangling in '11.
Good recording basses are rare, and this one with flats is remarkably consistent in terms of having virtually no discernible dead and hot spots. Great studio bass...really.
I'm not going to do any mods right away. If ever.
The glossy neck might be an issue in the summertime (It gets mighty hot-n-humid here in Ohio.) during outdoor gig season. But maybe not. Only time will tell.
I'm going to use it Saturday on a duo gig with a guitard player. Should be fun!
I actually do need multiple basses as my main gig requires tuning down a half step. (Which I freakin' hate. But it's part of the gig.) I get enough other gigs that I don't want the hassle of re-tuning/re-setting up my #1 every time I get another gig and then have to turn right around the next night and gig tuned down again. If that makes sense.
I do have another bass in route, that I have high hopes for, to keep in "regular" tuning. But this Sub was just too good of a deal to pass up as it plays and balances so nicely.
What the heck. I'll take the club number. I'm going to try (emphasis on "try") to hold on to this bass.
Thanks for the kind words, guys! I feel sort of stupid for not snagging one of these SUB's before this!!
The glossy neck might be an issue in the summertime (It gets mighty hot-n-humid here in Ohio.) during outdoor gig season. But maybe not. Only time will tell.
I'm going to use it Saturday on a duo gig with a guitard player. Should be fun!
I actually do need multiple basses as my main gig requires tuning down a half step. (Which I freakin' hate. But it's part of the gig.) I get enough other gigs that I don't want the hassle of re-tuning/re-setting up my #1 every time I get another gig and then have to turn right around the next night and gig tuned down again. If that makes sense.
I do have another bass in route, that I have high hopes for, to keep in "regular" tuning. But this Sub was just too good of a deal to pass up as it plays and balances so nicely.
What the heck. I'll take the club number. I'm going to try (emphasis on "try") to hold on to this bass.
Thanks for the kind words, guys! I feel sort of stupid for not snagging one of these SUB's before this!!
Quick questions: From what I've read the pickups in the USA SUB's are the same as their more expensive brothers but the preamp is different? Is that becaue the SUB is 2 band instead of 3 band?
Short answer is, the MIA SUBs are basically an "ugly duckling" Stingray Classic, minus the bridge mutes - same pup, preamp, and slab body... Many people prefer the 2 band preamp over the 3 band - I'm one of them...
You got a great buy, especially with an EBMM hardshell case...
- georgestrings
Agreed 100% with the above - I've played both my SUBs quite a bit, without particularly babying them, and their body paint shows absolutely no wear from it... It's an extremely tough finish that also doesn't show fingerprints like many do - and they look much better under stage lighting than you'd think...
I found that buffing mine out with a good auto wax keeps it from getting sticky - I just wax it periodically, and I'm good to go...
- georgestrings
Yeah, those SUB5 basses are a killer value - I've had one for awhile, and it holds it's own with the Sterling 5 HS I also have, and the Stingray 5 HH I had before that... I also have a SUB Sterling, and am thinking of getting a regular SUB to have all three...
- georgestrings
That's a helluva deal! They are amazing basses, especially when you can find a deal like that. Congrats!
You're welcome - I've had good luck with the same thing regarding nitro'd necks, too...
- georgestrings
Leave it alone.
The finish may be ugly, but it is incredibly rugged...about as close to indestructible as there is.
If I can live with purple, you can live with teal.
I lucked out and got a passive, which is perfect for me as I'm only recording these days since the hand mangling in '11.
Good recording basses are rare, and this one with flats is remarkably consistent in terms of having virtually no discernible dead and hot spots. Great studio bass...really.
you have a purple sub? all i have is grey...
