The short scale SBMM stingray has some of the worst ergonomics I've ver tried, which is the main thing holding me back from the P bass.
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SBMM Joe Dart 2025 just dropped
- Thread starter SLO Surfer
- Start date
The short scale SBMM stingray has some of the worst ergonomics I've ver tried, which is the main thing holding me back from the P bass.
I've had three different SBMM short scale Stingrays (zero currently) and I loved the necks on all of them. I had and still have an EBMM short scale Stingray to compare them with and found them to feel different, but also very comfortable.
As cool as these are I've grown so accustomed to using passive tone controls I don't think I'd ultimately be able to make these basses swing.
My experience with Sterlings gives me pause to order sight unseen (or more like hands unplayed?) as I feel like there's so much variance. The only Joe Dart I've played was at NAMM and I wasn't in love with the feel/QC.
On the other hand I picked up a Sterling stingray shortie that was one of the best basses for the money I've played, it was up there with the Fender Japan jazz junior quality wise. Couldn't find any faults or issues and plays like butter.
On the other hand I picked up a Sterling stingray shortie that was one of the best basses for the money I've played, it was up there with the Fender Japan jazz junior quality wise. Couldn't find any faults or issues and plays like butter.
If the first run is any indication, you can buy and then sell your SBMM Joe Dart and make a decent profit if you don't like.
The EBMM Joe Dart 2 had weak output? I don't think I ever saw any reviews on that bass when it came out so wouldn't have known.
You can spend a few bucks and replace the volume with a tone pot. Easy mod. That's what I did with my EBMM Joe Dart. I used a Tonestyler.
Definitely, I've had a few and you have about a 50/50% chance of getting a usable bass that actually sets up.
Thanks for sharing! I played a couple Caprice's in a guitar center, and yeah it had a noticeably low output compared to other basses. But it sounded KILLER. I messed with just turning the amp gain up or down when switching basses and the lower output Caprice sounded great with the correct gain setting. I couldn't hear any volume difference in Lobsters review, maybe due to YouTube compression, but the JD2 definitely sounded "smoother" than the others, which I also felt with the Caprice. Now I wonder if these SBMM JD2's will have that lower output too. Although, like I said, it was fixed by simply turning the amp up. If you've got a 500w + amp I can't see this bass having lower output being an issue at all.
FWIW, the Sterling Joe Dart I has a really hot pick up. So perhaps these Sterlings will follow suit.
If the output of the MM JD2 doesn't bother you, then I say rock on.
Part of that gripe had to do with the MM price point. At $3K, I shouldn't have to adjust a darn thing. It's the principle.
For $500, maybe not such a big deal.
I use both the volume and tone extensively. I'm still intrigued because my main bass for 20 years was a Sterling. I'd wrestled for years with its tone ever since I decided passive basses were for me, and I had considered doing a passive conversion on it many times. It was lost in a fire and I've considered replacing it, but I think I'm sticking with P basses. It's a "me" thing.....
Totally agree! Will be interesting to see how these pickups compare once people get them in their hands.
Just one week left to order a cheap Joe Dart. I revisited their website to observe the order numbers and there's only about 1,500 total orders so far. I think there were around 3-4k built of the 2024 run? Maybe someone can correct me on that. I thought there'd be more of this second run than the first run after the good reviews came out for the first run. I'm sure a lot of last minute orders will come in too.
Interesting that the most popular model/color being purchased so far is the original JD1 in natural, and the least popular is the JD1 in black. I'm guessing a lot of people who missed out on last year's batch just wanted what they missed out on. I ordered the eleventh JD1 in black and look forward to trying it.
Interesting that the most popular model/color being purchased so far is the original JD1 in natural, and the least popular is the JD1 in black. I'm guessing a lot of people who missed out on last year's batch just wanted what they missed out on. I ordered the eleventh JD1 in black and look forward to trying it.
The original JD1 is unique enough to stand alone, apart from the crowd. I also believe, those who wanted one most-likely jumped on the truck for the first run, those whom missed it got a second chance. The JD2 doesn't really entice me as much, personally, as it seems a bit too close to a regular J. The JD3 looks interesting but it's really a niche as far as I can tell.
For me, I'm LOVING my JD1 2024 crop, it's one of my go to basses!
