Over harvesting/exploitation. It's a tremendous wood that needs to be protected for future generations. Especially since now we have natural and synthetic alternatives that are in some ways superior.
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SBMM Stingray Short scale
- Thread starter dralionux
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- short scale bass
On mine, I hear a change when using the Boost. It's not overwhelming, but it's certainly there.
Does it pop further out when you push it in? It could be that it's stuck in one position.
Agreed, that's why we should be looking at who is doing responsible harvesting. Currently, Taylor guitars is at the forefront. They also sell ebony to other companies, and teach good practices to other harvesters.
OK, I'm taking my new white Sterling shorty it back to GC. I'm pretty sure it's defective... The boost knob does not 'boost' nor do anything at all! Plus when I tried to lower the PU I found one of it's corner screws evidently didn't have the hole completely drilled because it won't screw down lower and all I end up with is a lopsided PU!
I know China-made stuff is often a crap shoot as far as quality control goes, but I still expect better QC than this on a $500+ bass!! -However I still like the tone and playability of the Sterling shorty so instead of a refund (this time?) I'll request a new replacement bass on the hopes of getting a better put together one...
Enjoy,
Greywoulf
I know China-made stuff is often a crap shoot as far as quality control goes, but I still expect better QC than this on a $500+ bass!! -However I still like the tone and playability of the Sterling shorty so instead of a refund (this time?) I'll request a new replacement bass on the hopes of getting a better put together one...
Enjoy,
Greywoulf
That's fine, but in most instances it is very difficult to verify that it was harvested sustainably, and suppliers aren't above selling stuff that they know they shouldn't be selling. Lumber Liquidators got dinged for that very thing a few years ago. The best thing to do is avoid the product. People won't poach trees and forge documents to provide materials that people don't want to buy.
That's frustrating but that's also why GC has such generous returns, right?
Good luck. I know mine came in fine condition, but at this price point I guess there's going to be some QC issues.
If they were made in the China they would be up a notch in quality, especially the fret work. Some of the new Squiers as in my newly acquired Squier Paranormal Jazz are made in the China plant and the workmanship is noticeably better than anything coming out of Indonesia.
From my perspective, production in China or low price point is no excuse for delivering non functional products.
My SBMM SS Stingray has been produced in Indonesia. But also, no excuse for non functionality. My SS is working fine and the boost is not huge but quite noticeable in each pickup configuration, parallel, single coil or serial.
My mistake... Sterling shortys are indeed made in Indonesia... My distrust in Chinese products QC stems from when I was getting a Danolectro Longhorn and folks here warned me the Chinese versions were usually not as good as the Korean models. Also I rode scooters a few years back (Vespas, Hondas, Buddys, and the like) and while scoots made in Taiwan were desirable and quite dependable, you risked life and limb riding one made in China. Wiring caught on fire, brakes failed, wheels and parts fell off, it was a known horror show! But I am glad that the new Squiers (and perhaps other basses?) made in China are now good ones. That helps all of us...
Anyway I took the Sterling back to GC. A young guy took it to the back of the store, tried it out, and returned saying the 'boost' worked ok. Feeling a little foolish, I said well it didn't work ok enough for me. Also the frozen screw in the PU wasn't so great either... Anyway they were real nice about it, no hassles whatsoever, and I'm getting a new one delivered to my door in a few days. -Again also white; I did consider paying a bit more for the new Dropped Copper model, but I prefer rosewood necks over maple. And hopefully this time UPS won't crunch any large breaks into the box!
I don't understand why many folks knock GC? I find their return policies to be very generous, their prices mostly ok, and the musician-clerks there have always been respectful and helpful... I usta shop almost exclusively at a large local music store in my NJ area, but Trump put them mostly out of business by not paying for a large number of pianos he'd ordered for his Atlantic City casinos. Now they're a very small shop with only a tiny inventory...
Enjoy,
Greywoulf
Anyway I took the Sterling back to GC. A young guy took it to the back of the store, tried it out, and returned saying the 'boost' worked ok. Feeling a little foolish, I said well it didn't work ok enough for me. Also the frozen screw in the PU wasn't so great either... Anyway they were real nice about it, no hassles whatsoever, and I'm getting a new one delivered to my door in a few days. -Again also white; I did consider paying a bit more for the new Dropped Copper model, but I prefer rosewood necks over maple. And hopefully this time UPS won't crunch any large breaks into the box!
I don't understand why many folks knock GC? I find their return policies to be very generous, their prices mostly ok, and the musician-clerks there have always been respectful and helpful... I usta shop almost exclusively at a large local music store in my NJ area, but Trump put them mostly out of business by not paying for a large number of pianos he'd ordered for his Atlantic City casinos. Now they're a very small shop with only a tiny inventory...
Enjoy,
Greywoulf
There's nothing inherent about the workmanship in China that makes it better compared to Indonesia, both countries produce instruments of good and bad quality. They're contracted to meet certain tolerances, with certain price investments in each instrument, and that'll inevitably effect things like time spent on fretwork, materials used, etc.
A Lakland Skyline made in Indonesia will likely be a fantastic instrument, and you'll probably have a high success rate with G&L Tributes too. Whereas I've played numerous Squier Affinity guitars MIC over the years, that certainly didn't have the same fretwork quality as an Indonesian-made Vintage Modified, nor a Chinese Classic Vibe.
I think the important thing in these lower budget import instruments is to remember that quality can vary, even within the same model line, and a part of that lower price of entry can be needing to tidy up the rough ends. Even MIM basses I've loved have needed some fretwork done to be perfect for me.
Back in the ‘80’s I remember this whole thing going down. One of the sons of the owner of the music stores either was in a band with, or was a friend of one of my friends. It was so long ago my memory is pretty fuzzy. I do remember that transaction nearly destroyed that family business.
That's a shame about that store.
I think people here knock GC because it's not a very pleasant place to shop. The stores aren't usually very clean or nice and the inventory isn't exactly overwhelming and the staff is helpful but usually slow and over burdened. But we all buy there on the regular for the prices, returns and convenience of having a store instead of just a website.
I was stationed in South Korea in the mid 2000’s. It was like being in Japan during the lawsuit era. AMAZING quality instruments at awesome prices.
I was able to negotiate a free pro setup at GC for my old Peavey Scorpio bass, which worked well for me because the frets needed to be re-seated and he billed Peavey for the work. That being said I bought a Stingray SubRay4 and it was mint right out of the box. Last time I went there (during COVID) they really low-balled me a trade-ins, far worse than ever before. They previously gave me 60 percent of what they found basses/amps selling for. Now it's like 40 percent, if lucky. Sam Ash same crap. Now it's best to buy from Sweetwater and pay a few extra bucks for a pro setup.
I like Sweetwater also and have had good results in my dealings with them. However nowadays much of the gear I like is usually not found on local music store shelves for tryouts. And as the helpful sales guy told me at GC; you can buy or order a bass or guitar here to try it out, and if it doesn't fit simply return it with no questions asked. If I get something from Sweetwater that I want to return simply because I've decided it's not quite right for me, well then that's a bit of a hassle in explaining why I'm returning it. Plus return mailing costs are involved there also, whereas GC has a shop about 8 miles away from my home that I can just bring problems or returns to.
Lately tho I have noticed that store has gotten dirtier and more spare in stock; I'm hoping this is just because of Covid and will self-correct soon. I'd hate to see them close up shop, their system is just such a convenient thing for me...
Enjoy,
Greywoulf
It's amazing the poopie he's done to small business people... He's stiffed folks left and right, and then brags about how he's walked away from these transactions with bags of money... Small business people, casino employees, food service folks, hotel workers, entertainment industry people, all got badly hurt in his Atlantic City casino fiascos. He's roundly despised there, but still brags about how great it all was for him because he walked away with "tons of money..."
Greywoulf
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