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SBMM SUBs..yes, it's about to become even more confusing

#122
I kinda like them and kind of don't, I am a proud owner of an american MM stingray that I bought new in 2001, what a great bass!

What's interesting to me is how they don't even have ernie ball strings! They have red silk at both ends! I once bought some mystery "Austin city strings" at a local shop for my bass and they had red silk at both ends of the string, with a silver ball (rotosounds have the red wrap but a copper/brass color ball). Turns out they're made in korea, pretty crappy cheap strings. I can't find Austin city products anywhere now, I suspect the company went nameless and produces cheap generic strings for cheap instruments now, like for these.

Just stood out as interesting to me :)

Also: Tuner alignment, anyone?
sub-hs.jpg
 
#125
NickUK01 said:
I tempted by this, UK stores are stocking it at the moment so I may go and check one out over the weekend. I did have one of the old SUB's which I loved, although never felt like the sturdiest thing in the world, but wouldn't expect that.

I wonder how it would deal with being dropped into D with a hipshot tuner on a regular basis.

As usual though, UK has to pay way more than we should!
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Ha ha, not sturdy? The old ones? :lol:
You can say many things about the old SUBs, but "not sturdy" is not exactly something I'd have expected. They feel bomb proof to me :-D
 
#130
Anyone know the Hipshot BT1 Xtenders will fit on these? I know those fit Musicmans?

I would assume they do but thought I'd check. Although I wonder how they would cope with being dropped down regularly (a few times per set), lower build quality I wonder if I would be looking as poor intonation etc. I'm gonna have a play about with one tomorrow and a ray34, see if I can justify the difference in price, only want is as one of my live basses so we'll see.
 
#131
So I had a play with one of these today, played the black one with the maple neck. I have to say, I was extremely impressed with the build quality of this thing, and considering the price, even more so. I've owned basses that have cost £100-200 more than this and didn't feel as nice as this.

The neck felt lovely, flat and slim and fast too, out of the box it was also set up surprisingly well, action was nice and low, no fret buzz. The pick up as you would expect was hot, I would probably lower it slightly if I picked one up, the tone of it sounded a little hollow in my opinion, but the push behind each string felt even without losing too much power getting up to the G. The body felt light, a little too light in my opinion, but what would you expect for the price.

The finish on it, the neck and hardware was good too for the price, little things like the control knobs not being lose or noisy was nice too.

For the price of one of these, I was blown away, I think if I wanted to get the musicman look and feel without paying full price, I would choose this over the ray34 personally. The bass you get for the money is impressive so I would rather fork out for a US made model and stick with a sub ray until then.

I am now VERY tempted to pick one of these up.
 
#132
I think this is great and I commend EB and MM for doing this. Now a stingray or it's derivative can be afforded by everyone. Real MM owners take pride in what you have and also welcolme others into your family. The hatin thing has to stop. I'm so sick and tired of people always ranting about whether or not it's the real thing. Not eveyone can afford to spend 2k on a new bass. I have an OLP 5 string and can now see myself purchasing a SBMM Ray3x or a SB or even a new 5 string SUB. Just think of how happy a young beginner would be to get his or her hands on a new SUB or SBMM bass. This will definitely affect those thinking about buying a Squire VM or CV. This is a good thing not a bad thing. Any flack from so called real MM owners is nothing short of jealousy and a false sense of being elite. Dont be so self absorbed. Instead of hatin, welcome new players into the fold and go buy one to use it as your backup. I'm getting one. Now if we can only get RIC to wake up and smell the coffee.
 
#134
phillybass101 said:
I think this is great and I commend EB and MM for doing this. Now a stingray or it's derivative can be afforded by everyone. Real MM owners take pride in what you have and also welcolme others into your family. The hatin thing has to stop. I'm so sick and tired of people always ranting about whether or not it's the real thing. Not eveyone can afford to spend 2k on a new bass. I have an OLP 5 string and can now see myself purchasing a SBMM Ray3x or a SB or even a new 5 string SUB. Just think of how happy a young beginner would be to get his or her hands on a new SUB or SBMM bass. This will definitely affect those thinking about buying a Squire VM or CV. This is a good thing not a bad thing. Any flack from so called real MM owners is nothing short of jealousy and a false sense of being elite. Dont be so self absorbed. Instead of hatin, welcome new players into the fold and go buy one to use it as your backup. I'm getting one. Now if we can only get RIC to wake up and smell the coffee.
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I think "the hatin'" thing is good.
It allows you to see straight away whom you don't need to spend time around and listening to ;)

At the same time, there's nothing wrong about wanting "the real thing" or being proud of it, if you like it so much.

At the end of the day, what's an electric bass? Hardly rocket science. Let's worry less and play more. :)

Last couple of gigs I used a Korean Squier Jazz that I love. But I'm still buying on Thursday a yummy 75 RI Fender Jazz ;)
I will gig both, for sure.
I also have an OLP, a 4-string SUB (the original model) and a 4-string Stingray. The SUB is the one I play the most, followed by the Stingray and then the OLP, but I play all of them and I can't care less if someone sees me play the OLP and things I'm somehow inferior. Their problem, not mine :)

I have cheap and not so cheap basses, but every single one of them is "good enough".
So when I hear someone putting down a player or a bass simply based on the brand name... I think to myself "well, no use wasting time with this loser" and I move on. :cool:
 
#135
You're forgetting something. These aren't real MM basses because they're not made or owned by Music Man. SBMM is not EBMM, their a licensed copy.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that they're doing this, and I've considered picking up at ray34ca many times.

phillybass101 said:
I think this is great and I commend EB and MM for doing this. Now a stingray or it's derivative can be afforded by everyone. Real MM owners take pride in what you have and also welcolme others into your family. The hatin thing has to stop. I'm so sick and tired of people always ranting about whether or not it's the real thing. Not eveyone can afford to spend 2k on a new bass. I have an OLP 5 string and can now see myself purchasing a SBMM Ray3x or a SB or even a new 5 string SUB. Just think of how happy a young beginner would be to get his or her hands on a new SUB or SBMM bass. This will definitely affect those thinking about buying a Squire VM or CV. This is a good thing not a bad thing. Any flack from so called real MM owners is nothing short of jealousy and a false sense of being elite. Dont be so self absorbed. Instead of hatin, welcome new players into the fold and go buy one to use it as your backup. I'm getting one. Now if we can only get RIC to wake up and smell the coffee.
Click to expand...
 
#137
jlepre said:
...but they ARE assembled AND tested in the same factory in California. That's good enough for me to get a close copy for about 30% of the price.
Click to expand...

Are you sure?
I thought they are an entirely overseas operation.

The original SUBs were indeed made in the same factory, but I'm pretty sure SBMM basses are made, assembled etc overseas. I could be wrong, it happens sometimes ;-)
I thought the only US connection is "inspection and set up" which can mean anything, really.
 
#138
This is a quote from Pat Park from SBMM:

patpark
Registered User
Senior Member
Join Date
Jan 2009
Location
Orange County, CA
Posts
757
the body woods and the level of hardware are where we saved. These will be made in the same factory, line as the SBMM premium line. We have a lot of experience "behind the scenes" and really have great relationships with the best parts makers and suppliers.

So not sure where the SBMM line is being made, anyone?
 
#139
I'm not traditionally an SR guy, but I have to say that I am intensely intrigued by these, especially that Walnut Satin. My only concern as an all 5 string guy is that spacing. Any idea if it is at least the 17.5mm. It looks sooo narrow.

If they offer a fretless, I do believe it will be irresistible. Of course, at $279-ish, I could probably get one, defret it and still be ahead of the game.

Any firmer dates on when these are gonna be orderable?
 
#140
I was told the spacing is the traditional 17.5mm, but I am awaiting a definitive answer from SBMM. Also I was told by Pat Park that these will be hitting GC stores in early September. That's the best I have so far. I have ordered an SR5 WS with a local dealer, and they are doing their homework on their end as we speak.

If I hear anything else I will post it here.
 

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