Sterling by Music Man Question

[BASSMAN777jc]

I am looking at a SubRay 4HH in Guitar Center. They had 2, but the strings were very high on both. Two other basses I tried had nice low action. Thinking this is probably a lousy Guitar Center setup, but curious if all the 4HHs are like that, or can you set them up with low action?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Mastermold]

Sounds like a set up is needed. Budget basses from overseas go through a lot of changes in transport, but assuming the truss rod works as it should it should be capable of dialing in.

 

[Nuisance]

Not at all uncommon. Even the EBMM Stingray Special I just picked up needed a truss rod and action adjustment to get it dialed in the way I like.

 

[Wicked G]

You could always tell GC that you are interested in the bass and if they could do a set up for you. I've had them do it for me before so that I can try it out.

 

[JakobT]

Not uncommon, but easy to fix.

 

[BASSMAN777jc]

Thanks, everyone!

 

[StringCanvas]

You could always tell GC that you are interested in the bass and if they could do a set up for you. I've had them do it for me before so that I can try it out.

If I were seriously thinking of buying, this is what I'd do. Even if you don't end up buying it, they've put it in better condition for someone else to consider buying it. Really, you're doing them as much of a favor as they're doing for you.

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

My sterling short scale needed a shim in neck pocket to get action under 2mm (obviously needed to level the frets as well), the e and g saddles bottomed out at around 2.25mm action - should never assume something would have low action after a simple setup

Edit - just to be clear, this bass plays fantastic after the finishing work and I expect to do a lot of finishing work on anything that costs under a grand. Just wanted to give a headsup that adjusting neck relief, nut depth, action, intonation are not a guarantee for low action

 

[BASSMAN777jc]

Thanks so much. That's just the type of info I was looking for. The fact that they had 2 in the store, and the action was lousy on both, including the used one, made me question whether this would be an easy fix. Thanks again.

 

[singlemalt]

Have the shop do a set up or at least demonstrate that the truss rod is functioning.

If that improves it, great! Buy a pack of your favorite strings, take it home and dial in your setup. Ask for a discount on both while you muse aloud about an expensive amp and pedal for another visit.

If setup proves to be a problem that you can’t solve easily, put the original strings back on it and use the return policy.

Try again, and you have new strings.

Good luck.

My Sterling guitar was easy to set up, and improved even more with my string selection. At some point, I’ll probably add a thin shim under the heel and polish the frets, do a bit of fine sanding on the neck. Out of the box, I spent 10 minutes on the set up and knew I was happy.

Personally, I’d be looking for a used one.

 

[Five or Six]

Nothing is certain until you do "your own setup ". Don't assume anything preowned or something off the wall is ever right. Make it your own by giving a new bass a good going over. Start with any new bass by throwing the strings in the garbage.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

I am looking at a SubRay 4HH in Guitar Center. They had 2, but the strings were very high on both. Two other basses I tried had nice low action. Thinking this is probably a lousy Guitar Center setup, but curious if all the 4HHs are like that, or can you set them up with low action?
Thanks in advance.

They all have bridges that are adjustable in a couple of essential ways. Guitar Center moves too many instruments and the salespeople are too busy to reliably give setups to almost any instrument, short of gross unplayability, and maybe not even then. The playability of almost anything new at Guitar Center should be taken with the grain of salt assumption that EVERY instrument there can be adjusted better than it is, and sometimes night and day better. I don't blame the salespeople or the guitar techs there. Their corporate structure and employee mandates and requirements make it exceptionally difficult to find time for any employee to really dial in an instrument.

 

[Todd Hamby]

Every single Stingray I get I have to lower the action!!

 

[jsixties]

Every single Stingray I get I have to lower the action!!

On every bass I have ever bought in my life, regardless of brand, model, or range, I have had to lower the action in fact.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

look at other ones on the wall that is similar. I had the opportunity to hand pick mine. But I bought it new before Covid. .

 

[Deleted member 271037]

You can of course set up these basses with lower action (unless they have some VERY serious issues), but you can't be sure that they can actually handle a lower action without introducing fretbuzz or "choked" notes. This will depend on the quality of the neck and the fretwork. It is impossible to predict 100% whether these basses (or any other basses for that matter) can handle a lower action without actually lowering the action and testing it. Of course, a trained eye can spot serious issues like a crooked/twisted neck or any severe problems with the fretwork, but even if everything looks fine you won't know for certain until the action is lowered and you actually play it. Maybe it will be great, or maybe the frets will need to be leveled. And some basses can't handle a low action even after the frets have been leveled to perfection.

Lower priced basses like these will generally need the action to be slightly higher than on top quality basses. And yes, the quality of the wood can make a huge difference. A neck made from poor quality, soft wood won't make a great instrument, no matter how perfect the fretwork is.

Ask the store if they can set up the basses properly for you. If they refuse you might as well buy a bass from one of the large online box shifters. They probably have a much better selection, and maybe lower prices too. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that people support their local guitar stores, but if these stores won't provide a better service than the online box-shifters they really need to up their game or go the way of the dinosaurs. Poor service = they don't deserve your money. And refusing to set up an instrument in playable condition for a potential customer is VERY poor service indeed.