Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray4 and Ray5

[RyanJD]

Did you guys hear about these basses yet? I didn't see a thread on them.

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Ray 4 - a Vintage style Stingray w/ 2 band active preamp, humbucking bass pickup. Maple necks w/ maple (BK) or rosewood (WH & WS) fingerboards. Killer basses for the money, the Walnut satin finish is very nice.

Ray 5 - 5 string bass based on the Ray35/SR5. 2 band active preamp, hum bucking bass pickup. Maple neck & fingerboard.

There was a review in the last issue of BP Magazine. It got the editor's choice award or something.
The hook is that these are sub $300 MM basses.
I think I'm gonna buy one on day one 'cause I've never had a MM style bass before.

I actually e-mailed the guy who's address is shown at the bottom of the ad.
I asked him when they were coming out, the prices and some other things. This was his reply:

Thank you for your interest in our SUB series.

We will start shipping SUB series models early September, and they will become available in the US retail market sometime in mid September. I don’t have the exact date, but Musician’s Friend will be one of the first ones to carry SUB models. The street prices for Ray4 and Ray5 will be $279 and $299 respectively.

Yes, currently black is the only color available for Ray5.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to let me know.

Thank you .

I have a feeling these are gonna give the Squiers a run for their money!

 

[RyanJD]

Also from the guy whose name is on the ad...

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.

the body wood is an Indonesian local wood known as Jabon. It's similar to basswood in weight and density.

Used by many manufacturers. It's a great way to offer a solid wood and hit the price point. No plywood here!

 

[electracoyote]

I've been reading some really good things about the QC on the SUB's. Good review in the most recent Bass Player mag. I'm wondering if they have cut corners on the electronics. I have one of the first run of SUB with two band active, and it is absolutely a killer bass, those must be the same electronics they put in the other USA models. BP said the new electronics are "close" and will "give you the impression" of a 'Ray, whatever that means.

 

[fenderhutz]

Yeah. But when?

 

[quarryman]

Interested for sure!!! Any suggestions for pickup upgrades?

 

[parsons]

There was a thread on here somewhere about the new SUBs. There's also a thread on the Ernie ball website if you guys are interested.

 

[afzoomie67]

They out yet?

Nevermind.. I actually read the thread after posting.

 

[Tupac]

September??? They promised March/April at NAM.

 

[RyanJD]

September??? They promised March/April at NAM.

Yeah, what's up with that. I want one of these! ^^

 

[Down_Low]

Did you guys hear about these basses yet? I didn't see a thread on them.

You obviously didn't look real hard then: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/sbmm-subs-yes-its-about-become-even-more-confusing-847416/

Lookin forward to checking these out. If they're half decent I think I'll pick one up and use it as a project bass/backup to my real Stingray.

 

[RyanJD]

You obviously didn't look real hard then: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/sbmm-subs-yes-its-about-become-even-more-confusing-847416/

Lookin forward to checking these out. If they're half decent I think I'll pick one up and use it as a project bass/backup to my real Stingray.

Yeah, guess not! A quick search didn't turn up anything.
Anyways, at least I had some new information to share. ^^

 

[Down_Low]

I'm still waiting to hear what the nut width on these new SUBS will be too. Hoping for 38mm like the Ray34ca's.

 

[Staccato]

There's a review of the Ray4-BK on p. 62 of the Bass Player's May issue that just hit the mailbox. The neck looks fast, and no doubt the preamp will cut through the mix. Though I'm not looking for a bass in this price range, it will be interesting read about a shootout with any Fender basses at the same street price from other Talkbass members.

The wood is jabon, and there's practically no information describing it on the web, from my research. The maple neck, and Indonesian build are both positives in my book.

 

[RyanJD]

Oh yeah, as soon as these come out, I'm swapping my back-up Squier for one of these.
I need a bass with 21 frets again.

 

[MtManiac]

There's a review of the Ray4-BK on p. 62 of the Bass Player's May issue that just hit the mailbox. The neck looks fast, and no doubt the preamp will cut through the mix. Though I'm not looking for a bass in this price range, it will be interesting read about a shootout with any Fender basses at the same street price from other Talkbass members.

The wood is jabon, and there's practically no information describing it on the web, from my research. The maple neck, and Indonesian build are both positives in my book.

Why a shoot out with Fender basses? They're completely different things. I'd much rather read a review or comparison with a real Sting Ray.

 

[thobie]

if i could own one of these i could be content never spending more than five hundred on a bass, and ill cover all my "basses"! ahahaha me likes the pun

 

[Darnell Jones]

Also from the guy whose name is on the ad...

Quote:
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.


The body woods and hardware on the premium line have to cost less than $100 wholesale in quantity if not much less. If that is the only savings I wouldn't expect the premium models to be more than $20 or $30 bucks more.

 

[ksandvik]

Quote:
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.


The body woods and hardware on the premium line have to cost less than $100 wholesale in quantity if not much less. If that is the only savings I wouldn't expect the premium models to be more than $20 or $30 bucks more.

Yes, it's really about the operating costs where labor is the biggest chunk. That and also possibly taking down the profit margins a bit to get more market share from Squire.

 

[Darnell Jones]

Labor costs should be identical. I think your guess about profit margins may be more accurate

 

[DanHibiki]

Why a shoot out with Fender basses? They're completely different things. I'd much rather read a review or comparison with a real Sting Ray.

I think both comparisons are valid. You want to know if it sounds like a StingRay and at the same time how good its quality is at its price point, which will compete with some Fender offerings (mainly the Squier line, but some Modern Players are close too) even if they are completely different sounding instruments.