• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray4 and Ray5

Status
Not open for further replies.
Have any EBMM owners A/B'ed these with the real deal extensively yet? Or have I read it here and forgotten?

My buddy got the WS 4 string and we did the A/B with my real sting ray.. my conclusion was it doesnt have the same clarity and cut in the high end and the lows dont have the same authority in the low end. I also notice some breakup/distortion when the eq was pushed and my GK head wasnt clipping. Good Punch but not as much as the real thing. BUT when your talking $250 vs. $1500 the sound for the price is unreal.
 
My buddy got the WS 4 string and we did the A/B with my real sting ray.. my conclusion was it doesnt have the same clarity and cut in the high end and the lows dont have the same authority in the low end. I also notice some breakup/distortion when the eq was pushed and my GK head wasnt clipping. Good Punch but not as much as the real thing. BUT when your talking $250 vs. $1500 the sound for the price is unreal.
I agree. The highs seemed muffled and there is not enough booty in the low end. Seems it's more Low Mid boost. I'm hoping it's just the preamp as I have a Bartolini 2.3AP coming soon that I'm going to install.
 
This gives some clarity. I'm still confused by the website implying that there are USA versions of these basses. What light can be shed on that, or is it something in the works for 2013?

OK, directly from the horses mouth, so to say.

On our website, we have SUB Series listed as "USA/Canada Guitars" "USA/Canada Basses"

That denotes that those instruments are **available** in those finishes through Independent USA/Canada Dealers.

"Intl Guitars" and "Intl Basses" denotes that those instruments are available through International Distributors.

Our website does not go into the exclusive Guitar Center/Musicians Friend models/finishes because that would conflict with our Independent USA/Canada dealers.

No, we will not be making ANY instruments in the USA or Canada as some have oddly speculated. That's what our big brother EBMM does!

I hope this clears up the issue! Now play nice!:bassist:
 
Thanks, we needed that. I'm enjoying my WS specimen a lot. I got it to be a bar gig beater, in situations where I might be trotting out my expensive and rare Warwick FNA Jazzman LTD. With word of a nice bonus coming soon, I am now tempted to buy a USA EBMM instument, as well. Already have it picked out, but won't tip my hand until I have it secured.
 
OK,
So I finally had a chance to try out the SUB 5 at GC.

First impressions: MAN THIS BABY IS LIGHT! I mean it might only weigh like 8 pounds at most!

I kind of dig the slight stained tint on the neck. One thing I noticed RIGHT away was that this neck is even MORE narrow than my other EBMM SR5's. I actually had to make sure it was really a 5 string when I was playing it. NO KIDDING. I kind of LIKE that.

Now the fit and finish seems very good, and I couldn't find a thing wrong with it.

I plugged into an Ampeg mini CL and 210 cab, and the first thing I noticed was:

...this is where things go downhill...The pre-amp was SOOOOOO hot that I had to barely turn the volume pot up at all. I mean it was almost off, but it sounded like it was cranked. I checked my amp settings and it was set right, so I guess it would need the modification described in an earlier post.

Can one of you guys who owns one of these try plugging a pair of headphones directly into the jack? I would love to know if this would give enough sound for light playing at home.

OK bottom line:

This bass is worth every bit of $299, and would make an amazing starter or backup bass. I would highly recommend that this bass gets the mod so to tame the preamp.
Also, this would make a great project bass to do some mods. I would change out the preamp, and possibly the PUP too.

I would buy it for the fact that it's REALLY light, and sounds sort of like an SR5. It's definitely in the ballpark, but not the real deal. The neck is thin and SUPER fast too.

There, I hope I didn't scare anyone away.
 
Is that modification the only way? Lowering the pickup wouldn't help?
No sir. I've also done the mod and pretty much all it did was allow better control of the volume but the preamp is overdriven in nature. Not sure if a gain pot would help either. As soon as my Bartolini preamp arrives, I'm pulling that sucker outta there. I think the stock pre needs redesigning!
 
Yeah, my Ray4's pre is ridiculously hot. Fortunately, I have been able to experiment with a few things, and now know what adjustments to make on my envelope filter (MXR- just move the sens knob from 2 o'clock to noon), to get the funk-o-liciousness. I'll maybe get to doing the preamp mod, in a few more weeks, when my schedule gets less crazy, but, by then, may decide that I like it hot. Who knows? If anyone is asking about the weight, my WS specimen comes in at a shade over 9 lbs.

This instrument should be "budget bass of the year," in the magazine/blog reader surveys. It's that good of a value.
 
+1

Also, you came across a light one. I've found them to be average weight. Mine (SUB Ray4) is about 9-9.5lbs

Yeah, I weighed my Ray4 the other day and it came out to 10 lbs.

I'm also having the volume issue. Basically it's impossible to practice in my apt without using the -15db cut on my amp. Unlike my annoying neighbors I try to be respectful haha.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.