I'm sure this has been answered already, but what's the difference between these and the regular old Sterling by MM basses?
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Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray4 and Ray5
- Thread starter RyanJD
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Yep. I work for a store that just started carrying them. I wanted to stock the WS and also order one for myself, but they are no longer in the catalog. I don't know if they're discontinued or sold out or what.
I know I can buy one at a store I don't work at, but I'd rather get one at a price closer to wholesale.
I know I can buy one at a store I don't work at, but I'd rather get one at a price closer to wholesale.
I just picked up the SUB 4 and I really do enjoy it. Quite a deal; however, I am experiencing the very high output/ clipping sound that many of you spoke about. I have lowered the pickup as far as it would go (flush with the pickguard) and that did not help so I printed out the volume pot repair instructions and am going to replace the stock pot with the 25k alpha VR. After Google searching I was unable to find that exact name of pot. Will any of these work?
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Is there any other options such as a push/pull volume pot that would work?
This is the first time that I have modified wiring within a guitar and I want to cover all my bases before I dive in. Thank you in advance for the help!!
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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Is there any other options such as a push/pull volume pot that would work?
This is the first time that I have modified wiring within a guitar and I want to cover all my bases before I dive in. Thank you in advance for the help!!
It's a combination of the preamp and the pickup they use. I installed a complete EMG system in mine. I still had the high output however and just lowered the pickup almost flush to the PG and that worked. I can turn the volume on full now. Just changing the volume knob and wiring won't make the high output go away. Just gives better control of the volume.
SBMM posted something earlier about *all* models being available through the EDN network.
I'm interested in the RAY5-BK and it does not appear on my local EDN dealers online store (www.lamusic.ca).
I can't call them today because they are closed for the holiday, though I suspect they would just tell me they can't order it.
Can EDN dealers order models that do not appear in the USA/CANADA catalog, such as the RAY5-BK?
I'm interested in the RAY5-BK and it does not appear on my local EDN dealers online store (www.lamusic.ca).
I can't call them today because they are closed for the holiday, though I suspect they would just tell me they can't order it.
Can EDN dealers order models that do not appear in the USA/CANADA catalog, such as the RAY5-BK?
Because LA Music sells the RAY5's for for the same price as MF but in CAD dollars. So LA Music = $300 CAD. MF sells it for $300 USD, but for canadians its $330 CAN.
MF charges the following additional on Canadian orders at checkout:
- shipping
- handling
- duty
- taxes.
So obviously LA Music (which is a 40 minute drive from me) who is a member of SBMM's Elite Dealer Network would be my best choice if they can order it for me.
SBMM posted
Which suggests that any EDN dealer has access to the full catalog. But, their website implies otherwise, and SBMM's postings here aboug GC/GF exclusive colours (like mint green) implies otherwise.
For this particular model (the RAY5-BK), the International Dealers have it, and the Americans get it through GF/GC, so the only people getting the raw deal appears to be Canadians.
I hope that's not the case, this would be my first purchase of an SBMM guitar.
Also, the Sub 4 in Walnut only appears to be in their International catalog, but no longer in the US/Canada catalog--I have no idea why this changed. It breaks my heart as I planned on getting a Walnut one when my employers became a dealer. I know I can get one from GC/MF but if I get it from work I save about a hundred bucks--and that's a pretty big deal to me.
I would bet that having access to the "full catalog" doesn't mean they stock the full catalog. And you could be right - they might not be able to get limited edition colors.
It is too bad that you might have to pay about $450 for a $300 bass, but...if it said Fender on the headstock, it would be a $600 bass. And it would be worth paying that much.
I tried a SUB by Sterling 5 today.
Surprised it was very comfortable. I really liked the string spacing as well.
$299 SUB 5 or a $299 Squier VM 5...?
Hmmm
Surprised it was very comfortable. I really liked the string spacing as well.
$299 SUB 5 or a $299 Squier VM 5...?
Hmmm
Got a response from Brian at SBMM.
My question:
Brian's response (in its entirety):
I found some other posts on the Ernie Ball forums that indicate the black colour for the AX3 and RAY5 were originally GC/GF exclusives, then after NAMM in January, they were added to the International Dealers catalog. As a result, Canada became a special case of unavailability for a few particular items (though apparently there are some items in the USA/CA catalog that International can't get, etc.)
I had hoped the EDN network announcement in the Spring of this year meant the "Elite Dealers" could order from either catalog but it seems that is not the case. I'm not sure the "Elite Dealers" actually means anything. In Canada, Long & McQuade can order everything in the USA/Canada catalog that LA Music can (Elite Dealer), and neither can order from the International Catalog.
There must be some really good business/logistics reason for restricting certain colours to certain regions, because showing products on your web site that are exclusive to certain regions (especially when it's something trivial like colour) is going to cause at least a few seriously disappointed customers.
My question:
Brian's response (in its entirety):
I found some other posts on the Ernie Ball forums that indicate the black colour for the AX3 and RAY5 were originally GC/GF exclusives, then after NAMM in January, they were added to the International Dealers catalog. As a result, Canada became a special case of unavailability for a few particular items (though apparently there are some items in the USA/CA catalog that International can't get, etc.)
I had hoped the EDN network announcement in the Spring of this year meant the "Elite Dealers" could order from either catalog but it seems that is not the case. I'm not sure the "Elite Dealers" actually means anything. In Canada, Long & McQuade can order everything in the USA/Canada catalog that LA Music can (Elite Dealer), and neither can order from the International Catalog.
There must be some really good business/logistics reason for restricting certain colours to certain regions, because showing products on your web site that are exclusive to certain regions (especially when it's something trivial like colour) is going to cause at least a few seriously disappointed customers.
FWIW, Brian is the VP of Sales and Marketing at SBMM (Praxis Musical).
His rather curt response suggests he gets this question a lot and is sick of answering it.
If it wasn't for their announcement about the EDN network and 'full line' *EDIT* (it said full line, not full catalog) access there wouldn't have been any confusion.
Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to decide whether I want to overpay and order from the US or settle for a different colour. :-(
There is always hope after NAMM '14 they will unify the catalogs. Perhaps this is a sales ploy where you buy the colour you don't want, then a year or two later you buy the colour you wanted in the first place.
Alright, I think i've done enough ranting and speculating for now.
His rather curt response suggests he gets this question a lot and is sick of answering it.
If it wasn't for their announcement about the EDN network and 'full line' *EDIT* (it said full line, not full catalog) access there wouldn't have been any confusion.
Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to decide whether I want to overpay and order from the US or settle for a different colour. :-(
There is always hope after NAMM '14 they will unify the catalogs. Perhaps this is a sales ploy where you buy the colour you don't want, then a year or two later you buy the colour you wanted in the first place.
Alright, I think i've done enough ranting and speculating for now.
Heh.... well if Sterling Ball is reading this any time soon I hope he sees that post from Brian from Praxis/SBMM and realizes that his offshore business partner needs to improve their customer service.
That response is so unhelpful and rude that it comes across as though he thinks you're not important enough to bother spending a minute writing a proper email to. He didn't help you at all.
For that reason alone if I were you I'd steer clear of SBMM as a business.
EBMM is a great company, but if this is how SBMM treats potential customers who clearly know their stuff and are asking specific important questions, screw em.
Buy used... that'll show him.
I do feel bad saying this though since EBMM is a company whose instruments I'm proud to own and I've read only good things about the SBMM instruments for the price paid.
EDIT: Also, as a fellow Canadian I'm truly dismayed that they don't understand that Canada IS International and, far more importantly, is home to a huge customer base with some pretty significant players.
That response is so unhelpful and rude that it comes across as though he thinks you're not important enough to bother spending a minute writing a proper email to. He didn't help you at all.
For that reason alone if I were you I'd steer clear of SBMM as a business.
EBMM is a great company, but if this is how SBMM treats potential customers who clearly know their stuff and are asking specific important questions, screw em.
Buy used... that'll show him.
I do feel bad saying this though since EBMM is a company whose instruments I'm proud to own and I've read only good things about the SBMM instruments for the price paid.
EDIT: Also, as a fellow Canadian I'm truly dismayed that they don't understand that Canada IS International and, far more importantly, is home to a huge customer base with some pretty significant players.
I don't want to be too abrasive but seriously guys. I found the color availability on their site and I believe it's even discussed in this very thread. That response was a little off putting but jeez. Brian comes on here an answers questions all the time - that's more than what you get from most other companies.
Brian definitely has gone the extra mile on a lot of other customer service issues on this board. As I said, I suspect he's simply tired of answering this question, and I wanted to make clear I didn't snip his response. The question has appeared before and been answered, but NOT SINCE THE EDN ANNOUNCEMNT this past Spring.
I included the EDN announcement in my email to him because that was the source of all the hope and confusion. Announcing that USA/Canadian EDN dealers now had access to the "full line" of instruments, to me, strongly suggests that they can order anything from the official catalogs (plural) posted on their website. Special limited edition colours, and GF/GC exclusives are NOT in the website catalogs, so I would not expect them to be available to the EDN dealers.
I confirmed with LA Music, my local EDN dealer they can order everything in the USA/Canada catalog, and nothing else. I also confirmed with Long & McQuade, a non-EDN dealer that they can order everything in the USA/Canada catalog and nothing else.
My beef is really with this new EDN network thing, because I feel that stating these dealers have access to the "full line" of instruments is very misleading if the details aren't provided.
I included the EDN announcement in my email to him because that was the source of all the hope and confusion. Announcing that USA/Canadian EDN dealers now had access to the "full line" of instruments, to me, strongly suggests that they can order anything from the official catalogs (plural) posted on their website. Special limited edition colours, and GF/GC exclusives are NOT in the website catalogs, so I would not expect them to be available to the EDN dealers.
I confirmed with LA Music, my local EDN dealer they can order everything in the USA/Canada catalog, and nothing else. I also confirmed with Long & McQuade, a non-EDN dealer that they can order everything in the USA/Canada catalog and nothing else.
My beef is really with this new EDN network thing, because I feel that stating these dealers have access to the "full line" of instruments is very misleading if the details aren't provided.
Fair enough.... but still, his response... it's pretty strange. Maybe I'm too sensitive to customer service issues these days LoL
I really don't want to give the impression I'm pissed with Brian. I'm am probably a little extra annoyed because as a Canadian, we get sh*t on a lot when dealing with American companies for sometimes arbitrary reasons.
Other Canadians know exactly what I'm talking about. When I called our EDN dealer and talked about this problem they told me it was totally untrue and it was the stupidest thing they ever heard, and assured me they could order what I wanted if it was on the website and not a GC/MF exclusive. Then I get a call back and they're like, "Yeah, we're really sorry, we can't order it."
SBMM appears quite good at releasing new colours, availability, etc for NAMM shows so there's still hope in that!
Other Canadians know exactly what I'm talking about. When I called our EDN dealer and talked about this problem they told me it was totally untrue and it was the stupidest thing they ever heard, and assured me they could order what I wanted if it was on the website and not a GC/MF exclusive. Then I get a call back and they're like, "Yeah, we're really sorry, we can't order it."
SBMM appears quite good at releasing new colours, availability, etc for NAMM shows so there's still hope in that!
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