Didn't know it was a limited run. That changes things, but they sure don't seem to be used by anybody, especially by Joe. He only uses his Sterling now, not exactly endorsing the high-end MM basses.
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Sterling by MusicMan Joe Dart Vision
- Thread starter Gogoplata1980
- Start date
I am not a Joe Dart fan, but I do applaud hime making the decision to play Sterling and have a more affordable signature model than most.
The Joe Dart Jr does make an appearance about 4 years ago.
I'm familiar with all those videos. I've also seen another one by Josh Turner where he uses the short scale JD. Then nothing else. You would think Joe would use it more often. What an odd choice to release a short scale bass tuned down to C.
I picked up a Sterling Cutlass guitar, CT 50, a few years ago. On sale for $400. I'm impressed with the whole thing. Locking tuners, roasted maple neck, decent tremolo, and HSS pickups with a five way.
It needed a fair amount of set up work, but with a neck shim, I've got it playing great. The electronics could be better, especially the tone knob taper.
I wouldn't get into dumping premium pickups into it. But few bucks for a tone pot seems reasonable.
Fit and finish are solid. Bang for the buck.
We're a few decades past being able to say US made instruments are far superior, and worth the premium prices.
The stuff coming out of Indonesia is very nice.
It needed a fair amount of set up work, but with a neck shim, I've got it playing great. The electronics could be better, especially the tone knob taper.
I wouldn't get into dumping premium pickups into it. But few bucks for a tone pot seems reasonable.
Fit and finish are solid. Bang for the buck.
We're a few decades past being able to say US made instruments are far superior, and worth the premium prices.
The stuff coming out of Indonesia is very nice.
FWIW I've met the core group from Vulf and they were very nice.
I understand their image might not be for everyone but in a world where popular music is just purely digital with someone singing something that someone else behind the scenes wrote, I respect the hell of these guys for making a living the way they do in today's music scene.
I bought one!
I always wanted a passive stingray.
I'm a P bass guy and I can't remember the last time I used the tone knob or the volume knob. They are always all the way up and I check them regularly to see if they stay there.
As some of TB laugh at this one knob or no knob (never saw anyone laughing at Anthony Jackson though), it cracks me up seeing 5 or 7 knobs and 2 switches! Who the hell needs that??!!
Also, pretty standard here in Portugal the acoustic basses for fado with no pre-amp and no volume control.
My DB also doesn't have any knobs.
I wish My P basses didn't have it, either.
I always wanted a passive stingray.
I'm a P bass guy and I can't remember the last time I used the tone knob or the volume knob. They are always all the way up and I check them regularly to see if they stay there.
As some of TB laugh at this one knob or no knob (never saw anyone laughing at Anthony Jackson though), it cracks me up seeing 5 or 7 knobs and 2 switches! Who the hell needs that??!!
Also, pretty standard here in Portugal the acoustic basses for fado with no pre-amp and no volume control.
My DB also doesn't have any knobs.
I wish My P basses didn't have it, either.
If you are always maxed out on vol, what do you do when you just need a bit more, just for a short period, and your amp is 20 feet away?
Granted, I don't gig so am curious, because even in my practice space I have to make temporary adjustments, as I do different things.
I never needed that, really.
I play almost exclusively DB on my band. We do the sound check, adjust everything, and then it's up to the sound guy.
Also, I don't like the sound of the basses when I reduce the volume. I think it messes with the tone.
Well, that explains it then. I never had a sound guy. Really could have used one back in college, to turn down the organ player, who played in the wrong key half the time, or to throw some towels in our too loud drummer's kick drum.
And yes, on some basses, like the P-bass, turning down the volume can indeed change the tone.
I play very lightly and dig in when I need more volume.
The only negative is I have to be careful not to slap very hard or l will stick out in the band mix.
Yes, that happens almost automatically. I only play fingers and the digging in tends to follow my dopamine levels.
This is not at all my kind of music and I know nearly nothing about Joe Dart outside of YouTubers rambling about him... but I am going to buy this bass. I love not having options.
I have been toying with the idea of an instrument with no controls and I almost rushed in and ordered this, until I noticed the tear-shaped assymetrical pickguard. I am now hesitant. The difference is minor, but noticeable in a straight front view. I might be a bit OCD, but this would drive me nuts 
If they had used a standard symmetrical one as on a normal Stingray, this would probably have been an instant impulse buy. Just my 2c.
If they had used a standard symmetrical one as on a normal Stingray, this would probably have been an instant impulse buy. Just my 2c.
I have been toying with the idea of an instrument with no controls and I almost rushed in and ordered this, until I noticed the tear-shaped assymetrical pickguard. I am now hesitant. The difference is minor, but noticeable in a straight front view. I might be a bit OCD, but this would drive me nuts
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Cause it's not a Stingray mate;
Look down at the bridge. The body shape is also slightly unsymmetrical. It's not quite the same round bottom found on a StingRay.I have been toying with the idea of an instrument with no controls and I almost rushed in and ordered this, until I noticed the tear-shaped assymetrical pickguard. I am now hesitant. The difference is minor, but noticeable in a straight front view. I might be a bit OCD, but this would drive me nuts
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Because this bass is not based off a Stingray, it's based off the EBMM Sterling model. Think of it as the Ernie Ball version of the Jazz bass, while the Stingray is like their P bass. The Sterling model has a smaller and differently shaped (more contoured and asymmetrical)) body and a narrower neck than the Stingray. Both of these Joe Dart bases use that EBMM Sterling template. Still, you have the right to be bothered by its asymmetrical pickguard, just know it's not trying to be a Stingray in look or sound, and that tear shaped pickguard is standard for that shaped body.I have been toying with the idea of an instrument with no controls and I almost rushed in and ordered this, until I noticed the tear-shaped assymetrical pickguard. I am now hesitant. The difference is minor, but noticeable in a straight front view. I might be a bit OCD, but this would drive me nuts
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Joe Dart has added video of the bass really being used in a band setting. It sounds good, but he also has professional engineers, lol.
www.instagram.com
Joe Dart on Instagram: "The Joe Dart Vision Bass is already out on the road with me and @theolllam. Get yours, this month only 🎯 link in bio 🎥: @daraquilty"
4,882 likes, 56 comments - joe_dart on May 1, 2026: "The Joe Dart Vision Bass is already out on the road with me and @theolllam. Get yours, this month only 🎯 link in bio 🎥: @daraquilty".
www.instagram.com
