Sterling by Musicman Question

[gabriel192]

Hello there. I have a question regarding the Sterling by Musicman line of basses, coming out on the 10th April.

According to the website, these are the Ray34 and the Ray35 basses.

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Why is the pickguard on the Ray35 different from the Ray34? I prefer the one on the Ray34. Do you think all finishes on the Ray35 have the same style pickguard? (I'd like to get honeyburst).
I tried to look for pics of the other finishes of the Ray35, but wasn't able to get any.

Hope someone knows. Thx.

 

[Iroquoi]

simply because one is 4 strings and the other is a 5'er

 

[Fresh Eddie]

That is the way the pickguards are on the regular 'Rays, too. If you like the round one on the five string, you could try and find a used S.U.B. fiver... those had round guards.

 

[gabriel192]

All fiver 'Rays have that kind of pickguard?

 

[Daveelvy]

Yup.

 

[mynan]

And for now, I believe the Ray35 only comes with the natural finish.

 

[gabriel192]

Afaik, Musician's Friend lets you Preorder the Ray35 in either of the three finishes.

 

[gabriel192]

Yup.

Damn. I really don't like the way that pickguard looks…wondering if that warrants getting a Ray34.

 

[Sound Chaser]

Shouldn't they technically be Sterling by Musicman by Ernie Ball?

 

[chunkstyle]

but i wanted a Sterling.

 

[PSPookie]

Doesn't the MM Sterling 5 have the oval PG?

Letting the PG shape determine whether you purchase a 4 or 5 string bass seems a bit silly to me.

 

[gabriel192]

Letting the PG shape determine whether you purchase a 4 or 5 string bass seems a bit silly to me.

Yeah, I'm beginning to feel the same way. Wish they had a pic up of the Honeyburst Ray35 though.

 

[PSPookie]

Yeah, I'm beginning to feel the same way. Wish they had a pic up of the Honeyburst Ray35 though.

Why don't you just look for a pic of a single pup MM Stingray 5 in honeyburst? They should look almost identical.

here you go: Invalid Link Removed

 

[gabriel192]

D'oh! Wonder why I didn't think of that.
The Ray35'd probably have a black PG,huh?

 

[timothyandrew]

Here's pics of the Ray35 in honeyburst on the EBMM forums: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

 

[Ian Perge]

All fiver 'Rays have that kind of pickguard?

Actually, no - the 20th Anniversary StingRay 5-string has no pickguard over its Figured Maple top and "California Sunset" finish...

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...as well as the Limited Edition Ball Family Reserve, which comes with a Flamed Redwood top:

But as the price difference between these two models and the "Confusing Name by Music Man" import line is nothing if not immense, I'd either get used to the 5-string "teardrop" pickguard, or perhaps set aside some money to have a clear pickguard made if the "CN" basses are made well-enough that you can show off the finish underneath the pickguard.