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Sterling by MusicMan...the next OLP

#22
debassr said:
I have a MIA Sterling that was for sale on here. I also have listed it on Craigslist for $725 and Ebay for $775. I just can't seem to move it even though it's a rare color (Burnt Apple), is in great condition, has an OHSC, tons of upgrades, a bunch of extras and all the original parts too. I don't know if its just because its a lined fretless model and peeps are scared of it or if it's just that nobody has any money - but I'm kinda baffled about why it isn't selling. That's a pretty low price even compared with all the others of the same spec.

Anyway, I imagine that if the market is that bad for a MIA Sterling, a low end replica for $500 is an even tougher sell.

:confused:
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It's the economy.

arjune said:
I wonder if these will be comparable in quality to a G&L Tribute.

If so, where do I sign? :D
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I think EBMM will do it right this time.

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And it's not diluting anything. A better argument could be made that Fender has diluted their classic lines [with the exact same names] with imports.

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How much are these going to be?
 
#23
fenderx55 said:
It's sort of like cannibalizing the brand, taking all the things they teach you in business school (dilution=bad) and throwing it out the window. Then again, they're giving their audience lots and lots of credit, which I appreciate, but I think they're thinking the wrong audience.

UNLESS they intend for these to be used as backups by gigging pros rather than mid-level entry instruments?
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Some companies are able to avoid this cannibalization, although it is a dangerous thing sometimes if handled poorly. I give EBMM the benefit of the doubt. It does seem odd that they would give a whole line the name of an existing, and successful, model.

I don't think Lakland has been hurt with Skylines having the same models as the US versions.

Will these be analogous to the Skylines?
 
#28
Ian Perge said:
I'm a fan of EB/MM quality and their Bongo line, but it seems to be a bad idea to start splitting the name between a great bass and a new line of S.U.B.-esque instruments. I think to the "kids", the starting players who walk into a Guitar Center and ask for them to take "that Sterling" of from high atop the wall, it will be confusing why one Sterling is $500 (?) and this other Sterling is $1,700... especially to their parents who will be paying, and who like *do* have more than half of a brain but simply aren't bass players and don't know between brands.
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+1

I question the wisdom of using the same name. I wouldn't be surprised if the old Sterling lineup gets retired - but I think that is a bad idea.
 
#30
S by MM: Ax20 is equvalent to the EBMM Axis model
S by MM: lJP50 is equivalent to the EBMM J. Petrucci model
S by MM: Silo20 is equivalent to the EBMM Silouhette model
S by MM: Ray34 is equivalent to the EBMM Stingray 4 model
S by MM: Ray35 is equivalent to the EBMM Stingray 5 model
S by MM: SB14 is equivalent to the EBMM Sterling 4 model
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The Silouhette has always been tempting to me.

And the name is not any more confusing as Fender with their MIA/MIM/MIJ/CIJ/MIK.

What's the ballpark price on these?
 
#31
I am interested to see what this series of instruments are like.

Some had brought up the confusion concerns about the doubling up of the name of the bass model and the series on the EBMM forum, but apparently that was considered in the naming and they still went forward with it so they have some sort of marketing strategy. It probably has to do with the family name and keeping the legacy. Ernie Ball on the strings and things, and now Sterling (Ball) on the MusicMan side.

Either way, if the instruments are good, that's all that matters. With the S.U.B. models and the OLPs gone, this will address this important market. I feel more assured that they have branded it MusicMan then having licensed out the designs and shapes.
 
#34
I like it.
Marketing wise S.U.B. said 'sub' standard to me especially with that 2nd rate paint job - this is just the impression I got from their looks- I'm sure they were decent instruments - I never actually played one. OLP seemed like a cheap knock off like some sort of SX or something - again I've no 1st hand experience with the instrument. Now that it actually has the Musicman name on it I get the impression that it will be higher quality.
Again this is a purely subjective impression I get from whats on the headstock.
 
#35
ROON said:
Does this mean my genuine USA made Stingray is now seen as the ultimate* top of the line EBMM? Woohoo! :D

*with the exception of the Family Reserve :ninja:
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How would it have been any less good when olp were still making basses? :confused:

Or are you not getting this? The musicman sterling is still a musicman sterling, they're still making it in the USA and that's that.

"Sterling by musicman" is the name of this new company that's going to be making licenced EBMM copies.

basss said:
I like it.
Marketing wise S.U.B. said 'sub' standard to me especially with that 2nd rate paint job - this is just the impression I got from their looks- I'm sure they were decent instruments - I never actually played one. OLP seemed like a cheap knock off like some sort of SX or something - again I've no 1st hand experience with the instrument. Now that it actually has the Musicman name on it I get the impression that it will be higher quality.
Again this is a purely subjective impression I get from whats on the headstock.
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I have a SUB and yeah the paint job is a bit weird, and there are no body contours, but it uses the same electronics and pickups as a ray, and i **** you not, sonically, there's absolutely no difference between that and a 2 band ray. They're exceptionally well made too, because obviously they're made in the same factory as the ray.
 
#36
Having tribute style instrument designed by quality builder and produced off shore is nothing new to the bass world (Smith, Tobias, Sadowski, Fender, et al.). Hats off to Ernie Ball Music Man for recognizing the need to produce a quality instrument that honours their professional line of instruments, but at a more affordable price so anybody can play a Music Man. Nobody gets confused about a MTD z6 or a MIJ Pbass.

You got to figure Sterling Ball got to where he is by making prudent design and business decisions. You got to be doing something right when you look at the sucess his family's business has acheived. IMHO of course.
 
#39
It is kinda confusing at first until you figure that Sterling is the brand name and that there are no "Sterlings" or "Stingrays" in the model designations so no need to clarify between a Sterling Sterling or a Musicman Sterling.

The Sterling AX20 looks purdy.
 

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