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Sterling Ray4 SUB series quality question

#21
I've noticed something about Sterlings now that I've played a few of the different ray models...is it just me, or are the strings from the factory total garbage? I know they're supposed to be regular Ernie Ball strings but the factory strings on the Sub4s I tried at a local music store and the Ray34 I just bought used locally were dull, oxidized, and dead. They sounded awful and really did an injustice to how nice these basses sound
 
#22
nabilhuakbar said:
I've noticed something about Sterlings now that I've played a few of the different ray models...is it just me, or are the strings from the factory total garbage? I know they're supposed to be regular Ernie Ball strings but the factory strings on the Sub4s I tried at a local music store and the Ray34 I just bought used locally were dull, oxidized, and dead. They sounded awful and really did an injustice to how nice these basses sound
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I just recently bought a Sterling SUB Ray 4 and did the Aguilar Pickup Mod, sounds way better now. The strings that came with it sound pretty good but I did buy some DR Hi Beams and Ernie Ball Standard Round wounds, the stock play so well and sound good I haven't wanted to replace them yet. I know store basses with stock strings always sound dead when I try them out.
 
#23
LowEndLobster said:
Thanks! The Aguilar is much more in line with a USA EBMM pickup. Much less output vs. the SUB, which is a good thing. You can fully utilize the stock preamp with the Aggie where the stock pickup would yield distortion. Here's my video on it, though I sadly don't have comparison footage with the stock pickup.

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Thanks. My SUB StingRay is still stock, and I've noticed no distortion, even with both tone controls and the volume dimed, and with my amp's Active switch in the off position. I'm thinking this may be because I bought a later model (I purchased it from GC May, 2018), by which time Sterling had corrected the distortion problem. So, @LowEndLobster, swapping pickups would probably provide me with no real benefit, correct?
 
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#26
mrjim123 said:
Thanks. My SUB StingRay is still stock, and I've noticed no distortion, even with both tone controls and the volume dimed, and with my amp's Active switch in the off position. I'm thinking this may be because I bought a later model (I purchased it from GC May, 2018), by which time Sterling had corrected the distortion problem. So, @LowEndLobster, swapping pickups would probably provide me with no real benefit, correct?
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If the pickup preamp combo is working for you, then the only real benefit to a swap would be in tone shaping. A more traditional alnico pickup wired in parallel would definitely sound a little more vintagey.
 
#27
LowEndLobster said:
If the pickup preamp combo is working for you, then the only real benefit to a swap would be in tone shaping. A more traditional alnico pickup wired in parallel would definitely sound a little more vintagey.
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To me the stock pickup sounds good but a little on the dull side especially compared to my other basses. I hope to get a Stingray special in the future since I love the sound in general.
 
#29
Bought the wife a used one $150.00 best money I have ever spent...


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#32
LowEndLobster said:
They're great basses for the price. QC is super consistent (I've owned over a dozen for mod projects and such), weight is super consistent, and they're very well rounded. The weak spot IMO is the pickup that is VERY hot and doesn't pair well with the preamp. On one of mine, I kept the stock preamp and installed an Aguilar AG4M pickup and the results were stellar. The hardware, build quality, etc, are all solid for the price and makes a great foundation for mods. One of my most recent projects, "Code Red", involved about $600 of upgrades on a $300 bass and the end result is stellar. I don't think that I could have achieved better results with any other budget brands in the same price point.
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Hi Lobster, how much do they weigh?
 
#34
Just to give everyone a heads up that is wanting to change out and upgrade their pickups in the Sterling SUB Ray4 basses. With some pickups it's not just a straight swapping out of the pickups as I found out. The Aguilar pickup is a little bit bigger than the stock pickup and the stock pickup guard will not fit back on after the swap. The pickup screws and hole spacing are fine for the Aguilar pickups, it's the pick guard that needed some mods to fit with the Aguilar pickup on mine anyways. Also you will need some foam spacers to raise the Aguilar pickup to the proper height.

I have already ordered and received my new Pick Guards and Foam and will be installing them this weekend. Hope this helps.
 
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