Sterling SUB ray4 changes

[Maxdusty]

Thanks op for the heads up, didn't know about these new ones. I do want to try one of these newer SUBS and compare them to the older ones - mainly to see if the neck is more of a better fit for me. Just don't know how I would go about calling the closest GC about 40 minutes away to ask them if they got it in.

"Do you have the new Sterling SUB Ray4 basses in stock?"
"Of course we do, we've had them for a few years now"
"No not that one, the Sterling Ray 4 SUB Series, the slightly cheaper newer ones"
"They're all the SUB series......by Sterling...unless you're looking for the EBMM SUB Sterling, the EBMM SUB Ray....or....."
...no, the Rays that say SUB series in smaller font on the headstock, bah never mind, I'll just go there".

 

[Hevy T]

"Do you have the new Sterling SUB Ray4 basses in stock?"
"Of course we do, we've had them for a few years now"
"No not that one, the Sterling Ray 4 SUB Series, the slightly cheaper newer ones"
"They're all the SUB series......by Sterling...unless you're looking for the EBMM SUB Sterling, the EBMM SUB Ray....or....."
...no, the Rays that say SUB series in smaller font on the headstock, bah never mind, I'll just go there".

Or they will tell you Subway is just down the street! drool

 

[Fatcat1]

I see that Musician's Friend still has the old picture and lists a 12" radius. If these come out with a 9.5" radius in mint green, I'll be snagging one immediately.[/QUOTE]

The Sterling website shows the new model in mint green so you are in luck... I might get one to but that sunburst also looks pretty nice! Being fairly new to the bass I was curious what it is about a smaller radius that you find preferable? Thanks!

 

[JakobT]

I see that Musician's Friend still has the old picture and lists a 12" radius. If these come out with a 9.5" radius in mint green, I'll be snagging one immediately.

The Sterling website shows the new model in mint green so you are in luck... I might get one to but that sunburst also looks pretty nice! Being fairly new to the bass I was curious what it is about a smaller radius that you find preferable? Thanks!

I don’t know about the radius, as this isn’t listed in the specs on the SBMM site, but the nut width is 38mm as before. I’m guessing that apart from the name change and a couple of new finish options, it has changed very little, if at all, from previous versions. That’s no bad thing, as it’s one hell of a bass for the money. The neck satin-finished and very comfortable, and many like the narrowness of the nut. I found I prefer a wider neck, but YMM, as always, V.

 

[Bassist Jay]

Hi Gang... new to the forum... hope this post is ok... let me know if I mucked it up...thanks!

Looking online I see that the Sterling Ray4 SUBs are being replaced by the Sterling Ray4. The differences I see is no "SUB" on the headstock label, 21 frets instead of 22 and a 9.5 inch radius instead of 12 inch on the sub. Some finish color changes to... I also see at my online dealer that the prices are about 10% lower than the SUBs were priced at.

I have a sub now, vintage cream with the rosewood neck but was considering another with a maple neck... maybe the mint green or sunburst. My dilemma is do I buy one of the SUB models, which I know are very good (at least the one I have is) or is there an advantage to buying the new model other than the reduced price? I know my SUB was made in China and the quality is top notch... not sure about the build quality of new models? I have read somewhere that some of the Sterling line is made in Korea, which I hear is of excellent quality. I have to wonder if the pickups might be improved in the new line although nothing wrong with the one I have... it sounds great. I guess the other factor is weight. For some reason I dont see many sites, including sterlings own site, listing weights?

Any comments would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance for chiming in.

In January I signed on to be able to sell Sterling by Music Man instruments.

You have the Ray 34 and Ray 35 models that match the EBMM Stingray 4 string and 5 string.

Then I believe as of 2018, you have the Ray 24 and Ray 25. These sell at a great MAP price considering how good they are. They are set up to be like the Stingray Classic 4 string and 5 string

And then last, you have the Ray 4 and Ray 5. They too are set up like the standard Stingray 4 string and 5 string but are the entry level line.

All instruments are made in Korea. The entry level stuff is still considered the SUB series but it looks like they ditched the SUB label and removed it from the head stock.

All 4 string Ray models have 21 frets and a 9 1/2” radius on the neck.

All 5 string Ray models also have 21 frets but have a 12” radius on the neck.

If you have any more questions, let me know and if I don’t have the answer, I’ll do my best to get it for you.

 

[Fatcat1]

In January I signed on to be able to sell Sterling by Music Man instruments.

All instruments are made in Korea. The entry level stuff is still considered the SUB series but it looks like they ditched the SUB label and removed it from the head stock.

All 4 string Ray models have 21 frets and a 9 1/2” radius on the neck.

All 5 string Ray models also have 21 frets but have a 12” radius on the neck.

If you have any more questions, let me know and if I don’t have the answer, I’ll do my best to get it for you.

Given a choice between the new sub model made in korea with 21 frets and a 9.5 inch radius or the discontinued sub made in china with 22 frets and a 12 inch radius which would you pick and why? Thanks for the help!

 

[pudgychef]

No joke about the confusion...a couple of years ago I responded to a CL posting for a Stingray SUB bass for $170 -the post had no pictures (in this day and age of cell phone cameras, that was a little surprising). I have to mention that in the ad, it mentioned something about a custom "metal" pickguard. I was wondering....what if...nah, can't be, for the price it's probably a black SBMM Made in Indonesia SUB. It wasn't...instead I got this.

View attachment 2947921

Huge Score! Love the USA EBMM SUBs

 

[pudgychef]

In January I signed on to be able to sell Sterling by Music Man instruments.

You have the Ray 34 and Ray 35 models that match the EBMM Stingray 4 string and 5 string.

Then I believe as of 2018, you have the Ray 24 and Ray 25. These sell at a great MAP price considering how good they are. They are set up to be like the Stingray Classic 4 string and 5 string

And then last, you have the Ray 4 and Ray 5. They too are set up like the standard Stingray 4 string and 5 string but are the entry level line.

All instruments are made in Korea. The entry level stuff is still considered the SUB series but it looks like they ditched the SUB label and removed it from the head stock.

All 4 string Ray models have 21 frets and a 9 1/2” radius on the neck.

All 5 string Ray models also have 21 frets but have a 12” radius on the neck.

If you have any more questions, let me know and if I don’t have the answer, I’ll do my best to get it for you.

iirc the Ray24 only offer the Sterling nut width? (not available in 'standard' Stingray nut width i believe) Like the Ray34CAs were...which is great for those who like the J-like nut of a Sterling...I love the Ray/Bongo neck/nut...or would likely have purchased the white 34CA

 

[pudgychef]

Given a choice between the new sub model made in korea with 21 frets and a 9.5 inch radius or the discontinued sub made in china with 22 frets and a 12 inch radius which would you pick and why? Thanks for the help!

Standard USA Stingrays are 11 radius iirc - so the 12 is closer... Classic Series Rays have the old 7.5 radius...

 

[mmon77]

I'm just glad I'm not the only one having issues understanding their model lineup/hierarchy.

 

[Hevy T]

I'm just glad I'm not the only one having issues understanding their model lineup/hierarchy.

Nope! We all have issues!!!

 

[rydin4lifebass]

I see that Musician's Friend still has the old picture and lists a 12" radius. If these come out with a 9.5" radius in mint green, I'll be snagging one immediately.

The Sterling website shows the new model in mint green so you are in luck... I might get one to but that sunburst also looks pretty nice! Being fairly new to the bass I was curious what it is about a smaller radius that you find preferable? Thanks![/QUOTE]

Good to know. When I clicked on the other link in this thread the mint green wasn't an option, but glad to hear that it will be offered! I see some sites have these in stock, but with the old picture. I wonder if we're going to have a time when older models are sent along with newer ones so it may be a toss up as to which one would be received.

What's the radius of a standard Fender Jazz and P bass just for comparison? I know the neck shape has a lot to do with the feel in addition to the radius, just wondering where the 12" and 9.5" fall into place.

 

[Rebopmass]

Heres my modded subray 4. Shaved neck and all.

 

[Maxdusty]

lol...still trying to understand this new hierarchy for Ray basses:
If I'm trying to compare it to Fender at least in terms of price point. Would this be about right??

Ernie Ball Musicman Ray = MIA Fender P or Jazz bass

Sterling Ray 34 = MIM Standard Fender P or Jazz Bass

Sterling Ray 24 = Squier CV P or Jazz bass

Sterling Ray 4 Sub Series = Squier Affinity P or Jazz bass

 

[jd56hawk]

Did they put a better preamp in it, or do you still have to do it yourself?

 

[RyanJD]

The part I found the most puzzling is that in one swift move by calling the line "STERLING by Musicman", they immediately cheapened the Music Man Sterling model in the minds of many ignorant people.

When I was selling a Sterling several months ago, I got SOOOO many Craigslist messages from people confused on why I'm trying to sell an instrument "Worth only a few hundred" for nearly a grand.

On the opposite side of that same coin, I scored a SBMM SB14 for the price of a used SUB Ray4. Roughly $200...
They're shooting themselves in the foot with this crazy nomenclature.

 

[Maxdusty]

Did they put a better preamp in it, or do you still have to do it yourself?

The made in China SUB currently available addressed the hot preamp problems of the original run of SUB basses made in Indonesia. This should carry over to the new Ray 4....I hope.

 

[RyanJD]

The made in China SUB currently available addressed the hot preamp problems of the original run of SUB basses made in Indonesia. This should carry over to the new Ray 4....I hope.

It would have to. They don't make the old pre any more.
I read from @SBMM that all the SUBs coming out of China no longer have the issue, and once they've run out of the old part at the Indo factory, they'll use the improved preamps there as well. Also, I think he said they were opening a Korean factory? Those should be using the new pre as well.

 

[sigterm]

Looking forward to trying a new one out. I have a ray34 and I couldn't be more pleased. I've nearly picked up a sub on many occasions after playing them in shops but I'm just holding out to get another EBMM one. They've pretty much irreparably destroyed all of their brand names for eternity. There should be a harvard business review on just how amazingly bad their naming conventions are and the damage they've caused with it.

 

[Maxdusty]

Looking forward to trying a new one out. I have a ray34 and I couldn't be more pleased. I've nearly picked up a sub on many occasions after playing them in shops but I'm just holding out to get another EBMM one. They've pretty much irreparably destroyed all of their brand names for eternity. There should be a harvard business review on just how amazingly bad their naming conventions are and the damage they've caused with it.

Not quite on the same level of bad branding decision as First Act.....their custom $1000+ guitars and basses having the same brand as their line of kids' musical instruments.

This is a First Act bass....