I'd be looking for a nice used EBMM StingRay. You definitely will feel the difference. That said, I formerly owned an SBMM Ray34 and thought it was quite a good bass for the price point.
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Sterling vs Musicman, popcorn please.
- Thread starter pappabass
- Start date
This is probably the truest thing I have ever read on TB about more expensive basses. Pappabass, Music Man Basses are common, and unless you live in an extremely isolated area, you live at best two hour away from a EBMM dealer, you need to take the time and track them down to see if a San Luis Obispo made bass is worth the investment for you.
IMO these 'cheap' companies like SUB or Squier occasionally put out exceptional instruments. I mean, they are mass produced. But even in mass production, there will be a slab of wood going in the CNC machine that comes out as a perfect neck here and there and the same goes for the body. So from time to time, assembly will combine a perfect neck with a perfect body. The tolerances for all the other parts are bigger on the cheaper lines as well, but the same principle applies. So instead of winning the lottery, you might blow your personal one-in-a-million chance on finding a bass of one of the cheap lines where everything turned out just right.
The more expensive US and EU made instruments turn out basses like that more frequent.
But don't expect compliments from non bassists when you swap your decent bass for a stellar one.
The more expensive US and EU made instruments turn out basses like that more frequent.
But don't expect compliments from non bassists when you swap your decent bass for a stellar one.
I have a Ray34 which is a very good bass. I also have an EBMM Sabre and my son has an EBMM Sterling : both are exceptional. For a hobby, one reasonably needs "only" a very good bass. Now, if you want to think 'wow' each time you grab and play your #1, EBMM is the best choice.
This is almost exactly the same experience I had. I have a SUB that cost me less than $200 and an EBMM that cost me around $1500. The SUB is fantastic, it has no business being as close to the EBMM as it is, especially with an 8x gap in cost. However, the EBMM is noticeably better and IMO worth the money. I'm actually going to get rid of the SUB because there's no situation where I would reach for it over the EBMM.
Right off the bat, it won't be 8 times better. As others have mentioned, instruments hit diminishing returns, especially new gear over the $700-800 price range.
That being said, I love every detail of EBMM Basses. Everything from those tasty roasted maple necks down to the tuners they use. It just feels premium. The sound is on another level as well, IMO. Not that Sterling stuff is bad at all - it's great for the price point.
You just have to ask yourself if you'd rather have the $2,000... or a more upscale bass than your current setup that could bring a lot of personal fulfillment. It's often not an easy call, especially when we browse these gear forums.
The internet is great for a lot of things. This aint one of them. ONLY YOU can decide if it's worth the extra money.
I'm on a Telecaster Forum and there is always some chowder head that says, "Anything over $500 is a rip off" when threads on expensive Teles come up. I paid $2,500 for a custom tele and it's worth every penny. To ME it IS more than 5X better than the inexpensive guitars and well worth the money. Other people pick up a Squier and call it a day. I have noticed that people who buy expensive instruments rarely comment on the people that buy inexpensive instruments, but for some reason some people who buy inexpensive instruments feel perfectly free to insult people who buy expensive instruments.
Same thing here on TB. If it's worth it to you, then it's worth it.
I'm on a Telecaster Forum and there is always some chowder head that says, "Anything over $500 is a rip off" when threads on expensive Teles come up. I paid $2,500 for a custom tele and it's worth every penny. To ME it IS more than 5X better than the inexpensive guitars and well worth the money. Other people pick up a Squier and call it a day. I have noticed that people who buy expensive instruments rarely comment on the people that buy inexpensive instruments, but for some reason some people who buy inexpensive instruments feel perfectly free to insult people who buy expensive instruments.
Same thing here on TB. If it's worth it to you, then it's worth it.
This is simply not the case IME. In all aspects of materials, fit, finish, feel, playability and sound, there is an ocean between the Ray4 and Ray34, compared to a babbling brook between the Ray34 and EBMM StingRay.
Yeah, I only gig 1 or 2 times per month plus I am not exactly young, spending $2k right now is tough due to COVID 19 cutbacks. But the Sterling & my Fender P do bring personal fulfillment in playing, but I am still GAS'ing for a Musicman !!
My son has a Ray34, compared to my Ray4 (current model), the finish is better on the 34. Fit is about the same, I do build a little furniture so I have an eye for it. 34 sound is a little better, cant say materials are better, both stay in tune, necks are calm here in south Alabama, mine has north/south neck grain. I never knew to check that until recently where I saw a post on here describing it.
I bought my 2000 EBMM Stingray 4H used. Every time I put it down after playing I think to myself “that’s a great bass”. Every time. I think everyone should own an instrument that makes them feel like that, whether or not the audience will hear the difference.
Gets really confusing with the word "Sterling". Since EB MM makes a Sterling and then the import line called Sterling. Could have done better!
Generally speaking, the resale on USA Stingrays is on the low side and there are great deals on used 'Rays.
About 8 years ago, I found a used 2004 Stingray in near mint condition for $745 on our local Craigslist.
I'd rather own a USA made used 'Ray for under $1,000 then get a Sterling import. (That's just me.)
Generally speaking, the resale on USA Stingrays is on the low side and there are great deals on used 'Rays.
About 8 years ago, I found a used 2004 Stingray in near mint condition for $745 on our local Craigslist.
I'd rather own a USA made used 'Ray for under $1,000 then get a Sterling import. (That's just me.)
