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Sterlings at MF

#4
Maybe the American made Rays and Sterlings are cost prohibitive? Why else make an exact Stingray but charge only half the price? I am I the only one getting the sense that it's American-made phase-out time?
 
#9
True - OLP's were popular because they were so cheap.

I've never seen a used stingray or sterling go for less than $900-950. $850 maybe once or twice in the years that I've been looking to pick on up. So for $500-700 new this new sterling line is still cheaper - I imagine once these become popular and the used market picks them up, at $400+ or so they'll be a steal!

I still want a maple fretboard - why rosewood on everything? A CAR sterling with maple fretboard....I'd be in heaven
 
#12
Fender sells Squiers, Gibson sells Epiphone, G & L sells Tributes, Lakland sells Skylines. Why in the hell are y'all so steamed up because EBMM wants a piece of the lower price market. These Sterling Series basses are more expensive than OLP's because they're much better all around: wood, finishes, hardware, electronics. EBMM had to stop making SUBs because they were a losing (financially) proposition.
 
#14
These look great to me. I'm sure the quality is head over heals of what the OLP's were. MusicMan would not put their name on this bass if it wasn't OLP's were just licensed. I think EBMM has more control over these basses. I am anxious to check out the 5 string version.
 
#15
lonote said:
Fender sells Squiers, Gibson sells Epiphone, G & L sells Tributes, Lakland sells Skylines. Why in the hell are y'all so steamed up because EBMM wants a piece of the lower price market. These Sterling Series basses are more expensive than OLP's because they're much better all around: wood, finishes, hardware, electronics. EBMM had to stop making SUBs because they were a losing (financially) proposition.
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+100...This was not the general reaction I was expecting when I opened the thread. I think the market has been asking for this for a long time (import EBMM basses with moderate to good quality), and I am glad to see them out. I probably won't buy one, but I think it's great that they're out there. I give credit to EBMM to trying the SUB line, a less expensive USA-made series, but there is a reason all these other makers (Fender, Lakland, G&L, even Dingwall) are going off-shore and the reality of doing business in the 21st century. Good to see EBMM getting in the game here and priced to compete with higher-end MIM Fenders.

I think they'll sell tons of these, and I also think they'll be gateway basses. If you're a 16-year old kid who buys one of these and plays it for a few years, what do you suppose the odds are that the same kid will be a real USA EBMM when he gets his first real job at 19-20 years old. Pretty good, I'd say. But, even if he doesn't, Fender and Lakland have shown that you can be very successful financially by selling lots of lower-priced import basses with fewer options and features than a full-fledged USA-made model.

I don't understand why anyone would hate on them for this, its a smart business move on their part and they should be much better than the terrible OLP line was. The OLP guitars were OK, but every OLP bass I played was a train wreck. Its also a blessing for people who want a EBMM bass but can't afford one.
 
#18
coolrunner989 said:
I've never seen a used stingray or sterling go for less than $900-950. $850 maybe once or twice in the years that I've been looking to pick on up.
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There was a gorgeous, real StingRay posted just this week for $750 + shipping.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] it's Post #21.

I would have been all over this one already except I want an HH and this is a single pickup model.

Not to pick a fight, just saying that $850 is not the floor on used MIA Rays.
 
#19
3toes said:
Weird, the bodies look like super rendered. Almost like they're just an artist rendition of the bass and not the bass itself.
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+1

I took another look and then brought them into photoshop for a closer inspection. There has definitely been work done on them.

That being said, it's very common practice to enhance a photo like that, we'll just have to see how they look in person.
 
#20
excane said:
+1

I took another look and then brought them into photoshop for a closer inspection. There has definitely been work done on them.

That being said, it's very common practice to enhance a photo like that, we'll just have to see how they look in person.
Click to expand...

Those pics look like the ones from the SBM catalog. The SBM catalog had a black background and not white, so there probably is some PS going on.
 

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