• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Stingray Special & SBMM Sterling: Comparison

#22
The Sterling sounds more like the tone I have in my head when I think Stingray.

I love mine. Insanely low action and fantastic tone. I put a Nordstrand pickup in it because I really wanted a black pickup cover, and there was not a significant change to the tone, in my opinion.

I bought a 2 band pre clone thinking I'd make a poor man's Sterling Classic, but I might leave it passive at this point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tindrum, Dr. Cheese and LetItGrowTone
#23
Altitude said:
I had a MasterEffects Manta pedal for a minute. Claims to mimic the EBMM preamp, probably in the same way the John East and Nordstrand onboard MM-style preamps do.

It sort of sounded like a mid cut to me. Not bad really, but I couldn’t peg it as a useful needed tool versus a novelty so I didn’t keep it. Granted I was not using it with a passive MM bass, which really would have been the use case. I think I bought it to try it with my Skjold 5-string, which is passive and has pickups roughly in the sweet spot.

If someone finds themselves with a passive MM bass, one of these pedals might be just the ticket.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Altitude
#25
I had the real Joe Dart for a while, and it passive tone with the ceramic pickup was simply amazing.

SBMM can be really really nice, or they can be complete lemons. I would never buy one that didn't have a return policy. I myself have received 2 complete lemons brand new from SW. One Ray24 and one Ray34. I now have a Ray24ca that is perfection and feels as good or better than any of the real USA Stinrgays I've owned. Of course the real deal always looks better and is better quality.

The best EBMM tone I ever had though, was a Classic Sabre. I am hunting a light one which may take a looooong time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tindrum and Dr. Cheese
#30
Dr. Cheese said:
A USA SUB is much better, in my opinion. They were simply American Stingrays with cheap finishes.
Click to expand...

100% this. As someone who literally had a Ray34 in the checkout line until the busted truss rod revealed itself at the tech's table, the USA SUB is a real quality instrument. Fretwork is great, it has real nut, the hardware is great... the import SUBs feel like a toy in comparison: soft nut, over-roasted necks, busted truss rods, terrible pots, un-even EQ controls, knobs not centered on the pots, tuners that are shredded on the showroom floor just trying to hold pitch... that was a lot to swallow for ~$800.

I'm real glad I had that experience and waited a few months for an excellent condition USA SUB. The painted necked, non-contoured body, and the truckbed liner finish don't bother me at all. I even like the 2 band EQ better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tindrum and Dr. Cheese
#31
musicmansf said:
100% this. As someone who literally had a Ray34 in the checkout line until the busted truss rod revealed itself at the tech's table, the USA SUB is a real quality instrument. Fretwork is great, it has real nut, the hardware is great... the import SUBs feel like a toy in comparison: soft nut, over-roasted necks, busted truss rods, terrible pots, un-even EQ controls, knobs not centered on the pots, tuners that are shredded on the showroom floor just trying to hold pitch... that was a lot to swallow for ~$800.

I'm real glad I had that experience and waited a few months for an excellent condition USA SUB. The painted necked, non-contoured body, and the truckbed liner finish don't bother me at all. I even like the 2 band EQ better.
Click to expand...

As someone who was around when the USA SUBs came out in the mid 2000s - and I owned three of them - they were indeed fantastic instruments. The problem now is finding them - especially the fretless ones - and finding them not beaten up to death. The painted necks didn't take wear or abuse well, unfortunately. I don't see them up for sale that often these days.

The SBMM Sterling Ray34 I own now - and I must have gotten a good one - is a fantastic instrument. Fit/finish/sound were all great on the one I got. This was back in 2021. I know there are a ton of reports, especially lately, about lemons in the bunch. That can certainly happen. I paid $500 or so for mine on sale (natural ash/roasted maple neck) and it's a great value. Like any other mass produced instrument, there are diamonds, and there are turds.

I would not pay $800 for a SBMM 'SUB' bass at all, and some of the Ray34s with the QC problems are questionable at their current price points too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: musicmansf and Dr. Cheese
#33
JazznFunk said:
As someone who was around when the USA SUBs came out in the mid 2000s - and I owned three of them - they were indeed fantastic instruments. The problem now is finding them - especially the fretless ones - and finding them not beaten up to death. The painted necks didn't take wear or abuse well, unfortunately. I don't see them up for sale that often these days.

The SBMM Sterling Ray34 I own now - and I must have gotten a good one - is a fantastic instrument. Fit/finish/sound were all great on the one I got. This was back in 2021. I know there are a ton of reports, especially lately, about lemons in the bunch. That can certainly happen. I paid $500 or so for mine on sale (natural ash/roasted maple neck) and it's a great value. Like any other mass produced instrument, there are diamonds, and there are turds.

I would not pay $800 for a SBMM 'SUB' bass at all, and some of the Ray34s with the QC problems are questionable at their current price points too.
Click to expand...

True on the neck paint not holding up. I took a chance sight unseen from a Guitar Center 1,500 miles away on it arriving in good condition and lucked out as they shipped it in a hardshell case. Just needed a full setup, frets polished, and hardware polished and it was about 95% perfect. Can't say that would be the case for every buyer.

The previous owner used something a bit too abrasive on the painted neck to clean it (very faint micro scratching), but I don't feel it with my thumb. A few headstock dings were sharpied or touched up with detail, but a lot of the USA SUBs out there are in pretty rough shape with rust, dents, and neck damage. You can tell they were exposed to the elements as opposed to case queens considering their original discount on the US Stingrays.

Also agreed on the Ray34 pricing: it feels like a $400-$500 instrument in the hands, but I suppose my head is stuck in the mid 2000s pricing (which about checks out with inflation anyways).
 
  • Like
Reactions: tindrum
#35
Just with the EQ controls on my amp, and lowering the pickup on the G side a little, I removed that slight boxy sound in the video mostly on the G string. Richened it quite a bit.

Info: stock tone cap .068u, pots both 100k. Those deviate from the norm in the direction I would tend to go anyway, so I was happy to see it.

Control cavity is painted with black conductive paint. Not thin, looks very well done.

The bit of wire from the volume pot to the tone pot is shielded.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Dr. Cheese and Todd Hamby
#36
LetItGrowTone said:
Just with the EQ controls on my amp, and lowering the pickup on the G side a little, I removed that slight boxy sound in the video mostly on the G string. Richened it quite a bit.

Info: stock tone cap .068u, pots both 100k. Those deviate from the norm in the direction I would tend to go anyway, so I was happy to see it.

Control cavity is painted with black conductive paint. Not thin, looks very well done.

The bit of wire from the volume pot to the tone pot is shielded.
Click to expand...

That’s good to know! I do wish these came in five strings because it would be one heck of a bass to have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LetItGrowTone

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back