What Ray SUB variation is this?

[ThatBrianGuy]

I'm fix'n to buy this Sterling SUB Ray 4 string tonight. It's super cheap ('bout the cost of 3 sets of good strings), so if I get bamboozeled, shame on me and it becomes a project bass. Anywho.. As I'm looking at the pictures online and whatnot and I can't seem to find another bass like it. The pictures are too blurry to see serial number, and I can only make out the word SUB on the head stock. The other logos seem to be in the right place, but I can't read them.

This is the best picture of the head I can get. Seems normal.

This is where things get kinda weird. It has rear mounted electronics, which isn't that unusual, but the knob/pickguard configuration is what's odd to me.

Pickguard/Knobs.

Note the lack of a metal plate for the knobs. Again, this isn't unusual for rear mounted electronics, but I've only seen this in a 4 knob/w selector switch configuration. Never with just 3 knobs, and side mounted jack.

I've done some research and can't seem to find a Sterling/Music Man/Ernie Ball with this knob/jack/pickguard configuration. Best I can come up with is that it's a PRE-EB model during a time when serial numbers were not really tracked. Any ideas what this is? or the story behind it?

Thank

 

[ThatBrianGuy]

Scratch that about being Pre-EB. The logo furthest north says "Ernie Ball" I'm pretty sure.

 

[hypercarrots]

sb4. like this for example
SOLD - Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. SB4 - Red

 

[ThatBrianGuy]

Thank YOU!!! That's it.

 

[tubatodd]

sb4. like this for example
SOLD - Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. SB4 - Red

Exactly. I had one in black and I regret ever selling it. It was super light and sounded great.

 

[mmbongo]

Just making sure you're clear that it's not a pre-EB, and not an Ernie Ball at all.

 

[ThatBrianGuy]

Just making sure you're clear that it's not a pre-EB, and not an Ernie Ball at all.

Turns out it doesn't say EB anywhere on it. And now that I have it in my hand, I can see the serial number which is clearly a Pre-EB. Still sounds good though. Needs some setup love, but it really sounds good. Different enough from my other basses that it will have a home with me for a while. I feel like it's a score for $100.

 

[ThatBrianGuy]

Exactly. I had one in black and I regret ever selling it. It was super light and sounded great.

It really does sound nice. Kinda digg'n it so far.

Brian

 

[tubatodd]

 

[mmbongo]

Turns out it doesn't say EB anywhere on it. And now that I have it in my hand, I can see the serial number which is clearly a Pre-EB. Still sounds good though. Needs some setup love, but it really sounds good. Different enough from my other basses that it will have a home with me for a while. I feel like it's a score for $100.

It's not pre-EB. It's a SUB Sterling made within the past few years. NOT an EB.

Definitely a score for $100!

 

[Skillet]

The different iterations of the MM / Sterlings / SUBs / OLPs is a confusing timeline that has just changed again I believe with a new MM bass and havn't the SUBs just gone through a nomenclature change? Anybody got a link to a chart or something with the history of the different knock off brands?
inquiring minds and all .....

 

[ThatBrianGuy]

Thanks everyone for your help on this. As I mentioned above, I did end up buying this bass for $100. It's a little beat up but plays/sounds great. I played for about 2 hours last night and it really is nice.

Brian

 

[ThatBrianGuy]

It's not pre-EB. It's a SUB Sterling made within the past few years. NOT an EB.

Definitely a score for $100!

Thanks for the clarification. Not an EB at all.

 

[edencab]

E Ball product family tree template.....

 

[Skillet]

Dude, I didn't know my third cousin of my paternal grandfather played a Sterling in WWii Thanks !!!!