Which Ernie Ball to keep?

[metron]

I would keep the Sterling. Because I regret selling my Sterling.

You should probably get another one!

 

[Gizmot]

May be some confusion. These are both USA EBMM basses - one is a Sterling and the other is a Stingray. The 4 is not a “Sterling by MM”…

Okay - - thanks for the note and correction. My feelings are still the same - - I'd keep the EBMM

 

[Jscriv]

I’d have to keep that Sterling, I love mine that body and neck combination are perfect for me … and there are rumblings that it may be discontinued (probably to end the EBMM vs SBMM confusion)

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Hmm. I was considering moving a 4h because i have two but I suppose it's better to hang on to if this is the case

 

[metron]

I voted for the US Sterling as I have one (had 3 in my life) and there's some special sauce in those basses. Search TB once in awhile, almost every thread you'll read has members regretting selling them.

Yes ceramic pickups and series mode. I wasn’t aware until recently that on the HH, all settings are series except position 3.

 

[funkinbottom]

but one has to be converted into cashiola.

If you need cash, sell the one that will net the most.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

1st thing I check on any bass before I buy is the looks. The Sterling looks great. Love the painted headstock

 

[BradH]

I believe that might have been mine once. If not I had & sold one here in 2020 that looked just like it.
It was an awesome bass that I regretted selling.

 

[juancaminos]

I would keep the Sterling. Because of your sound description and looks. Personally because it's a four string.

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

I’ve been lucky enough to acquire 4 nice Ernie Balls recently. All great basses, but unfortunately one has to go and I can’t decide so here’s a thread with a poll!

I have two Stingray Specials 5H and 5HH as well as two Sterlings 4H and 4HH. The choice here is between the Stingray 5HH and the Sterling 4HH.

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Here are some of my thoughts:

Sound - I like the new eq on the Specials a little better. It’s more “musical” I guess, but I like the more aggressive tone of the Sterling. The Stingray can be eq’d to be more aggressive but it’s native voice is more smooth. The Sterling always sounds aggressive which I do like. Stingray is probably more versatile across different genres.

Feel - The smaller neck of the Sterling is a bit easier to play, but the Stingray roasted neck is great. Both balance perfect on a strap. Kind of a toss up here.

Cosmetics - I definitely prefer the looks of the Sterling red burst. The special black and maple is fine but with the roasted neck, it’s really just black and brown.

Weight - Both are under 9 lbs. I think the Sterling is a few ounces heavier.

5 vs 4 - Another toss up. I have 3 5s and 3 4s. No preference for one over the other.

So which would you keep and why?

Pretty sad that you can't keep all of your balls... seems like a hard choice to cut one loose.
No one likes losing their balls... it's gonna be a painful experience.
I hope you have an expedient recovery after the trauma of losing one of your balls.

 

[Low Key]

This doesn't help you at all, but I'd take a SR Special 5 over a Sterling 5, and a Sterling 4 over a SR 4. If it were me, I'd make the decision based primarily if you want a 4 or 5 string. IMO, you have the right versions of both of those instruments.

I currently own a SR Special 5 and a Bongo 5. But I do miss my Sterling 4 from the nineties.

 

[swink]

I’ve been lucky enough to acquire 4 nice Ernie Balls recently. All great basses, but unfortunately one has to go and I can’t decide so here’s a thread with a poll!

I have two Stingray Specials 5H and 5HH as well as two Sterlings 4H and 4HH. The choice here is between the Stingray 5HH and the Sterling 4HH.

View attachment 4594915 View attachment 4594916

Here are some of my thoughts:

Sound - I like the new eq on the Specials a little better. It’s more “musical” I guess, but I like the more aggressive tone of the Sterling. The Stingray can be eq’d to be more aggressive but it’s native voice is more smooth. The Sterling always sounds aggressive which I do like. Stingray is probably more versatile across different genres.

Feel - The smaller neck of the Sterling is a bit easier to play, but the Stingray roasted neck is great. Both balance perfect on a strap. Kind of a toss up here.

Cosmetics - I definitely prefer the looks of the Sterling red burst. The special black and maple is fine but with the roasted neck, it’s really just black and brown.

Weight - Both are under 9 lbs. I think the Sterling is a few ounces heavier.

5 vs 4 - Another toss up. I have 3 5s and 3 4s. No preference for one over the other.

So which would you keep and why?

The Ceramics on the Sterling make this choice easy. Try to find a Stingray4 with Ceramics these days.

 

[electracoyote]

Well, if I needed a fiver, I would not part with that Special. But you confessed to having other fivers that I assume are as well or better suited to the task of the extended low range.

And, being more partial to the more traditional EBMM's, I do like your description of that Sterling. Since I have two Peavey Cirrus USA fivers that I dearly love, I'd hang on to the Sterling and cash in on the Special. Only way I'd have a dilemma is if the Special spanked one of my Cirrus, but I don't think you have the same dilemma.

 

[Bartrinsic]

I voted Sterling, mainly because I think you'll be able to find more Ray 5HHs to choose from when you decide to fill that hole again. Good Sterling HH's may be out there, but not as many.

 

[StringslamDan]

I would keep the 4HH just because esthetically, I don't care for the 5's pick guard...

 

[Adhesive_X]

You'll miss the extra aggressiveness of the Sterling when it's gone.....

 

[ComeHomeShane]

Stingray Special is way more versatile and also IMO better for recording. Keep the special.

 

[Emanuel]

I think the looks of a Sterling are about as cool as they come.
I prefer the single pickup config these days and I’m pretty much over the moon when it comes to the looks of Torified maple (is it because I’m brown LOL?!) so basically I Couldn’t decide!
I live a Sterling 5 H Orange flake w/roasted maple-maple neck!

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I’ve been lucky enough to acquire 4 nice Ernie Balls recently. All great basses, but unfortunately one has to go and I can’t decide so here’s a thread with a poll!

I have two Stingray Specials 5H and 5HH as well as two Sterlings 4H and 4HH. The choice here is between the Stingray 5HH and the Sterling 4HH.

View attachment 4594915 View attachment 4594916

Here are some of my thoughts:

Sound - I like the new eq on the Specials a little better. It’s more “musical” I guess, but I like the more aggressive tone of the Sterling. The Stingray can be eq’d to be more aggressive but it’s native voice is more smooth. The Sterling always sounds aggressive which I do like. Stingray is probably more versatile across different genres.

Feel - The smaller neck of the Sterling is a bit easier to play, but the Stingray roasted neck is great. Both balance perfect on a strap. Kind of a toss up here.

Cosmetics - I definitely prefer the looks of the Sterling red burst. The special black and maple is fine but with the roasted neck, it’s really just black and brown.

Weight - Both are under 9 lbs. I think the Sterling is a few ounces heavier.

5 vs 4 - Another toss up. I have 3 5s and 3 4s. No preference for one over the other.

So which would you keep and why?

You should determine the specific reason one has to go and get rid of whatever that is……

 

[sonojono]

play the hell outta them ,and see which one chooses you.. the fingers will do the vote.

This is me currently with a room full of Jazz basses

 

[_Obra_]

Keep the Sterling if it's good. You can found a new Stingray Special HH whenever You want (all of them are good).