- Thread starter Oldguy
- Start date
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
Sterling
and Sterling SUB
and Sterling SUB
Last edited:
adouglas
Well-known member
Finish and pickguard
Body contouring (but not shape)
Electronics
Pickup (? not sure on this last one)
Body contouring (but not shape)
Electronics
Pickup (? not sure on this last one)
bassmonkeee
Well-known member
Sterling--still available for order
Sterling SUB--not so much
Sterling SUB--not so much
strummer
Enormous Member
The sub has no body contours, textured paint, painted neck and some otherr cosmetic differences like the fret end slots aren't filled. Basically, it's a Sterling made real fast
boristhespider7
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2007
- Messages
- 113
Sterling
The Sterling is the genuine article and the SUB is not. Save your money for the Sterling. It's worth it.
The Sterling is the genuine article and the SUB is not. Save your money for the Sterling. It's worth it.
SLUGGO
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2007
- Messages
- 270
The Sterling is the genuine article and the SUB is not. Save your money for the Sterling. It's worth it.
While the SUB may not be what a (full featured) Sterling is, it is still the "genuine article!" I think those involved in design and manufacturing would agree, as would those that play them. However, if I were to choose, it is a no brainer...the Sterling wins hands down!
WillPlay4Food
Well-known member
Considering the cost differential, the Sterling should win hands down.
Along with strummer's comments above, I believe the body wood is different as well, and the bridge doesn't have "MusicMan" stamped into the metal.
strummer
Enormous Member
The Sterling is the genuine article and the SUB is not. Save your money for the Sterling. It's worth it.
That's not it at all! They're both the genuine article, but the Sub became too expensive to manufacture.
Narcosynthesis
Well-known member
The plan for the SUB was to offer a fully made in USA bass, of exactly the same quality as the regular EBMM's but at a cheaper cost. In the end this proved impossible for EBMM with labour and parts prices as they are, the only options really being to manufacture overseas or raise the prices, which both contradicted the origonal plan, so they were discontinued.
The way they did it was by cutting corners in 'non-essential' area's - things like the finish which make a bass look nice, but don't really 'do' anything for the bass. So by using a cheaper method (unique/different?), they could create an instrument at a cut price.
The SUB's have a cheaper matte textured finish compared to the regular (time consuming to do) glossy finish, Uncontoured body, unmatched wood (aesthetically - exactly the same as for the regular instruments, just the grains don't need to be 'pretty' or anything), painted neck (which I really like), and a new pickguard and a few other fiddly but non essential points, like filling in the ends of the fret grooves for a slightly prettier result.
The electronics are the same, the same preamp and so on (depending on the options on that particular bass), though in the case of the Sterling it dosen't have the switching options of the regular model.
I own a SUB because basically I can't justify the price of a regular model, and I don't regret that decision in the slightest. The build quality is still incredible, and it is a brilliant playing and sounding bass, so a lot of it comes down to whether you would want to pay the extra for a bass that is finished and detailed that bit more. Would I like a regular one? definately, and I will someday get one, but a SUB is a fantastic bass that suits me brilliantly right now. Definately a 'real' Musicman (made in the same factory by the same people with the same parts) but not quite the same as the regular models.
David
The way they did it was by cutting corners in 'non-essential' area's - things like the finish which make a bass look nice, but don't really 'do' anything for the bass. So by using a cheaper method (unique/different?), they could create an instrument at a cut price.
The SUB's have a cheaper matte textured finish compared to the regular (time consuming to do) glossy finish, Uncontoured body, unmatched wood (aesthetically - exactly the same as for the regular instruments, just the grains don't need to be 'pretty' or anything), painted neck (which I really like), and a new pickguard and a few other fiddly but non essential points, like filling in the ends of the fret grooves for a slightly prettier result.
The electronics are the same, the same preamp and so on (depending on the options on that particular bass), though in the case of the Sterling it dosen't have the switching options of the regular model.
I own a SUB because basically I can't justify the price of a regular model, and I don't regret that decision in the slightest. The build quality is still incredible, and it is a brilliant playing and sounding bass, so a lot of it comes down to whether you would want to pay the extra for a bass that is finished and detailed that bit more. Would I like a regular one? definately, and I will someday get one, but a SUB is a fantastic bass that suits me brilliantly right now. Definately a 'real' Musicman (made in the same factory by the same people with the same parts) but not quite the same as the regular models.
David
Thank you. THIS and a few of the other posts are helpful and have answered my question.
koentje_bassist
Well-known member
Perfect answer. Sub's are very good for their price. But watch out: 2-hand prices are raising.
strummer
Enormous Member
Now, don't go all grumpy on us, ok? We are a nice bunch of guys, if a bit too funny at times
kompressaur
Well-known member
I owned both a SUB and a 2 band Ray at the same time last year and the SUB could hold its own for tone,construction and playablity.They pretty much sounded and played identical.I didnt mind the textured finish,it was the lack of belly and forearm contours I wasnt so keen on
if youre getting a SUB Sterling secondhand get it now as prices are on the up.
Komp
if youre getting a SUB Sterling secondhand get it now as prices are on the up.
Komp
Translation:
A SUB Ray is functionally/electronically a 2-band Ray
with a simplified body of poplar wood ...
and
a SUB Sterling is functionally/electronically a 3-band
Ray with a simplified body of poplar wood.
----------------------------------------------
Which is to say ... there are both 2-band and 3-band
SUBs, which are essentially Rays altho the 3-band is
called "Sterling".
`
