• Ernie Ball
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  • Sterling by MusicMan

steveinohio

Member
Joined
May 26, 2007
Messages
19
When I was younger I was never a fan of MusicMan basses. Thinking back on it the reason I didnt like them was the tone. It seemed that everyone I heard was EQ'd in a way that I just couldnt stand. Too much treble and very clanky.

Finally one night back in 2002 I saw a band and the bass player had the best sound I had ever heard. Very smooth, deep, and even. This was the sound I was always searching for but could never seemed to find. To my suprise he was playing a Stingray. I had a new found respect for MusicMan. Maybe they werent so bad.

Four years later I finally got around to sitting down with a Sterling. It had one of the fastest necks I had ever played on. The sound of it blew me away. It was just as good, if not better than the sound I heard back in 2002. The only thing that stuopped me from buying that bass right there was the size. It was a little to small for me. I know, dumb reason.

A week later a used Stingray came into Guitar Center. I had just bought a Rickenbacker earlier that week and really wasnt in the market. I thought I would give it a shot though. Twenty minutes later I was walking out with a Stingray. I would have been a fool to pass on it. The Ric was put away for months. Up till this week the Stingray was my all time favorite.

Then it happened again.

By now I am a BIG Ernie Ball fan. I cant say enough about the quality of products. I also believe that every year the quality seems to get better (unlike some companies). But no matter how hard I tried I couldnt like the Bongo. Simply put I thought it was ugly. Very ugly.

I finally got around to trying one.

A Bongo HH.

Its the best bass I have ever bought.

Again I have seen the error of my ways.

Thanks for making some of the best instruments on the planet.
 

RobertB

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
1,657
Location
Denver area.
Hey Steve. Welcome! Well, you certainly won't provoke any arguments around here with that kinda talk, although we like to pretend we're objective. :)

I happen to be one of those Bongo-curious guys myself, at this stage. Love my Rays. Believe it or not, I actually responded exactly the same way you described, to the smaller size of the Sterlings. I'm betting the newly released Sterling 5 (available as of just a few weeks ago - Winter NAMM - not sure if you're aware of it yet, though there's alot of talk about it right about now here on the forum) is going to PERFECT in that regard. A 5 that feels about like a SR4, in terms of mass. Can't wait to try one.

And the folks around here, and yourself included now, have got me VERY tempted to give the Bongos more serious consideration ... single H in particular, since that's what the designer himself (Big Poppa) favors. But of course I'll try HH & HS as well.

Anyhoo ... again, welcome!

Robert
 

steveinohio

Member
Joined
May 26, 2007
Messages
19
Hey guys thanks! I will post some shots in the next day or so.

I cant say enough about the Bongo. Wow!

Has anyone else had this experience?
 

Surly

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
77
Simply put; when I went to my local GC intending on dropping a large amount of money on a new bass, quality was the reason I walked out with a Stingray. I felt that was the most important attribute at the time.
 

paranoid70

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
2,647
Location
Long Beach, CA
A week later a used Stingray came into Guitar Center. I had just bought a Rickenbacker earlier that week and really wasnt in the market. I thought I would give it a shot though. Twenty minutes later I was walking out with a Stingray. I would have been a fool to pass on it. The Ric was put away for months. Up till this week the Stingray was my all time favorite.

I sold my '74 Rickenbacker for a 2004 Stingray about a year ago. The Rickenbacker was vintage of course, and looked cool as hell.... but man the Stingray plays better and sounds much better. Sometimes I kick myself for selling the Ric for only $1000 (it had a loose connection that I could never repair) as well as the sentimental significance. But every time I play the Stingray I realize it was the right move.
 

the unrepentant

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 15, 2007
Messages
1,191
Location
Bangor, UK
haha that's what i like to hear, i always wanted an EBMM but could never afford it until i found out about the subs, i like small bodies though, my sub is huge compared to my tobias. I'd really love to try out a sterling HH, that would be nice :D i wish they made them with 24 frets though :(
 
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Surly

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
77
Quality, and the fact that they didn't have any Bongos in stock, eh? ;)

Actually they didn't have any in stock. I would love to play one. I've heard clips on Youtube and they all sound sweeet.
 
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