oddjob
Well-known member
Heard Jack can also play Peter Gunn 
Question Sterling by Music Man?
- Thread starter RitchieDarling
- Start date
RitchieDarling
Well-known member
I saw him play "Folsom Pinball Prison Wizard" once!
R
R
EdFriedland
Well-known member
Yeah, it's true. I really dig these basses!
The review is a couple of months out in Guitar World, I think the August issue (on the rack probably early June - yeah I know... WTF?) The demo will go up shortly after, but I do have a sneak preview ready to go any day. I try not to release things too early, but this one will go up soon I promise. I played them with the factory strings (EB I'm guessing) and took the SB14 out to my steady gig with rounds. It did such a great job copping the thumpy upright bass style I use with my Texas Swing band, I put flats on it, and now it's scary good. The Ray 34 is great as well, it's got it. It's a little heavier, around 9 lbs—not bad at all. Slaps like a sunnovabitch.
I don't know about the rest of the SB14s, but this one is really light, about 8.25 lbs, and that is always a big selling point for me. My band does a two hour set non-stop, some nights we do two of them. Weight has become an even bigger factor for me since I joined this group. As I said, I play the thumpy, palm-muted thumb style most of the time to get the upright bass vibe. Usually I play a P, and it sounds great for that style, and I never expected the SB14 to sound as good as it does for this, but I have a theory.
The pickup and preamp are ballsy as hell, and in series mode - even more so. Having the big ol' HB directly under where my thumb plucks the string contributes to a well defined attack, which offsets the boom factor I can dial in with the onboard eq. Bottom line is this bass does my main gig so well, I just have to blow off the snob factor that says you're supposed to play an old Fender on a country gig in Austin. If anyone has something to say about it, I say "close your eyes" and tell me how it sounds. Plus... the thin neck is easy to play, and the bass is so responsive, I don't have to dig in to make it pop - a nice thing during hour 4 at the Broken Spoke!
Of course, they can do everything you'd expect from a SR or Sterling bass, I'm not trying to diminish the US stuff, it's great... but these basses... well... they're pretty freakin' good! The Indonesian stuff I've seen from other companies like Lakland and G&L have been great - and it's because they have people in the US taking them out of the box and doing the final setup and inspection. This is the critical step, and skipping it is why some Indonesian stuff on the market fails. Thankfully, EB, Pat and the folks at Praxis are taking care of business.
I haven't tried the SR5, but assuming the build quality is the same as the other two... they're definitely worth owning two or three.
The review is a couple of months out in Guitar World, I think the August issue (on the rack probably early June - yeah I know... WTF?) The demo will go up shortly after, but I do have a sneak preview ready to go any day. I try not to release things too early, but this one will go up soon I promise. I played them with the factory strings (EB I'm guessing) and took the SB14 out to my steady gig with rounds. It did such a great job copping the thumpy upright bass style I use with my Texas Swing band, I put flats on it, and now it's scary good. The Ray 34 is great as well, it's got it. It's a little heavier, around 9 lbs—not bad at all. Slaps like a sunnovabitch.
I don't know about the rest of the SB14s, but this one is really light, about 8.25 lbs, and that is always a big selling point for me. My band does a two hour set non-stop, some nights we do two of them. Weight has become an even bigger factor for me since I joined this group. As I said, I play the thumpy, palm-muted thumb style most of the time to get the upright bass vibe. Usually I play a P, and it sounds great for that style, and I never expected the SB14 to sound as good as it does for this, but I have a theory.
The pickup and preamp are ballsy as hell, and in series mode - even more so. Having the big ol' HB directly under where my thumb plucks the string contributes to a well defined attack, which offsets the boom factor I can dial in with the onboard eq. Bottom line is this bass does my main gig so well, I just have to blow off the snob factor that says you're supposed to play an old Fender on a country gig in Austin. If anyone has something to say about it, I say "close your eyes" and tell me how it sounds. Plus... the thin neck is easy to play, and the bass is so responsive, I don't have to dig in to make it pop - a nice thing during hour 4 at the Broken Spoke!
Of course, they can do everything you'd expect from a SR or Sterling bass, I'm not trying to diminish the US stuff, it's great... but these basses... well... they're pretty freakin' good! The Indonesian stuff I've seen from other companies like Lakland and G&L have been great - and it's because they have people in the US taking them out of the box and doing the final setup and inspection. This is the critical step, and skipping it is why some Indonesian stuff on the market fails. Thankfully, EB, Pat and the folks at Praxis are taking care of business.
I haven't tried the SR5, but assuming the build quality is the same as the other two... they're definitely worth owning two or three.
sloshep
Well-known member
Thanks for the quick review Ed. Now I can quit checking your website twice a day for an info on these basses.
AtomicPunk
Well-known member
Man, I have been excited about these for a while now, can't wait to get my hands on one and try it out for myself!
Tone Chaser
Member
I'm definitely looking forward to Ed's review (they are always the best). But review or not, I will definitely be getting at least one of these basses. Ah heck, I'll probably end up getting all three models!
RitchieDarling
Well-known member
Well, I don't think you could ask for a better endorsement than Ed.
And if he says they are the bomb, then rest assured, they ARE the THE BOMB!!
I shall be giving generous consideration to one of these.
R
And if he says they are the bomb, then rest assured, they ARE the THE BOMB!!
I shall be giving generous consideration to one of these.
R
spideyjg
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2009
- Messages
- 97
For those that haven't seen my NAMM review....
Did the closest A/B test I could at NAMM. Natural maple necked Sterling Ray 34 and a 3 band maple necked finished EBMM set to the center detent on all EQ. The action and pickup to string distance was the same as best I could tell.
Very very similar and a comparison to how the the *** ******* is to the USA *** is apt.
The Sterling Ray 34 had a little less bass and the USA had a bit of a better sound overall but so small it could have been the strings, variation in the magnet, wires, or the breed of dog that peed on the tree as it grew.
Best way to explain it is that 2 cooks make a pot of stew from the same recipe with the same stash of ingredients and seasonings.
One uses a bit more garlic than the other and a pinch of a seasoning the other didn't. You will notice and be able to say one has more garlic, and one has this other little thing you can't put your finger on but both taste 95% the same.
These are no OLPs.
FWIW first post and many of you guys know I would never be considered a koolaid drinker. Just giving credit where it is due on these fine budget instruments that capture the essence of the USA counterparts.
I'm very tempted by the HB Ray 34
Jim
Did the closest A/B test I could at NAMM. Natural maple necked Sterling Ray 34 and a 3 band maple necked finished EBMM set to the center detent on all EQ. The action and pickup to string distance was the same as best I could tell.
Very very similar and a comparison to how the the *** ******* is to the USA *** is apt.
The Sterling Ray 34 had a little less bass and the USA had a bit of a better sound overall but so small it could have been the strings, variation in the magnet, wires, or the breed of dog that peed on the tree as it grew.
Best way to explain it is that 2 cooks make a pot of stew from the same recipe with the same stash of ingredients and seasonings.
One uses a bit more garlic than the other and a pinch of a seasoning the other didn't. You will notice and be able to say one has more garlic, and one has this other little thing you can't put your finger on but both taste 95% the same.
These are no OLPs.
FWIW first post and many of you guys know I would never be considered a koolaid drinker. Just giving credit where it is due on these fine budget instruments that capture the essence of the USA counterparts.
I'm very tempted by the HB Ray 34
Jim
Psycho Ward
Well-known member
I guess I'll have to keep playing the American ones, until there's a lefty.
bdgotoh
Well-known member
Hey Jim, good to see you here. Thanks for the hands on review.
spideyjg
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2009
- Messages
- 97
Not a problem Brad. Been lurking and saw many questions but few hands on reports for these thangs.
Since Patpark is here, I wonder, since the difference was very slight and could be tied to different strings, if the Sterling by MM at NAMM were strung with the same EB strings as the EBMMs.
Jim
Jazzbassman23
Well-known member
Musicians Friend has them listed on the website. The honeyburst Ray has been calling my name since I first saw it.
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
Seems they are going to be very expensive down here, around double the street price of G&L Tributes, and around 3-4x the price of Indonesian Fender Squiers.
Big Poppa
Well-known member
Hmmmm? That doesnt make sense
silverburst
Well-known member
I dunno. Looking at the Musicians Friend, the Sterlings are about 3x the price of the cheapest Squiers. The G&L Tributes are about the same price, though.
Rano Bass
Well-known member
Now is my chance to get a Sterling (SB14 i mean)
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
I'm told by an EBMM dealer in Australia that MRRP for "Sterling by MM" models will start around AUD$2000.
List price for G&L Tributes here are AUD$1000-$1200, and Squiers range from AUD$300-$650.
I'm not opening the international pricing structure can of worms, just saying that pricepoint will make it very hard for "Sterling by MM" to entice Tribute and Squier buyers in Australia.
Also, used Stingrays sell down here on eBay in the AUD$1300-$1800 range, which won't make it easy to sell new "Sterling by MM" basses.
I'm assuming the pricing model is different in the US, making the new range more competitive against the budget competitors?
kurtdaniel
New member
its a nice bass indeed!!
check this: http://takelessons.com/
check this: http://takelessons.com/
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