Help! Classic Sterling 4 experiences?

[Low End Lover]

Hello All,

I have looked on here and TB and cannot find anyone who has played these. I know they haven't been out for too long, but I've got to believe there are folks who have put them through their paces by now.
I know the key differences between the Classic Sterling and the Classic Stingray, mainly size and pickups. What I want to know is given that the Sterling has been given a "Classic" design, which I understand to be closer to a Stingray since Sterlings weren't introduced until '93 and the Classic Sterlings have designs specs that harken back to the 70's Stingrays, how close are they to being a Stingray in a Sterling size, especially tonewise. To put it more simply, are these just lighter, faster Stingrays? I am asking because I love the Stingray tone, but love the Sterling feel and as important as tone is, feel wins out in the end for me, i.e. small hands. I just sold a beautiful looking and sounding '57 Fender P-Bass RI because, try as I might, I just HATED that neck and I got no joy from playing it, which was a real bummer.
Thanks in advance for any help I can get on this.

LEL

 

[Musicman Nut]

Hello All,

I have looked on here and TB and cannot find anyone who has played these. I know they haven't been out for too long, but I've got to believe there are folks who have put them through their paces by now.
I know the key differences between the Classic Sterling and the Classic Stingray, mainly size and pickups. What I want to know is given that the Sterling has been given a "Classic" design, which I understand to be closer to a Stingray since Sterlings weren't introduced until '93 and the Classic Sterlings have designs specs that harken back to the 70's Stingrays, how close are they to being a Stingray in a Sterling size, especially tonewise. To put it more simply, are these just lighter, faster Stingrays? I am asking because I love the Stingray tone, but love the Sterling feel and as important as tone is, feel wins out in the end for me, i.e. small hands. I just sold a beautiful looking and sounding '57 Fender P-Bass RI because, try as I might, I just HATED that neck and I got no joy from playing it, which was a real bummer.
Thanks in advance for any help I can get on this.

LEL

I have a Coral Red Classic Sterling and it is one amazing Bass, what else can I say. It's very Light and sounds incredible.

 

[Low End Lover]

Cool. How close would you say it is to a Stingray in terms of tone? What differences between the two do you notice?

 

[Musicman Nut]

Cool. How close would you say it is to a Stingray in terms of tone? What differences between the two do you notice?

First Off it came Stock Series, I swapped my own Pickup out to an Older stingray Pickup only because I am a stingray guy, But the series in the 2 band sounded very good, I'm just a Fan of Parallel myself. But the classic Bass itself Just plays like a dream.

 

[Low End Lover]

Musicman Nut,

Ah! I was thinking if there was a change to be made it would be the pickup! It sounds like you and I want a very similar sound. That being said, why did you go with a Classic Sterling over a Classic Stingray if you prefer the tone of the Stingray? I am going the Sterling route because of my small hands.
So you said you were a fan of parallel vs. series. What difference in terms of tone did you notice with the stock pickup vs. the one you swapped out. Also, how does series vs. parallel affect sound? Did you mess with the preamp at all? I wonder if there is a difference in the one in the Classic Stingray vs. the Classic Sterling. These are the $64,000 questions for me. Like I said in my OP, I want a classic Stingray sound, but a Sterling feel. Please feel free to give me as much information on this as possible! I have been looking for someone with your experience for awhile and want to get as much info from you as possible!
BTW, what pickup did you install.

Thanks a ton!,

LEL

 

[Musicman Nut]

Musicman Nut,

Ah! I was thinking if there was a change to be made it would be the pickup! It sounds like you and I want a very similar sound. That being said, why did you go with a Classic Sterling over a Classic Stingray if you prefer the tone of the Stingray? I am going the Sterling route because of my small hands.
So you said you were a fan of parallel vs. series. What difference in terms of tone did you notice with the stock pickup vs. the one you swapped out. Also, how does series vs. parallel affect sound? Did you mess with the preamp at all? I wonder if there is a difference in the one in the Classic Stingray vs. the Classic Sterling. These are the $64,000 questions for me. Like I said in my OP, I want a classic Stingray sound, but a Sterling feel. Please feel free to give me as much information on this as possible! I have been looking for someone with your experience for awhile and want to get as much info from you as possible!
BTW, what pickup did you install.

Thanks a ton!,

LEL

I Love the Classic Sterling because the Smaller neck Mostly. I think Music Man Should Offer those on Stingrays with a $100 up charge, at any rate NO i left the preamp alone, Second the pickup came out of a 2008 Stingray I have here. SO the classic Sterling that I have is very Light and Now sounds like a 2 Band Stingray in a smaller body and smaller neck, and I love it.

The tone difference from Series/ Parallel is this.
Series had more Punch and sounds Thicker I guess
Parallel sounds more rounder to me with that Music Man growl and top end.

 

[Steamthief]

Not to hijack, but does the neck on the Classic Sterling feel identical to a standard in terms of dimensions?

 

[Musicman Nut]

Not to hijack, but does the neck on the Classic Sterling feel identical to a standard in terms of dimensions?

I'd say very close, so close your not going to go oh wow this feels different, and I have over 65 Sterlings and this felt like home too.

 

[Low End Lover]

Musicman Nut,

Thank you so much! You have given me so much excellent information! Does Ernie Ball sell standard Stingray pickups aftermarket? Also, would it be possible to install a coil tap/push pull pot so as to go between series and parallel with the Stingray pickup as I think having both would be nice. I don't know much about pickup construction, so not sure if this is possible.

Thanks so much!,

LEL

BTW, I found a Classic Sterling in black with a beautiful birds eyes maple neck for $1500!

 

[Musicman Nut]

Musicman Nut,

Thank you so much! You have given me so much excellent information! Does Ernie Ball sell standard Stingray pickups aftermarket? Also, would it be possible to install a coil tap/push pull pot so as to go between series and parallel with the Stingray pickup as I think having both would be nice. I don't know much about pickup construction, so not sure if this is possible.

Thanks so much!,

LEL

BTW, I found a Classic Sterling in black with a beautiful birds eyes maple neck for $1500!

That's a Great Price, you could do the Mod with a stock stingray Pickup if you had a Qualified repair shop do it, but it's like the Stock Sterling now, I personally never use the Series setting ever, you may, so I never had a desire to rewire the Pickup for that reason.

 

[Low End Lover]

Musicman Nut,

I see. My other bass is a Ric 4003 and it has a lot of bite and growl. I am wanting the Sterling to be fat and punchy at times, but to have that Stingray growl at others, so I thought a coil tap would achieve that. So you are saying the stock Stingray pickups are wired to support a coil tap? Also, in your opinion, what do you think are the tonal difference in th ceramic vs. alnico magnets? I am sure there is a difference, but I not sure if it is as huge as people say it is.
Also, is the pickup in the Classic Sterling the same size as the stock Stingray pickup size? Is it an easy drop in, or did you have to mess with it a bit to make a proper fit.

Thanks,

LEL

 

[Musicman Nut]

Musicman Nut,

I see. My other bass is a Ric 4003 and it has a lot of bite and growl. I am wanting the Sterling to be fat and punchy at times, but to have that Stingray growl at others, so I thought a coil tap would achieve that. So you are saying the stock Stingray pickups are wired to support a coil tap? Also, in your opinion, what do you think are the tonal difference in th ceramic vs. alnico magnets? I am sure there is a difference, but I not sure if it is as huge as people say it is.

Thanks,

LEL

NO, NO That's not what I'm saying, You'll have to rewire the Pickup to do this. NOT REWIND but re wire, I'd leave it alone at first and just try it Stock, it will blow your Rick away hands down, I've owned some Ricks over the years Plus the Classics Neck are a Million times better, feel etc.

 

[Low End Lover]

Got it. Sorry if that sounded confusing.