Question SR5 vs Sterling by Music Man Ray35

[jlepre]

I am seriously considering a new Ray35. I have a few concerns. I understand that they are not going to be like an SR5, but how are they different?

1. Weight difference
2. Neck finish
3. Sound difference if any

Thanks for any information. I am considering one as a backup, but it needs to be close to the REAL deal.

Thanks!

 

[jlepre]

Well I did a little research and see that the Ray35 doesn't have the compensated nut.

What exactly DOES this compensated nut do that the regular one doesn't?

I thought it had something to do with intonation right?

 

[patpark]

weights will vary. we find some that are very light. best is to check stock at your local dealer and try as many out as you can.

we use a thin satin finish on the neck. It is not unfinished. But it also doesn't feel like a sticky thick gloss finish.

sound is pretty close. there will be some differences, but i think you'll be surprised as to how close it is.

best advice, try before you buy. It's never going to replace the SLO built basses, but for less money you'll have something that will be close.

 

[patpark]

Well I did a little research and see that the Ray35 doesn't have the compensated nut.

What exactly DOES this compensated nut do that the regular one doesn't?

I thought it had something to do with intonation right?

the compensated nut allows for a different string lenght for each string. thus improving intonation overall.

we do not include it on the SBMM, we use a standard nut that has no compensation (on the nut end)

 

[jlepre]

Pat,

Thanks for all of the information. It's very much appreciated!

I plan to go to my local store and try, but was just wondering from those who have tried them, what the differences were.

 

[silverburst]

I have found the sound and playability to be surprisingly close between the two. They are really nice basses.

 

[bovinehost]

Really nice basses and a superb value.

 

[bobalu]

I have the Sterling by MM Ray35. I was in the same boat as you. I had enough for the Ray35, but would have had to save for quite a while longer if I wanted the real MM. I was totally impressed with the build quality and sound of the Ray35. I have the swamp ash Natural and it is very lightweight (compared to the MM SR5 that I A/B'd with in the store). I'm not a hardcore 5 string player but really wanted a quality 5'er to do some things in our set. The difference in sound + feel to me was not enough to justify the extra cost of the MM. But again, I'm not a real 5 string player, so my standards were less stringent. I think you will be impressed when you try one out.

good luck!

 

[agplate]

Thumbs up on SBMM

 

[1954bassman]

I too am considering taking the plunge on a Ray35, but I am weighing the idea of extra cash to step up to a used USA SR5. My current stable includes USA G&L L2500s, an older L5500, and three Imported Lakands.

I would really like to add a Stingray or a Ray 35. Will I be looking at immeadiately up-grading the Ray 35 pickup and electronics? If so, should I just hold out for a 'real' StingRay used?

thanks, Mark

 

[syciprider]

The SBMMs sound just like the EBMMs to me. I would get one in a heartbeat if I ever needed a back up and didn't have the $$$ for an SLO build.

The Dubaldos are blowing their SBMM stock out. Better jump on it.

 

[TommyK-Stingray]

Here is my review of my Ray35 which i first posted on basschat....

Just purchased this Honeyburst Ray 35 from guitarandampshop.co.uk for £639. Beautiful swamp ash body, Matching headstock, Rosewood board, Black scratchplate, 3 way switching and 3 EQ.

As with the previous Ray 34 Review, this is a made in Indonesia, Quality checked and set up in California model, so hence is around half the price of a US made Stingray 5.

So what are the differences and do they add up to 600 quids worth?
So far having owned both a Stingray 5 and this i would say that the extra £600 is going to be hard to justify. (perhaps there could be resale value arguments and I guess some people will still just want the real thing)

The Build quality is fantastic. The neck is perfect to play, all frets finished properly and the neck pocket is as good as you'll see on anything. The electronics are top notch too, no scrimping on sheilding or controls, all feel as they would on the US models and no extra, nasty unwanted noises!


The only noticeable savings you can see are with the position markers (just plain white, no MOP), Tuners (obviously just copies of the originals), an old skool nut not the newer compensated type and the cheaper battery box. You would say it is just a little more functional on the finer details I guess.

To me this sounds even better than the Stingray 5 i had. I always wanted something that just sounded like a 5 string version of my Stingray 4 and this is it! This maybe due to alnico rather than ceramic pickups which my Stingray 5 had...? It has all the punch and general Stingray ferocity you could ever want. It has the same super versatile 3EQ and the same 3 way switching options that you would find on a standard MM Stingray 5. It has shovel fulls of Bottom end, the usual shimmering highs and full on mids that you would expect from a MM and of course with some EQ tweaking you can really "rein it in" for the more mellow occassions. The B is also near perfect to my ears. Really clear and nice and punchy, none of that floppy muddy sounding nonsense!

In short, "I love this Bass!"

If i were thinking of getting another Musicman, i would definately go for a look at the equivilant Sterling model first. Great value for money.

I just hope they do a Bongo or a Big Al next!!

 

[Manfloozy]

That's a great review with very nice pictures, thanks for sharing.

The ones I've seen/played at GC were very nice, of good quality and extremely familiar sound FWIW.

 

[rizzo9247]

These basses can definitely fool the "gear snobs" you meet out there, they sound very close to the SR5, feel superb and are a great value if you can't afford the SLO model.

 

[fly]

i played a silverburst Ray 34.....and that baby wailed.....well built instruments.


helluva review too TommyK...thanks

 

[drTStingray]

Nice review, thanks for posting - nice bass as well congratulations.

Has anyone any idea why the battery box is in a different position from an EBMM SR5 (well certainly my 2003 one anyway). The SBMM seems to have it in a similar poistion to a multi-pick up EBMM Ray (i.e at the front end of the lower half of the body)?

 

[Basswave]

i played a silverburst Ray 34.....and that baby wailed.....well built instruments.


helluva review too TommyK...thanks

+1 I dig my silverburst so much I just picked up Ray35 myself.

I'm tempted to to put a Status neck on it...but so far I totally dig it.

 

[Basswave]

I have found the sound and playability to be surprisingly close between the two. They are really nice basses.

+1

I own a couple of Ray34s and Ray35

I think the key is be sure and play a bunch of them since they might very a bit more (that just natural), however in hindsight I actually prefer my Ray35 to any EBMM 5 string that I played yet. (As strange as that sounds) and I pick it up just because of the price, it was how it played and sounded that did it for me.

I don't think you can go wrong with this choice.

 

[baske]

If there will be a Ray35 in a HH version , I will definitely buy one !!

 

[Holdsg]

If there will be a Ray35 in a HH version , I will definitely buy one !!

Not likely (see threads on Classic Sabres, Bongos with trans finishes, Leftys of most anything). But never say never.