5er help please

[bob atherton]

I think the time has come in my life to get a 5er bass. I’ve been playing four strings now since I was 11 years old and that was 42 years ago! I’ve tried a few 5ers over the years and universally hated all of them. Just too wide on the neck. Bizarrely I tried a Wal 6 string once and loved it!

I’m sure in time I will adjust to the aircraft carrier finger board, I just need that low B for quite a few numbers and also I’m feeling cramped when writing new bass lines without it.

I own two EB basses a Stingray 4 with maple neck and a Sterling 4 with RW neck. I play almost exclusively on the Sterling so the SR will be traded for a 5er. I prefer the Sterling because the tone is just so right for me on the middle position. Lots of warmth, mids, tightness but in a very natural, almost passive bass sound. The Stingray I now find a touch too clinical in its tone compared to the Sterling. Also I have a problem getting good penetration in the mix with the ‘G’.

I guess my question is are the SR and Sterling 5ers bigger brothers to their four string siblings, or is there more too it than that. I like the RW neck for a four string, but does one really need a maple board to get the pitch and tightness in the low B? I’m looking for the most organic yet tight sound. I understand that the necks are identical, is that right?

I’m sure the Bongo plays and sounds like a dream but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and it’s not for me I’m afraid. Any pointers would be really useful. Thanks very much.

 

[Movielife]

Hi! Youve come to the right place.

Ive just moved to 5ers after a year of searching. I took the plunge on a Stingray 5 HS, and it is BEAUTIFUL. I open the case and look, then realise how lucky I am to eb able to afford to buy them.

EBMMs 5ers are great in my book. Perfect string spacing, and a very tight, definied B string.

I have a rosewood board, purely as despite my love for Rays with maple, I actually get drawn to rosewood due to the feel, and the aesthetics.

I think in your case, a Sterling 5 H, HS or HH will get you there. Thats the same electronics package (if you go for the H) as your Sterling. HS and HH give you more tonal options, but you sacrifice the parallel setting. Tis upto you!

I myself now want a Sterling 5....and Im umming and ahhing between that and a Bongo 5HH.

 

[bob atherton]

"I think in your case, a Sterling 5 H, HS or HH will get you there. Thats the same electronics package (if you go for the H) as your Sterling. HS and HH give you more tonal options, but you sacrifice the parallel setting. Tis upto you!"

Thanks for the quick and very helpful reply. Is the middle setting on my Sterling the parallel one? Hey, I never read manuals...!

 

[Movielife]

Ermm, position 1 near the bridge is the H in parallel, the middle position is the single coil solo'd (nearest to bridge) with a phantom coil to eliminate noise, and position 3 is the H in series. I think thats right!

Which is your favourite?

 

[bob atherton]

Ermm, position 1 near the bridge is the H in parallel, the middle position is the single coil solo'd (nearest to bridge) with a phantom coil to eliminate noise, and position 3 is the H in series. I think thats right!

Which is your favourite?

I must say this has confused me a bit. My favorite position ( behave...) is the middle of the switch position , not the bridge or the neck one. If you like, the one where the switch sticks staight up. If this is the single coil one then that makes sense as to my ears it's the closest to a F****r J tone.

If the above ramble is correct, is it only the single PUP version of a Sterling 5 that will give me that tone? Thanks , Bob

 

[Movielife]

Nope, the HS can also give you a single coil 'Jazz ish' but with balls tone Hence my dilemna of which to choose.

You only lose parallel H setting (switch towards bridge) with the HS. The HH you lose the single coil as well.

Obviously with both you gain new tones. For me, the HS or H is perfect....now I need to choose myself!

 

[drTStingray]

Hi Bob - I know you play fusion and although I've only recently got a Bongo, my 5HHp seems to be very suited to that style of music.

It may be worth considering a Bongo 5 as an alternative to the Sterling 5.

 

[adouglas]

Bongo Mind Control Ray generator set to "Transatlantic."

Try one, then decide if you can resist.... (just kidding... I would never try to talk you out of a closely held belief... yah. Right.)

Don't worry about the tightness of the low B on any MM bass. MM low Bs are the best in the business, regardless of fingerboard.

 

[strummer]

Not surprisingly, I would recommend you try a Bongo. But then, the Sterling 5 I played at the show last year was just brilliant, so my guess is you'll be happy with either one

 

[five7]

My sub 5 smokes!

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Back in my Day...the Ray 5 was the only 'real 5' that really worked and the neck is 'home' to me now.

You're going to love it.

 

[shakinbacon]

I think the time has come in my life to get a 5er bass. I’ve been playing four strings now since I was 11 years old and that was 42 years ago! I’ve tried a few 5ers over the years and universally hated all of them. Just too wide on the neck. Bizarrely I tried a Wal 6 string once and loved it!

I’m sure in time I will adjust to the aircraft carrier finger board, I just need that low B for quite a few numbers and also I’m feeling cramped when writing new bass lines without it.

I own two EB basses a Stingray 4 with maple neck and a Sterling 4 with RW neck. I play almost exclusively on the Sterling so the SR will be traded for a 5er. I prefer the Sterling because the tone is just so right for me on the middle position. Lots of warmth, mids, tightness but in a very natural, almost passive bass sound. The Stingray I now find a touch too clinical in its tone compared to the Sterling. Also I have a problem getting good penetration in the mix with the ‘G’.

I guess my question is are the SR and Sterling 5ers bigger brothers to their four string siblings, or is there more too it than that. I like the RW neck for a four string, but does one really need a maple board to get the pitch and tightness in the low B? I’m looking for the most organic yet tight sound. I understand that the necks are identical, is that right?

I’m sure the Bongo plays and sounds like a dream but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and it’s not for me I’m afraid. Any pointers would be really useful. Thanks very much.

Based on your preferences, I suggest either a Sterling 5 or a Big Al 5

I could be wrong, but I don't think the necks of the Sterling and SR 5's are the same.

 

[jlepre]

I could be wrong, but I don't think the necks of the Sterling and SR 5's are the same.

I've owned both, and they feel identical. I do remember BP saying they are the same, but I might be wrong...

 

[keko]

I must say this has confused me a bit. My favorite position ( behave...) is the middle of the switch position , not the bridge or the neck one. If you like, the one where the switch sticks staight up. If this is the single coil one then that makes sense as to my ears it's the closest to a F****r J tone.

If the above ramble is correct, is it only the single PUP version of a Sterling 5 that will give me that tone? Thanks , Bob

OK, I see what You prefer, almost like me, ceramic pup tone and single bridge coil 1 (+phantom hum canceling coil), right?
More bridge finger style player?

So, You have similar "pain" to decide which Music Man 5 to buy like I had before!

Answer: only Sterling 5 H and Sterling 5 HS can give You that pickup switching option! (OK, SR 5 HS too, but in alnico parallel tone). Only what You have to decide is about other switch positions between H and HS models!
Warning: Stingray 5 H doesn't offer single coil mode, it's a kinda fake electronic filter switch position (middle one)!

P.S. ...when I was about to decide for my first MM 5 banger, I was actually looking for Sterling 5 single H with piezo, but it was not available, so I decided for HS model!

Hope it helps a bit?

 

[bob atherton]

OK, I see what You prefer, almost like me, ceramic pup tone and single bridge coil 1 (+phantom hum canceling coil), right?
More bridge finger style player?

So, You have similar "pain" to decide which Music Man 5 to buy like I had before!

Answer: only Sterling 5 H and Sterling 5 HS can give You that pickup switching option! (OK, SR 5 HS too, but in alnico parallel tone). Only what You have to decide is about other switch positions between H and HS models!
Warning: Stingray 5 H doesn't offer single coil mode, it's a kinda fake electronic filter switch position (middle one)!

P.S. ...when I was about to decide for my first MM 5 banger, I was actually looking for Sterling 5 single H with piezo, but it was not available, so I decided for HS model!

Hope it helps a bit?

That helps a lot, thanks!

When I got my Sterling 4 I switched from my SR4 because I wanted a thinner neck as I have small hands and always prefered a J neck to a P.

What I didn't expect and was delighted to find was a new tone that is very close to my ideal tone. Because I know just about nothing about bass guitars I thought that the SR and Sterling would sound about the same. It certainly looks like the same PUP on both basses.

My ideal tone is still more in the direction of the J bass, a bit more Jaco or Jeff Berlin than what I'm getting from the Sterling, but I am more than happy with that center position on the Sterling.

You are right that I play finger style just behind the PUP. I prefered flats on the SR4 and rounds on the Sterling. I use a Markbass LMIII and two TC Electronic RS210 cabs. All this makes for a pretty tight and focused sound.

 

[cellkirk74]

That helps a lot, thanks!

My ideal tone is still more in the direction of the J bass, a bit more Jaco or Jeff Berlin than what I'm getting from the Sterling, but I am more than happy with that center position on the Sterling.

Try to play a Big Al SSS then before you decide. The three single coils give you a lot of options and it has a passive mode, which might help for the jacoish tones. Highly recommended.