Question No Piezo Option on Sterling 5ers?

[blueacid4l]

Hey guys,
Just wanted to introduce myself, this is my first post on the forum. I've played many Musicman basses ( I work at a music store ). I think I have played enough instruments to know what I want, so I'm ready to take the plunge.. BUT.. now that I've figured it out, I don't think all the specs are available. My question is:

Is the option for the piezo available on the Musicman Sterling 5er? If not why not? Is it an accidental omision on the spec page?

I noticed the option is available on the 4 and 5 string 'Rays, the 4 and 5 Bongos, but only listed as an option on the 4 string Sterling.

I finally decided on getting a Fretless Sterling 5er HHP, and I realized I had never heard of anyone getting a Sterling 5 w/ the Piezo Bridge option. I understand on something like the Gamechanger , the Reflex, and the Big Al.. with all those switching options, there probably wouldn't be any room for any more gear under the hood.

 

[stingray96191]

I don't know if its available on the Sterling 5.. But i do know its only available with 2 magnetic pickups on the Bongos.. So an HHp Sterling 5 would not be an option either way.

I have never played a Sterling 5 but i did used to own a Bongo 5 HHp, which was an amazing sounding and playing bass. I am just not a 5 string guy. The Piezo is nice to have and when i get another Bongo it will have it. But its not something i miss in my everyday playing.

 

[keko]

Is the option for the piezo available on the Musicman Sterling 5er?

Nope, ...as far as I know!

That was my first option anyway, but' later I realized that I actually don't need piezo at this moment of my music career!

 

[blueacid4l]

Well that's a bummer.. so there's no piezo option at all on the Sterling? Can anyone from Ernie Ball comment on why? I may just have to go with the Bongo then, which is a great instrument, I just preferred the smaller body of the Sterling as well as all the additional color schemes available.

 

[mmbassplayer]

Blue... Sterling 4, and Stingray 4 and 5's are available with a piezo and single humbucker, no HSp or HHp models. Sterling 5 and Bongo 6 as well as Reflex and Classic models and Big Al's have no piezo option. Bongo 4 and 5's have H, HS and HH models with a piezo. I would guess the demand for a piezo equipped bass isn't large enough to expand there use across the models more. JOSH

 

[strummer]

I would guess the demand for a piezo equipped bass isn't large enough to expand there use across the models more. JOSH

This.

Get a Bongo!

 

[keko]

This.

Get a Bongo!

I'm seriously considering a Bongo 5 Hp (single H with piezo) for my next Music Man!

But if I decide to order one, that will be BFR, Dargie or Roasted...etc., ...one of LTD edition models for sure!

P.S. ...advantage of single H Bongo with piezo is that You get 4 band EQ in that pickup configuration!

 

[blueacid4l]

Yeah, I may have to go this route. So 4 band EQ is only available on the single H? Hmmm.... in that case I may have to wait until they reveal the next batch of new colors for the bongo. Great instrument for sure though, I've played tons and all of them we're amazing, I just prefer the body size and color options on the sterling. Thanks for all the input guy, I guess I got the info I was looking for.

I'm seriously considering a Bongo 5 Hp (single H with piezo) for my next Music Man!

But if I decide to order one, that will be BFR, Dargie or Roasted...etc., ...one of LTD edition models for sure!

P.S. ...advantage of single H Bongo with piezo is that You get 4 band EQ in that pickup configuration!

 

[blueacid4l]

I take that back, I just looked at the color Swatches for the bongo and saw Sky Blue and Red .. . I could have sworn they just had the Orange when I looked earlier this month, oh well. Looks like I'm getting the Bongo. It looks like the only decision I have to make is 4 band or dual pickup, correct?

 

[bassmonkeee]

I take that back, I just looked at the color Swatches for the bongo and saw Sky Blue and Red .. . I could have sworn they just had the Orange when I looked earlier this month, oh well. Looks like I'm getting the Bongo. It looks like the only decision I have to make is 4 band or dual pickup, correct?

Hey, the Bongos with two pickups all have the 4 band EQ. What Keko meant was that the only single H model of Bongo with the 4 band EQ is the one with piezos. The single H comes with the three band.

I have generally preferred the 4 band over the 3 band on the Bongos I've owned and played. But, 3 band is my least favorite config in general--I like 4, then 2, then 3.

Handy guide:

4 band Bongos- HH, SH, HHp, SHp, Hp

3 Band Bongos- H

My personal favorite is the SHp.

 

[strummer]

What Keko meant was that the only single H model of Bongo with the 4 band EQ is the one with piezos. The single H comes with the three band.

And the reason he pointed it out is bcs i was under the impression you could order a single H Bongo with a 4 band

I like the simple HH and H best, the HSp I had was a bit too much of a knob farm...

 

[drTStingray]

The Sterling 5 is a fairly recent addition to the line, and there hasn't been a piezo or a lefty offered since the Bongo was introduced - I guess it's down to economics.

Magnus I know what you mean about the Bongo HHp and knobs - but at least it just gets stacked knobs unlike the Ray (which has 5 knobs!!). I've been going through a 2 band Stingray phase recently using the Classic for everything - it's so simple and such a nice sound, but I took the Bongo 5HHp along to a gig recently and used it for the second set - it simply blew me away all over again. That piezo is great dialled in at about 30% for some real thumpy walking bass parts. I did panic for the first few minutes working out the pick up blend and piezo/magnetic blend knobs again but it really only takes a minute!

The Bongo is an awesome beast and the piezo is the icing on the cake - I've used it a couple of times since that gig and it's become my at home noodler as well. BTW my Bongo used to be Erin's (Stingray 96161 - posted further up) and also Duarte's so it's done a bit of a tour as well.

Slightly further off topic I had the good fortune to hear Dave Marks demonstrate a Stingray Hp fretless as an audience member -it really livened up the string sound on the bass and would be great for rockabilly I think.

 

[melvin7822]

Even if the Sterling 5 did have a piezo option, I'm not sure that you could even have an HHp. The only schematic with piezo for Stingray is an Hp (same for the Sterling 4). If it's true and not an omission, then that means the only way to get an HHp is with the Bongo.

 

[drTStingray]

the only way to get an HHp is with the Bongo.

This is correct I think - the multi pick up config Ray, Ray 5 and Sterlings have not been offered in either leftie or piezo variants.

Mind you, the Bongo HHp is a pretty awesome beast IMHO.

 

[Duarte]

Hahah, this thread must be so confusing to someone not already in the know! Personally, the best sounding bass I ever played was the HSp Bongo, possibly the HHp Bongo.

Knob farm or not, those things are epic.

 

[Big Poppa]

And the reason he pointed it out is bcs i was under the impression you could order a single H Bongo with a 4 band

I like the simple HH and H best, the HSp I had was a bit too much of a knob farm...

sometimes I think this is a knob farm! hahahahah