School me on the new Music Man offerings (Reflex, Sterling 5, and Big Al)

[Northray]

I'm going to be purchasing 1 (possibly 2) new 5 string in the coming weeks. I don't live near a Music Man dealer, but I'll be traveling through some big cities; however, I'm not familiar with the "new guys"...

I currently have a StingRay 4 (single H)... it's great. I used to own a StingRay 5, and I loved the feel of it... but unfortunately it was very heavy, and that was the only reason I sold it.

I'm definitely going to look at StingRay 5's again... I miss my old friend (despite his weight problem), but I'm going to check out the Reflex 5, Sterling 5, and Big Al 5 also.

Sterling 5 - is it essentially a StingRay 5-type neck with a smaller, Sterling-style body? (If so, that would REALLY interest me).

Reflex - maybe I haven't looked around enough online, but they seem to be more expensive than the others. Why?

Big Al - I've read this bass has the same feel as a Sterling - is this true?

Please add any other thoughts you have on the "new guys". What should I know ahead of time.

(BTW - I'm mainly a fingerstyle/pick country-rock player. I have two rigs I'll be pumping them through - Markbass LMIII/Standard 104HF and a TC Electronic Classic 450/RS210/RS212 - my current StingRay sounds KILLER through both!).

 

[Bass Control]

I've played both the Sterling and Reflex 5 strings.

The Sterling 5 is a very slim and very comfortable instrument. The neck is fast and easy to play on. The ceramic pickups are really aggressive. I recommend the HS configuration on this instrument. I loved the tone of both single coils. I don't play the Sterling now because the Bongo happened, but I wouldn't mind if another Sterling 5 came my way.

Now, the Reflex. Yes, it is a little more expensive, but this is a monster of an instrument and is well worth the money. You get that awesome mahogany tone block, a maple top (not figured, but it's there!), active passive switching, the bongos 4 band preamp, series parallel switching, smaller headstock, and (from what I've noticed) a slightly higher reduction in weight than the Steling 5. The neck is beefy like the Stingray 5 and Bongo 5 necks, but I've come to appreciate grasping it and it is still easy to play. The ceramic pickups are aggressive, but you can calm them down in parallel mode. I also find myself using the preamp sparingly as the bass sounds amazing in passive. I highly recommend this bass with the HH configuration. It will have every thing you need and then some. It is a whole lotta bass!

And if you can swing the moony (and are fond of the color black) I would recommend getting the Gamechanger Reflex 5 HH. Every possible switching option is opened up and you'll have no need for any other bass.

 

[JayDawg]

I'm not sure where you live but I buy all of my Music Man basses from Bass Central out of Florida. They are the biggest online Music Man dealership and have wonderful customer service and prices. Look them up and call them at Bass Central Another good place is The Perfect Bass. The Perfect Bass - Bass Guitars, Amps, Gear! They also have really good customer service too.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The Big Al 5 has the same neck as the Sterling 5, which is slightly slimmer than a Stingray 5. It is like the Swiss Army knife of basses in that it has a lot of sounds (the SSS configuration). You have active and passive, a powerful 4-band EQ like the Bongo and a passive tone control in passive. You can get anything from a P-Bass sound (centre pickup in passive) to a more aggressive signature MusicMan sound (all buttons up - two rear pickups in series or parallel - I can't remember which; it's the more aggressive sounding one) and a lot of in between. It would be a good choice for country-rock.

They are made of African mahogany and weigh less than the Stingray 5's on average. Plus, the unique shape hangs and balances well on a strap.

If you like the Stingray 5, you can just keep your eye out for a lighter one too.

 

[madbassplaya]

Out of the three you mention the one that interests me the most is the Big Al.

I think your missing out by not considering a Bongo. But I'm somewhat biased...

 

[jlepre]

The Big Al 5 has the same neck as the Sterling 5, which is slightly slimmer than a Stingray 5.

Specs from Welcome to the Ernie Ball Music Man Company

Stingray 5 Sterling 5
Neck Radius:11" (27.9 cm) Neck Radius:11" (27.9 cm)
Headstock Size:Only 9" (22.9 cm) long Headstock Size:Only 7-7/8" (20.0 cm) long
Headstock Size:Only 7-7/8" (20.0 cm) long Headstock Size:Only 7-7/8" (20.0 cm) long
Neck Width:1-3/4" (44.5 mm) at nut 2-3/4"" Neck Width:1-3/4" (44.5 mm) at nut 2-3/4""
(69.9 mm) at last fret (69.9 mm) at last fret

Pretty much identical between the SR5 & ST5. I've owned both and the main difference to me was the pickups. The ST5 is more aggressive, but still can get the signature SR sound. The 2 ST5's I've owned were very lightweight at around 9 pounds each.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Well, the spacing is the same but the neck feels slightly slimmer, but not much. I don't know the actual specs.

A Bongo would be good to try as well. The one I briefly had looked (subjective) and sounded great. The only reason I sold it was because it was too heavy for me.

 

[jlepre]

Well, the spacing is the same but the neck feels slightly slimmer, but not much. I don't know the actual specs.

The specs that I posted above were directly from Welcome to the Ernie Ball Music Man Company. Maybe it's subconscious that you feel the Sterling is slimmer?

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Maybe it's the thickness then, back to front, that's a little slimmer. Even each of the three SR5s that I have each feel a little different from one another.

 

[MSilvers]

And if you can swing the moony (and are fond of the color black) I would recommend getting the Gamechanger Reflex 5 HH. Every possible switching option is opened up and you'll have no need for any other bass.

The Game Changer only comes in 4 String as of now. I can't speak on this subject as far as 5 strings as much because I only play 4 stringers as of now, but of the three you mentioned it basically comes down to this: The Sterling will probably be most similar to the Stingray 5 you used to have, but slightly lighter. The Big-Al has lot's of very cool tone options and a sort of funky look, so if you're into something a little different you might want to look at one. The Reflex is sort of the best-of-musicman-basses bass. It combines a lot of features of the other basses to make one really sweet instrument, but it's more expensive. Another option that lots of people on this forum swear by is the Bongo, but I personally don't have a lot of experience playing those, and they also sort of have a different look to them.