Dear Music Man...

[boristhespider7]

Love ya...own Sterlings and Stingrays...etc.

But, for the love the low end gods, please, please, please have Musician's Friend correct its description of the Sterling 4 (H and HH) on its web site and in its catalogs!!! For many years now, it has described the Sterling's neck as "basically the same" as the Stingray because it is the same scale and radius. The Sterling and Stingray do not have "basically the same" neck for many reasons (width, depth, contoured neck heel, additional fret on Sterling, etc.). It's one of the key differences between the models.

(As a footnote, even the Stingray Slo Special does not have a "Sterling neck" as it lacks the extra fret of a Sterling and the neck depth at frets 1 and 12 is slightly thicker than an actual Sterling neck..but I digress.)

Maybe as a MM devotee, I'm sensitive, but this makes me cringe every time I read it. It's been this way for years, and quite frankly, I can't believe you haven't corrected them by now regarding this innaccurate description. Even a number of the reviewers on MF's web site have mentioned this issue.

Again, love ya...but I had to get this off my chest.

 

[toomanyslurpees]

While you're at it have Guitar center change their name so there's no confusion with GC the music store and the GC the fancy new bass....

 

[Big Poppa]

The pain...I share your pain...It is sort of like world peace...Ill sick glen on it see if he can do better...thanks

 

[Movielife]

I think everytime I call somewhere in the UK re: Musicman, (well, anything bass guitar related normally) they don't normally have a clue what the current line up is.

I've had to explain that all Bongo's come with painted headstocks (they wanted to charge me more), all Bongo's have rosewood boards apart from very special one offs, and I've had to explain colours, pickup configs and more.

If I worked in guitar/bass retail, I would endeavour to just learn as much as possible, (maybe its because Im crazy about my gear) but Im guessing with the economy how it is, they have to make sure they are armed and ready for the items they shift a lot of.

I can't wait to unleash the Bongo (when I get it) and play my Big Al more in public.

'What is that?'

'It is a Musicman bass'

'That is not a Stingray'

'They make a LOT more than just the Stingray, as good as it is!'

And so on!

 

[drTStingray]

Gareth, I've had the same experience with guitar stores, but even worse - I took my Bongo to a jam session once and the guitar collectory types (they are all guitards also) were all over it like a rash - loved it - up steps Mr knows a bit Bass Player - 'of course you know that's not a Musicman' - I protest and show him the name on the headstock - he then says 'sorry - I mean you know it's not a Stingray don't you' - OMG did I laugh....................................

He once lent me a 59 P bass for a couple of songs and came up and said after a couple of songs 'what's it feel like playing a real bass?' My reply was 'well I wouldn't have mentioned it but as you ask it's quite nice, but feels terribly light - are you sure it's a real Precision?!' All that said it was quite nice but each to their own view - I didn't find it as nice to play or nice sounding as my Bongo, which can cop sounds in a similar ball park. And in my experience the Bongo attracts women admirers as well

So yes, Bongos are quite a rare beast in the UK.

 

[five7]

dr, that's a great story.

 

[BassTractor]

So yes, Bongos are quite a rare beast in the UK.

Yes, ain't that weird in a country filled to the rim with musicians? I haven't found one shop stocking them in the UK, whilst here in Norway, I just visit a nearby music shop in a little town, and they'll have several Bongos. I'm happy with that, but have never understood the difference. Rich Norway maybe?

all the best,
bert

 

[J Romano]

Sounds like the good DR.T needs to take a quick trip to Norway for a Bongo!!!!!

 

[BassTractor]

Sounds like the good DR.T needs to take a quick trip to Norway for a Bongo!!!!!

Yeah, but before doing so, the good Dr. T should know that rich Norway has excrutiating prices, even for basses. We're used to this of course, but the good Dr. T might need to see good Dr. Otherletter when hearing them. For example, my Bongo 4HH costs almost £2,500 in Norway (a rough $4,000), and that's before the piezo is added.

best,
bert

 

[drTStingray]

Yes, ain't that weird in a country filled to the rim with musicians? I haven't found one shop stocking them in the UK, whilst here in Norway.

Rich Norway maybe?

Yes and yes (and I do envy living somewhere with your economy and ideals) - for a genre of people decended from those pioneers in the 50s and 60s, who were decried at the time as wrecking music and playing noise etc by the closed minded establishment of the time, quite a large proportion of musicians seem to have got stuck in exactly the same mindset as I remember my father being the first time the Stones appeared of tele, or Jimi Hendrix Experience (he was disgusted by Purple Haze - played back to back with Petula Clark it was more than he could take at the time)!! There's a group of musicians who seem to have become the closed minded establishment, no more so than in the UK.

J Romano - my Bongo's alive and kicking - I don't rule out another at some point though - pictured playing Voice in the Wilderness - I think from from the Cliff Richard film 'Espresso Bongo'!!

 

[boristhespider7]

Interesting discussion that this started. Back to Musician's Friend/Guitar Center...considering its size and prevalence, it just drives me nuts how they've been describing the Sterling incorrectly for so long. It sounds like Big Poppa is on it now and, considering GC leaned on him to call the budget line "Sterling by Music Man" (I won't beat that dead and cremated horse), the least MF/GC could do is correct the inaccurate description of the Sterling neck it's been putting out in the public realm for years.

 

[bovinehost]

By the way, after a set at the local pub in Grapevine a few weeks back, I was stashing my red Bongo back in the case and a guy says, "What sort of bass IS that, anyway?"

I said, "Music Man." He's giving it the eye. "Really? It doesn't look like - well, what MODEL is it?" "Bongo", says I. I hold it out so he can get a better look.

"That is really something, isn't it?" he said.

I admitted that it surely was something.

 

[J Romano]

Yeah, but before doing so, the good Dr. T should know that rich Norway has excrutiating prices, even for basses. We're used to this of course, but the good Dr. T might need to see good Dr. Otherletter when hearing them. For example, my Bongo 4HH costs almost £2,500 in Norway (a rough $4,000), and that's before the piezo is added.

best,
bert

Ouch!!!!!!

 

[J Romano]

J Romano - my Bongo's alive and kicking - I don't rule out another at some point though - pictured playing Voice in the Wilderness - I think from from the Cliff Richard film 'Espresso Bongo'!!

Very nice, red 5er. Yummy!

 

[boristhespider7]

The pain...I share your pain...It is sort of like world peace...Ill sick glen on it see if he can do better...thanks

You know sir, I think the revised description is still inaccurate. First, I'm surprised it doesn't mention the smaller 1.5" nut width which is a huge benefit and key feature of the Sterling. Second, isn't the radius of a Sterling 11''? That's what it says on MM's web site. Unless I'm mistaken, the new description (7.5" radius) states the radius of a Classic Sterling, but the listings are for the standard Sterlings H and HH. Finally, why not mention the number of frets (one more than the Stingray) and the contoured neck heel?

I always very much appreciate when neck depths at the 1st and 12th frets are included as well (as a number of other brands include), but maybe now I'm asking too much...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/music-man-sterling-hh-4-string-bass

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/music-man-sterling-4-string-bass-guitar

It looks like the Classic description is right on:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass...erling-4-electric-bass-guitar/423943000328422

 

[Golem]

`

Yeah yeah Ok OKAAAAAY awreddy.

Everybody knows you never trust anything printed by
any sort of mass merchandising operation and that you
do a speck check at the manufacturor's site. Jeeeziz ...

 

[tbonesullivan]

This is why I never pay attention to the descriptions on MF anyway. Also, I would much rather buy from a member of the PDN than MF any day. They need the business more than MF does, and you can count on better service.

 

[Soulkeeper]

whilst here in Norway, I just visit a nearby music shop in a little town, and they'll have several Bongos.

That's strange. I've never seen a Bongo in my life, and I've frequented music shops in Bergen, Tromsø, Oslo and other towns around the country looking/drooling at basses. Maybe I've just been unlucky? Do you have any tips to where I can find one to try? Preferably a 5 stringer.

 

[PzoLover]

What ever happened to pride in workmanship

Sad to say that all anglez and levelz of the ebmm distribution network do not live up to the high watermark standardz of bp & hiz loving slohandz
nuff outa me

ATB
PL

 

[BassTractor]

That's strange. I've never seen a Bongo in my life, and I've frequented music shops in Bergen, Tromsø, Oslo and other towns around the country looking/drooling at basses. Maybe I've just been unlucky? Do you have any tips to where I can find one to try? Preferably a 5 stringer.

Well, I'm now thinking this goes for my local shop as well, and a lot more than I thought. When I bought my first Bongo last year, they had several Bongos in stock as well as at least one Ray. Was soo in love with the Bongo that I didn't look around further.

However, when I returned last friday with a load of money (or rather: MasterCard naively trusted me with their money ) , they had nothing from EBMM (and not even one cheap Squier).
They told me they were lacking space and were in the process of making a dedicated high-end wall, but I have no idea whether that means they'll stock EBMM again.
It's Inge Dippner, btw.

best,
bert