Question Return to the Scene of the Tone: new ST5 v 2008 ST5 v 2000 SR5

[stuartv]

Well, it seems like there is a fair difference between my cSR5 and the Sterlings. But, I didn't take the cSR5 with me to GC last night. Since the pickup height on it was okay and I didn't change anything on it, I didn't see a reason to take it down there again. But, now that I have the LE dialed in, I will have another go with the sound of the cSR5. I'll probably take John's suggestion now and put a new battery in it, just to be sure that's not part of the problem. I may also take the Slinkys off the Sterling and put them on the cSR5, to see if that's the issue. The cSR5 currently has Circle K strings.

 

[AnthonyD]

Interesting read. I've found that pick-up height is a critical component in overall output.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[Golem]

.......

And my Stingray 5 will be up
on CL and TB shortly.

You forgot to mention that you
will also list it here ... jussayin.

 

[stuartv]

You forgot to mention that you
will also list it here ... jussayin.

I didn't forget. I looked and didn't see any kind of subforum for listing For Sale items. And I haven't seen any threads in this subforum that seemed to be people selling gear, so I assumed there is no selling allowed here.

 

[Gravesend Black]

I didn't forget. I looked and didn't see any kind of subforum for listing For Sale items. And I haven't seen any threads in this subforum that seemed to be people selling gear, so I assumed there is no selling allowed here.

http://forums.ernieball.com/music-m...asses-sale-no-comments-please.html#post917409

It is magic. Nobody sees the sticky threads on top of the forum)

 

[stuartv]

Interesting. How effective is that thread?

In life, if you know that a bass store only stocks 9 basses, but there's another store that's just as easy to get to that stocks 500 basses, which one would you go to for shopping purposes?

Having a single thread for all purposes of selling seems like it would attract so little attention that few people would notice it and, thus, sellers would not really have much luck with postings there. No?

But, yes, when I am ready to list mine (just need to take some pictures), I will post it there, too. Don't see how it could hurt!

 

[ScottyBoy]

Looks like you have found your answer but out of interest sake, what neck/fingerboard wood did yours and the stores Sterling5 have?

 

[stuartv]

All 3 basses in this thread have plain maple boards, plain necks (maple, I assume), and the oiled/waxed finish. No birdseye, no roastedness, and no gloss finishes.

 

[lpdeluxe]

Thanks for listing the factory spec for string height above the pickup. I'll check out mine tomorrow.

Nice avatar. I used to road race back in '68-'71 .

 

[Soulkeeper]

It is magic. Nobody sees the sticky threads on top of the forum)

Not magic, just advanced hide-fu. Q: How do you best hide an apple? A: In a big pile of apples.

 

[stuartv]

Thanks for listing the factory spec for string height above the pickup. I'll check out mine tomorrow.

Nice avatar. I used to road race back in '68-'71 .

No problem.

And, nice! I started roadracing in 1990. Last race I was in was 2007. Completely destroyed the bike in my avatar. I've only managed to do one or two track days a year since then. But, man! Roadracing back in '68! Those bikes back then were scary!

 

[Golem]

Not magic, just advanced hide-fu.

Q: How do you best hide an apple?
A: In a big pile of apples.

Yup. Works for zebras ....

 

[stuartv]

I spent last night comparing my ceramic SR5 to my Sterling 5 LE.

I confirmed that the SR5 sounded quieter.

I swapped batteries between the 2 and the SR5 was still quieter.

I swapped strings between the 2, so the SR5 now has new Power Slinkys and the Sterling has Circle Ks that are probably a year old, but not really played that much. I think that may account for a little of it. I think the Cirlce Ks aren't *quite* as loud as the new Power Slinkys.

The only thing left was the last thing that occured to me. I checked my hand position. I think the ergonomics of the two were such that I did not have my hand in the same spot relative to the pickup when I was switching back and forth. When I compared them again, making sure that my hand was right at the neck side edge of the pickup on both, they seemed a lot closer in sound.

But, I have to add the caveat that by that time last night, it was late and the upstairs neighbors were home and in bed (I think), so I had my amp turned down pretty low. I will give it another try when I can really turn it up and play kind of hard.

At this point, I still feel like the 2000 SR5 doesn't have quite as much output as the 2008 Sterling - but they're closer than they seemed before. But, I guess I just can't really say for sure, yet.