Ugliest sterling ever. Suggestions?

[Gustaf]

Hello. Just wanted to show you my new sterling. It was once the first price in a music contest called emergenza that ernie ball used to sponsor. It's definitly the ugliest music man instrument I've ever seen and it would look great if I removed the hideous paint job. Although its kind of "unique".. rumour has it that only 20 of these were made and shipped to different european countries for the emergenza contests. Anyway here are som pics:

http://imageshack.com/a/img33/3784/9bw0.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img845/5431/wra1.jpg

My first thought was to sand it down, or remove the paint with some kind of paint remover. Does anyone have any information on what kind of lacquer that might have been used, and the best way to remove it? Also, suggestions for a new finnish is welcome! Im thinking about going all natural with this one.. although I don't know what lies behind the paint. How can I learn what kind of body wood it has without removing the lacquer?

thanks in advance.

 

[Gravesend Black]

Post your serial number at the http://forums.ernieball.com/music-m...an-serial-number-database-558.html#post930767 so they will tell you about wood used for it.

I'm not sure but I guess you have refinish the bass if you want to remove all this commercial) Personally I'd suggest Honeyburst or Trans Teal. Simple but great colors!

 

[Soulkeeper]

At least it's ... special. Maybe there's a market for it? Have you considered selling it and buying a slightly less crazy Sterling for yourself?

 

[Gustaf]

Well.. Let me put it like this.. The old owner never used the bass due to the looks of it, when he was trying to sell it he had to lower the price so much that he ended up keeping it for many years. Finally he sold it real cheap (imo), I bought this for aprox. 500€, or around 750$.. A used sterling over here (in sweden), usually goes for around 1200$ or more if it's in real nice condition. Since he had a hard time selling it even for a low price, I figure that unfortunatly, the looks of the bass aren't appealing to anyone. I dont think there's a good market for it.

However, I bought it to use it. It's in great condition and plays great, my only convern is the looks of it. And I have posted in the serial nr thread and are waiting for the reply

 

[tbonesullivan]

it's an EBMM, which means its' got a very high quality finish. It will not be easy to remove. I would suggest letting a pro handle it. That bass is definitely worth getting it professionally refinished. If you are ok with black, you might just have to have the top sanded down and refinished. Definitely cheaper than having to get the whole dang thing redone.

 

[liverbird]

Well, I'm a stickler for originality. It's a rare bass, and I wouldn't change a thing. Looks good to me.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Well, I'm a stickler for originality. It's a rare bass, and I wouldn't change a thing. Looks good to me.

this is true. I wouldn't change it either. I mean, if you don't like it, why buy it? the cost of getting it pro refinished will most likely negate any savings.

 

[sanderhermans]

It propably will cost more te repaint so why ruin a unique instrument. I would keep it the way its suposed to be.

 

[b-unit]

I like it. Its unique and fun. Keep her as is and play her in good health! Its a fantastic conversation piece too!

 

[Gustaf]

Yes. I have many options here. What I, again, want to point out is that I got this bass very cheap, I intend to use it and selling it and buying another one isn't a good option for me. Unlike some of you, my financial resources for a new bass is very limited and this way I got a very good quality instrument for a low price. The only thing that bugs me is the look of it. All of your opinions are valuable, and I'm surprised that so many of you think I should keep it as is. But thinking about it, Im always irritated when I see a nice vintage instrument with a poor paint job, why not just keep things as they were? In my case I doubt that I want to be seen in public with that paint job.. But I'll think of it.

FYI, the bass on the right to the EBMM sterling is my cheaper sterling by music man SUB SB4, which is the cheapset sterling avaible. From what I know, they don't produce it anymore. If there's any interest I could do a comparison of the two. My impression so far is that while the EBMM is superior in everyway, the SUB bass isn't that far behind. It's actually quite close to the real deal and considering the price for these instruments that is extraordinary. I would say that the sterling by music man is the best bang for the buck there is at this point.

 

[Soulkeeper]

In my case I doubt that I want to be seen in public with that paint job.. But I'll think of it.

May covering it in stickers be a solution? It's reversible, so you can have your cake and eat it too. Or maybe adhesive vinyl, the sort used to put logos on cars. That should give you more options.

My impression so far is that while the EBMM is superior in everyway, the SUB bass isn't that far behind.

Agreed. I just received a Sub Ray5 two days ago. I intend to use it as a beater and a modding platform.

When I compare it to my EBMM SR5s, ignoring the finish and other non-vital details (plus the cheap strings that I haven't gotten around to changing yet), I'd say it's 70% of the instrument for 10% of the price.

 

[Golem]

`

That might be the absolutely mostest waaaaayyy
uggleeeee-est finish I've ever seen. If it were mine
and I were stuck with it and hadda play it in places
where the lights are on, I'd get a huge custom PG
fitted via an adhesive backing, just in case I hadda
return it back to "collector" condition, like if I met
a blind collector with lotsa money but no brains ....

Such a pickguard would cost about $80 in the US.

Or, you you could beat it with logging chains until
the finish is unrecognizable. Fender charges about
$1000 for such an upgrade, but I'm sure you can
find various persons with a desire to lend a hand
if your arm gets tired, like anyone with eyes ....

 

[Gustaf]

Progress is being made:

http://s23.postimg.org/e9jnwvlzv/IMG_2256.jpg

 

[Tollywood]

Looking better already!!!

 

[fly]

oh man.......clear coat that baby and call it a day........nice piece of wood right there.

 

[Golem]

oh man.......clear coat that baby and call it a day........
nice piece of wood right there.

At first I thought that clear coat might not be best, cuz
the hard change from light to dark on the bass side was
buggin me ... but I *think* a PG will interrupt that line
just enuf to eliminate the effect of the abrupt boundary.

Mebbe you could post a pic with a PG in place ? Those
wing pieces certainly do display some great grain

 

[MadMatt]

Maybe you should get some glossy or flat black self adhesive foil. Here in Germany d-c-Fix is a quality brand. If you take your time you should be able to get it mounted cleanly, without bubbles. Start at the edge, vacuum away the dust from under the foil and use a hair dryer to get it to stick without bubbles.

 

[Bigpig]

Man, if there were only 20 made, stick it in the closet and forget about it for 50 years and who knows.

 

[Sonnyonbass]

Wow. you removed the paint job? Was just going to offer €1800. Hmmmm bad luck.
Doesn't look too bad without paint on it though!

 

[Gustaf]

Mebbe you could post a pic with a PG in place ?

Even if I have a pick guard from my other sterling I could try to put on there, this one wasn't drilled for a pick guard since it was a custom order. I intend to keep it that way, I won't drill for a pick guard.

Was just going to offer €1800.

No you weren't. Besides, the value of this bass probably increased now