Might buy 2 Stingrays, sell me on a Sterling!

[nurnay]

I've Googled Stingray vs. Sterling and know the basic differences. Sterling has a smaller body, thinner/faster neck, more tonal options with the PU switch. Some say the Ray is close to a P bass, while the Sterling is more like a Jazz.

I've heard the Sterling has a more "aggressive" sound. Can someone quantify this for me? How would you describe the difference in tone (if you have both, I'd love to hear your A/B sound samples)? I've heard the Ray has a fatter tone, does this mean the Sterling has a thin tone? Would you say the Sterling is more growly?

Also, just how much smaller is the body on the Sterling compared to the Ray? I'm a hefty dude and don't want to look any more silly than I do if the body is too small.

Basically, I've fallen in love with two color combos. One is cherry burst with a rosewood board and the other is pearl blue with maple. Both are beautiful Rays, but part of me is thinking why buy two of the same model, why not switch the maple one to a Sterling?

I won't have a chance to play the Sterling before buying, so if I choose to buy, I'm taking a risk.

 

[sanderhermans]

The sterling is smaller but not that much, more stretched out look. The body is as long as stingray but a bit les wide. The thickness is the same.
I've noticed that my stingray is more snappy with deep lows too, so more high and low "mid scooped sounding" my sterling sounds fuller overall it's less extreme but way more versitile. In parallel its verry deep sounding and in series it has verry clear highs that stand out. But the stingay has a more specific and special sound in my opinion.
Note that my sterlig has rosewood board and sr has a maple board so that is also part of the sound difference.

 

[sanderhermans]

Sorry just compared again, the body of the sterling is shorter too, and less wide. But to mee it looks longer and sleeker.
Weird thing is that my sterling wieghs slightly more than my stingray.
I'm glad that my first mm was a sterling because you can get almost annything out of it. My stingray just has that 1 special tone. But best for the price is the sterling in my opinion.

 

[Golem]

`

The Sterling has that extra fret thaz soooooooo very
essential for modern styles. So go buy one. Actually,
all BS aside, you KNOW you want it, and I/we know
you're more than capable of selling yourself on it, so
just do it. You can thank me/us/yourself later.

What it sometimes boils down to is whether you can
live without the chrome banana. But since you're
gonna buy both, no harm no foul

P.S. My Sterlings do not seem any lighter than my
Rays ... but they do zip into a gigbag more easily
cuzza that inch difference.

 

[nurnay]

what it sometimes boils down to is whether you can
live without the chrome banana.

lol! :d

 

[tbonesullivan]

see which one you like the sound of better. The pickups are different, which does effect the sound. Also a standard SR4 H is wired in parallel with Alnico pole pieces, while the Sterling 4h has a three way switch for series, single, and parallel and uses steel pole pieces with a ceramic bar magnet underneath. That really does give each a unique sound.

 

[nurnay]

see which one you like the sound of better. The pickups are different, which does effect the sound. Also a standard SR4 H is wired in parallel with Alnico pole pieces, while the Sterling 4h has a three way switch for series, single, and parallel and uses steel pole pieces with a ceramic bar magnet underneath. That really does give each a unique sound.

I don't have that option, unfortunately. There are no Sterlings in my area. But, I've blindly purchased a Big Al & a Bongo with no disappointment, so I may give it a go.

 

[Golem]

`

Well, since you hafta buy blindly/deafly, you wanna
have max flexibility to assure that you don't wind up
with some ax thaz lacking the sound you hope for.

Even if you're just grazing for more sounds, with no
particular sound you're after, max flexibility should
be the order of the day. IMNSHO the HS is the most
sonically versatile Sterling. I think if you search the
forum for "HS vs HH" discussions you'll find that the
HS is The Deal ... not just for Sterlings but for Rays
and Boingos as well. YMMV, but most prolly will not !

 

[sanderhermans]

Are hs basses that much better than single h ones? And in what way?

 

[Golem]

Are hs basses that much better than single h ones?
And in what way?

...................................... I think if you search the
forum for "HS vs HH" discussions you'll find that
the HS is The Deal ... not just for Sterlings but for
Rays and Boingos as well. ........................

`
Let's just say that dual PU MM's were NOT just the end
result of BP sitting at a CAD station bored outa his skull.

Myselves, I got 3 HS and and 2 HH and whenever I play
an HH I keep wishing it were an HS. There is a greater
variety of voices on the HS. Might even say that the HH
is like a single bass with multiple voices, but the HS is
like actual multiple basses. Much wider differences from
the coil switch on an HS compared to an HH. There are
TWO single coil voices on an HS, and none, zero, zilch
SC voices on an HH. [On Boingos make that 1 vs none.]

 

[tbonesullivan]

I'll second the HS argument. It just gives more versatility than the HH models. Part of that is also just how the HH models are wired though.

 

[tunaman4u2]

I like the fact that on the HH all the volume is equal on each position... I do like the HS has some more room for slap & the tones are more variable.

Sterling all the way... ceramics in series but also have parallel while stringray is parallel or bust

 

[tbonesullivan]

In the single H model only. In the Sterling models with two pickups there is always series wiring involved, even if there is also parallel wiring. The Stingray models are now all parallel, though the switching/electronics on Stingray 5's prior to 2007 was the same as the sterling. When the sterling 5 came out, they changed the stingray 5.

 

[five7]

Live a little, get a sterling. I love mine!

 

[OldManMusic]

Live a little, get a sterling. I love mine!

Yep - what he said...

 

[Davecg2]

I was going to get a Stingray myself. Ended up getting a Sterling and I couldn't be happier. The neck is the fastest that I've ever laid hands on and the tone is more aggressive and has a sharper growl in my opinion. It's also a bit lighter and while the Stingrays looks sharp, I think the Sterling is one of the coolest looking basses on the planet.

Here's a link to a bunch of info about my Sterling.
Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling 4

 

[73jbass]

Currently own 2 HH Sterlings and 2 HS Sterlings. The HS is my favorite. Position 4 is pure magic!

 

[Movielife]

I'm currently thinking of ordering another 4 string Musicman, and it will be a HH or HS and in Natural. At the moment, I don't know whether to get a Ray 4 or a Sterling 4...I'm heading towards Stingray 4 HH or Sterling 4 HS.

 

[steveinohio]

The smaller body of the Sterling is the only thing that has stopped me from buying one. I feel goofy because of how small it is. Love the sound though.

 

[Golem]

The smaller body of the Sterling is the only thing that has
stopped me from buying one. I feel goofy because of how
small it is. Love the sound though.

Draw a picture of the face of the person who told you to
feel goofy about the size. Paste that picture on log, drive
nails into it, and then toss it into a fire. Gasoline optional.

I didn't even realize that my first Sterling actually WAS
a Sterling until I was reading my receipt. It was my first
dual PU of the Ray/Sterling genre so I somehow ignored
the lack of a chrome banana. It sounded and felt great,
so I bought it. And all along thinking it was another Ray,
until I read the receipt.

OK, so *I* really have reason to feel goofy, if I choose
to, which I do NOT, anywho. *YOU* have no reason. So
get you a log, some gasoline and nails, and a Sterling !