I'm confused on a next bass purchase...help

[Gadgetech]

Ok, I'm looking at several different 4 string basses by EBMM. I've currently got a Sterling by Music Man Ray34CA, my first and only bass, and I'm looking at purchasing a Music Man bass. I'd like to get something a little different although I gotta be honest I'd love to have the "original" bass it all started with which I'm guessing is most like the Classic Sting Ray. On the other hand, I like the Sterling Bass but wonder what the difference is with the ceramic magnets vs. the Alnico magnets which seem similar to what's on the Ray34CA I have. I think the non Class Sting Ray is nice too but I really want to go for the birds eye or flame maple neck so I ruled that one out.

I'd appreciate some feedback and suggestions. In terms of music I play (practice)...I like blues, classic rock, I'll play Christian contemporary and probably wouldn't mind filling in some country maybe. I don't really need another bass but I want to buy one so that's my motivation.

Oh and hello! This is my first post.

 

[bdgotoh]

Welcome! If you're completely happy with the Ray34ca then a USA Classic Ray is going to be the closest thing. Gloss finish on the neck, slab body with no forearm contour, and 2 band EQ.

USA Sterling basses are a very different beast, the necks are much narrower (like a Jazz bass neck) and the ceramic pickups are a bit grittier and more aggressive sounding than the alnico Ray pickups. I personally love how the Sterling sounds, it and the Bongo are my favorite MM basses.

 

[sanderhermans]

Welcome! If i had to choose 1 musicman bass i would go for the classic stingray. That one just has the tone for me. Sterling is great too. Its verry versatile. A bit more powerfull then the sr classic too. If you want the extra switching options or a dual pickup design, then you should go for sterling or normal stingray in hh or hs. For a softer, more oldschool tone the classic stingray is better.

 

[steevo]

How about a sabre or hh stingray? Bigger range of sounds and the sabre looks stunning.

 

[Gadgetech]

I like the sabre but was thinking about 1.5" or less neck width.

Sent from my Galaxy S5 Active

 

[liverbird]

Not sure whether it can be ordered for a Sabre but you could get a SLO neck (1.5" nut width). Definitely an option for a Stingray, as far as I know.

 

[melvin7822]

To me something with a 1.5" neck width and something "a little different" equals the Classic Sterling.

 

[Gadgetech]

Is there a good video comparing the sound of the Classic SR to the Sterling?

 

[sanderhermans]

Classic sterling is verry cool indeed but its too bad that it only does series wiring. Not a real sterling to me...

 

[Gadgetech]

Classic sterling is verry cool indeed but its too bad that it only does series wiring. Not a real sterling to me...

I don't know enough about the Classic Sterling to understand. Would you mind elaborating?

 

[sanderhermans]

The normal sterling single h pickup has a switch for series or paralel wiris and noiseless single coil. A verry cool feature that has been deleted on the classic series for god knows why... the series setting is great but Imo not to be using all the time
A switch to paralel or single coil allows to tame the bass down a bit.

 

[melvin7822]

Here's a good video demonstrating the Classic Sterling.

 

[Gadgetech]

The normal sterling single h pickup has a switch for series or paralel wiris and noiseless single coil. A verry cool feature that has been deleted on the classic series for god knows why... the series setting is great but Imo not to be using all the time
A switch to paralel or single coil allows to tame the bass down a bit.

I greatly appreciate the explanation sanderhermans.

Here's a good video demonstrating the Classic Sterling.

Thank you melvin7822, I'll definately watch this!

Sent from my Galaxy S5 Active

 

[jlepre]

Could someone please explain to me the difference between SERIES and PARALLEL? I have a 2001 SR5 which has CERAMIC pups I believe, and I love the PARALLEL mode as it has a very distinct almost sparkly sound. That is compared to the in your face SERIES mode. What makes such a huge difference between these 2 settings? Sorry for the hijack, but I have always wondered the difference.

Is SERIES more powerful because of the wiring?

 

[sanderhermans]

Could someone please explain to me the difference between SERIES and PARALLEL? I have a 2001 SR5 which has CERAMIC pups I believe, and I love the PARALLEL mode as it has a very distinct almost sparkly sound. That is compared to the in your face SERIES mode. What makes such a huge difference between these 2 settings? Sorry for the hijack, but I have always wondered the difference.

Is SERIES more powerful because of the wiring?

Paralel wiring is essentialy two single coils put togheter. And the sound resembles this. Its warm and clean sounding. In series the two coils are wired togheter as a true humbucker. The magnetic current from coil 1 travels tru coil 2 and increases the overall volume because the two coils actually are added to each other before going to the eq section. This makes for a more agressive sound. I hope you understood what im trying to say here....

 

[djaxup]

Parallel sounds more scooped, more hifi with more treble content.
Series sounds more mid-forward and outright louder, but a bit muffled on the top end.

 

[sanderhermans]

Parallel sounds more scooped, more hifi with more treble content.
Series sounds more mid-forward and outright louder, but a bit muffled on the top end.

In my experience the highs are boosted in series too...