One more bass to complete my Musicman collection, your opinion please.

[mdstingray]

* NBD page 3 *One more bass to complete my Musicman collection, your opinion please.



It took me about 30 years and 50 basses to get where I am today.

Left to right:
2006 Stingray 4H BFR all rosewood neck
2010 Reflex 5H
1979 Sabre

I've got room (and money..) to buy on more.

What Musicman do you think is missing in my collection? Appreciate your opinion.

I play mainly classic-rock at Irish pubs. At home I like to play along with funk/soul.

 

[sanderhermans]

A single H sterling is great for alot of styles but a big al is verry cool and versatile too. You could also try a classic stingray. They are one of the best basses ever built by ebmm in my opinion. Perfect ballance between old and new spec's.

 

[mdstingray]

A single H sterling is great for alot of styles but a big al is verry cool and versatile too. You could also try a classic stingray. They are one of the best basses ever built by ebmm in my opinion. Perfect ballance between old and new spec's.

Thanks!

I got the classic sound covered with my BFR Ray. I Understand 3eq Rosewood vs 2eq Maple will make some difference, but not all that much....I think.

The Big Al with 3 single coils might be interesting to check out.

 

[fly]

Sterling H

trust me

 

[sanderhermans]

Thanks!

I got the classic sound covered with my BFR Ray. I Understand 3eq Rosewood vs 2eq Maple will make some difference, but not all that much....I think.

The Big Al with 3 single coils might be interesting to check out.

IMO it does make a pretty huge difference. Plus the classics are verry different in many ways. But sterling H is a verry good option too.

 

[mdstingray]

Thanks for you comment Sander,

I've had a Classic Ray, black w/M, and a Classic vintage White w/Rosewood, and to be honest I did not think they were all that different.
A bit more heavy and uncomfortable due to the slab body, and maybe a tad more aggressive sounding.
Just my opinion.

Anyway, I'll go out next week to try a Sterling 4H, my local bass-shop happens to have one in stock (Black/maple)

 

[pacop]

1977-1979 stingray, your Sabre will love a single pickup partner.

 

[Golem]

`

Boingo


`

 

[mdstingray]

1977-1979 stingray, your Sabre will love a single pickup partner.

@pacop

I hear you. But like I said in my opening post, It took me 30 years and many basses to find the (for me) best.

I've had a 1977 and two 1978 Stingrays, but the 2009 BFR I have now is by far the best Stingray I have ever had.

 

[mdstingray]

`

Boingo


`

Yes...Bongo...never owned one. I tried one at a shop for about 5 minutes, and that was not a great experience.
Did not like the painted neck.
I guess I should give the Bongo a 2nd run while I am at the shop anyway.

 

[tunaman4u2]

Classic Rock & Sterling HH is the way to go. Awesome tone with a pick where its still meaty but has bite. Also has enough bite with just finger style. The maple version will be REALLY aggressive or the rosewood will be semi-aggressive. I like my Big Al but the Sterling has more mids for classic rock. The Bongo is great because its thicker at the D&G string than the Sterling but has less bite... but I'm partial to the 5 position switch of the Sterling being able to change tone on the fly for covers easier than just a blend. I also find I set & forget my Bongo settings while I feel freer to change my 3 band Sterling & know exactly what I'm getting

So... in the end its more about your tonal goals, playing live goals that you can answer better than us. Good luck!

 

[Tollywood]

Big Al.

 

[ksandvik]

Simple.

Bongo.

 

[Movielife]

Few options:

Classic Stingray
Big Al SSS
Bongo HH

If you want something unique, go with the Al.

 

[mdstingray]

Classic Rock & Sterling HH is the way to go. I'm partial to the 5 position switch of the Sterling being able to change tone on the fly for covers easier than just a blend. !

Appreciate your comment!

Don't you think the Sterling HH will be very similar to my Sabre? I haven't played a Sterling yet, so I can't tell.
I am looking for a Musicmansound I don't already have.

 

[sanderhermans]

Appreciate your comment!

Don't you think the Sterling HH will be very similar to my Sabre? I haven't played a Sterling yet, so I can't tell.
I am looking for a Musicmansound I don't already have.

the hh sterling will sound much more agressive then your sabre, all 5 modes are wired in series, this will give you a true humbucker sound with added highs and lows, and more overall output. with the single H you also have a parallel and single coil sound. wich in my opinion are more useable.
thats why i got a HH stingray, it does the same as the sterling HH but with parallel wiring, wich is a bit smoother.
with a big all sss you combine all these sound options into one bass, but for some people it has too manny sound options while lacking the classic stingray sound. and you must like the groovy body shape.
personally i'd like too add a big al sss to my collection. i'm not really a fan of the bongo, because of the body shape and the painted neck....

 

[muggsy]

I have four EBMM basses, Stingray 4H, Sterling 4H fretless, Bongo 4HSp, and Big Al 4SSS. Based on what you already have, I'd say Bongo. The Bongo preamp is amazing, and the HSp pickup combination gives you all sorts of useful tones you can't get in any other MM bass. Mine is the best bass I own. If you just can't get past some aesthetic issue with the Bongo, though, I'd say Big Al 4SSS.

 

[mdstingray]

@ Sander : Thanks for the info, my local shop has a Sterling H, so will definitively give it a test-run

@ Muggsy : Thanks, the only issue I have w/Bongo is the painted neck, but I understand that there are Bongo's with non-painted necks too. Will be on the look out for one.

It seems like the Big Al (Just like the Reflex basses) are very limited available in Europe.

 

[muggsy]

@ Muggsy : Thanks, the only issue I have w/Bongo is the painted neck, but I understand that there are Bongo's with non-painted necks too. Will be on the look out for one.

My Bongo has a roasted maple (non-painted) neck. I love the feel of the roasted necks.

 

[danny-79]

View attachment 28305

It took me about 30 years and 50 basses to get where I am today.

Left to right:
2006 Stingray 4H BFR all rosewood neck
2015 Reflex 5H
1979 Sabre

I've got room (and money..) to buy on more.

What Musicman do you think is missing in my collection? Appreciate your opinion.

I play mainly classic-rock at Irish pubs. At home I like to play along with funk/soul.

Hi and welcome, that is a nice collection you have there !
I'm personally after a Bongo 4H so that would be my vote. regarding the finish on the back of the neck, the only finish I will have on any of my basses is oil & wax, the bongo neck is a satin finish but doesn't feel that much different to me, its manageable if its a wax finish that your used to.