👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
  • Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
    If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.
John Myung Bongo 4

Backup for my Sterling...any suggestions?

F

fiveightandten

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
13
I think it's about time that I got a backup bass to bring to gigs, in case of broken strings or other mishaps.

My bass is a Sterling, which I love so much i'm not sure I really want anything else. Another Sterling would seem to make the most sense. But that's a lot of money to spend on a bass that I really don't NEED.

So...Talk to me about the SUB's (Sterling version), and the OLP's.

Do the SUB's have a countoured body? What are the notable differences in construction, playability, tone, and electronics? Also...could I buy a SUB and stock it with regular Sterling electronics (pickup, pre-amp, everything). I realize there's no hole cut for a pickup selector, but besides that. Ie. Is the spacing for the pots the same, so the PCB's would line up? Things like that.

Any experience with the OLP's?

I'm also not too familiar with the going used rates to compare these, as these don't seem to come up on eBay all that often.

Any opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

-Nick
 
I'm not up on the Sterlings but here goes anyways:

I would get a SUB over an OLP. SUB's are made by MM, OLP's are not. With the SUB you get the same build quality but less expensive finish and electronics.

If you're seriously contemplating upgrading a SUB Sterling's electronics later on down the road, you might as well just get a Sterling. You'd be out the expense of the SUB as well as the electronics. Also, MM doesn't sell the electronics separately. So you'd have to resort to the black market (Ebay, for example). Availability is rare from what I've seen which will drive up price.

Maybe a Sterling with a HH or HS configuration is in order. If not, I'd say get a Bongo. :p
 
I've played OLP's; nothing wrong them for the money. I have no experience with the SUB basses.

IMHO, your backup bass should be as good as your main; you want a level of consistency during your gigs.

Again, just my .02 cents.
 
Holy smokes James, wendue git up over 2000 posts? I remember when you were just a yungin 'round these parts. Now you's all growd up. Life passes by when you don't pay attention.
 
I'd just look out for a decent 2nd hand Sterling.
I don't think OLP has Sterling models, only Stingray models as far as I know. they're very decent for the price, although I heard production quality lowered, and that testing is a must before buying.
Too be honest, I don't like the looks of the SUB Sterling, but I have played the SUB stingray model, and it was great value for the money. Sounded and played really sweet. Never had a Sterling model in my hand, but I suppose they 'll have the same EB/MM quality
 
How about a Sterling fretless. It would be a backup, a different instrument all-together, and you'll find you will use both at gigs. I've got one, and what a fantastic instrument. It is my only fretless, which I've had for a couple years.
If you are new to fretless, like me, you wouldn't want to gig full-time with it, but you could probably play a few songs in your catalog right away. Plus, you'll have a ball practicing with it.

Seriously, I'd consider it.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

Sounds like an OLP is out of the question if they don't make an equilivant of the Sterling. I thought about a SR4 (or cheaper equilivant like the SUB or OLP), but I really prefer the body size and nut width of the Sterling.

I'm going to try and find a SUB Sterling to get in my hands and see what I think of it. But I think a lot of you have a point about getting a 2nd hand Sterling and just having 2. They seem to go as low as $750 or so used, which is a bit more than I planned on spending on a backup bass (especially seeing as i'm in the market for an Aggy DB750 right now as well ;) ). But I guess i'd rather spend a little more and get something that I wouldn't consider inferior to my Sterling, then have a bass that i'd be less than excited to play when the time came. Especially if I wound up breaking a string at a show or something like that.

I'm still interested in hearing any more opinions on the SUB sterling. I want to play one of those. I'll probably make some calls and see if I can track one down around here.

Thanks again everyone.

-Nick
 
If you can pick up a used Sterling fairly cheaply, you will always be able to sell it for close to your cost. Look at it as a free rental with an $800 deposit.
Jim B
 
maddog said:
Holy smokes James, wendue git up over 2000 posts? I remember when you were just a yungin 'round these parts. Now you's all growd up. Life passes by when you don't pay attention.
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure James had a couple days where he fit in 100 posts, or at least it seemed that way. ;)
 
I have an OLP MM2 that I'm going to be unloading soon. It has a Bartolini pre-amp, Hipshot Detuner, & a MM case in decent shape.. Probably going to sell it for $350 shipped.
 
Mobay45 said:
Too bad you don't want a 5 string with the price that Bill is selling his Burnt Apple SR5 for.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't really have any use for a 5. Thanks for mentioning it though.

barkatozz said:
I have an OLP MM2 that I'm going to be unloading soon. It has a Bartolini pre-amp, Hipshot Detuner, & a MM case in decent shape.. Probably going to sell it for $350 shipped.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the offer, but I just much prefer the size of the Sterling over the Ray bodystyle and nutwidth. I have pretty small hands, so it's much more comfortable to me. If it was a Sterling sized instrument, i'd be interested. But I guess they don't even make one, huh.

-Nick
 
barkatozz said:
I have an OLP MM2 that I'm going to be unloading soon. It has a Bartolini pre-amp, Hipshot Detuner, & a MM case in decent shape.. Probably going to sell it for $350 shipped.
Click to expand...
No offense, but good luck getting that price for it, despite the upgrades..
 
Figjam said:
No offense, but good luck getting that price for it, despite the upgrades..
Click to expand...
That's probably about what he has into it if he bought everything new. $200 for the bass, $100 for a case, $100 for the pre-amp. Give or take $50.

But yeah, that's a matter of waiting for the right buyer to come along.

-Nick
 
fiveightandten said:
That's probably about what he has into it if he bought everything new. $200 for the bass, $100 for a case, $100 for the pre-amp. Give or take $50.

But yeah, that's a matter of waiting for the right buyer to come along.

-Nick
Click to expand...
I guess shipping is free right?
 
Last edited:
You say that quite confidently, would you be willing to put money down on that? :p


But yes, ive sold about 80 things on ebay.

If you search past auctions, an OLP hasnt sold for above even $175. I dont think anyone that owuld be looking into OLPs would care that much about the upgrades to pay that much.

IMO i think you'd have better luck putting the original parts back in and selling the upgraded parts separately,but thats just my opinion, you dont have to listen to me. For all I know you could get $350 for it, as mentioned its just a matter of waiting for the right buyer..
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Classic Rock N Roll Slinky
Back
Top