Best Sterling 4 for Jazz Fusion tone?

[bob atherton]

I don’t post here too often as I’m very happy with my MM Sterling 4H and it pretty much does all I want it to. I also have a Stingray 4H that hasn’t been out of its case for about six months thanks to the Sterling.

I play in a jazz fusion band and like a good mid forward tone. Think Jeff Berlin and Jaco. I use the centre position on the Sterling as this is the closest to a Fender Jazz kind of tone, which I like. I use a Markbass LMIII with two TC Electronic 2x10 cabs. I set the amp with a touch of extra mid but apart from that it’s fairly flat. The Sterling has a touch of plus on the bass a bit more than a touch on the mid and flat on the treble.

As the Stingray is gathering dust I thought I would trade it for another Sterling 4. I don’t get on with 5ers and I prefer the F Jazz feel to the Sterling neck. I really can’t cope with the look of the Bongo so I’m guessing that the spare bass should be another Sterling? My question is, is the 4H the best way to get the sort of tone that I mentioned above? Are there better pup configurations to get the best mid forward, punchy, jazz fusion tone?

Thanks in advance, Bob

 

[Movielife]

Hi Bob

The HH will give you some very thick warm tones, as well as a few nice aggressive ones.

If you still want the single coil at bridge option (I do!) then go for the HS. That S at the bridge and S at the neck solo'd are wonderful!

 

[bizmarckie]

Since you like feel of the sterling neck, maybe a Big Al will be a great alternative... Lots of tone options

 

[Movielife]

+1. That Big Al will give you some awesome tones...with a very comfy neck. Think of it as a vintage style EBMM, it looks very different and its tones are brilliant.

 

[drTStingray]

The multi pick up basses give more options (and bear in mind you get two single coil options with an HH). As you are happy with the Sterling sound another of them is probably a good idea as the ceramic pick ups definitely make a different sound - BUT you lose the single coil pick up sound you're using AFAIK.

I use my SR4HH for a bit of fusion (if you could call modern versions of Miles Davis fusion!) - I tend to use it with both pick ups in H mode as the slap tone is unbelievable and the fingerstyle tone is very smooth in comparison to the traditional MM bridge H sound.

The bridge H gives better harmonics (I guess you may be using these) IMO.

 

[keko]

For Jazz Fusion tone on the 4 banger Sterling, I suggest single H or HS models, but definitely You should use switch position(s) which turns on bridge single coil (with phantom canceling coil)!

Of course, this tone needs to be properly EQ-ed! (personally like that kind of bass tone)

 

[bob atherton]

"...but definitely You should use switch position(s) which turns on bridge single coil (with phantom canceling coil)!"

Is that the centre position on the Sterling switch? I don't know what they are called, but I know what they sound like..!

The centre position to me sounds like a Fender Jazz on steroids. Love it!

 

[keko]

Is that the centre position on the Sterling switch? I don't know what they are called, but I know what they sound like..!

The centre position to me sounds like a Fender Jazz on steroids. Love it!

On single H Sterling is center position (3-Way switch), ...on HS Sterling is position 2 (5-Way switch) counting from bridge to neck!

I usually blend EQ for this bridge single coil mode like this:

-bass boost about 80%
-mid boost about 20-30%
-treble flat or cut a little bit (depends of fresh/old strings)

Also properly blended bridge H in serial mode could be great for fusion jazz-rock stuff, depends of Your rig (of course) and PA support, if any!

And yes, properly EQ-ed and played bridge single coil on Sterling Music Man basses could eat any F Jazz Bass for breakfast!

 

[drTStingray]

The outer single coil setting on an HH can get a very Fender Jazz esque tone if you want it - but with that Musicman vibe to it (position 2 from bridge end) - it can do a lot more as well though.

I hear what you guys say on the centre setting on a Sterling H - I use this on my SR5 sometimes (mine's a 2003 so it's got similar pick up and electronics as a modern Sterling 5).