- Thread starter didi
- Start date
Kevin Ellis
Member
I am not an authority but will add what little I know. I love Stingrays and have several but have never owned a Sterling or a Bongo. Sterling necks seem to be a bit thinner. Sorta like the difference in a Jazz bass and a P-Bass. I love the Stingray neck and nothing else feels as comfortable to me so I have never really considered a Sterling or Bongo too much. The Sterling body is a little bit smaller and I do like that alot. The Sterlings also have a 3 way pickup switch to choose different modes and thus it is probably a bit more versatile than the Stingray.
Hmmm...... I like smaller Jazz necks so I would probably like the Sterling neck..........I like the smaller body......I like to have a diverse sound......I think I just talked myself into buying a Sterling..!!
I will now leave this thread to the experts..
Hmmm...... I like smaller Jazz necks so I would probably like the Sterling neck..........I like the smaller body......I like to have a diverse sound......I think I just talked myself into buying a Sterling..!!
I will now leave this thread to the experts..
mynan
Well-known member
Caca de Kick
Well-known member
didi,
All three models have different electronics, and obviously body shapes and neck profiles.
The best thing for you to do is just go to a store and try all three out.
All three models have different electronics, and obviously body shapes and neck profiles.
The best thing for you to do is just go to a store and try all three out.
phatduckk
Well-known member
you can do a search to get more details but ill give you a summary:
necks:
sterling:
thinner than all of em (think Jazz bass)
22 frets
Stingray 4:
biggest neck profile (think p bass)
21 frets
Bongo:
neck profile is between the other 2 (very comfy)
24 frets
body:
Sterling: downsized
Stingray 4: "normal"
Bongo: very different (you've seen the pictures)
pickups:
Sterling: ceramic magnets (wired with switch - see below)
Stingray 4: alnico magnets (wired in parallel)
Bongo: neo magnets (wired in i dunno)
all basses are available as:
single humbucker, dual humbucker or humbucker + single coil (single coil at neck position)
a peizo bridge can be added to any pickup combo (on right handed basses)
2 pickup stingray and sterling switching info available at:
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/8760-new-2pu-bass-switch-functions.html
electronics:
Sterling: 3 band preamp, 3 way switch (parallel, single coil, series on single H)
Stingray 4: comes in 2 and 3 band preamps
Bongo: 18volts - very powerful. 4 band preamp (hi, low, hi-mid, low-mid), pickup mix knob on 2 pup versions
All basses come in 3 possible pickup combos:
single H, dual humbucker, and humbucker + signle coil...
the switching info above is regarding a singe H - check the sticky thread for 2 pup sr4 and sterling switching info
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/8760-new-2pu-bass-switch-functions.html
all basses come with a peizo option as well (in right handed models)
tone:
Sterling: aggressive. can be mellowed out using the preamp. has a nice cutting mid
stingray: more low end - not as aggressive as sterling
Bongo: versetile as hell due to the awesome preamp
so that's the bullet point summary. a real writeup of the differences would be a 7 page thesis especially when you get into the various pickup combinations
one HUGE point that gets overlooked far too often is the neck profile. i prefer sterlings for various reasons - the biggest reason being that i love the neck shape. it fits me. this does not mean i cant play the other two or that the others are "fat" - its just i prefer the smaller neck. others prefer the sr4 or bongo neck for their own reasons... cant really quantify comfort.
there's no rule of thumb as to which bass would work for what situation.
hope this helps. if you have specific questions lemme know... more specific questions would make this an easier Q&A
necks:
sterling:
thinner than all of em (think Jazz bass)
22 frets
Stingray 4:
biggest neck profile (think p bass)
21 frets
Bongo:
neck profile is between the other 2 (very comfy)
24 frets
body:
Sterling: downsized
Stingray 4: "normal"
Bongo: very different (you've seen the pictures)
pickups:
Sterling: ceramic magnets (wired with switch - see below)
Stingray 4: alnico magnets (wired in parallel)
Bongo: neo magnets (wired in i dunno)
all basses are available as:
single humbucker, dual humbucker or humbucker + single coil (single coil at neck position)
a peizo bridge can be added to any pickup combo (on right handed basses)
2 pickup stingray and sterling switching info available at:
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/8760-new-2pu-bass-switch-functions.html
electronics:
Sterling: 3 band preamp, 3 way switch (parallel, single coil, series on single H)
Stingray 4: comes in 2 and 3 band preamps
Bongo: 18volts - very powerful. 4 band preamp (hi, low, hi-mid, low-mid), pickup mix knob on 2 pup versions
All basses come in 3 possible pickup combos:
single H, dual humbucker, and humbucker + signle coil...
the switching info above is regarding a singe H - check the sticky thread for 2 pup sr4 and sterling switching info
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/8760-new-2pu-bass-switch-functions.html
all basses come with a peizo option as well (in right handed models)
tone:
Sterling: aggressive. can be mellowed out using the preamp. has a nice cutting mid
stingray: more low end - not as aggressive as sterling
Bongo: versetile as hell due to the awesome preamp
so that's the bullet point summary. a real writeup of the differences would be a 7 page thesis especially when you get into the various pickup combinations
one HUGE point that gets overlooked far too often is the neck profile. i prefer sterlings for various reasons - the biggest reason being that i love the neck shape. it fits me. this does not mean i cant play the other two or that the others are "fat" - its just i prefer the smaller neck. others prefer the sr4 or bongo neck for their own reasons... cant really quantify comfort.
there's no rule of thumb as to which bass would work for what situation.
hope this helps. if you have specific questions lemme know... more specific questions would make this an easier Q&A
Last edited:
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
Surprisingly, the Ernie Ball website has a little bit of info on this topic.
73jbass
Well-known member
Get outta here! Really?
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
Gee, you're the same age as me, but missing the humour gene. Customer service may be able to backorder it for you.
silverburst
Well-known member
Ah Mark. I think this might be a case of losing the tone of the message when it is typed in. I thought he was being funny.
Everybody's funny, now you're funny too (name the song).
WillPlay4Food
Well-known member
1 Bourbon, 1 Scotch, 1 Beer --- What do I win???
I too thought 73jbass' post was being sarcastically funny. It may have been missing this -->
, or this --> , or even this --> but I didn't read any malice in that post.
strummer
Enormous Member
I got it as a continuing joke too
bovinehost
Administrator
Oh my, yes, I can.
1. Stingray. Hey, it's a classic. Everyone needs one, really.
2. Sterling. The world's greatest production neck, ever. You'd feel bad if you didn't have one.
3. Bongo. The future of bass, only you can have it now.
Now choose your order. I have a little bit of a Bongo problem, so I'd recommend getting that one first, but then you might just get another one and another one and another one....and there's nothing wrong with that.
Jack
Colin
Well-known member
now back on topic, try the Sterling...
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
Didi, all I saw in music stores in Jakarta when I lived there in 2005-2006 were Stingrays, so they will most likely have to order a Sterling or Bongo for you sight unseen if that's what you decide to buy. No problem of course, since all EBMM basses leave the factory ready to play, with great quality assurance.
