Help! Difference between musicman SUB bass and Stingray

[JoshL]

Been looking around in the second hand adverts around the web and found lots of basses called the music man SUB. They seem to be in the price I'm looking at as I'm deciding between getting a new sterling by musician or a second hand EBMM. Superficially they look virtually identical to the stingray bass but I was wondering what the significant differences between the stingray and the SUB were?(if any)
Thanks
Josh

 

[TheBassGuy]

A Sub's body is made of poplar instead of ash. Also, the subs only come in 2eq. The looks are different when it comes to finish. The neck is painted and the body finish is textured instead of gloss.

Very fine USA made instruments for the price!

 

[JoshL]

Sound like that might be a better option then as I can't seem to find decent condition sterlings or stingrays second hand in my price range. How would any of you say a bass like the second hand SUB would compare to a brand new sterling by musicman?

 

[Golem]

Sound like that might be a better option then as I can't seem to find decent condition sterlings or stingrays second hand in my price range. How would any of you say a bass like the second hand SUB would compare to a brand new sterling by musicman?

I tried a new import Sterling in a shop. Nice ax but not toadally "there" for me.
One diifference about the SUB, not mentioned above, is that there's no body
contours ["belly" & "forearm"]. Acoarst, you could pay EXTRA for this absence
.... just by opting for a new "Classic" SR .... so no alligator tears about that !

And with a Classic you'd also be paying extra for a 2-band instead of the now
more commion 3-band EQ. IOW, the SUB is the real bargain in a Classic/Retro
SR. BTW, a few "real/proper" SRs were also made with poplar bodies as well,
so don't lizzen to those who dump on poplar. It sounds great. One reason it
costs less is simply that it is easy to work with and does not quickly dull the
cutting tools .... which saves money during the build process. Also, poplar is
for opaque finishes only. IOW, it is born with a 'perfect face for radio'.

I'd say the only possible negative to a SUB is the glossy painted neck. Some
players, including me, just don't have an issue with it. Other players will not
play a glossy neck ... from ANY builder. I spoze it depends on your body
chemistry [sweat, skin texture, etc] and your on-stage conditions [climate].

Laters SUBs have normal-looking PGs, but earlier SUBs have that awful thing
that looks like a disposable 'quilted aluminum' cookie sheet [oven ware]. No
real harm in that, functionally. If the price is lower with the uglee PG, then
you spend the difference on a cool PG. Mounting holes are normal pattern.


`

 

[JoshL]

Thanks for the info guys, I'll keep looking for the moment as there's a few other basses in the price point i'm looking at that I want to give a try at the moment. If I take the plunge I'll try and remember to bring some pics along.

 

[myke7777]

After hearing the Sub bass on Youtube I decided to go for it. First off, the sound was and is still amazing but everything else was a major disappointment. I know, I know, what do you expect at such a price?...but it's been one thing after another. First I noticed that frets were already buzzing out in multiple places. I know that most instruments need an initial set up but I've never had one this bad out of the box. After a few days the E string began creating a funny buzz somewhere in the body which I still cannot place. So in an attempt to rid the loose sound I tried lightly tightening all the screws in the body. I noticed that most of the screws would just keep turning as if they came out of the box stripped. What scares me is there's only one solid screw holding the bridge on while the others just keep-a-spinnin. Just now I was trying to record when I noticed the input was acting up. I have to make sure my cord is exactly a certain angle or else no go and I did check the cable with other instruments. I want to return it but my friend played the bass with a pick and scuffed up the pick guard a bit so now it's not in 'new' condition. I've always loved Ernie Ball products but this is just depressing quality. If I could go back in time I'd save up and just buy a used Stingray. -Mike

 

[jlepre]

There are actually (2) different series of SUB basses. The first were made in the USA right along side the EBMM basses. They were slab bodies with painted necks. They are very hard to find, and very sought after.
The other were introduced a couple years ago, and are made in Indonesia (if I remember correctly), but are still well made, but not as nice (IMHO) as the USA made SUBS.

 

[fly]

I have both an SUB SR made by EBMM and
an EBMM Sterling.

2 different animals.

the Sterling is my main player,it just fits in every way but I gotta say.......it is quite a treat to rip it up on the SUB as well.

damn fine instruments

 

[five7]

the USA made subs are better, try to find one of them. The sterling by musicman sub is okay but not like a USA made sub. The Usa ones pop up on TB and ebay, something to watch for. I have owned 13 of them, not a bad one in the bunch.

 

[sanderhermans]

If i had to choose between a new sterling by mm or a used ebmm i would go for the real deal! I really couldn't affort ebmm basses new. But im glad i went to second hand instead of sterling or sub. But i'm not saying they are bad basses.

 

[Golem]

After hearing the Sub bass on Youtube I decided to go
for it. First off, the sound was and is still amazing but
everything else was a major disappointment. ..........
I've always loved Ernie Ball products but this is just
depressing quality. ......... -Mike

Just in case it may be new news to you, that is NOT an
Ernie Ball product. There is zero material overlap, not
even the PU is EBMM. The only overlap is cosmetic. If
peeps like their SBMM SUBs thaz way cool, but for any
who do NOT like them, please realize that they do NOT
reflect EBMM product standards.

----------------------------------------------------------

BTW, the frequency with which I read that peeps are
impressed with the sound of instruments [or strings
or amps etc etc] via YewToob always amazes me. It's
OK to judge relative differences on YT, such as "these
strings are plainly briter after I boiled them," as long
as both elements in the comparison are presented in
the SAME video. But to judge the quality of what will
be heard in the real world, based on a YT video ? It
reminds me of when nobody had HD TV but we'd all
see ads, on our non-HD TVs, that "showed" us how
great HD looked ... so we would be convinced to run
out and buy it. DUH !

 

[mbabassist]

I just picked up a USA SUB bass, and man I love the thing! Hello everyone, new member here!

 

[mbabassist]

Just in case it may be new news to you, that is NOT an
Ernie Ball product. There is zero material overlap, not
even the PU is EBMM. The only overlap is cosmetic. If
peeps like their SBMM SUBs thaz way cool, but for any
who do NOT like them, please realize that they do NOT
reflect EBMM product standards.

----------------------------------------------------------

BTW, the frequency with which I read that peeps are
impressed with the sound of instruments [or strings
or amps etc etc] via YewToob always amazes me. It's
OK to judge relative differences on YT, such as "these
strings are plainly briter after I boiled them," as long
as both elements in the comparison are presented in
the SAME video. But to judge the quality of what will
be heard in the real world, based on a YT video ? It
reminds me of when nobody had HD TV but we'd all
see ads, on our non-HD TVs, that "showed" us how
great HD looked ... so we would be convinced to run
out and buy it. DUH !

How are the USA ones not EBMM products? were they produced by another company?

 

[ksandvik]

The original SUBs were produced in San Luis Obispo, California. The new EBMM Subs are made in Indonesia, it's easy to check by looking at the back of the headstock that tells the location where the bass was produced.

I suspect USA built SUBs might be purchased cheaply due to the confusion with the non-USA new ones.

 

[mudpup]

How are the USA ones not EBMM products? were they produced by another company?

Nope its a real deal 2eq slab bodied Stingray made on the same line that the full fat Rays came off.
I have one and also an EBMM 2 band Stingray to compare it with and it sounds every bit as good if not better in some ways.
It doesn't have MusicMan on the bridge although the bridge looks identical, it has a slab body (which you can get used to) and a painted neck (which i personally don't like hence the 'real' Ray). It also has a bombproof textured finish which I like as it doesn't show fingerprints and if you have to clump someone with it in a rowdy bar but you won't damage it.
Recommended.........

 

[marianozz]

Sorry to bring this up, does anyone know if the hardware (Bridge, Tuners) on the USA Subs was the same as the standard Stingray?


Thank you!

 

[TheBassGuy]

Not exactly. Shaped the same, same heavy duty material. But the 'real' non-subs have 'Musicman' engraved on the bridge and on the tuners. The USA subs are plain.

 

[marianozz]

Thanks for the quick reply

So, its the same, just not engraved? or it just looks and feels the same?

 

[steevo]

They are pretty much identical. The bridge is the same shape/style, the tuners are great but the chrome on mine went dull, must be down to a cheaper finish.
The usa subs are great, there are no quality issues with them at all.
I owned a sub5 for 13 years and it was incredible, only just traded it in for a silhouette.
Heres mine with the sterling 5 HH that i bought last year. Amazing basses.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[sanderhermans]

The tuners on anny ebmm bass with schaller tuners will go dull fast. Nothing to do with sub or regular. The nickel or chrome finish on the tuners just seems to go dull verry fast unless you whipe em down every single time!