Differences in SBMM SB14 and the EBMM Sterling

[progrmr]

I'm in the fortunate situation to be able to buy a new EBMM Sterling bass this weekend.

I'm also thinking about this big wad of cash and thinking "Ok, I know the EBMM is AWESOME, but really Dave - you're playing Sundays in a church worship band for a very small congregation with some light recording, and bass lessons..do you really need that $1500 bass, or would the SB14 be just fine??"

I like to have nice gear - I believe that if you have nice gear you're more likely to play/practice frequently because it's enjoyable - IE you're not fighting cheap gear.

At the same time one has to be practical and spend $$$ wisely.

What do you really give up going with an SB14 over the EBMM Sterling? Is it just a little polish on finishing touches, or are the difference far bigger than that?

 

[adouglas]

I played a Ray 34 and a Stingray back to back at GC.

They do indeed sound different. It's more than just fit and finish.

I preferred the Stingray's tone, but it's really a matter of personal preference.

I've held all three of the SBMM basses and they were all surprisingly heavy to me. Then again, I play a very light Bongo. Fit and finish were superb. I mean, really, really good.* The usual places where you can spot a cheaper instrument, like the bridge, appeared to be just as high a quality piece as the real MM bridge.

Worth the money? Yep. If I had the scratch, though, I'd still go with the real deal.

* Over the holidays I bought myself a cheap geetar to screw around with... not a SBMM. In general, the fit and finish of entry-level instruments these days is miles and miles ahead of what we had to put up with when I was a beginner... just shortly after the earth cooled.

 

[rappa29]

I had a SBMM Ray35.

IMHO, the biggest thing you'd give up is resale.

The parts are obviously different, notably the tuners, but not so different that it 'lessens' the overall quality of the bass. As a whole, the Ray35 I had a very good fit and finish. My only issue was the rw fb had some fading from the 5th fret to the nut. Didn't effect playability or tone, but looked odd.

It played very nicely. Balanced well and sounded great on recordings and live.

IMHO, definitely worth the $ if you want the Stingray\Sterling tone but can't hang with the price tag.
IMHO, it'd be a challenge for anyone to distinguish SBMM vs EBMM in a recorded or live mix, all other things being equal (i.e. rig, recording method, eq, etc.).

Individually, solo'd, I could definitely hear a difference between my EBMM SR4H and my RAY35. But in a mix not so much. Kind of an oranges to tangerines comparison but I don't have an EBMM SR5H to compare it to.

OTOH, if you saved up some pennies, you can still get an EBMM product in the used market. There are great deals to be had and you'd get the real deal for considerably less than a new one and it'd still retain it's overall value.

 

[progrmr]

ok, so I'm guessing the difference in sound comes from more cheaply built pickups on the SB14 - I'm heading up to guitar center in a couple of hours to spend some time with both. Hopefully there's not the typical group of young kids practicing their megadeth lines in the bass room

 

[Bloodfist]

Guitar Center in Charleston has a used Sterling Blue Single Humbucker with Maple Neck for $1200, About halfway down on this link Guitar Center

and a used Stingray 5 String sing H, black with maple neck about 3/4 of the way down this link for a little over a $1000

Guitar Center

I've played both and their both really nice basses if your looking to save a few $$ and get a good bass used.

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

Regardless of cost, make sure you play both & decide which one fits you best and the one you like the sound of. If you get a chance, try more than one example of each model. All mass produced basses have some variance between individual basses. One will just sit in your hands and be "your" bass.

 

[rappa29]

ok, so I'm guessing the difference in sound comes from more cheaply built pickups on the SB14 - I'm heading up to guitar center in a couple of hours to spend some time with both. Hopefully there's not the typical group of young kids practicing their megadeth lines in the bass room

I'll never claim to know enough about preamps, pickups, frequency centers, wood, strings, etc and how all those come together to create a basses tone, but there is a difference between the SBMM and EBMM. At least from I could tell solo'd.

BTW - It's not a bad difference. It's just different. As far as I could tell.

 

[LawDaddy]

I played a Ray 34 and a Stingray back to back at GC.

* Over the holidays I bought myself a cheap geetar to screw around with... not a SBMM. In general, the fit and finish of entry-level instruments these days is miles and miles ahead of what we had to put up with when I was a beginner... just shortly after the earth cooled.

The entry-level offerings of today are superior to the Fender and Gibson products of around 1980, when I started playing. It's amazing what my kid's generation has available to them.

I'm glad to see EBMM playing in this area, but playing smart.

 

[progrmr]

Guitar Center in Charleston has a used Sterling Blue Single Humbucker with Maple Neck for $1200, About halfway down on this link Guitar Center

and a used Stingray 5 String sing H, black with maple neck about 3/4 of the way down this link for a little over a $1000

Guitar Center

I've played both and their both really nice basses if your looking to save a few $$ and get a good bass used.

Thanks - like most I am looking for the Cadillac at the Pinto price

 

[Sonnyonbass]

I'm in the fortunate situation to be able to buy a new EBMM Sterling bass this weekend.

I'm also thinking about this big wad of cash and thinking "Ok, I know the EBMM is AWESOME, but really Dave - you're playing Sundays in a church worship band for a very small congregation with some light recording, and bass lessons..do you really need that $1500 bass, or would the SB14 be just fine??"

I like to have nice gear - I believe that if you have nice gear you're more likely to play/practice frequently because it's enjoyable - IE you're not fighting cheap gear.

At the same time one has to be practical and spend $$$ wisely.

What do you really give up going with an SB14 over the EBMM Sterling? Is it just a little polish on finishing touches, or are the difference far bigger than that?

Do I have a Deja Vu? Or did I see this same thread at TB?

But...... You have to buy the bass that fits within your budget but also speaks to you.
Try 'em all and make pick your choice. (is that normal English?)

 

[agplate]

My Ray34 is astonishing. Looks, feels, plays, sounds like a Stingray. The neck profile is very slightly different, but very playable. Solid construction, great tone and it doesn't have that one quirk on the neck that some say the Stingray has.

You'll be fine with either!

 

[sitonmybass]

when I was a beginner... just shortly after the earth cooled.

You're assuming that the Earth has finished cooling; haven't you ever heard of volcanoes?

 

[progrmr]

I spent 3 hours tonight playing all the music mans I could find in my Guitar Center, including a ray 34 and SB14.

They also had 2 old stock EBMM Sterlings at really low prices.

I played the new MM Sterling. Very nice, but I was having a tough time with that price.

I played the Ray34 - did not like the taller neck and string spacing. Clearly I'm not a Stingray guy

Played both the older stock H and HS models - these were pretty rough guitars as they had been played a lot in the store, but aside from a few cosmetic issues they were the real deal for a much more manageable price.

I played the SB14 - A LOT. I A/B it with the H I was playing and there was simply no comparison. The SB14 just could not keep up with the H, and the tone wasn't even close (IMHO).

I bought the H for $930 case included. Just got home a couple hours ago and took off the strings, cleaned up the fretboard and back of the neck (really dirty from a lot of other people it playing in the store) and put some new strings on her. She's a real beauty, and such a GREAT player and sounds fantastic. No two ways about it - the EBMM Sterling is a powerhouse and I couldn't be happier. For the first time since I've been playing bass - about a year and half and 10 basses in that time trying to find a good fit - I finally feel like I found "my" bass. I love this thing and it's definitely a keeper for many many years.

Nothin' left to do now but play

 

[mynan]

Congrats!

 

[rappa29]

Congrats! It's always nice to get exactly what you want, regardless of the price!

 

[Powman]

IThe SB14 just could not keep up with the H, and the tone wasn't even close (IMHO).

Agreed. Compared to other basses at the SB14's price point, its a great bass. But there is good reason that the Real McCoy Sterling is priced higher...

IFor the first time since I've been playing bass - about a year and half and 10 basses in that time trying to find a good fit - I finally feel like I found "my" bass. I love this thing and it's definitely a keeper for many many years.

Nothin' left to do now but play

Same. It took me about 6-7 basses until I found my perfect bass. It too was a Sterling H.

So what's your next bass going to be? Bongo? Big Al?

 

[adouglas]

You're assuming that the Earth has finished cooling; haven't you ever heard of volcanoes?

Lissen, you young whippersnapper....

I'm older than dirt (but not quite as old as helium).

That's an astrophysics joke, son.

Still younger than Jack, though.

 

[sitonmybass]

Lissen, you young whippersnapper....

I'm older than dirt (but not quite as old as helium).

That's an astrophysics joke, son.

Still younger than Jack, though.

I'm 51 years young so I'll take being called a young whippersnapper as a compliment. By the way, what is a whippersnapper anyway? I've always wanted to know. Someone who snaps a whip? Wouldn't that be Mrs.sitonmybass?

 

[Powman]

I'm 51 years young so I'll take being called a young whippersnapper as a compliment. By the way, what is a whippersnapper anyway? I've always wanted to know. Someone who snaps a whip? Wouldn't that be Mrs.sitonmybass?

Yes it would...I am still licking my wounds from the scolding she gave me. Which I deserved by the way!