Factory fret level issues

[Timmy1729]

I just got a Sterling ray4HH a week ago and took it to a tech to have this awful buzzing diagnosed. So, the factory setup was NOT good. The neck relief was too low, the bridge saddles were too low, I felt the net was cut a tiny bit too low, and it had high frets. So, instead of cutting a new nut and doing a fret level, they let me look at another just like it. He found high frets again. They ordered me another from another store. If that one has the same issues I'll just shell out a couple more bucks and get a Fender. I know Sterling basses are inexpensive. But, if I can't at least play the thing then it does me no good. That's a shame too, because I love the sounds I have gotten out of it. I love the look. I love the feel of the body. I love the feel of the neck. The 9.5" radius and maple fretboard is perfect. But, whoever lets quality control let through instruments that are unplayable needs to be fired.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I just got a Sterling ray4HH a week ago and took it to a tech to have this awful buzzing diagnosed. So, the factory setup was NOT good. The neck relief was too low, the bridge saddles were too low, I felt the net was cut a tiny bit too low, and it had high frets. So, instead of cutting a new nut and doing a fret level, they let me look at another just like it. He found high frets again. They ordered me another from another store. If that one has the same issues I'll just shell out a couple more bucks and get a Fender. I know Sterling basses are inexpensive. But, if I can't at least play the thing then it does me no good. That's a shame too, because I love the sounds I have gotten out of it. I love the look. I love the feel of the body. I love the feel of the neck. The 9.5" radius and maple fretboard is perfect. But, whoever lets quality control let through instruments that are unplayable needs to be fired.

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Hi and welcome to the Forum.

Your Sterling Ray 4 is made by "Sterling By Music Man" (SBMM) and not "Ernie Ball Music Man" (EBMM). You're on the EBMM Forum. SBMM and EBMM are different entities/companies. Have you looked at the EBMM instruments?

 

[mynan]

I really wish they went with a name that's not so confusing. I honestly can't believe that BP let them put his name on those things. Missing the OLP days

 

[Golem]

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Hi and welcome to the Forum.

Your Sterling Ray 4 is made by "Sterling By Music Man" (SBMM) and not "Ernie Ball Music Man" (EBMM). You're on the EBMM Forum. SBMM and EBMM are different entities/companies. Have you looked at the EBMM instruments?

For similar $$ just get a 20 yr old EBMM SUB and feel the burn ... hunka hunka burning loooove.

 

[jazzyitalian]

Rod Trussbroken said:
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Hi and welcome to the Forum.

Your Sterling Ray 4 is made by "Sterling By Music Man" (SBMM) and not "Ernie Ball Music Man" (EBMM). You're on the EBMM Forum. SBMM and EBMM are different entities/companies. Have you looked at the EBMM instruments?

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Gosh-
I would hope Timmy1729 knows that he's on the EBMM forum, because if he doesn't I would have to feel terrible for him. To buy something under the impression that it was made by the real McCoys. But this post is an indirect endorsement of the REAL MusicMan product. You can't go wrong with a Stingray made in San Luis Obispo.

Now I don't have any personal experience with the licensed MusicMan instruments. Subs included. I just know there is always a risk of sub-standard work. Same with the Fenders, Gibsons, and Schecters. (By the way, there is a huge chasm between the offshore Schecters and the Custom Californias) But what's harder to reconcile is this designation of "Sterling" in the title of licensed brand. It makes it really difficult to search for the real McCoys on the Reverb site.