Going from Jazz Bass to Sterling

[Calaveras]

I like the jazz bass sound a lot, but the Sterling has much more authority in the low end to my ears. It seems to strike a good balance between the best aspects of the P and J without having an ugly mismatched looking set of pickups.
It also looks nicer to my eyes than a P with its weird pickguard. And its not such a slab of wood hanging off your shoulder like a Jazz.

 

[DavidEid]

Went from this:

To this:

With these options:

 

[DavidEid]

I'm finding it a little weird in terms of anchoring my thumb. WIth the Jazz, it was easy to anchor it on the pickup, but the Sterling pickup is lower. I'll get used to it. Got some nice compliments at rehearsal last night. First gig with it tomorrow.

 

[bob atherton]

Because I play quite close to the bridge I find the Sterling has a few thumb holds to suit the music. I rest my thumb on the bridge pup of the Jazz as well. I'm sure you will get used to it. Good luck with the gig!

 

[fly]

i play may fake 7ender J on the bridge pup too........the Sterling actually feels quite at home with the single H.........


let her coax you in man............she will.......

 

[Stoo]

I'm finding it a little weird in terms of anchoring my thumb. WIth the Jazz, it was easy to anchor it on the pickup, but the Sterling pickup is lower. I'll get used to it. Got some nice compliments at rehearsal last night. First gig with it tomorrow.

Cool!

I wound up raising my pickup a good bit on my Sterling to get a spot to rest my thumb...probably more than I should. I 'll have to go look up the factory specs again at some point and tinker with putting it back and see how I like it. Either way, it still sounds good.

Just curious, what settings are you finding yourself using?

 

[Calaveras]

I never had a problem anchoring my hand on my Sterling. But then I am usually holding a pick with my thumb when I am playing fingerstyle. I like to switch back and forth between both playing styles a lot.
When I do play straight finger style I think I hook my thumb on the hip of the bass actually. Not sure since I dont have it here (its at the studio). But that only works if you sling it low like me and Dee Dee. (not quite fair I know, he played a P)
But I gotta plug the Sterling one more time. I love how comfortable the neck is when playing lower registers. Lots of other basses fel awkward when you play below teh 4th fret. Not so on the sterling!

 

[DavidEid]

Cool!

I wound up raising my pickup a good bit on my Sterling to get a spot to rest my thumb...probably more than I should. I 'll have to go look up the factory specs again at some point and tinker with putting it back and see how I like it. Either way, it still sounds good.

Just curious, what settings are you finding yourself using?

I won't try it through the big rig until I set up tonight. Rehearsal was at low volume with my Markbass SD800 head into a MB NY121 cab. I think I liked the switch in the 1st position closest to the neck and the eq flat with maybe a touch off bass boost due to the low volume.

Tonight I'll put that head through a Schroeder 1212r and a Dr. Bass 1260 3 way cab so it will be different.

 

[DavidEid]

That was fun.... ;-)))))))) The bass sounds so good with the eq set flat!

 

[Calaveras]

I won't try it through the big rig until I set up tonight. Rehearsal was at low volume with my Markbass SD800 head into a MB NY121 cab. I think I liked the switch in the 1st position closest to the neck and the eq flat with maybe a touch off bass boost due to the low volume.

Tonight I'll put that head through a Schroeder 1212r and a Dr. Bass 1260 3 way cab so it will be different.

Wow an actual Drbass cab! Those are rarely spotted in the wild.
I like the "neck" pos too. The middle one sounds most like a jazz to me, and the "bridge" pos sounds good only sometimes, like for the more melodic chordy stuff.
But I always end up back on that up toggle. Rockin out. I find that I like, of all things, the Mid boosted up. Something about that mid into my Boogie Bass 400 just snarls and growls and punches the front row right in the throat.
It also makes my guitarists ego feel threatened.

 

[Stoo]

That was fun.... ;-)))))))) The bass sounds so good with the eq set flat!

and THAT is what sealed the deal for me. It's all there...straight outta the box. It's a great eq and preamp match.

 

[DavidEid]

Wow an actual Drbass cab! Those are rarely spotted in the wild.

Gotta buy them used. I picked that one up at a nice price on Talkbass. If it doesn't already exist, let it go since chances are slight it will every show.

 

[DavidEid]

Well, I lucked into a very light (8lb 6oz) Sterling HS today. Natural finish and tort guard. Mint. I this will become my #1 and the black one will be my backup. The Jazz basses will stay home.

 

[fly]

oh man really...........my dream bass is an HS natural with maple board.

what fretboard are you sporting?

 

[DavidEid]

oh man really...........my dream bass is an HS natural with maple board.

what fretboard are you sporting?

Do you really want to know?.......

Let's say it looks like this: