Going from Jazz Bass to Sterling

[DavidEid]

I've been a guitar player for MANY years. This year I started playing bass in a country band. I had a Fender Jazz Plus from the 90's in my arsenal and started with that (Kubicki preamp) and added a USA Hamer Cruise (their Jazz) and it's a great bass as well. I played a friend's Sterling and had to have one and I found one and it's on the way in the next week or so.

So, what should I expect going from Jazz basses to a Sterling?

Thanks!

 

[adouglas]

This

to

This.

Like the commercial says…


You can go with that

Or you can go with this….

'cause this is where it's at.

 

[adouglas]

In another thread somebody posted a comparison of several different basses. He's playing a Rush song with the tone set flat on the active basses and wide-open on the passive ones. There's a back-to-back cut between a Sterling and a F*nder J.

Scroll to about 1:20 and watch for about 15 seconds.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YVp8oaQZ0Y]YouTube - Free Will Bass Cover with comparison of 7 famous basses[/ame][/QUOTE]

 

[DavidEid]

Interesting. My Jazz can sound pretty darn big with the active preamp. Funny thing though, the Hamer with passive Duncan pickups has higher output than the Fender.

 

[Kristopher]

Two words:

More Beef.

The 3-band preamp is a pretty cool bonus as well.

I had a Mexican J I upgraded with DiMarzios but when I A/B'd it with my Sterling HS the J sounded thinner and wimpier, so I sold it.

YMMV!

 

[Alex001]

Removing all other variables and just taking THIS PARTICULAR video into account, the Lakland takes it for me.

 

[Infidelity]

I love my jazz basses more than my SR/Sterling.. In comparison the Sterling is more in your face bass sound than a regular jazz bass..

 

[depalm]

Which Sterling model are you taking about? (4 strings/5 strings/H/HH/Hs).
Comparing a Sterling to a Jazz isn't easy but… Sterling has a smaller body (almost like a strat), both basses has narrow and very comfortable necks (I like Stelings more), downsized headstock helps on overall balance (even with that old fashion heavy tuners).
Sound wise Sterling is MM bass so expect nothing but that peculiar sound signature. You'll get also a very hot preamp to drive your amp and pedals.

Funny, I did the exact opposite way, going from my 93Sterling to Jazz.

 

[keko]

I'm previous J bass player and there is only one thing I should say:

EBMM Sterlings are J Bass killers!

There's no way back after switch to Sterling!

 

[Powman]

Hey DavidEid,

You have made a great choice by picking up a Sterling. I did the exact same thing you did: went from a Marcus Miller J-bass to a Sterling. The main reason I made the switch was I was fed up with the hum that I constantly got from my J-bass. But I liked the neck of the J-bass,so the transition to a Sterling was easy since the Sterling neck is a similar size. I was sold on that basis alone.

But you will find other bonuses: First, when playing live, the Sterling cuts through the mix better than any other bass I have tried. It has a cool growl but you can tame that by adding more lows and playing near the neck. The single coil position on my model (4H) is great for solo work but the phantom coil ensures you have ) hum again.

The unfinished neck is awesome. I can easily sandpaper out any dings, add some gunstock oil and voila it is good as new.

You will be very happy.

 

[fly]

you won't be disappointed

 

[parsons]

I was playing a hot rodded Fender Jag with SD pickups and bought my Sterling. I still own the Jag, but its more wall art now than it is functional. If Im playing live, 98% of the time it'll be my Sterling or Stingray thats around my neck.

 

[Stoo]

Hey DavidEid,

Was a Cruise player when I got my Sterling 4HP almost 10 years ago. Still love both, but a few things about the Sterling have stood out over time that seem to keep it out of the case and be the first-call for the last few years.

The Neck: The oil/wax thing resides with DaVinci and Michaelangelo IMO. Simply the best ever. Shape is comfy and the radius is curvy enough for comfort.

Electronics: I'm usually a pickup swapper. The stock pickup/preamp on the Sterling (and most every EBMM bass, I'd bet,) is great. Well thought-out and matched, rather than the square peg/round hole forced thing where some companies just throw in a huge EQ to "offset" whatever pickups were available at the time. Doesn't seem like the case here.

At first, I thought the single volume on the Sterling would bother me, as I like to change pickup volumes on a dual pup bass. But after some time and playback, there's a deceptively nice range of tones from just the singe H (I fiddled with an HS for a couple minutes in a shop a few years back, and liked what I heard as well.) For me, the middle position (single coil) was the real sleeper...it's a touch quieter just switching through, but with a little a EQ, it's a huge sound and very clear. I'd dismissed it for years, to my loss.

Overall, it's always punchy, and you can add as much low or take away enough zing with the onboard EQ as you'd reasonably need, IMO.

Plus, it's another great group of guys and girls here (I'm bassguydave from the HFC,) so the hangout factor is top-notch

Hope it helps!

 

[Rano Bass]

Interesting. My Jazz can sound pretty darn big with the active preamp. Funny thing though, the Hamer with passive Duncan pickups has higher output than the Fender.

Those jazz bass plus have a very low output.
The Sterling basses have one of the best necks IMO.

 

[DavidEid]

Can't wait. Hopefully it will arrive Friday. If not, Monday.

 

[adouglas]

If I understood the OP correctly, that J bass has aftermarket electronics in it, right?

Therefore it's not really a J bass anymore. It looks like one, but it doesn't sound like one.

So... impossible to make meaningful comparisons.

 

[bob atherton]

Can't wait. Hopefully it will arrive Friday. If not, Monday.

An exciting time for you!

FWIW I have owned many Jazz Basses and now use a Sterling 4H. It took me a while to get used to the narowness around the first few frets, but after about a week it felt just perfect. Great tone and cuts through the band mix well. You will have fun!

 

[fly]

dude..........you are gonna love the Sterling.........


bongoloids will disagree but........the Sterling is the silent slayer man.....it's all in there.

 

[five7]

Imagine cutting a tough piece of steak with a rusty butter knife and then you switch to a nice new serrated knife like a Spyderco. A sterling cuts like no other!

 

[Yango]

I'd been playing my American Jazz Bass Deluxe for almost 10 years when a salesman at my local music store put a Sterling in my hands. I was floored by the tone and playability. I bought the Sterling, and never took the Jazz out of its case again... until I polished it up to trade it for a Stingray!

I even found the transition from playing on the neck pickup to playing on the bridge pickup very easy... and I much prefer the attack and tone I get now.

You're going to love the Sterling, I have no doubt.