Greetings, and a big question.

[Travis William]

Hi Everyone, this is my first post to the forum and also am a newly converted Stingray player. I am in the middle of buying a house that I will be moving into at the end of the month and to furnish it, I have been selling off my three Fender basses and planned to replace them with two less-expensive basses and use the cash to buy a bed, tv, that kinda stuff.

I sold a Custom Shop Relic 59 P-Bass, A Relic 64 Jazz, and a Marcus Miller Jazz, then went to the music store.

Now mind you, these basses were not cheap and I bought them when I lived in San Francisco and was touring/recording with my band. Mid 20's, living the dream of playing rock music and bartending in a great city. Now I'm 30 and am an English teacher, you can say I've grown up a bit (or just gotten lame) and gig with a local band and record but nothing at a really high-end level. Back to the music store...

Sat down for the first time with a EBMM Stingray and within about five minutes realized this was the tone I had always been looking for, punch, warmth, growl....those custom shop basses were all very flat and just "eh" sounding compared to this. I knew I would get two Music Man basses. Since I have to buy stuff for my house, money became and issue and my first purchase was a Sterling Ray34 in Honeyburst, I must say I am in love. The way it cut through the mix at my last rehearsal was amazing, it truly is the tone I've waited for!

Now here's the problem, the next bass......what do I do?? Here are my options:

-A new EBMM SR4, probably Black with Maple Fretboard - Then have less money for the house, but a very pro bass

-A Sterling 34CA ( Mint Green) to get a little different sound and look, and also keep some free cash around.

Then it gets complicated......

That blue sparkle is amazing looking with the maple....and so is the 34ca Black with Maple.....ARGH!

Friend, any help?

 

[Holdsg]

The SBMM are great instruments, trmrndous value, but I will tell you that you will eventually want the real deal. It might be in several years when you stop living hand to mouth, but trust me, you'll want the real deal. Buying used is always a great option when funds are tight, and you don't take as much of a price hit versus new if you decide it isn't your thing. Just some advice from someone who has travelled the same road before you.

 

[jlepre]

You're still relatively young, so I would go for the mint green and save a little cash for what you need for the house.

 

[jlepre]

Very true, used is definitely a great option.

 

[Travis William]

The SBMM are great instruments, trmrndous value, but I will tell you that you will eventually want the real deal. It might be in several years when you stop living hand to mouth, but trust me, you'll want the real deal. Buying used is always a great option when funds are tight, and you don't take as much of a price hit versus new if you decide it isn't your thing. Just some advice from someone who has travelled the same road before you.

Thanks man, I agree the quality of the SBMM Ray I just got is very impressive. And the real thing will be down the road at some point. I feel suspect buying used off ebay and the like, but maybe on here is a better option.

 

[Travis William]

The SBMM are great instruments, trmrndous value, but I will tell you that you will eventually want the real deal. It might be in several years when you stop living hand to mouth, but trust me, you'll want the real deal. Buying used is always a great option when funds are tight, and you don't take as much of a price hit versus new if you decide it isn't your thing. Just some advice from someone who has travelled the same road before you.

Is the RayCa have a much different sound than the Ray34? Or is it more just a style/finish thing? I know there is the 2-band eq and the finished neck, but tone wise is it that much different?

 

[adouglas]

I concur with saving up to buy a genuine MM bass and used is definitely the way to go. Once you go there you'll have one of those grandkid basses... the one you're going to keep until the little shaver's old enough to hold it up.

House is more important right now than any instrument, especially since you've already got a good one. Do you NEED another bass at this time, or do you just WANT another bass at this time? It's not clear if you're looking to add a bass to the collection or swap the one you've got now.

If adding... Just my own personal preference, but I want each bass I own to be distinctly different. A different pickup configuration at the very least if not a whole different model.

PS: Studies show that in the future, all bassists will own at least one Bongo.
PPS: The Big Al rocks.
PPPS: I haven't seen or heard a Gamechanger but I'm scared. I love my basses and would hate to have to take them out to the cornfield.

 

[Travis William]

I concur with saving up to buy a genuine MM bass and used is definitely the way to go. Once you go there you'll have one of those grandkid basses... the one you're going to keep until the little shaver's old enough to hold it up.

House is more important right now than any instrument, especially since you've already got a good one. Do you NEED another bass at this time, or do you just WANT another bass at this time? It's not clear if you're looking to add a bass to the collection or swap the one you've got now.

If adding... Just my own personal preference, but I want each bass I own to be distinctly different. A different pickup configuration at the very least if not a whole different model.

PS: Studies show that in the future, all bassists will own at least one Bongo.
PPS: The Big Al rocks.
PPPS: I haven't seen or heard a Gamechanger but I'm scared. I love my basses and would hate to have to take them out to the cornfield.

There was a barely used 2012 EBMM Classic on Ebay that was Eldorado Gold for around 1000, but now it's gone. Doh.

I'm looking to add a bass. It's so weird bc I went from three Fender Custom Shops to one Sterling Ray34 and am actually more happy in the tone department.

Is the classic a big enough of a difference from the Ray34 to give me a difference in arsenal? Is there a clear difference in tone in even the Ray34 and 34Ca?

 

[adouglas]

Is the classic a big enough of a difference from the Ray34 to give me a difference in arsenal? Is there a clear difference in tone in even the Ray34 and 34Ca?

Don't know. I'm guessing the differences are mostly cosmetic.

(You should buy a Bongo anyway.)

 

[J Romano]

Welcome to the forum! If it were me, I would go used for the MM. You can go to your local Guitar Center and have one of the guitar sales people do a search for used MM basses. They have an easier time going thru the listings rather than you going page by page thru their used bass section. Just a thought........

 

[bovinehost]

Is the classic a big enough of a difference from the Ray34 to give me a difference in arsenal? Is there a clear difference in tone in even the Ray34 and 34Ca?

Amongst the many other things I have, I have a Ray34ca and think it's one hell of a fine bass. It's not going to be be black and white, the difference between a Ray34, a Ray34ca and even a Classic. You'll find the differences are all really a matter of degrees (and resale, which never mattered to me).

Were I in your place, I'd go for something a bit different. A Big Al? Sure. A Bongo? Oh my yes. And if you keep an eye on the For Sale thread up top, it won't be long before someone posts something that makes you weak in the knees.

The Bongo or the Big AL are different enough from what you already have to keep things interesting, and used will save you some $$$ for sure.

Good luck out there and god bless the English teachers of the world!

Jack

 

[cellkirk74]

Since you already have a good Ray, I would suggest to get a used Bongo of any PU configuration. You will like it.

Aklso I belive the neck of the SBMM RAY34ca is a little thinner tahn the average Stringray, and the Ray34, but I might be mistaken.

 

[nurnay]

Big Al! Go for the SSS PU config.

 

[oddjob]

and god bless the English teachers of the world!

Jack

Thanks, Jack!

 

[bovinehost]

No sir. Thank YOU.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Big Al! Go for the SSS PU config.

This

 

[Golem]

`

This SBMM Ray34 has Cobalts on it ?
If not, then thaz the next upgrade
you should consider ... and so much
cheaper than jumping feet first into
an SLO-built MM



`