I have to accept it... the Sterling is the best bass

[keko]

You could get a finish for it. I think someone, not sure who it was, got his oiled & waxed neck finished about 2 years ago or so...

I got the best solution for that "problem", ...I will talk about that soon on another thread, don't wanna ruin this thread!

Anyway, ...I could agree about the best neck of Sterling, but only in a 4 string version!

In a 4 strings world, Sterling got perfect string spacing and shape of the neck!!!
Of course, here we can talkin' 'bout great ceramic pickups too, which I prefer the best from EBMM!

 

[tunaman4u2]

Keko- Your bass in a 4 string with a sterling neck is my dream bass

 

[keko]

Keko- Your bass in a 4 string with a sterling neck is my dream bass

I just don't get it mate, ...I tried a 4 stringer EBMM 25th bass (the same as reflex without fancy finish), ...neck was just right, not big difference to Sterling's neck? Maybe a little bit wider string spacing at nut, but very versatile neck anyway!

However, ...try to write an e-mail to EB Customer Service and give them a proposal to offer kind of SLO special neck for reflex, or something?

 

[five7]

I like the sterling 5 neck alot but the bongo 5 neck is even better.

 

[tunaman4u2]

I just don't get it mate, ...I tried a 4 stringer EBMM 25th bass (the same as reflex without fancy finish), ...neck was just right, not big difference to Sterling's neck? Maybe a little bit wider string spacing at nut, but very versatile neck anyway!

However, ...try to write an e-mail to EB Customer Service and give them a proposal to offer kind of SLO special neck for reflex, or something?

Transitioning to the different neck is hard for my arthritic hands. As for writing to EB service... I'm a little scared after the 19mm 5er fiasco

If it happens, it happens & I open my wallet big time!

 

[epitaph04]

I realize the Sterling 5 neck is basically the same as a Stingray 5 neck, but man did I love the neck on the Sterling 5 I owned. More than any 5er I've played so far. Makes me kind of miss it.

 

[keko]

I realize the Sterling 5 neck is basically the same as a Stingray 5 neck...

I don't think so!

 

[Gravesend Black]

I don't think so!

The only difference is that Sterling 5 has a bit smaller headstock and has 5 bolts. Sterling 4 has another neck but S5 parameters are indentical to SR5 neck.

 

[five7]

The only difference is that Sterling 5 has a bit smaller headstock and has 5 bolts. Sterling 4 has another neck but S5 parameters are indentical to SR5 neck.

I'm with keko. Of the ones I have owned the necks don't feel the same.

 

[keko]

I'm with keko. Of the ones I have owned the necks don't feel the same.

+1

Played both, owned Sterling 5HS, ...not the same feeling at all!

 

[Golem]

The only difference is that Sterling 5 has a bit smaller headstock
and has 5 bolts. Sterling 4 has another neck but S5 parameters
are indentical to SR5 neck.

Considering that the SR5 was the original Sterling, that toadally
makes perfick sense. No need for an SR5 SLO, nor a Sterling-5
SLO. Both are already there.


`

 

[tunaman4u2]

Sterling cranks at a gig!

View attachment 19934

 

[tunaman4u2]

Conversation about the Sterling HH neck only pickup position

I've never really loved it... it was always the least used and dare I say most disappointing pickup position. I guess it was always my pre conceived hope that it would be the tone of a P bass. Warm, round upper mids, not a lot of bite, super punchy tone. Its surely NOT that... so I just ignored it

Until recently. Lately I've been very happy with the neck only position... when I approach it from a different perspective of being the singled bridge pickup tone with more bottom & less upper mid grind. There are sometimes when a song just begs for the singled bridge tone & others where that tone is just a bit too much, thats when I move to the neck pickup. It cuts down on the edge of the singled bridge just enough to fit inbetween that & the other pickup selector positions which are much further from the singled bridge tone than the neck pickup to my ears.

If I try to use the neck pickup for warm round songs, I'm disappointed. There are better pickup positions for that by far (the one down from the neck & the center position). If I use the neck pickup for grindy songs that still need a good amount of bottom I've been THRILLED using the neck only now.

 

[Movielife]

Currently considering a Sterling 5 HH now...arghhhh!

 

[bassmonkeee]

I've always been a big fan of the Musicman neck pickups on the Bongos. Granted, I use them in conjunction with piezos on all of my basses. But, I think there is something magical about the trio setting with a nice warm cushion of bass goodness with the neck pickup underneath a guitar solo.

 

[73jbass]

Since I own both Sterling 5's and Bongo 5's,I'll put in my .02 worth here. I got one of the first Sterling 5's to come off the line,and I've always had one in the arsenal. It has been my "go to" bass since they came out. I love the unfinished neck of the Sterling , but the big thing is that 5 way switch. 5 different coil combinations at your disposal puts the Sterling ahead of the Bongo for that feature alone. My HS 5 typically gets position 3 and 4 used,with 3 being used 99% of the time. The Bongo on the other hand is a unique instrument,whick looks and sounds like nothing else. I played the Bongos Saturday with my variety band,set my tone at the amp,and never changed a thing all night. Now,if EB were to put a 5 way switch on the Bongo,you would have a versatile beast on your hands! The Sterlings will always get first shot at gigs because of tonal options. Now if EB would just make that Sterling 6 HS I've been dreaming of...

 

[tunaman4u2]

My old thread! What a day to resurrect... my Sterling 5HS just came in a hour ago! Cant wait to play it!
Being that my Sterling 5 HH is Mahogany & Pau ferro its a warm beast. The neck pickup on this particular bass is SO awesome when I wasn't a fan of it with a "regular" Sterling HH. The bridge only pickup is still aggressive but the mahogany tames it.

I'd say my PDN Sterling 5HH has 1 aggressive setting & 4 warm settings

This 5HS with maple neck & ash body "should" have 4 aggressive settings & 1 warm setting.

We will see!

Movielife- the pickup switch makes it the most versatile especially considering its in series but also has a parallel setting. The SR5 is all parallel. Thats just clutch. For me the Big Al & Reflex was a bit too much to handle live with a 4 band EQ & a million buttons if I needed to change tone on the fly quickly. I'm in a cover band & I need to hit the tone of the original recording with no breaks between songs. NOTHING is better than the Sterling for that.

 

[Thornton Davis]

In 2008 I bought a new Limited Edition Sterling 5-HH in Sequoia Gold and kept it for a year. I gigged and recorded with that bass and it had the best tone of any EBMM bass that I had ever owned and was extremely comfortable to play. Unfortunately due to financial issues in 2009 I was forced to sell it, but I promised myself that I would buy another one someday. Three weeks ago I placed my order for my new Sterling 5-HH and can't wait for it to arrive in the new year. I ordered mine in Vintage Sunburst, Rosewood, Matching Headstock, Black pickguard. This is going to be killer!

TD

 

[tunaman4u2]

Exactly correct Thornton... Rosewood is clearly the better fretboard as it balances the aggression of the ash & ceramic pickups. With rosewood you get a great blend of warm & aggressive tones. I personally wanted maple to skew towards more aggressive tones as I have warm covered!

If I was ever stuck with just one bass it would be a Sterling 5HH in rosewood.

 

[Golem]

... my Sterling 5HS just came in a hour ago! .......

I'd say my PDN Sterling 5HH has 1 aggressive setting & 4 warm settings

This 5HS with maple neck & ash body "should" have 4 aggressive settings
& 1 warm setting.

................................................

Allowing that descriptive terms can be kinda subjective, I'll just accept
your "warm" and "aggressive" vocabulary ... and then point out to you
that you gotta be ready for a sooprize ! Your HS is gonna provide you
with 3 aggressive, 1 SOOPER aggressive, and 1 warm setting. SOOPER
aggressive refers to soloing the bridge single. You'll find out That
bridge SC is in a class of its own !