Question Is a Sterling too small...

[madbassplaya]

for me?

I'm a big guy and usually go with larger basses (Stingray, J bass, etc...) but the Sterling has really caught my eye lately. I'm either gonna go with a Sterling 5 or a Stingray 5 as my new bass. Here I am playing a P Copy I used to own. Actually sold it because it was a 4 string and felt like a toy to me.

I don't worry a ton about this but at the same time I don't wanna be "that guy" on stage.

 

[JayDawg]

The bass feels great to me. I have a 4H model I have no issues with it. I am also 6"0" tall and 230 lbs. As far as how you will look with it, well it's a Music Man so you obviously will look great! Actually in all honesty, who cares what you look like as long as the bass plays great and the Sterlings do exactly that.

 

[madbassplaya]

The bass feels great to me. I have a 4H model I have no issues with it. I am also 6"0" tall and 230 lbs. As far as how you will look with it, well it's a Music Man so you obviously will look great! Actually in all honesty, who cares what you look like as long as the bass plays great and the Sterlings do exactly that.

Thanks for the reply.

I guess so...I'm not worried if I'll look cool or not. Being a bigger dude though some basses already look small so you don't wanna make it worse.

 

[husky123]

I'm 6' 4" and 270, so if you multiply by the required internet coefficient of .85, that makes me a real life 6' 2" and 230. I have no problems with it being too small. And besides, it sounds so damn good I usually forget about the size. Compared to my Spector's it's a MONSTA!

 

[adouglas]

Thanks for the reply.

I guess so...I'm not worried if I'll look cool or not. Being a bigger dude though some basses already look small so you don't wanna make it worse.

Dress around it. No, seriously. I'm on the other end of the demographic (I'm only 5'7") so an SR5 looks HUGE on me.

If you go for a dark color body the size of the bass won't be emphasized, unless you wear a contrasting outfit. A burst finish hides the edges of the body.

I tend to wear dark clothes and use a bright bass so that my stature doesn't stand out.

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

You will make the Sterling look good..... not the opposite

as for everyone else, I have always liked these Brad Paisley lyrics

I work down at the pizza pit
And I drive and old Hundai
I still live with my mom and dad
I 5'3 and overweight

Cause online I'm down in Hollywood
I'm 6'5 and I look damn good
I drive a Mazarati
I'm a black belt in Karate
And I love a good glass of wine

I'm so much cooler online
So much cooler online

 

[drTStingray]

I tend to wear dark clothes and use a bright bass so that my stature doesn't stand out.

What he said......and don't wear stripes (or a striped bass) if you're on the portly side of the stature scale.

The SR5 will definitely not look small on you I would say - but don't let that put you off having a Sterling 4 or 5 cos they're great basses also.

 

[five7]

A sterling would look fabulous on you! Way better than that fake fender.

 

[clmjlg]

I think that after people hear how great the bass sounds the last thing they will thinking about is what you look like. Of course with such an awesome sounding bass you run the risk of drawing more attention to you, but its totally worth it in my opinion.

 

[fly]

do it!

if not just for the tones outta the Sterlings......

 

[keko]

Put Sterling 5 on a strap and do the same with a Stingray 5, ...than stand in front of a mirror with one and another, You'll know the best what looks better "on Ya"!

Check also which neck shape feels better for Ya, I can see You got pretty strong hands and fingers, maybe that will make Your final decision right!

 

[madbassplaya]

Thanks for the replies guys!

On 90% of my gigs (if not more) I wear black shirts or dark shirts. So I get what you're saying adouglas and I gotta say, you wear that Bongo well!

I have owned several SR5's and Bongo 5's and never thought twice about it. The Stingray fits me perfectly but the Sterling is just a "sleek" bass and I've had GAS for one for a while so I'm considering giving one a try.

 

[strummer]

I thing the Sterling 5 will look stellar on you! But, your hands look enormous, so maybe, just maybe a Bongo or SR5 would fit you better.

 

[madbassplaya]

I thing the Sterling 5 will look stellar on you! But, your hands look enormous, so maybe, just maybe a Bongo or SR5 would fit you better.

My hands are quite enormous! I love the feel of an SR5 neck! Is the Sterling going to be drastically different?

 

[strummer]

Just a bit slimmer. Just thought i should mention it, I presonally don't think it's a big thing, but then my hands are not big.

 

[jlepre]

The SR5 is the way to go for us BIGGER guys. I owned an ST5, actually 2 of them, and they always looked small on me. 5'10" 270. Just my 2 cents.

 

[fly]

Is the Sterling going to be drastically different?

I don't think so.......I'm talking 4 bangers here,and my SUB...(basically an SR).....isn't that much dif than my Sterling.

sure...a tad wider but......the Sterling is so damn easy to play.....so,let's call them fivers....and I'm sure it should be good for you.

go try one out for playability,you'll be surprised man.

they are the hidden gem.

 

[RyanO'Neal]

Hey,
you know what? I guess no bass is too small or to huge if you feel comfortable with it on stage. I also think you can't say bigger guys look better with bigger guitars or the other way around. I am 6' and play Telecaster and ES335, MM Sterling (btw, the best bass in the world ;-) and Fender Precision. It's all up to you! If you feel happy with the bass, people will notice and noone will backbite about "that guy"
Cheers

 

[RyanO'Neal]

Oh and go get a Sterling, they will blow your mind!

 

[FatFour]

Does this bass make my ass look big?

Another one here with the opposite problem, if I stand my SR4 upright I can hide behind it lol.

Personally though if I was yous, I'd get a Stingray. I was going to get a Sterling because they're smaller, but I couldn't find one I liked better than the SR. Even though it's bigger I found the SR more comfortable to play, and my old Hamer bass was about the same size as the Sterling, so I was kind of surprised by that.