• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
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I've read some stuff on this but I'm more interested in what YOU have to say about it... I just bought my Sterling and it sounds incredible. The action is a little low though and it's sort of "plucky" sounding, especially when I use a pick (I know, picks are blasphemus but I only use one for really really fast songs). I did purchase Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings which might make enough of a difference, but I also have the proper hex wrench to raise up the action if needed. Before I do anything drastic, what's the best thing to do here?
 

strummer

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I've read some stuff on this but I'm more interested in what YOU have to say about it... I just bought my Sterling and it sounds incredible. The action is a little low though and it's sort of "plucky" sounding, especially when I use a pick (I know, picks are blasphemus but I only use one for really really fast songs). I did purchase Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings which might make enough of a difference, but I also have the proper hex wrench to raise up the action if needed. Before I do anything drastic, what's the best thing to do here?


I'd say get a little more relief in the neck, a quarter turn anticlockwise maybe, before you touch the sridge saddle height.
 

timmy5strings

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Apr 4, 2007
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Linthicum, MD.
Yes a quarter turn should take care of the actions and if you back off the treble a bit , it will help take out the "plucky" if you mean the clacking sound associated with pick. I found on my former Sterling, the controls were very sensitive and moving them a little at a time made a huge difference. Try the EQ, starting from the flat indent and back off the treble and add a little bass, then mids. Remember a lttle at a time. I wouldn't mess with the bridge at all right now.
 

Marco

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Jan 19, 2008
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Cayucos,CA
There is a good section on the EB website under the F.A.Q that outlines action and setup really well.
 

Kristopher

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Apr 18, 2007
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751
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Tempe, AZ
When I got mine, I raised the pickup height a little bit on the neck single coil to even out the difference between pickups. You may not feel this is necessary, no big deal.

Great choice on basses!
 
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
21
So you're saying I should use the truss wheel at the bottom of the neck and turn it to the left (counter clockwise) to create distance between the neck and the strings?
 
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
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So I attempted to make adjustments with the truss wheel and it just wasn't working. I was actually getting terribly frustrated because I'm getting ready to enter the studio for a long and grueling recording project. So I went with my instinct and just replaced the Super Slinky Strings with the Regular Slinky's. That for sure did the trick and NOW I couldn't be any happier to play my new Sterling. Sounds nothing short of amazing now.
 

phatduckk

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Jul 25, 2004
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San Mateo, California, United States
So I attempted to make adjustments with the truss wheel and it just wasn't working. I was actually getting terribly frustrated because I'm getting ready to enter the studio for a long and grueling recording project. So I went with my instinct and just replaced the Super Slinky Strings with the Regular Slinky's. That for sure did the trick and NOW I couldn't be any happier to play my new Sterling. Sounds nothing short of amazing now.

awesome :)

good luck in the studio. the HS Sterling is amazing!
 
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
21
Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting in there with it and at the same time can't wait to be done! The Sterling should make a great addition though, no doubt about that!
 
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