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Mods for Sterling....

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Subculture13

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Joined
Apr 11, 2005
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Can the chrome knob coverplate on a Stingray fit onto a Sterling? If not, is one available somewhere that you know of that will. Where can I buy it if so, or if you know of an acceptable substitute, like an aftermarket part that will handle this.
 
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Sterlings are back-loaded and don't have a control plate.

sterlingbody1.jpg


Stingrays are top-loaded and have a cover plate.

BArayC.jpg



Why would you need a control plate on a Sterling?
 
Asthetics... Purely for looks. I have that exact Cherryburst bass on order right now, except a Sterling, not a Stingray, and I just dont think it will look quite right without the coverplate.
 
A Sterling looks like a Sterling and a Ray looks like a Ray. No need to fight it, just enjoy the differences.
 
Nothing to do with fighting it, I like the look of the Stingray, but I want the neck and tonal flexibility of a Sterling.
 
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I've never tried it and don't have both basses on hand to look, but my educated guess is no, the Stingray plate won't fit.

Those bodies are completely different sizes.
 
Yes they are, but its all about the hole pattern. hopefully someone can step in soon and let me know. Possibly someone at the plant who can just drop one part onto the other with relative ease. Surely I can't be the first person to ever attempt this.
 
Don't think so...

Using a "working assumption" that the schematics found on the Musicman site are proportionally correct, the knob patterns do not line up.

I grabbed both GIFs (Sterling & Stingray 3-band) and dropped them into Photoshop, each on their own layer. Reduced top layer opacity to 50%. Confirmed relative scale by stacking the two images and lining-up the pick-ups - dead on.

Proceeded to move/rotate one image over the other - knob patterns are not the same.

What can I say... Slow day at the office! ;)
 
Alright then.... I guess I am off to find a metal shop to make me one. Does anyone have a "to scale" drawing of the original part to base a template off of?

Thanks for the help everyone.... Adelucia.... that's going over the top to help... thanks a ton for your efforts.
 
Subculture13 said:
Alright then.... I guess I am off to find a metal shop to make me one. Does anyone have a "to scale" drawing of the original part to base a template off of?

Thanks for the help everyone.... Adelucia.... that's going over the top to help... thanks a ton for your efforts.
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FYI-- Jon is the head groundskeeper at EB/MM, in case you didn't know. So, you now have your definitive word as well as Adelucia's Sherlock Holmesian sleuthing skillz.

Unless you are planning on actually cutting a hole in the top of the bass, you should start looking for some way to make the shafts on the pots longer, too. They are designed to go through the body, or the plate--not both. Even if you get a custom plate made, you'll need to account for the extra thickness as I don't think EB has that built into their tolerances.
 
yeah, good point on the shaft length. the sterling shafts are already "long" ones i think cuz the wood is thicker than the plate. [just to annoy the purists] of course, you could always drill away some of the wood to make 'em fit. muahahahahaaa!
 
bovinehost said:
You should see what I'm doing to a Rickenbacker.
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I wouldn't post that in the Rick forum, to alot of those guys all you may change is the strings and maybe install a set of toasters.
 
Yeah, they're much worse than.....well, other brand loyalists, let's just say.

Screw 'em, I got a Jason Lollar toaster!
 
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