NBD: EBMM Sterling 5 H 2008 Limited Edition

[stuartv]

I just got home with this baby. A Sterling 5 H 2008 Limited Edition. The color is Sequioa Gold, with gold hardware.

As some of you know, from a thread I started last week, I stopped in at a GC a couple of weeks ago and played a brand new StingRay 5, then moved on to a new Sterling 5. I liked the SR5, but as soon as I plucked the first note on the Sterling, I felt like I finally discovered the Tone of the Bass Gods! I know some people aren't big fans of the "bare wood" feel of the neck and the associated occasional maintenance/cleaning, but I love it! My SR5 that I have is the same and I would choose it any day over a glossy finished neck. I have a lot of really nice basses, and have had a bunch more, but since I tried that Sterling, I have been obsessed with getting one for myself.

Juan, at Bass and Beyond, in Rancho Cordova, CA (just outside Sacramento) had this at his shop and made me a deal I couldn't refuse on trading my MPG Level 5 P/MM for this. Juan is awesome. He hosted a TalkBass NorCal Get-Together at his shop 1 year ago. He stocks only high end stuff and has a bunch of it. Some of the new basses he stocks include Sadowsky, Lull, Wilkins, G&L, and I know he has other brands, too, that I'm just not remembering right now. And he stocks killer rigs, too. Bergantino cabs, Aguilar, Genz-Benz, and he just started carrying Orange. Plus others, I think. I hope any of you that are anywhere near the Sacramento area will do what you can to help support such a great guy with a great shop.

Bass And Beyond

Thank you to all of you who responded to my thread about ST5 vs SR5 ceramic pickups. I believe my ceramic SR5 will be up for sale shortly.

Today, I have no GAS left! :hyper::bassist::hyper::bassist::hyper:







More pictures: EBMM Sterling 5 H 2008 Limited Edition Photos by stuartv | Photobucket

 

[Datta]

Nice!

 

[Tollywood]

Wow, I like that color. Goes well with the gold hardware.

 

[five7]

Very nice, congrats. I would love one of those if you ever run across another one. I have owned a few sterlings and I agree, they sound and play better than the ray 5.

 

[tbonesullivan]

NICE COLOR. What is that called again? I keep forgetting.

As for the neck, I also really like oiled/waxed necks. all of my Stingrays have them, and it is also the standard finish that carvin uses on their bolt-on guitars and basses. They use minwax tung oil, while EBMM uses Tru-oil and Gunstock wax. just such a nice smooth feeling. Though, I really only prefer it on woods like maple. The open grain of mahogany.. i don't like as much.

 

[KevinM]

Nice find, Stuart.

I see you're in Roseville. Do you know Danny D?

 

[stuartv]

Tbone, not sure if you're kidding or not. It's Sequoia Gold. And thanks!

Kevin, I haven't lived here that long. I don't know Danny D. And I'm moving to VA next month... :-\

 

[Gravesend Black]

I'm not a fan of gold hardware but Sequoia finish is awesome. It's definitely very cool bass. Congrats)

BTW, maybe somebody knows about EBMM hardcases. This looks very good and non-standard. Does any LE bass comes with some kind of exclusive hardcase? Bought mine BFR rosewood SR5 recently but it arrived in the regular stock hardcase. Is that OK?

 

[mmbassplayer]

Grave send... 2008LE basses had the lizard back case like what you see. Many of us held on to these cases long after we traded/sold out special 2008 models. JOSH

 

[Gravesend Black]

Grave send... 2008LE basses had the lizard back case like what you see. Many of us held on to these cases long after we traded/sold out special 2008 models. JOSH

I wanted to ask about other limited editions cases. Is it always has exclusive cases or not. As far as I know that rosewood neck BFRs were some kind of limited edition to but I have it with regular black plastic case. So I'm curious about that.

 

[jlepre]

Grave send... 2008LE basses had the lizard back case like what you see. Many of us held on to these cases long after we traded/sold out special 2008 models. JOSH

I had a Blue Dawn 2007 LE that had a similar special case with Blue inside. I wish I'd never sold my 2008 Sequoia Gold to Josh.
Here's an old family pic that I currently do not own ANYmore.

 

[keko]

Absolute killer bass!

The Sterling King!

Wow!

 

[tunaman4u2]

Freaking awesome

 

[stuartv]

Thanks, everybody!

I'm not a fan of gold hardware but Sequoia finish is awesome. It's definitely very cool bass. Congrats)

Yeah, I'm not generally a fan of gold trim, either. But, I think it looks just right with the Sequoia. I can't imagine chrome or black or any other color looking nearly as good on this particular bass.

I played it for a couple of hours last night through my Ampeg B-15R. It sounds SO GOOD! I definitely don't remember my SR5 ceramic sounding as good. I can't wait to compare them tomorrow night and see how they sound back to back.

 

[Gravesend Black]

Thanks, everybody!



Yeah, I'm not generally a fan of gold trim, either. But, I think it looks just right with the Sequoia. I can't imagine chrome or black or any other color looking nearly as good on this particular bass.

I played it for a couple of hours last night through my Ampeg B-15R. It sounds SO GOOD! I definitely don't remember my SR5 ceramic sounding as good. I can't wait to compare them tomorrow night and see how they sound back to back.

Glad to hear that you are happy with that beast. I do not know why St5 is so different for you compared to ceramics SR5. Same PUs and same electronics) Sounds weird. Or maybe 2008 LE used different kind of wood to create that sound? As for me they sound pretty similar. But that is theory for me cuz I only have ceramics SR5)

 

[stuartv]

They may turn out to be just the same. It's just been a few weeks since I played the SR5, and never through the same rigs that I've now played the ST5 through. I'll have them both together in the same room tomorrow and be able to really compare them then.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I'll have them both together in the same room tomorrow and be able to really compare them then.

I'm waiting eagerly! Congrats on the new bass BTW. I personally prefer the SR4 and SR5 looks over the ST look, but I've never played a ST, so I can't dismiss it either. If the ceramic SR5 and the ST do sound alike, all that's left for me to form an opinion on will be the ergonomics.

 

[stuartv]

Well, I have to report the initial comparison as inconclusive. One, the upstairs neighbors were home and it was after 9, so I didn't turn it up very loud. And, two, I think they sounded very similar, but the Sterling was more muted and less bright. But, my SR5 has fairly fresh Circle K strings, where the Sterling has unknown strings, possibly original stock, that look pretty worn.

I'm going to try and get some new strings tomorrow and then compare them again when I can crank my amp up some. If I can't get strings I like, I may just try swapping them, which will be a more accurate comparison anyway.