New EBMM bass... and a dilemma

[paranoid70]

Hey,

I don't spend much time on this side, as I am primarily a guitar player. However, I do fill in on bass ocassionaly and of course need them for home recording.

Almost two years ago I sold my old '74 Rickenbacker (with an intermittent jack problem I could never ever get fixed) and bought a Stingray. I absolutely love the sound of the Stingray. It looks cool as hell too. However, I find that playing the Stingray for long periods of time (or for fast songs) really tires my skinny guitar player fingers. Thus, I was thinking about maybe getting a bass with a thinner neck.

Two days ago I got a used Sterling off a craigslist for a pretty good deal. I am not sure of the year, but am guessing 2001 or older. The bass has a few nicks and is rather grimy, but still cosmetically pleasing - I love the color. I think there is even a good amount of birdseye under the grime. The playability of the bass is great, it's more of a guitar player's bass than the Stingray if you know what I mean.

However, the sound of the bass is not on par with my Stingray. The Stingray has a way more booming bass sound, and is much clearer. The Stingray is also much louder. I measured the height of the pickup for both basses and did find them to be different. The height of the strings over the PUP on the Stingray is about 1/4", but the height on the Sterling is about 3/8". Should the height be the same for both basses?

I assume the Stingray vs. Sterling comparisons have been done to death, but is it generally the case that Stingrays are much more clearer and "bassier" than the Sterlings? I had "assumed" that the two sounded very similar.

So the delimma is which one to keep. As I guitar player, I cannot justify having more than one bass. I had totally planned on selling the Stingray (it is currently listed on craigslist), but after spending the evening A/B ing the basses, I am not so sure any more. I got the Sterling for a good deal, so I could probably sell for at least what I paid for it. As it stands right now, I like the sound of the Stingray over this Sterling more than I like the playabilty of the reverse.

Maybe I should take the bass to the local repair shop. Maybe with a pro set up and adjustment to the PUP height, it would sound a lot better.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Hope my stupid questions won't cause me to be banished back to the guitar side.

Any way, here are the pics.

Man those guitars sure looks small compared to the basses.

 

[silverburst]

The collection is looking pretty nice, Eric!

I'll give you a call, and maybe you could try out my Sterling. It just had a set-up with new Hybrid Slinkies.

 

[bdgotoh]

Pickup height (distance from the strings) does matter, try adjusting them so they are the same. That will affect output and tone.

I assume you had the EQ knobs set similarly on both basses? I've found that my Sterlings have more low end on tap than my Stingrays so your post surprised me. Play with the EQ, you should be able to find what you need there.

Last is the lever switch on the Sterling. If you're looking for low end, flip the lever all the way forward for series mode and you'll get the most low end. The downside is it doesn't sound as clear as the other two switch settings.

Give yourself some time to get used to the Sterling before you decide, it's a really great bass. I like the differences in feel and tone so much that I own Sterlings, Stingrays, and Bongos.

 

[paranoid70]

The collection is looking pretty nice, Eric!

I'll give you a call, and maybe you could try out my Sterling. It just had a set-up with new Hybrid Slinkies.

Thanks Rex, that sounds cool, I haven't really played Sterlings much in the stores... when I am there, I tend to gravitate toward the 6-strings. The strings on the bass are really old too.... I don't think the guy ever put it in the case. I don't mind the dirt and set up issues, I just am concerned that the sound of this bass is really lacking, especially when compared to my Stingray. Hopefully a pro set up is all it will take.

 

[the unrepentant]

It may be the strings, slap some new ones on there and see how it sounds

 

[oli@bass]

That Sterling surely deserves a cleanup, new strings and a pro setup. However, it will probably never sound like your StingRay. They're similar, but not the same.

 

[Kristopher]

+1 on the new strings

How heavy/light is this Sterling? I have the exact same looking Sterling, mine is from '99, and it's heavy and full of mids. Make sure you get some new strings, play with that pickup switch, and maybe get a full setup. And don't be afraid to tweak those eq knobs, that's what they're there for.

 

[paranoid70]

Well, I went to Guitar Center at lunch today to try out the EBMM basses (there were no MM guitars to keep me distracted). The Sterlings and Stingrays do sound a little different... but the Stingray really has that awesome booming bass sound - I think I do prefer that one after all. However, the brand new Sterling sounds much better than the one I just got. Guess it just needs some TLC to get back in shape.

Funny thing is, I got it in my head that the Stingray wasn't the bass for me. But the more I am playing it, the more I am really liking it. Either way, they are great basses. I'd like to keep 'em both... but I would rather save room for another Silhouette or AL some time down the road.

BTW Kris, it is a 2000 model and is much lighter than the Stingray.

 

[Psycho Ward]

I'm a big fan of pro setups, I've worked with same tech for a while now and he knows what I like. I just got a couple of StingRay's and they do seem a little louder than my Sterling’s. But I haven't had the time to A/B and the difference could just be in my head. All of my EBMM's sound great though and I would encourage you to keep both if you can!

 

[Big Poppa]

they arent louder and actuall with the pickup switch in the sterling in the series position the Sterling wins the boom contest. sounds like your pickup is too close to the strings on the stingray./....check the set up faq and make them the same. If your stingray appears louder you may not getting the real story. Especially with the preamp and the big alnico magnets f the stingray you really ned to have the pickup lower than with a passive bass and most do it your selfer's usually raise the pickup like their passive basses.

 

[paranoid70]

I didn't even think that the Stingray might be adjusted too high... that does make sense. I'll borrow a set of calipers from work and check the height of the pickups per the FAQ.

Last night my friend called me and said he didn't have time to get his bass for rehearsal, so I brought the Sterling. He really liked playing it and it did sound good out of a good amp. Up til now I was only using a crappy Fender Sidekick.

I think with some work I can restore this bass do be a real kick ass instrument. In spite of a few nicks, rust spots and grime on the neck/fretboard, it is a real diamond in the rough.

 

[paranoid70]

Delimma solved!!

After spending a little while last night playing with the action and intonation, adjusting the pickup, cleaning the HELL out of the bass top to bottom, and slapping on some new Slinky Hybrids, the Sterling plays awesome! Actually changing the strings had the biggest impact, the old ones were so dead. (BTW, why do guys at Music stores always try to talk me into getting D'Addario over Ernie Ball?)

Overall, the Sterling is a great find, but it did take a little effort - No wonder I got it for such a steal. The sound is just as powerful as the Stingray now that I adjusted it.

I sold my Stingray last night. The guy who bought it was pretty young and in a punk band. I told him that Music Man would be the perfect bass for him. Although he was a 'punk', he was a nice guy - I encouraged him to join this forum. I am sure he will love the Stingray, and will probably play it much more often than this guitar player.