Please help me decide between a Big Al 5 and a Sterling 5.

[BassNGuns]

Hi,
I'm planning on pulling the trigger on this today.
Right now, I only have an SR5 made in about 2000.
I love the tone. It's driving and punchy and with the music I play
(classic rock, hard rock and old school funk) it sounds great.
I was told that if I like that sound, to go with the Sterling since it uses the same style of pickups as back then (the ceramic ones).
However, I notice how versatile the Big Al 5 SSS is and I like that.
If I score the Big Al, would I be able to dial that punchy sound (or close to it)
like my SR5 if needed?

 

[Thornton Davis]

Have you considered a Big Al 5-H? It's like your SR5 on sterloids.

TD

 

[Golem]

Not having a BA, but having 2 Boingos, which have
similar tronics to the BA and Reflex, I'd say no, you
can't closely mimic the Sterling/SR5-ceramic sound.

It would seem that you will NOT be keeping your
current SR5-ceramic, since you have this concern ?


`

 

[bovinehost]

Please help me decide between a Big Al 5 and a Sterling 5.

No.





However, there is no wrong choice here.

 

[Movielife]

The Big Al 5, all buttons up, sounds VERY Sterling like....aggressive/punchy/full.

I have a Stingray 5, Sterling 5, and Big Al 5. The Big Al 5 is VERY different, but super cool. If you fancy a change, try the Big Al.

 

[BigAlis4me]

The Big Al 5, all buttons up, sounds VERY Sterling like....aggressive/punchy/full.

That

The Big Al 5 is VERY different, but super cool. If you fancy a change, try the Big Al.

And that. It will sound different to your Stingray, though.

But I'm sure it will match your

classic rock, hard rock and old school funk

style perfectly

 

[ubnomnar]

The Big Al 5H has a ceramic humbucker and sounds phenomenal in series mode. The 4-band eq is icing on the cake.

The Big Al 5SSS also sounds massive with the neo bridge/middle pickups in series mode (all buttons up).

My favorite Big Al setting is the series mode... active and passive are both outstanding. I also really like the SSS on the middle or bridge pickup solo.

I've never played a Sterling.

Whichever you choose, you're sure to end up with an amazing EBMM bass!

 

[adouglas]

Buy a Big Al or my Bongos will come to your house and beat you up.

Yes, you can get massive punch out of the Big Al, especially with appropriate compression.

 

[Holdsg]

Get the Al.

 

[Bass Control]

Get an Al. I'm gasing for an 5-SSS right now.

 

[Spudmurphy]

When the Big Al first came out I was lucky enough to be working for the Distributors in the UK Strings and Things at an exhibition. I managed to persuade a few tyre kickers to actually try it out. It had a great response from the public - people loved it.

So


GET THE BA

 

[cellkirk74]

Get a Big Al. You will love the passive mode.

 

[Fred_Flux]

To me, having a ceramic StingRay 5 and a Sterling 5 is no use (unless you want some backup). If you plan of giving the Ray away or are looking for twin sounds go with the Sterling, otherwise increase your tone possibilities with a Big Al.

 

[Manfloozy]

I'd vote for the BA, but would Aldo suggest a Reflex 5HSS.

It's rear H is ceramic and the front two singles are the same as the BA. It won't sound exactly like a Sterling nor will it do the rear single of the BA but it covers a ton of ground and is it's own mutant love child of the two (and then some).

 

[MattOfSweden]

What Matt said^^
It's more or less a question of different flavors of great, but the Reflex/25th 5HSS is just awesome.