Question for those who gig with 30th SR

[Chris C]

So I've played around on the 30th SR at the local guitar shop several times. I absolutely love the sound--especially for slap style (which I do a good deal of).

However... right now I'm playing a radiance red Sterling that works great in my band. With the coil switching, it's certainly more versitile. I tend to stick with the parallel setting on the Sterling most of the time; I really don't like the series sound that much. I do use the single coil setting a bit. BUT, it just doesn't get that sweet, wonderful sound that the 30th does (which to me, sounds alot like the older variety Stingray, except maybe even more aggressive). It's just so "ballsy."

I can't afford to have both of them right now. So to get the 30th, it's bye bye Sterling. Although I plan to get an SR 5 within a few months, I'd be gigging only with the 30th for awhile. Would I regret this? For those of you who gig with the 30th, how does it stand up in a band situation? I play mostly funk, acid jazz, classic rock, disco, and a smattering of country. If I knew that the 30th would cut through well in a band situation (it's hard to gage in a music store), I'd do it in a heartbeat. I absolutely love the looks of the thing, too! It's mesmerizing.

Whatdaya think???

 

[phatduckk]

Would I regret this?

Whatdaya think???

na. if you like how it sounds, then its all good. a sterling in parallel gets close to the ray sound (which it sounds like you enjoy more) then the mahog body adds that extra something you dig.

i say go for it. gig away with teh 30th

 

[Caca de Kick]

I tend to stick with the parallel setting on the Sterling most of the time; I really don't like the series sound that much.

Hi Chris, good to see you here...
With that comment, you sound like the prefect candidate for the 30th. I don't prefer the series mode either, and I do love the sound of my 30th. You're right, they're gorgeous, I don't think you'd regret it at all. But have you taken your Sterling into the store and A/B'd with the 30th to see what you hear?

 

[Mobay45]

I don't have a 30th, but I know someone that has tried to bounce one off the floor.

 

[bovinehost]

I don't have a 30th, but I know someone that has tried to bounce one off the floor.

Sounds great, looks like a million bucks and works like a damned Timex.

What else could you ask for?

 

[Big Poppa]

THe thirtieths are done....buy it and if you dont like it sell it and buy another sterling...

 

[Chris C]

Hi Chris, good to see you here...
With that comment, you sound like the prefect candidate for the 30th. I don't prefer the series mode either, and I do love the sound of my 30th. You're right, they're gorgeous, I don't think you'd regret it at all. But have you taken your Sterling into the store and A/B'd with the 30th to see what you hear?

Hello Caca de Kick. Thanks. I recognize your name from... that other place! A/B'ing them is a good idea. Have to take into account that I've been running the 30th through an SVT. What doesn't sound good through an SVT? Of course, I have a feeling the 30th would sound good through most anything, too (anything reasonable, that is).

Thanks for the comments everyone. I've been leaning pretty heavily toward doing it. And as BP says... I can always flip it later if it doesn't work out. I'd doubt I'll lose any money on it. The price is good and it should only go up in value. I'm pretty sure that this one would find a permanent home with me, though. The sound of that thing just gives me chills--good chills, of course

 

[tombboy]

You're worried about the SR30th cutting through?
My 30th just elbows everything else out of the way to get to the front of the mix!! I do have to keep a muzzle on it (compression) to stop it snapping at those in the front row, though.
Honestly, it's a beautiful beast and draws admiring looks/comments wherever I take it.

 

[cat_empire]

ask me in a couple of months when i get mine and start doing gigs with it!

 

[Permanent Waves]

Just make sure you can deal with that gloss neck. Gloss necks are a pet peeve of mine, and so I got a Sterling instead. The SR30ths are very attractive basses though.

Graeme

 

[Caca de Kick]

I love gloss necks, the 30th neck feels like my old MM necks, which is the 1st thing I fell in love with.
I wish gloss was an option on the regular EB stuff.

-Mike

 

[Randracula]

 

[Musicman Nut]

So I've played around on the 30th SR at the local guitar shop several times. I absolutely love the sound--especially for slap style (which I do a good deal of).

However... right now I'm playing a radiance red Sterling that works great in my band. With the coil switching, it's certainly more versitile. I tend to stick with the parallel setting on the Sterling most of the time; I really don't like the series sound that much. I do use the single coil setting a bit. BUT, it just doesn't get that sweet, wonderful sound that the 30th does (which to me, sounds alot like the older variety Stingray, except maybe even more aggressive). It's just so "ballsy."

I can't afford to have both of them right now. So to get the 30th, it's bye bye Sterling. Although I plan to get an SR 5 within a few months, I'd be gigging only with the 30th for awhile. Would I regret this? For those of you who gig with the 30th, how does it stand up in a band situation? I play mostly funk, acid jazz, classic rock, disco, and a smattering of country. If I knew that the 30th would cut through well in a band situation (it's hard to gage in a music store), I'd do it in a heartbeat. I absolutely love the looks of the thing, too! It's mesmerizing.

Whatdaya think???

I once went thru that same thing, Went to a Local GC and ended up buying every Music Man 4 string they had and with that, you'll cover all basis.

 

[j rug]

I had been pretty strictly a 5 stringer for a long while, after dropping down from 6 strings. My band has a few songs that require a B string but since I got my 30th (Annie) I make the band arrange our sets so that I can hurry up and get the 5 string done with in the first 4 or 5 songs. Don't get me wrong, I still love my 5 string, but Annie is the one I look forward to the most.

 

[Rano Bass]

I love gloss necks, the 30th neck feels like my old MM necks, which is the 1st thing I fell in love with.
I wish gloss was an option on the regular EB stuff.

-Mike

I'm with you on this, i loved the gloss neck on my 90 Ray and i'm really tempted to do something like that on my HH Ray 5, not shure yet.

 

[Chris C]

Mission Accomplished!

It was very hard to part with my Sterling... but, it was for the best.

What an amazing bass the Stingray 30th is! I've been in love with it at the local shop, but after getting it home, setting it up, changing the strings, and giving it a good playing, it's beyond love! This thing just kicks booty. Perfect sound for the kind of stuff I like to play.

The workmanship is incredible (of course, it always is with EB instruments). There were two 30th Stingrays hanging in the shop; they sounded and played identical (no dogs with EB Basses! I've never played a dog built by EB), so I chose based on looks. This one has some really nice grain stripes on the fingerboard (it almost looks like macassar ebony or bocate--pretty rare for rosewood--it is rosewood, right?).

I think the most impressive thing about this bass (besides its perfect "overall" sound) is the fact that the mid control is actually useful in boost mode as well as cut. I've always cut the mids on my Sterling for slap and ran it flat for fingerstyle or picking. With the Stingray 30th, the mid cut is great as well for slap, but boosting it gives this great punchy, meaty cutting sound for fingerstyle. I don't know why this is--different pre-amp? the mahogany body? the pickup?--but whatever it is, I really like it.

I've tried to take a couple of photos. Sorry for the crappiness. My camera's auto focus is all screwed up. Plus, there is a weird reflection on the body... oh well. The second photo is the fingerboard stripes. They run the entire length of the fingerboard--very nice touch.

Now all I need to find is a Copperhead Bronze Stingray 5... and my life will be fullfilled (until the next GAS attack). Speaking of GAS, man this 30th is a GAS killer. How could anyone not be tickled pink with this thing???

 

[Bill]

Sweeeet bass! Congrats on a great find!

 

[Dargin]

The neck is Indian rosewood, and we believe the punch is from the mahogany...