Question Questions about a Music Man USA Made SUB 5 Bass

[5-BANGER]

I recently acquired a nice USA made Music Man SUB 5 bass. One of the tone knobs went missing. I think that the screw that held it onto the shaft came loose and it fell off. My question is where can I get a direct replacement knob for this bass. I am assuming that because this is the USA version it utilizes the same knobs as the Stingrays. I was wonder where these might be purchased?

Also I was wondering if the pickup and 2-band EQ preamp in this bass is the same one that is used in the Stingray 5 Classics or did they make a lower end pickup and preamp for the SUB line. The USA made SUB seems like a stripped down Stingray Classic. Thanks

 

[Tollywood]

Welcome to the forum!

Music Man Customer Service

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I recently acquired a nice USA made Music Man SUB 5 bass. One of the tone knobs went missing. I think that the screw that held it onto the shaft came loose and it fell off. My question is where can I get a direct replacement knob for this bass. I am assuming that because this is the USA version it utilizes the same knobs as the Stingrays. I was wonder where these might be purchased?

Also I was wondering if the pickup and 2-band EQ preamp in this bass is the same one that is used in the Stingray 5 Classics or did they make a lower end pickup and preamp for the SUB line. The USA made SUB seems like a stripped down Stingray Classic. Thanks

As Tollie says, Customer service may be your answer for the screw.

The preamp is the same as for the Classic 5 and 4 string Basses and also for the normal 2EQ Sting Ray (they're all the same).

The pickup would be the same as for the SR5 of that time except that the SUB 5 had alnico pole pieces.

 

[jlepre]

Hey 5-Banger,

Congrats on the SUB-5. The rules are, No PICS = No BASS

Oh and if you ever want to sell that bad boy, let me know.

 

[5-BANGER]

The preamp is the same as for the Classic 5 and 4 string Basses and also for the normal 2EQ Sting Ray (they're all the same).

The pickup would be the same as for the SR5 of that time except that the SUB 5 had alnico pole pieces.

No wonder this thing sounds so good! Thanks for all for the great answers to my post. Here's a few pictures of my SUB 5 as well.

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[T-bone]

Hey Welcome 5-BANGER.

I've got one of those bad boys and love it. I don't gig with it much (too many strings) but love her all the same. And no, John, I ain't selling!

tbone

 

[Golem]

.............. .... ... ...... .... .....

The preamp is the same as for the Classic 5 and 4 string Basses and also
for the normal 2EQ Sting Ray (they're all the same).

The pickup would be the same as for the SR5 of that time except
that the SUB 5 had alnico pole pieces.

OK, so in the USA SUB era, an SR5 was essentially a Sterling. Yet ...
the SUB version of the [ceramic] SR5 [in that era] has an ALNICO
pickup. So ... this leads me to suppose that my USA SUB Sterling 4
also has alnico pickups. True or False, please, knowledgeable Sir ?

 

[sanderhermans]

So the sub 5 usa is just a verry cheap classic stingray (sound wise) without the string tru and the dampers on the bridge.....
looks are obviously different but it does have the sr4 scratchplate and banana....

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

OK, so in the USA SUB era, an SR5 was essentially a Sterling. Yet ...
the SUB version of the [ceramic] SR5 [in that era] has an ALNICO
pickup. So ... this leads me to suppose that my USA SUB Sterling 4
also has alnico pickups. True or False, please, knowledgeable Sir ?

The SUB4 and SUB5 both had the 2 band EQ (or passive option). The SUB4 was Alnico and fairly sure the this was the case with the SUB5 but stand corrected.

The SUB Sterling had 3 band EQ (no passive option) and from memory it's pole pieces were ceramic.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Also, when I said above:

"The pickup would be the same as for the SR5 of that time except
that the SUB 5 had alnico pole pieces"

I meant the same shape and basic dimensions as a SR5 but, of course, with no dummy coil.

 

[steevo]

I have a SUB5, bought it new in 2004 and I love it so much I sold my stingray and use this as my main bass now. Its an absolute monster. I changed the pickup for an SR5, bought it off someone on hear I think, it made a noticeable change to the tone, more rounded and balanced to my ears. The neck is amazing, plays like silk and its light and comfortable to play.
Did a setup on it the other day as I noticed the action had gone a little high (think its due to the weather), gave the truss rod a slight tweak and the action now is so low and has no buzzing anywhere. Ive recently bought a SUB1 guitar and that is just as good and is slowly pushing my strat from its position as my main guitar.
What an amazing line of instruments though, for the cost nothing else comes close. Great playability, amazing sounds and setup so easy its untrue. Im constantly on the look out for these now and hoping to collect some of the other models, stirling bass is next.

 

[steevo]

No wonder this thing sounds so good! Thanks for all for the great answers to my post. Here's a few pictures of my SUB 5 as well.

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By the way, where can I get pickguards for the SUB5, id love to experiment with different colours, mines black so im thinking either pearl or mirror, something to really stand out.

 

[5-BANGER]

By the way, where can I get pickguards for the SUB5, id love to experiment with different colours, mines black so im thinking either pearl or mirror, something to really stand out.

Check out this link: Pickguard Heaven: Prices - Music Man

 

[georgestrings]

I also have a SUB5, and have been impressed with it since I got it... If you really want to wake one of those up, change the pup wiring from parallel to series - makes it hotter, with more midrange and low end... Here are my SUBs:




- georgestrings

 

[Golem]

The SUB4 and SUB5 both had the 2 band EQ (or passive option).
The SUB4 was Alnico and fairly sure the this was the case with
the SUB5 but stand corrected.

The SUB Sterling had 3 band EQ (no passive option) and from
memory it's pole pieces were ceramic.

Thanx.

So, minus the series_mode/SC switch, it is, functionally, a
poplar bodied Sterling 4 ? Acoarst I do realize I'm ignoring
the odd finish, 6-bolt neck heel, and lack of contouring
I don't think of all that other stuff as functional features.

 

[ksandvik]

If I ever see a used SUB bass/guitar on sale in future, I will pick it up ASAP, they are good workhorses.

 

[sanderhermans]

Down side is here in belgium the going rate for ebmm is about 900/1000 euros. While the subs are around 600 in this case i would and have always gone for the real deal. Then again the subs are propper mm basses from what i read. What i didnt know is that they used poplar instead of ash on the bodies.... does this effect the tone? And is this a cheaper wood?

 

[Golem]

`

Poplar IS cheaper, as it grows faster and is immune
to the Asian Ash Borer epidemic. The tone is different
and it is quite unsuitable for trans finishes, especially
clear coat or very nearly clear coat [no strong color].
Poplar has miserable looking grain, and it's greenish.

A very few StingRays were made of poplar. I know of
at least one owner of such ... and he HAS checked it
with EBMM CS, definitely poplar.

It's a softer more mellow wood than ash or alder, but
not to the degree you hear with basswood [ie Bongo].