Sterling 5?

[JimFIore]

Hi folks, I'm new here and hoping someone can help me out. I am looking to expand into a 5 string. My local shop had a StingRay 5HH to try (which was very nice), but I just saw on the MM site that there's also a Sterling 5 string. I'd hate to order something I hadn't played, but I do like the idea of the somewhat smaller body of the Sterling because I'm not a big guy (5'10", 145 lbs). Any feedback on the following would be appreciated.

Is the tone of the Sterling the same as the StingRay?

Is the feel of the neck pretty much the same (the web site indicates they're the same width and radius)?

My other basses are a Rickenbacker 4003 and a Fender Jazz Bass Special fretless. Any comparisons between the Sterling/StingRay+Ric+JBS?

Thanks again.

 

[mynan]

Keep in mind that no one actually has one of these yet. The have just been released. The first orders were taken in January and are supposed to be delivered April/May

The tone should be similar to the SR5 that you played...same pickups/preamp, but with the smaller body/neck there could be a slight difference.

The fretboard is the same as the SR5, but the neck will have a narrower profile front-to-back.

 

[Duarte]

I thought the pickups and preamp were different...ceramic on the sterling and alnico on the SR?

 

[mynan]

SR4s - alnico
SR5s (92ish to 07) - ceramic
SR5s (08 and beyond) - alnico
Sterling4s - ceramic
Sterling5s - ceramic