Sterling Bridge

[RyanO'Neal]

HeyHo!
I'm the proud owner of a couple of Sterlings off of which one has the old bridge with string mutes. These might fit the sound of the Stingray, but not of the modern Sterling in my point of view. Furthermore, I don't like the look that much. I was wondering wether there is a decent replacement that doesn't require the drilling of any new holes. It should be really close to the look of the current Music Man bridge.
Thanks in advance.
Nick

 

[bovinehost]

Now I might be crazy here, but I reckon I'd just take the rubber mutes off and screw the holders down and call it a night.

 

[4play]

I'm pretty sure those mute bridges are a little off-centered (at least my '93 bridge was). Even if it wasn't, you'll be left with exposed holes that accommodate the mute thumb-screws. If you go aftermarket, the anchor-bolt inserts will be exposed. If you're picky enough to not like the look of the original bridge, I'm hard pressed to think you'd like the look described above.

I personally love the mute-bridge and wish it was a standard option. It's badass.

 

[Calaveras]

I'd be willing to trade a nice 2003 Sterling with the more modern bridge?
Oh wait, different continent.

 

[J Romano]

Be careful what you do. Some nimrod who had my SR4 Fretless before me changed out the bridge. You don't want your bass to end up looking like mine! Old MM bridges are next to, if not impossible to find! The holes for the screw for the mutes were filled I guess and MOP dots inserted. Exposed threaded holes for the old bridge are exposed on either side of the bridge!

 

[RyanO'Neal]

Aww man! I didn't think of the holes to accommodate the holders of the mutes. I guess I'll just have to swap or sell the whole bass for a modern Sterling.

Just out of curiosity, does it have an impact on the sound (or anything else) when changing a genuine Music Man bridge with one of the 20$ replacement bridges found on ebay?

CHROME BASS GUITAR BRIDGE FOR MUSIC MAN STINGRAY NEW! | eBay

 

[MadMatt]

Just out of curiosity, does it have an impact on the sound (or anything else) when changing a genuine Music Man bridge with one of the 20$ replacement bridges found on ebay?

Please don't do it. The bridge you are referring too are very thin, flimsy and nothing like the original music man bridge. A lot of people (like me) really dig the muted bridge. You are better off simply selling the bass and buying one with the modern bridge. As soon as you start messing with it (like replacing the bridge) it looses its value.

Having said that... you could actually try using the mutes (*gasp* Funny thought, I know). They are pretty cool and give you yet another tool in your sound arsenal.

 

[Golem]

`

I dig the mutes on my FL.

Not having any mute-equipped fretted MMs,
I gotsta aks ... don't they completely screw
up the intonation on a fretted ax ?


`

 

[MadMatt]

`
Not having any mute-equipped fretted MMs,
I gotsta aks ... don't they completely screw
up the intonation on a fretted ax ?

Not any more than my shoddy intonation normally does

 

[RyanO'Neal]

Having said that... you could actually try using the mutes (*gasp* Funny thought, I know). They are pretty cool and give you yet another tool in your sound arsenal.

Funny thought indeed, but as I said earlier. I don't think the mutes fit the sound of the Sterling. It's way to modern. I'm sure a bass like a Stingray or a Fender Precision sound awesome when the strins are muted, but it's just obsolete on a Sterling.

And I guess you're right. I better leave the original bridge on and sell the bass for a new one. Any takers? ;-)

 

[Duarte]

"Are you craze?"

Please don't change to one of those generic, awful cheap bridges. You gotta be craze!

 

[Golem]

Funny thought indeed, but as I said earlier. I don't think the mutes fit the sound
of the Sterling. It's way to modern. I'm sure a bass like a Stingray or a Fender
Precision sound awesome when the strins are muted, but it's just obsolete on a
Sterling.

And I guess you're right. I better leave the original bridge on and sell the bass
for a new one. Any takers? ;-)

The sense that the mutes are inappropriate for a Sterling possibly comes from
thinking of the Sterling as a Sterling [how bzarrrre !!!]. As you mention, mutes
do seem more suited to a Ray.

BUT ..... what if the mutes are just TOO muted, on a Ray, for someone's taste
in tone ..... even tho that other aspect of muting, the aborted sustain, might be
a useful option for certain tunes ? Oooohhh ..... if only. If only that muted Ray
had a somewhat hotter tone .... then the stumpy sustain would be both useful
and toneful .... oh, if only .... if only that Ray had the Sterling's tone [plus a
nice fast Sterling neck to go with it].

Nuffsedd ?


`

 

[bovinehost]

I've played country music on a Sterling.

I bet there are fines involved if anyone finds out, so let's just keep that here.