Sterling by music man. Sb-14

[spencer]

I have played about 3 of these and everytime I am surprised by them. I mean this in a goodway but they don't captureture the normal sterling sound. I swear it's voiced a little bit darker or smoother which I love. Everytime I pick one up I think this is the sound I always wanted that I struggle to get out of my stingray and sterling I had. Now I love my stingray and sterling too, I'm just saying that these things sound great! Different in my oppinion but great.

They are also set up great too (the ones I have seen) and the strings always seem to be fresh. (maybe because there always selling them?) most of the stingrays I find at gc have a bad action and old dead strings.

Anyways it's a great bass

 

[TechJunky]

I gotta agree, I'm a big fan. I have a Ray34 I just got a little over a week ago. I've always wanted a Stingray, but they're out of my price range, yet these things are so close for a much lower price.

As for the setup, mine came set up fantastically, intonated and everything. I just had to lower the action a bit to my preference, but that was it. In the store, however, it's hit or miss. I just played a SB14 at a store yesterday that was so out of whack, the first 3-4 frets on every string just buzzed. Not a little, but to the point that there was no note. Othertimes, it's the other extreme and the action is extremely high. Then I've played a few that were just about spot on. I don't know if this is coming from the factory, but I'm more inclined to think it's either done at the store or these are basses that are sitting on the wall too long (at my local GC, they have the same Ray34 and SB14 sitting there week after week).

 

[and lombardini]

I swear it's voiced a little bit darker or smoother which I love. Everytime I pick one up I think this is the sound I always wanted that I struggle to get out of my stingray and sterling I had.

I hear the very same thing and I have to admit that my SB14 is quickly becoming my favourite bass...I love it's smoothness...I have a bongo, a bfr and a big al but it just happens that before the gig I take out "Candy".

and

 

[spencer]

I know the word to describe it. It almost sounds passive. I'm liking.

 

[Basswave]

I have played about 3 of these and everytime I am surprised by them. I mean this in a goodway but they don't captureture the normal sterling sound. I swear it's voiced a little bit darker or smoother which I love.
Anyways it's a great bass

I'm with you on that...I like it better then an standard EBMM Sterling.

 

[Double Agent]

Could be the basswood body, maybe? As opposed to the ash on a Sterling? I know most ash basses I've played, regardless of manufacturer, are pretty bright. Basswood is more neutral tonally IMO, so it makes sense that it would sound smoother by default compared to a USA Sterling. However, I'm sure the SB14 can still get pretty bright with that pickup/preamp combo.

I've spent some quality time with a Ray34 at my local GC and I swear that I can't figure out how I leave that store without it each time. The honeyburst looks way too swanky for a bass that is so affordable.

 

[bassra]

Hey!
Glad to see other people also falling in love with the SBMM basses!
I now own 2 sb14´s and i absolutely love playing them!
I have been a mm singray user for about 15 years now, so I have to say that I felt a bit cheated when I tried(an bought ) my first sb14 for a fraction of the MM´s....
Sometimes I really wonder..Whats wrong with this bass? How can it be so nice to play, so comfortable to wear, and sound so good, and still not cost 1/2 of my MM´s?
I just get that feeling sometimes "somethings gonna come up, its too good to be true"..But it still hasn´t failed me in any way....
I think the only difference I heard between the Stingray and the SB14, is that the pickup´s are slightly less powerful/aggressive ...But thats nice! I love the the Stingray live, but in studio, I sometimes get the feeling it has some tiny "chorus" sound, and I´m imagining it´s the powerful pickups...so I always used a fender in studio....
Besides, playing live it works perfect..keeps the action in all kids of weather so far, and I still haven´t met a sound engineer who´s complained...
Anyway, Nowadays I play the SB 14 on almost every gig-4-5 times every week, and its great! I´m working on turning one of them into a fretless...Then im all set to go for any thing coming up!

One extra "up":
I think actually I play better and more relaxed with the SB14, because Im not ****-scared of getting a dent in it(like the expensive MM)...if it falls down and break in 20 pieces, I can always get a new one without my wife divorcing me..

 

[syciprider]

I like SBMM too. If I was a touring Stingray / Sterling player, the SBMMs will be the perfect alternate pieces to have.

 

[TheAntMan]

I've tried the Ray34 and found it to be an amazing instrument. SBMM line seem to be a fantastic way to get into a MusicMan instrument for the curious but not sure yet. Of course, once you get any type of MM you will want more

All roads lead to MM

--Ant