Sterling fretless tone

[alansan]

Hi all, hoping for some advice maybe even a sound clip of a fretless Sterling in action

I am buying a new fretless the next 4/5 months and having owned an SR5 with piezo I'm familiar with the Ray fretted sound.

I'm wondering about the fretless Sterling:

- as well as being narrower side to side is the Sterling neck thinner from front to back then the Stingray?

- are the EBMM fretless fret boards level (crucial for fretless) out of the box or would some leveling be necessary for a fussy player?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Figjam]

Yes it is thinner front to back. It has an amazingly comfortable profile.

Yes they are flat. Would you expect anything less from EBMM?


I am also interested in hearing some sterling fretless clips if possible.

 

[alansan]

Thanks Figjam.

With their track record of excellent quality control I'm not surprised to hear that the EBMM fretless necks are nice and level.

I've had problems in the past getting a very level fretboard with no bumps or uneven gradients which I think so important in a fretless bass, even on custom made basses.

 

[kompressaur]

I've found the opposite with regards to the first point. I'd say the Sterling is slightly deeper all the way up from behind the nut up to the heel area. Maybe it's the U profile and thinner nut width as opposed to a C in the low register playing tricks on me,and I've not had a Ray at hand in the time I've had my two Sterlings,but I have had a Bongo and a SUB and the sterling felt deeper front to back than those two. as I said maybe its the profile playing tricks but thats how it came across. If I'm wrong I'm wrong
anyway for me the Sterling has the nicest profile of any bass neck I've ever played.period.

 

[73jbass]

I got an unlined fretless Sterling in December,and I absoloutley love it. Nice and smooth with just enough of the so called mwah factor. You won't be dissapointed. PM on the way.

 

[alansan]

Thanks 73jbass.

If you ever get a chance to record your fretless Sterling I would really appreciate hearing it. There's only a couple of fretless Stingray clips on youtube but no Sterling...