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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Sterling vs. Stingray

lamerjay

lamerjay

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 24, 2006
Messages
181
I'm sure this has been discussed but I am new here so here goes. What is the differences between the two? I need a bass I can have setup for drop tuning, (drop C). I currently own w Warwick $$ and am looking for a second bass, 1 for EADG, and ond for CGCF. I'm thinking my Warwick should be the one I downtune and use the MM for standard tuning. I play mostly rock to metal styles w/ some funk thrown in. I am also looking for a single H since I already have a $$. Any comments/info would be greatly appreciated...
 
lamerjay said:
I'm sure this has been discussed but I am new here so here goes. What is the differences between the two? I need a bass I can have setup for drop tuning, (drop C). I currently own w Warwick $$ and am looking for a second bass, 1 for EADG, and ond for CGCF. I'm thinking my Warwick should be the one I downtune and use the MM for standard tuning. I play mostly rock to metal styles w/ some funk thrown in. I am also looking for a single H since I already have a $$. Any comments/info would be greatly appreciated...
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You do know that the $$ does not make your bass sound like en EBMM don't you?
As for the differences, they have been discussed at length many times before, and I think a search will give you all you need.:)
Try searching for "sterling stingray difference" and you'll be fine.
 
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Welcome.....The Sterling is a smaller offset body with a J like neck. The pick up and preamp are very different. It was designed to give you a clost to a sting ray tone in the first position a ope single coil wil reduced noise in the center and in the front a fat punch sound that is unique to the Sterling
 
I used to be in a band where I needed the same tunings. What worked best for me was I had Hipshot Xtenders installed on my basses & I used a Digitech BNX3 for the pitch shifter effect for the CGCF tuning that way I didn't have to ever switch guitars (unless I broke a string) & that way my back up bass was ready for either tuning.....just the push of a button. My guitar player still had to switch guitars though BUT...they are a silly breed.:D There was one song that we played.....Walk by Pantera that he learned in standard tuning, drop D & I learned the correct way tuned DGCF where the Digitech came in handy as well as I used it to tune BEAD & ADCG for some songs by Korn & Trapt......at the time I wasn't fond of playing 5'ers.....but it worked.....& worked well for the few years in that band.
 
lamerjay said:
I'm sure this has been discussed but I am new here so here goes. What is the differences between the two? I need a bass I can have setup for drop tuning, (drop C). I currently own w Warwick $$ and am looking for a second bass, 1 for EADG, and ond for CGCF. I'm thinking my Warwick should be the one I downtune and use the MM for standard tuning. I play mostly rock to metal styles w/ some funk thrown in. I am also looking for a single H since I already have a $$. Any comments/info would be greatly appreciated...
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I Know the feeling, Eventully I ended up getting both and the reason why is this. Yes the sterling fits great being a bit smaller, but it's a tad more versatile then the stingray do to the coil switching.

You'll never go wrong with the classic Stingray sound. I have both and take both to every gig. I have been playing in a Newer band that covers AC/DC and Zeppelin etc and to me the sterling works great for that format but stingray does to, so One of each is the answer in my book.
 
strummer said:
You do know that the $$ does not make your bass sound like en EBMM don't you?
.
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Yes, it has the Warwick growl I was looking for, and weighs much less than some other Warwicks. Now I would like to also have the EBMM sound so I am looking for a second bass. A 5 string may be the way to go as someone mentioned. Thanks for the input...
 
strummer said:
Ooooh, another piece of cheap uk marketing;)

@lamerjay: Why don't you play a 5-string? I mean, then you wouldn't need to switch basses. Just curious, you know...
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When stuff is written in the CGCF tuning.....or drop 'D' for that matter.....sometimes it's difficult to play on a std tuned 5 string.....esp. if on a song you ride on the top string while picking other notes....on a five you would have to constantly hold down the 'D' (B string 3rd fret) which on certain songs might be difficult to do.
 
They're both awesome basses but I personally prefer the Sterling.

The Sterling is more comfortable (for me) due to the body being a bit smaller and the neck being J-like as Poppa said.

The pickup switch is awesome.... again, like Pops said, the bridge position get Stringray-ish, the middle is nice n clean, and the neck position is all angry and awesome.

I beleive the guys in Avenged Sevenfold and Atreyu both play Sterlings (not sure on that).

I'd say you CANT go wrong with the Sterling. It will easily go from funk to metal for you and everythign in between. Go get one... you'll LOVE IT
 
+1 On the Sterling. I just got my first one a few weeks and I was a dyed in wool Jazz bass owner/player but I just really dig this Sterling. Nice sparkling highs and fat lows. The playability is great as well. I'm sure you'll get a lot different opinions but the main thing to do is play both and make an educated decision for yourself.
 
barkatozz said:
When stuff is written in the CGCF tuning.....or drop 'D' for that matter.....sometimes it's difficult to play on a std tuned 5 string.....esp. if on a song you ride on the top string while picking other notes....on a five you would have to constantly hold down the 'D' (B string 3rd fret) which on certain songs might be difficult to do.
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Ok, I get it. Then I guess you'd pretty much have the "right" tuning to be able to play a song at all? Thx for clearing that up, barka:)
 
strummer said:
Ok, I get it. Then I guess you'd pretty much have the "right" tuning to be able to play a song at all? Thx for clearing that up, barka:)
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A good example is Show Me How To Live by Audioslave. Tim C strings his bass BEAD & on that sone he drops the E down to D,,,Why?....I would guess that is how Tom Morello wrote it & playing it not dropped D is pretty tough. Same goes for any CGCF tuning song played on a std tuned 5 string.
 
barkatozz said:
WELL.......someone mentioned tuning CDCF as opposed to playing it on a five string.
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Sorry I just had a asshat moment...nothing personal:o
 
strummer said:
Sonce we already derailed the thread, I want to know something else about those tunings: Do you learn them by pattern or notes?
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By pattern.......when in that tuning, CGCF, I personally don't know most of the notes I'm playing.
 
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