- Thread starter bassplayer1494
- Start date
mstott25
Member
My decision...
I went to some music stores on several occasions, found I really liked all of the Musicman basses. I preferred the feel and look of a Stingray with the SLO neck; I liked the sound of the Bongos; I liked the way the Big Al balanced and the different pickup selections but I found I mostly liked this HS Sterling that was there. To me it sounded like a ballsier, deeper version of my 7ender I brought with me for comparison.
I waited...
and waited...
and played about a dozen Musicman basses in between...
and noticed my impressions were about as consistent as my diet in college. Meaning: They changed a lot.
I narrowed it down to the Bongo and Big Al (after being *certain* I was getting a Sterling HS) because I found that there was a lot more to those instruments that I would ever be able to tap into while checking them out at a music store. I wanted to experience owning one, going through the seasons, phases, discoveries and I was convinced I was barely scratching the surface with their sounds in ye olde music shoppe.
A second reason for choosing one of those two, and I'm going to get a bit philosophical on yo ass, was because I also really wanted to support EBMM and BP for bringing these unique and powerful concepts to fruition. Everybody gets stuck and comfortable, it's like the plight of western civilization. I don't want to live my life like that, I want to constantly push myself and try new things, reach my goals and what I saw from BP was so damn impressive that I wanted to get in on his vision and the community here.
So once I decided it was going to be a Bongo or Big Al, it was really just a small impression or desire that nudged me in one direction. I liked the look of Randy Jackson's Big Al (the powder blue one) and I also envisioned me playing this instrument many years later with a fingerboard all worn in and showing signs of our relationship and in my mind I saw a maple fingerboard. So I looked for a sky blue Big Al, couldn't find one, put a call into Bass Central and they hooked me up...now I have less than 9 weeks before my little journey is complete.
I went to some music stores on several occasions, found I really liked all of the Musicman basses. I preferred the feel and look of a Stingray with the SLO neck; I liked the sound of the Bongos; I liked the way the Big Al balanced and the different pickup selections but I found I mostly liked this HS Sterling that was there. To me it sounded like a ballsier, deeper version of my 7ender I brought with me for comparison.
I waited...
and waited...
and played about a dozen Musicman basses in between...
and noticed my impressions were about as consistent as my diet in college. Meaning: They changed a lot.
I narrowed it down to the Bongo and Big Al (after being *certain* I was getting a Sterling HS) because I found that there was a lot more to those instruments that I would ever be able to tap into while checking them out at a music store. I wanted to experience owning one, going through the seasons, phases, discoveries and I was convinced I was barely scratching the surface with their sounds in ye olde music shoppe.
A second reason for choosing one of those two, and I'm going to get a bit philosophical on yo ass, was because I also really wanted to support EBMM and BP for bringing these unique and powerful concepts to fruition. Everybody gets stuck and comfortable, it's like the plight of western civilization. I don't want to live my life like that, I want to constantly push myself and try new things, reach my goals and what I saw from BP was so damn impressive that I wanted to get in on his vision and the community here.
So once I decided it was going to be a Bongo or Big Al, it was really just a small impression or desire that nudged me in one direction. I liked the look of Randy Jackson's Big Al (the powder blue one) and I also envisioned me playing this instrument many years later with a fingerboard all worn in and showing signs of our relationship and in my mind I saw a maple fingerboard. So I looked for a sky blue Big Al, couldn't find one, put a call into Bass Central and they hooked me up...now I have less than 9 weeks before my little journey is complete.
adouglas
Well-known member
This is a true statement.
This is a laudable motivation. You are wise, sir.
jlepre
Well-known member
You're gonna fit in just fine here....welcome!
mrfstop
Well-known member
Hmmmm?
Too hard to pick just one
I recently picked up an as new Reflex HSS....
I have to say this thing is unreal!
Plays like butter...and has amazing tone and selection.
Maybe the most versatile EBMM I have???
I have several Stingrays and one Bongo and the Reflex.
Have never played a Sterling nor a Big Al.
I think if I had to let go of all my EBMM cept two...
I would hang onto the:
2010 Reflex HSS 4
and
2008 Stingray LE HS 4 Sequoia Gold
Too hard to pick just one
I recently picked up an as new Reflex HSS....
I have to say this thing is unreal!
Plays like butter...and has amazing tone and selection.
Maybe the most versatile EBMM I have???
I have several Stingrays and one Bongo and the Reflex.
Have never played a Sterling nor a Big Al.
I think if I had to let go of all my EBMM cept two...
I would hang onto the:
2010 Reflex HSS 4
and
2008 Stingray LE HS 4 Sequoia Gold
Stflbn
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
- Messages
- 40
Had Stingrays and Sterlings. Like them.
Had one Big Al 5 SSS and stupidly sold it, and finally got another one. LOVE it.
Haven't had a Bongo, but fairly sure I'd wish for more switching.
WILL have a Reflex 5 HSS, but "looking" at them it "looks" like it may neck dive.
.
Had one Big Al 5 SSS and stupidly sold it, and finally got another one. LOVE it.
Haven't had a Bongo, but fairly sure I'd wish for more switching.
WILL have a Reflex 5 HSS, but "looking" at them it "looks" like it may neck dive.
.
Growl is good, but beware the bite. Play it safe and
get a toofless version. HS or H-p makes a way cool
toofless. I've had a coupla toofy ones ... not for me.
I've got snaggle toofed Rays and Boingos, but the
Sterlings were just ... well ... way TOO snaggley !
`
fly
Well-known member
That's why I would probably want a single H - I like that bite!
love,LOVE my single H Sterling........serious,go get yourself one man
tunaman4u2
Well-known member
My sterling HH beat out my sterling H for sure. I loved my Sterling H but I liked the diversity of the HH more. Many more tones on the HH, you can tame down the bite. IF I was in an original band choosing my own tone? I'd grab the Sterling H. Now that I play in coverbands (need diversity) & church (need non-aggressive tone) its the Sterling HH for sure.
Big Al and the Sterling are too close tonally for me to justify buying the Big Al. A Sterling HH vs a Bongo is more a bigger difference to my ears. I love my Bongo 5 HH. 4 band EQ for a 5 string is such a tool to get that B string right where you want it.
But again... use your ears with Ed Friedlands videos where he tests ALL of these basses!
Music Man Sterling 5 bass - YouTube
Big Al and the Sterling are too close tonally for me to justify buying the Big Al. A Sterling HH vs a Bongo is more a bigger difference to my ears. I love my Bongo 5 HH. 4 band EQ for a 5 string is such a tool to get that B string right where you want it.
But again... use your ears with Ed Friedlands videos where he tests ALL of these basses!
Music Man Sterling 5 bass - YouTube
mrfstop
Well-known member
WoW, picked up an as new Big AL 4sss and gotta admit all the guys on here raving about them are right.
I really am a big fan of the Al sss.
Only had it maybe 2 or so weeks and already am thinking seriously about selling off a super hard to find minty 30th Ray to buy a second Big al sss with a maple board to off set the feel and tone of my rosewood one........I know I know...I am nuts!
But I have been nuts before and survived G.A.S Attacks....hahaha!! life always goes on.
But I am seriously loving the Reflex and the Big Al these days!!
The HSS and the SSS give such a cool range of tone that works for my ears. And they both really please the eyes as well
I really am a big fan of the Al sss.
Only had it maybe 2 or so weeks and already am thinking seriously about selling off a super hard to find minty 30th Ray to buy a second Big al sss with a maple board to off set the feel and tone of my rosewood one........I know I know...I am nuts!
But I have been nuts before and survived G.A.S Attacks....hahaha!! life always goes on.
But I am seriously loving the Reflex and the Big Al these days!!
The HSS and the SSS give such a cool range of tone that works for my ears. And they both really please the eyes as well
adouglas
Well-known member
That sounds an awful lot like a decision that you may come to regret.
stu42
Well-known member
Well....I do recall he sold a Dargie II Bongo 4H in the past too so....perhaps he is a man with no fear of regret!!
mrfstop
Well-known member
Ya know....If I where a betting kinda guy I would bet your are right.
I Just cannot catch onto the single H ray thing.
And the Big AL I would be letting it go to get is stunning!
Pearl white...White pearloid pg...Matching headstock...light blonde maple board and neck.
Stunning example of the BA....Brand new...
Sooooooooo??? have not done it YET? But most likely will in a day or so
? ?
mrfstop
Well-known member
Well....I do recall he sold a Dargie II Bongo 4H in the past too so....perhaps he is a man with no fear of regret!!
Nope, I AM a man with fear and regret.
For sure.
I "regret" letting go of many of the beautiful basses I let go of in the past. ( as we all do )
I "fear" that letting go of this much sought after ray will be in the long run really stupid.
But G.A.S. does strange things to a normally rational mind
I wish in a perfect world, I could hang onto everything and have deeper pockets to just outright buy things that G.A.S. desires.
But the reality is, in order to obtain what I G.A.S. over, I have no choice but to usually sell off something I really do not want to sell
I never clicked with that Dargie Bongo 4H, like I clicked with the 2004 HH Bongo Lava Pearl that I still have.
Even though It appears to be quite coveted in EBMM land....I rolled it to someone who dearly loves it...
So all is good.
WoW, picked up an as new Big AL 4sss and gotta admit all the guys on here raving about them are right.
I really am a big fan of the Al sss.
Only had it maybe 2 or so weeks and already am thinking seriously about selling off a super hard to find minty 30th Ray to buy a second Big al sss with a maple board to off set the feel and tone of my rosewood one........I know I know...I am nuts!
But I have been nuts before and survived G.A.S Attacks....hahaha!! life always goes on.
But I am seriously loving the Reflex and the Big Al these days!!
The HSS and the SSS give such a cool range of tone that works for my ears. And they both really please the eyes as well
Yessir, welcome to the club! But I'd reconsider letting that 30th go.
stu42
Well-known member
That's cool. Just teasing you!!
The most important thing is to keep something because YOU love it...regardless of what other people say. I get what you're saying about not having infinitely deep pockets and having to take chances on buying stuff. It's kind of a drag for sure but...hopefully you're right with these decisions more than you're wrong.I'm gas-ing for a Big Al myself but I have to bide my time for the moment. One day!!
Cheers.
