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Redblade

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quote from Ernie Ball FAQ

Q: What is the string spacing on the Music Man basses?
A: All distances are measured from string center to the next string center.

Stingray 4, Bongo 4, SUB 4 - 3/4"

Sterling, StingRay 5, Bongo 5, SUB Sterling - 11/16"


Is this right that the Sterling would have the same string spacing as the 5 strings models? I don't own a sterling but it looks like the exact same bridge thats on the Bongo 4 and Ray 4. Please enlighten me, or is this a mistake?
 

oli@bass

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So, the string spacing is measured at the nut, not at the bridge, right?
Or does the sterling have a different bridge?
 

Redblade

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The Sterling has a narrower neck.


Right, but that should not effect the string spacing at the bridge. The bridge would have to be different from the one that comes on a ray or bongo for it to have a narrower spacing. Anyone?
 

strummer

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Right, but that should not effect the string spacing at the bridge. The bridge would have to be different from the one that comes on a ray or bongo for it to have a narrower spacing. Anyone?

Not that I actually know a lot about the Sterling bass, but let's just look at this from the other end: If you had 3/4" or 11/16" sting spacing at the nut, you'd be playing like the widest neck ever, even if it was a 4-banger. So yes, the string spacing quoted is the string spacing at the bridge, and I guess that unless someone messed up writing that in the faq, the Sterling has nattower string spacing at the bridge than the other 4-sting models.

Cheers:)
 

daangroen

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Yea i have a Sterling and a Stingray and the stringspacing of the sterling is way tighter than of the stingray
 

Redblade

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Not that I actually know a lot about the Sterling bass, but let's just look at this from the other end: If you had 3/4" or 11/16" sting spacing at the nut, you'd be playing like the widest neck ever, even if it was a 4-banger. So yes, the string spacing quoted is the string spacing at the bridge, and I guess that unless someone messed up writing that in the faq, the Sterling has nattower string spacing at the bridge than the other 4-sting models.

Cheers:)
Seriously not to be rude but I was never asking if this was the string spacing at the bridge or nut. Obviously we are talking about string spacing at the bridge and nut spacing should have no effect on the string spacing at the bridge. My question is, does the sterling have a different bridge than a ray 4 or bongo 4? Because logically if the sterling has narrower spacing at the bridge it would have to be.
 
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Redblade

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...not being a smarta$$, but I think you answerred your own question.

I did? Thats only if you assume that the Sterling does in fact have narrower BRIDGE spacing than the bongo or ray, but still no one has answered that question other than saying that it has a narrower neck, which I already knew and has nothing to do with string spacing at the bridge. All I said is that the bridge would have to be different IF the Sterling had narrower spacing at the bridge, but again no one has answered that. Well I should say daangroen sort of answered it, but not really because as far as I know he is just talking about the strings being closer because of the tighter nut spacing.
 
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mynan

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I can't say I'm 100% sure, but it's probably a different bridge. The overall difference would only be 3/16, so unless you compared them side-by-side you probably wouldn't even notice, especially since the Sterling has a smaller body than the Stingray.
 

jaylegroove

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If the same bridge model could allow (no matter how) two different string spacings on MM basses, this means an SR4 could be set to Sterling string spacing, and vice versa. The fact is, this does not happen, which leads to the obvious conclusion : these are different bridges.
 

mynan

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This is one of those threads where you sit and think "Come on, why doesn't someone from EBMM chime in with the correct answer?".

We are sooooo spoiled...

...that or the answer is so obvious that no one wants to bother.
 

strummer

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Seriously not to be rude but I was never asking if this was the string spacing at the bridge or nut. Obviously we are talking about string spacing at the bridge and nut spacing should have no effect on the string spacing at the bridge. My question is, does the sterling have a different bridge than a ray 4 or bongo 4? Because logically if the sterling has narrower spacing at the bridge it would have to be.

Hey calm down :D
I was just so surprised that everyone kept on about nut width :)
Sadly I still don't have an answer, as I don't know Sterlings at all. And I agree, this is one of those threads where someone EBMM could just say "yes" or "no".
 

Redblade

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Hey calm down :D
I was just so surprised that everyone kept on about nut width :)
Sadly I still don't have an answer, as I don't know Sterlings at all. And I agree, this is one of those threads where someone EBMM could just say "yes" or "no".

Hey sorry I didnt mean to come off like an ass :D, I was just frustrated because everybody kept on like you said about the nut width, but I didnt understand thats all you were addressing. I agree with the recent replies and wish EB would give a definitive answer.
 
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