While waiting...

[bottle12am]

Guys and gals--

The Sterling should be at my doorstep in a little over a month, and the heart is beating faster, already.

A few questions while waiting:

1. How is the factory setup out the box? Are we talking great? Good but with some settling from travel? Or is it pretty much do-it-yourself? I'm just not a brain when it comes to setting action, etc. (Yes, I've been playing for 16 years. Just not too confident with an allen wrench, except for the occasional minor adjustments).

2. I thought I once read MM's were made from Swamp Ash. On the site, it describes the Sterling as being created from 'selected hardwoods'. Can I get a clearer definition on that?
Wondering cause I like the Swamp Ash tone, and I'm getting a translucent color, so I'm hoping there's a decent grain on it for the $$. Don't have any doubts it'll be top notch, but just am curious as what to expect.

3. Can I get a plane ticket to SLO and the name of a department manager who I can bribe or blackmail to speed things up? the anticipation is driving me nuts!

Thanks.

P.S. BTW guys, thanks for this message board. I love the humor and camraderie of it all. Without naming names, I was recently booted off another co's website for a sarcastic remark I made there (trust me, it was no worse than anything I've posted or read on this site). Ticked me off, as I was a long-time customer of that co, and a long-time BBS contributor on their boards. Thanks for keeping things loose over here!

 

[sandaas]

Guys and gals--

The Sterling should be at my doorstep in a little over a month, and the heart is beating faster, already.

A few questions while waiting:

1. How is the factory setup out the box? Are we talking great? Good but with some settling from travel? Or is it pretty much do-it-yourself? I'm just not a brain when it comes to setting action, etc. (Yes, I've been playing for 16 years. Just not too confident with an allen wrench, except for the occasional minor adjustments).

2. I thought I once read MM's were made from Swamp Ash. On the site, it describes the Sterling as being created from 'selected hardwoods'. Can I get a clearer definition on that?
Wondering cause I like the Swamp Ash tone, and I'm getting a translucent color, so I'm hoping there's a decent grain on it for the $$. Don't have any doubts it'll be top notch, but just am curious as what to expect.

3. Can I get a plane ticket to SLO and the name of a department manager who I can bribe or blackmail to speed things up? the anticipation is driving me nuts!

Thanks.

P.S. BTW guys, thanks for this message board. I love the humor and camraderie of it all. Without naming names, I was recently booted off another co's website for a sarcastic remark I made there (trust me, it was no worse than anything I've posted or read on this site). Ticked me off, as I was a long-time customer of that co, and a long-time BBS contributor on their boards. Thanks for keeping things loose over here!

1. Yes we are talking great (usually, as good as always).
2.Body:ash, neck:selected maple, fretboard:maple or rosewood(fretted).
3.No. Deal with the pain

If you use the searchfunction you'll find a lot of threads about these topics

Congrats on your new bass!
cheers

 

[bovinehost]

Guys and gals--

The Sterling should be at my doorstep in a little over a month, and the heart is beating faster, already.

A few questions while waiting:

1. How is the factory setup out the box? Are we talking great? Good but with some settling from travel? Or is it pretty much do-it-yourself? I'm just not a brain when it comes to setting action, etc. (Yes, I've been playing for 16 years. Just not too confident with an allen wrench, except for the occasional minor adjustments).

2. I thought I once read MM's were made from Swamp Ash. On the site, it describes the Sterling as being created from 'selected hardwoods'. Can I get a clearer definition on that?
Wondering cause I like the Swamp Ash tone, and I'm getting a translucent color, so I'm hoping there's a decent grain on it for the $$. Don't have any doubts it'll be top notch, but just am curious as what to expect.

3. Can I get a plane ticket to SLO and the name of a department manager who I can bribe or blackmail to speed things up? the anticipation is driving me nuts!

Thanks.

P.S. BTW guys, thanks for this message board. I love the humor and camraderie of it all. Without naming names, I was recently booted off another co's website for a sarcastic remark I made there (trust me, it was no worse than anything I've posted or read on this site). Ticked me off, as I was a long-time customer of that co, and a long-time BBS contributor on their boards. Thanks for keeping things loose over here!

1. The setup is usually quite good, but it's a crapshoot because of conditions while in transit. For instance: my Biff Bongo was setup perfectly in CA in September and I played it while we were there; boffo setup! Then it spent 3 short days in transit to Texas and the action was way too high. Heat does things to wood. Luckily, EBMM basses are exceptionally easy to adjust. Couple of quick turns of the truss wheel and it was back to being perfect.

2. Translucent finishes are usually ash. I wouldn't worry much about the tone. Active basses seem to rely less on the body wood type. I also wouldn't worry about appearance, grain, etc. A gaggle of us visited the factory, saw the process up close and personal, and met the people who are building your bass. They're as concerned as you are about the bass being 'right'. I imagine you'll be more than pleased!

3. Yes, you CAN get a ticket to SLO but no, you can't really speed it up. It takes as long to build the bass as it takes. In the meantime, though, you can talk to "Psycho Ward" here and at least get some sympathy.

Welcome and have fun.

Jack

 

[Psycho Ward]

Yes I can sympathize and I feel your pain, but remember EBMM stocks no inventory, your bass is being built for YOU! I promised I wouldn’t complain about the wait and I don’t think I have, I’m excited and I’ve tried hard to keep that in check too. All good things take time and all GREAT things take a little more, it will be worth it!

As for the grain, my natural SR5 is beautiful and I haven’t touched the setup, but Jack is right it might need a little touch here and there. SLO is in a desert, I’m in the humid mid-Atlantic, the bass is wood and still my EBMM’s are just fine.

Here are a few ideas to amuse yourself while you bass is in the oven.

1. Take up a hobby, I took underwater basket weaving.

2. Get into some trouble, I went to a biker bar and pissed on a Harley!

3. Get a pet, I found a really cool cockroach, loads of fun… till one of my hippie friends smoked it.

4. Buy more basses; I’ve bought three since I put in my order.


As you can see there many good ways to pass the time, plus the joy of knowing that someday soon the UPS man is going to make your day!