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 Post subject: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 8th, 2019, 10:26 am 
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Location: Huntsville, AL
Any of you have experience with Sterling Basses? I mean the USA ones, not the import Stingray types. I have a used one on the way and I’m pretty psyched to check it out.

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 8th, 2019, 11:27 am 
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Joined: September 3rd, 2010, 9:35 am
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Location: dirty jerz
Matt R. wrote:
Any of you have experience with Sterling Basses? I mean the USA ones, not the import Stingray types. I have a used one on the way and I’m pretty psyched to check it out.


I had a 2008 black/ rosewood Sterling. They really cut through the mix.
They can be on the medium heavy side (mine was 9 lbs 6 oz) but balance nicely.
Only beefs I had was like all MM basses no passive option. I also found it hard to eq some of the zing out for a more rounded tone.
Also living in Jersey with our humid summers and frigid winters I worried about the oiled only neck. But never experienced any problems.

All said they are very well constructed basses and the downsized bodies make them a comfortable gigging bass.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy it.


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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 8th, 2019, 11:35 am 
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I’m guessing it’ll basically be a Stingray 4 with an electronic setup similar to a Stingray 5. I’m looking forward to it.

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 8th, 2019, 8:45 pm 
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Joined: March 9th, 2008, 7:46 am
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Location: West Orange, NJ
My 2001 Sterling was my main gigging bass for many years. I loved it. Punchy, fat, and, as stated clear, defined notes that won't get lost in the mix, with subtle tonal variations using the 3 way switch. (But it can still get very close to a 'Ray if needed). Super comfy to play and I much preferred it over a Stingray, since it's smaller and the neck is closer to a J profile than the wider, flatter necks one associates with a 'Ray.

In short, you're gonna love it. :)


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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 9th, 2019, 6:48 am 
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Yeah man, I’m confident I’ll dig it. I like that it has the same selector switch as the SR5’s. Those were always my favorite sounding stingrays.

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 11th, 2019, 2:55 pm 
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Joined: March 29th, 2011, 11:00 am
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Great gigging basses, but I always found I defaulted back to a Jazz or Precision to record. I couldn't get the sizzle out of the tone enough to record happily with them.

I had two different ones between 2001 and 2006. I started with a black and maple that I miss dearly to this day, it cut through the mix like a chainsaw.
I replaced it with a rosewood board model in Rolls Royce Burgundy, easily one of the best looking instruments I've ever owned but the tone didn't suit me so I flipped it for more Jazz basses...

'cause you know, Jazz basses right?

I think my main issue is that a Sterling inherently doesn't sound like a Stingray fully, and that's the tone I thought I really wanted at the time.
But the Sterling for me played far more comfortably than any 'Ray I've ever tried out.


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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 11th, 2019, 3:22 pm 
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I just got it. Did some initial tweaks and it’s pretty badass. It was obviously not well cared for but that’s all cosmetic. It definitely sounds like an SR5, which I’m good with. The neck is pretty fucking wonderful. Definitely a cooler bass than any SR4 in my experience.

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 11th, 2019, 3:26 pm 
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Joined: August 1st, 2015, 6:36 pm
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Location: Cambridge, MA
Awesome!

I'm playing the snot out of my kilo and wondering how I made it so long without a stingray-style bass (meaning a humbucker in the sweetspot).


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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 11th, 2019, 3:48 pm 
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Yep the bucker in that spot is perfect sonically, and as a thumbrest. :)

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 11th, 2019, 3:52 pm 
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Here it is

Image

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 11th, 2019, 4:00 pm 
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Matt R. wrote:
Yep the bucker in that spot is perfect sonically, and as a thumbrest. :)

Exactly!


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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 11th, 2019, 5:33 pm 
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Matt that’s killer! I’d play it until my fingers bled :mrgreen: Congrats! Please channel Joe Lally and drop some Fugazi lines on it .....(I know he mainly played a regular Ray, but hey...)

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 17th, 2019, 3:26 pm 
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It just dawned on me - Matt lives in a lefty bass shop. 8-)


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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 17th, 2019, 3:49 pm 
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Ha! :mrgreen:

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 18th, 2019, 2:22 am 
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A great looking collection of basses... just curious - do you own any 5-stringers?

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 Post subject: Re: Musicman Sterling
PostPosted: September 18th, 2019, 4:36 am 
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Not at the moment

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