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USA EB/MM Sterling '93 Fretless (ebony) - early bass with mutes
£800

warwickhunt

By warwickhunt,
in Basses For Sale

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warwickhunt Grand Master

warwickhunt

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This is a 'really' nice example of the early Sterling. The bass was originally fretted then the fingerboard was planed off and replaced with an ebony fretless (you can still see a very thin veneer of the original board between the maple neck and the ebony) by Martin @ The Bass Gallery... then it was fretted again... then finally defretted again!

Considering it's age there are really no dings or dinks to mention, when photographing it with flash I did catch sight of one or two tiny indentations on the back of the body but these can barely be felt never mind seen. A few scratches on the neck plate (see the pics) but nothing to lose sleep over.

The neck is absolutely lush and if my Roadworn Jazz sells before this bass I'll be keeping it and getting it fretted up again... purely for how good the neck feels and plays.

The bridge is the early larger unit (serial number stamped into the base) mute screws are in place but the (replaceable) bent bits of tin with the foam on are not here, however they can be found on ebay easy and cheap enough.

No problems with the electrics or pup etc and no scratchy pots or dicky sockets.

Oh and it is light...8lb 15oz

[url="http://s54.photobucket.com/user/warwickhunt/media/IMG_2960_zpsa789014d.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s54.photobucket.com/user/warwickhunt/media/IMG_2963_zps2a521dd0.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s54.photobucket.com/user/warwickhunt/media/IMG_2967_zps2cb0b19b.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s54.photobucket.com/user/warwickhunt/media/IMG_2970_zps038bd867.jpg.html"][/url]

I know there are a few cheaper Sterlings for sale on the forum at the moment but this really is a lovely example and I'm not prepared to give it away.

Edited by warwickhunt
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warwickhunt Grand Master

warwickhunt

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[URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/warwickhunt/media/IMG_2966_zpsfbd583db.jpg.html][IMG]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/warwickhunt/IMG_2966_zpsfbd583db.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/warwickhunt/media/PB060015_zps5a4d7414.jpg.html][IMG]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/warwickhunt/PB060015_zps5a4d7414.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I have to confess it is virtually impossible to photograph the action on a bass! :rolleyes:[size=4] [/size]

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BassTool Rising Star

BassTool

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I recently got to play this beauty at the NE Bass Bash and loved it B) Fantastic tonal range and a definitive MWAAAAAAH to be had from this lovely looking and sounding fretless. If you are in the market for your first fretless you could do a lot worse than this beauty, and if you want to improve on the one you already have - this could be what you have been looking for :gas: Plus of course it's on sale from the world famous Mr Hunt, purveyor of fine basses and all round decent chap, what more could you ask for? :D Have a bump on me Sir, for that is one lovely fretless :happy:

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warwickhunt Grand Master

warwickhunt

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[quote name='BassTool' timestamp='1385495784' post='2289014']
I recently got to play this beauty at the NE Bass Bash and loved it B) Fantastic tonal range and a definitive MWAAAAAAH to be had from this lovely looking and sounding fretless. If you are in the market for your first fretless you could do a lot worse than this beauty, and if you want to improve on the one you already have - this could be what you have been looking for :gas: Plus of course it's on sale from the world famous Mr Hunt, purveyor of fine basses and all round decent chap, what more could you ask for? :D Have a bump on me Sir, for that is one lovely fretless :happy:
[/quote]

Your cheque is in the post! :D[size=4] [/size]

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warwickhunt Grand Master

warwickhunt

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Hand on heart, I couldn't honestly say! :D[size=4] [/size]

[size=4]I've not personally played a fretless Ray but any differences between Ray and Sterling will be heard here. I'd guess for you the biggest bonus would be the neck ([/size][size=4]is my memory right you don't do big chunky necks).[/size]

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Beedster Grand Master

Beedster

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[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1385589360' post='2290131']
Hand on heart, I couldn't honestly say! :D

I've not personally played a fretless Ray but any differences between Ray and Sterling will be heard here. I'd guess for you the biggest bonus would be the neck (is my memory right you don't do big chunky necks).
[/quote]

Kinda prefer chunky necks John :)

I've not played a Sterling, I am interested in whether it's substantially different to a Ray. I owned a Ray 4 and Ray 5 at the same time a few years back and was surprised (in fact dismayed) at how different the 5 was to the 'true' (IMO) sound of a Stingray. Wondering how the Sterling sits in relation to those two really?

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MattM Rising Star

MattM

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I have a fretless 2EQ Ray, and its gorgeous - see anything by Mr Palladino for an example. Think the main difference between the Sterling and Ray is the slimmer neck, different pickup magnets (one is ceramic, the other alnico - think the Sterling has a slightly more agressive sound) and Sterling also has serial/parallel switching for variety. Ray is parallel by default, serial has a wee bit more cojones. Serial is also deployed in the legendary US SUB. The magnet material also varied in 5 string Rays versus 4 stringers for a while, which could explain the previous posters disparity above.

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stingrayPete1977 Grand Master

stingrayPete1977

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[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1385632921' post='2290379']
Kinda prefer chunky necks John :)

I've not played a Sterling, I am interested in whether it's substantially different to a Ray. I owned a Ray 4 and Ray 5 at the same time a few years back and was surprised (in fact dismayed) at how different the 5 was to the 'true' (IMO) sound of a Stingray. Wondering how the Sterling sits in relation to those two really?
[/quote]

You need either a very early or very late Ray 5 to get a true Ray sound, the ones between are ceramic and will sound more like a Sterling, blindfolded you would not be able to hear the difference between my 2010 Ray 5 and a 2010 3 EQ Ray 4 trust me ;)

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