What is the Musicman S.U.B (USA made)

[Greggo]

As above, can anybody tell me about them? I've seen one locally and am very interested and doing a seach on here all i can see is that were a limited run for 3 years.

Do they have the same electronics but cheaper components?

Do they sound more or less the same?

Cheers!

[Horizontalste]

Same electrics & pick-up sound like a Stingray but the finish is basic. Black painted neck and the body is kinda like a textured finish. I'd have one anyday.

[Greggo]

Yeah the colour is a bit depressing but it's the sound I'm after!

[Horizontalste]

You wouldn't tell it's not a Stingray with your eyes closed. I was out to buy one a couple of years ago but I ended up with more funds than I expected so I bought the Ray instead.

Edit- there's no cutaway on the top off the body either, wouldn't bother me at all but could be a crux for some.

Edited September 23, 2013 by Horizontalste

[Greggo]

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1379947703' post='2218566']


Edit- there's no cutaway on the top off the body either, wouldn't bother me at all but could be a crux for some.
[/quote]

Like a slab body?

[MattM]

Slab body, no contour. No biggy. I was fortunate enough to be able to buy a genuine 2EQ Ray shortly after having one and, apart from cosmetics (textured body, painted rosewood neck) sound and build were on a par. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

[Hutton]

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1379949517' post='2218597']
Like a slab body?
[/quote]

Yes. Just like the rather expensive Stingray Classic! These are great basses. I preferred mine to a Stingray I had. The Stingray was moved on but the SUB remains. The fingerboards are all rosewood, no maple. Here's mine:

[ezbass]

Slab bodied, 2 band, textured finished Stingray with nasty ass scratchplate (easily replaced, standard screw holes). The paint on the neck can go shiny and drag a bit, but is easily stripped off and oiled. I've had my white one since they were released, I did have it defretted a good few years back and is the one bass I'll probably never sell as I'd never get another bass of that quality for the money I could sell it for.

[Greggo]

I like slab body for some reason!

Edited September 24, 2013 by Greggo

[MattM]

£350-400 ish depending on condition and colour. White ones are rare

[Greggo]

Getting some serious GAS for one of these now there is one crept up pretty nearby...

Edited September 24, 2013 by Greggo

[Lowender]

They're Stingrays made in a place where the labor is a tenth of the U.S. I already have a MM and I had to buy one because it's just too good of a deal.

[stu_g]

You cant go wrong with the SUB,i had one in teal stuck a black pickguard on it it looked great i think i paid around £320 a few years back
I think they stopped making them due to the fact it just wasnt making them any money in the end. Trying to make a budget stingray still made in the usa wasnt really that cheap to produce,so they stopped making them.

[LeftyJ]

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1379986110' post='2219224']
They're Stingrays made in a place where the labor is a tenth of the U.S.
[/quote]

Actually, the USA SUBs were made in the same facility in San Luis Obispo, USA as the regular Music Man instruments

[stoo]

Aren't there some variants of the USA SUB? Often seen mention of some being active 2 band preamp and some with just passive tone controls, and also some with the pickup wired parallel or some wired series?

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='stoo' timestamp='1380010559' post='2219323']
Aren't there some variants of the USA SUB? Often seen mention of some being active 2 band preamp and some with just passive tone controls, and also some with the pickup wired parallel or some wired series?
[/quote]
Yep and they dont all have the artex finish either, as Stu g says above he had a teal one, I'd track down one with a regular finish, swap the pickguard, make sure its wired in parallel (or even fit a push pull for both) and put a John East preamp in it, flat the neck off with some 1200 wet and dry, job done

[Greggo]

Might see if i can have a test drive of it..

The guy selling the S.U.B referred to it as an ugly stingray..

Does S.U.B stand for Stringrays Ugly Brother...?

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1380027587' post='2219706']
Does S.U.B stand for Stringrays Ugly Brother...?
[/quote]
If it didn't before, I think it does now!

[bh2]

I have gas for one of these, especially after I had to let my 68 Ray go...

Don't see them that often in the classifieds.

[Greggo]

BTW - I love the teal coloured SUB, just seen an image on google images.. if I could get hold of one of them i would be a happy chap...

[Lowender]

[quote name='LeftyJ' timestamp='1380009424' post='2219308']
Actually, the USA SUBs were made in the same facility in San Luis Obispo, USA as the regular Music Man instruments
[/quote]

Mine says "Made in Indonesia." : /

[Greggo]

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1380029144' post='2219750']
Mine says "Made in Indonesia." : /
[/quote]

Is that not the newer sterling SUB ?

[Lowender]

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1380029637' post='2219761']
Is that not the newer sterling SUB ?
[/quote]

Yeah, I didn't realize the topic was about the older US models. The new ones are indonesian, amazingly good and ridiculously priced.

[Greggo]

It is really confusing the line up - musicman subs, sterling subs, sterling ray 34s etc.

[Lowender]

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1380045238' post='2220086']
It is really confusing the line up - musicman subs, sterling subs, sterling ray 34s etc.
[/quote]

I have an old Sterling and have to explain that it isn't the new budget line Sterlings. It's so stupid. How tough is it to come up with different names? lol