fretmeister Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 I've been trawling through the official stockists to try and find a 4 string Sterling to try. Loads of places have plenty of Stingrays with a variety of pickup and fingerboard options - but no Sterlings! It's the neck shape I'm most interested to try as the Ray 4 string is a bit chunky for me. Anyone seen a USA Sterling anywhere in the East Mids / Beds / Bucks / Northants area? Quote
patrikmarky Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) My local pmt told me they or any other branch can get ernie ball on sale or return from there distributors ..might be worth a call..though I was led to believe it's the body shape that differs and the necks the same ,I have a usa sub base and had a usa sterling both 5 strings though I couldn't see any diffrence .. Edited March 30, 2015 by patrikmarky Quote
fretmeister Posted March 30, 2015 Author Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='patrikmarky' timestamp='1427745464' post='2733842'] My local pmt told me they or any other branch can get ernie ball on sale or return from there distributors ..might be worth a call [/quote] That could be useful. Thank you. Quote
molan Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 Neck is definitely different on a Sterling vs a Ray. Very loosely it's a bit like comparing a P to a J but there are lots of variations (from both brands). Personally I much prefer the Sterling but I'm definitely in a minority here! Quote
warwickhunt Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1427745772' post='2733855'] Neck is definitely different on a Sterling vs a Ray. Very loosely it's a bit like comparing a P to a J but there are lots of variations (from both brands). Personally I much prefer the Sterling but I'm definitely in a minority here! [/quote] Nope I prefer the Sterling to the Ray as well ! Quote
molan Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1427745921' post='2733858'] Nope I prefer the Sterling to the Ray as well ! [/quote] Is that because we are both wimps In fact, I've got a bass weighing just 5.7lbs arriving tomorrow! Quote
warwickhunt Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1427747154' post='2733890'] Is that because we are both wimps In fact, I've got a bass weighing just 5.7lbs arriving tomorrow! [/quote] Weight, S/P/SC switching, slimmer neck and down-sized body... what's not to prefer about the Sterling. 5.7 is pretty light, what is it? Quote
fretmeister Posted March 30, 2015 Author Posted March 30, 2015 5.7lb!!!!! What the smeg is it? Is it a U-Bass? Quote
molan Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1427747718' post='2733899'] Weight, S/P/SC switching, slimmer neck and down-sized body... what's not to prefer about the Sterling. 5.7 is pretty light, what is it? [/quote] Ritter R8, 33.3" scale, super slim neck profile, tobacco burst, solid silver oval fret markers. https://ritter-instruments.com/item_info.php?i=695 The body is cedar and it has an ebony board. Jens says it sounds like a really nice old jazz bass - just weighs half as much. . . Quote
fretmeister Posted March 30, 2015 Author Posted March 30, 2015 Wow! I need to start saving so I can have something that light when I'm old and knackered. Quote
warwickhunt Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1427749310' post='2733923'] Ritter R8, 33.3" scale, super slim neck profile, tobacco burst, solid silver oval fret markers. [url="https://ritter-instruments.com/item_info.php?i=695"]https://ritter-instr..._info.php?i=695[/url] The body is cedar and it has an ebony board. Jens says it sounds like a really nice old jazz bass - just weighs half as much. . . [/quote] Could do with a few more bolts in the neck to balance it better. Quote
drTStingray Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 I think Musicman dealers will get them in on SoR also - the list of dealers is on both the main Musicman site and the Musicman UK site. One other point, you can get a Stingray with the Sterling type neck - called an SLO special - it has one less fret (the Sterling has 22 frets as per the SR5 whereas the Stingray 4 string has 21). Quote
Chiliwailer Posted April 1, 2015 Posted April 1, 2015 [quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1427747718' post='2733899'] what's not to prefer about the Sterling. [/quote] The ceramic pickup for my taste. Starlings are great basses, I've had two in the past. I just always wanted the alnico vibe even though the ceramic has its own charms. Quote
vibrantgermancities Posted April 2, 2015 Posted April 2, 2015 It's not quite in your neck of the woods, but if you can get (just) over the border, Knighton Music have a BFR Sterling in at the moment, according to both their site and their eBay page... Quote
fretmeister Posted April 6, 2015 Author Posted April 6, 2015 That one's a bit dear! I shall keep an eye on eBay. Quote
Iain Posted April 6, 2015 Posted April 6, 2015 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1427731450' post='2733588'] Anyone seen a USA Sterling anywhere in the East Mids / Beds / Bucks / Northants area? [/quote] manchester too far from you? Drew @ GGBL has one in stock - 2nd hand. http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/musicman-sterling/ I had one off him a few years back (trans red) and it was just sublime. PXd it for a Warwick Thumb abd wish I hadn't! Quote
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