Why are there so few Musicman Sterlings?

[Graham A]

3 hours ago, Graham said:

Be it damage in transit, or a poorly produced pickup in the first place is almost by the by. It should be in EBMM's reputational interests to ensure a new instrument - of any value, but particularly one >£2k - reaches the customer in the condition it left the factory.

If I worked at the manufacturer, I would also not want the customer to make remedial repairs to the instrument, it just leaves open the possibility of a product with my name on it, being out in the world and not being of the required quality.

The simplist solution here is to pull a pickup from stock, send it to the distributer and ask them to arrange for the pickup to be changed and the bass set-up again to factory standards.

They must have read your mind, just had an email from Strings & Things advising me that EBMM USA are sending out a replacement pickup 👍

[horrorshowbass]

3 minutes ago, Graham A said:

They must have read your mind, just had an email from Strings & Things advising me that EBMM USA are sending out a replacement pickup 👍

The least they can do really.

Hope all gets sorted

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Graham A said:

They must have read your mind, just had an email from Strings & Things advising me that EBMM USA are sending out a replacement pickup 👍

Who’s going to fit it? Haven’t checked so not sure whether they’re plug and play or soldering is required. Presumably even if you’re competent with a soldering iron you’d want some warranty?

[Graham A]

53 minutes ago, FDC484950 said:

Who’s going to fit it? Haven’t checked so not sure whether they’re plug and play or soldering is required. Presumably even if you’re competent with a soldering iron you’d want some warranty?

I think it's soldering by the looks of it.

I was thinking of a place up near me called "Nigel's Guitar Workshop" in Richmond, he's replaced a Stingray pickup for me before in the past. Depends if he's taking work on due to Covid though, i know he wasn't last Summer.

The other option would be to email Strings & Things again, & see if it needs to be replaced by a licenced Musicman tech, & if they had any up near to where i lived. 

I've emailed Thomann's, so they are aware. They intially asked for photo's of the boxes etc & mentioned returning the item, as they couldn't replace it. Since then i discovered it was the phantom coil, i have sent a further email explaining this & that EBMM are going to send out a replacement. I have asked if they would be willing to refund me a small amount off the price i paid to reflect having this work carried out as a goodwill gesture.

I'm still waiting for a reply.

 

 

 

[Guest]

Sure, I was thinking more in terms of any possible void losing of the warranty, given it’s a brand new bass, if you get a local tech to fit it, easy though the soldering might be. I wouldn’t imagine any local luthiers will be open as it’s lockdown and they’re not one of the essential businesses (although I think you could argue the case!). I’d be very tempted to have S&T do it.

I’ll definitely be asking Thomann to check mine out properly before despatch. There’s no way that’s come unstuck due to movement in transit...

[Graham A]

1 hour ago, FDC484950 said:

Sure, I was thinking more in terms of any possible void losing of the warranty, given it’s a brand new bass, if you get a local tech to fit it, easy though the soldering might be. I wouldn’t imagine any local luthiers will be open as it’s lockdown and they’re not one of the essential businesses (although I think you could argue the case!). I’d be very tempted to have S&T do it.

I’ll definitely be asking Thomann to check mine out properly before despatch. There’s no way that’s come unstuck due to movement in transit...

I'm coming around to the same conclusion to be honest.

Even if could find someone to do it why should i pay seeing it's a brand new instrument, hence the email to Thomann's. I'm looking at e-mailing S&T in the morning & seeing whether their tech would sort if for me under warranty, or if they had anyone closer to home. If i was to send it to S&T it would have to be couriered again, but at least it would be in the UK. I'll go down route of not wanting to void the warranty on a brand new instrument.

You might as well, at least you know whether there's anything wrong with it at the point of despatch. Thankfully i did take pictures of the boxes when it arrived, but there was nothing untoward, no marks on the case, or any other issues as far as i can see. EBMM were quick to say they would send a replacement pickup out, so perhaps looking at the picture i sent maybe they can see a fault with it. 

[sshorepunk]

I’ve recently had to take the pick up out of my sterling as I refinished it 

The wires are soldered directly onto the board, I’m ok at soldering but it still took a steady hand and a  big magnifying glass as my eyes are not the best 

[wrinkleygit]

Six pages here and nobody has mentioned “Rita” the infamous Basschat Bike, I owned her for quite some time, came to me with an odd switch fault that turned out to be a broken wire in the Nordstrand pickup, sadly had to be sold to help finance an Overwater fretless, went to someone else on the forum. 
  Great bass and much better to play than a mates “Ray”, Warwickhunt might remember her, wonder where she is now.

[warwickhunt]

1 minute ago, wrinkleygit said:

Six pages here and nobody has mentioned “Rita” the infamous Basschat Bike, I owned her for quite some time, came to me with an odd switch fault that turned out to be a broken wire in the Nordstrand pickup, sadly had to be sold to help finance an Overwater fretless, went to someone else on the forum. 
  Great bass and much better to play than a mates “Ray”, Warwickhunt might remember her, wonder where she is now.

I've owned her twice... I'd own her a 3rd time if Lee Muir would sell her back to me!  🤣

[lee650]

On 11/02/2021 at 19:25, wrinkleygit said:

Six pages here and nobody has mentioned “Rita” the infamous Basschat Bike, I owned her for quite some time, came to me with an odd switch fault that turned out to be a broken wire in the Nordstrand pickup, sadly had to be sold to help finance an Overwater fretless, went to someone else on the forum. 
  Great bass and much better to play than a mates “Ray”, Warwickhunt might remember her, wonder where she is now.

She's back with me! And I was the one that named her Rita 😁 I bought her from The original owner Greeneking who fitted the Nordstrand. I also remember seeing her with another basschat owner in Bassist magazine. 

Recently had a new nut fitted a full setup/electrics check and a clear perspex guard. Somewhere down the line a horrible nut making the strings narrower was fitted! I got that fixed as soon as I could afford it.

I've had her back about a year now. I first owned her 12 years ago, I got from Warwickhunt who traded it to me, I part traded it later to a young fella Josh whom I believe sold her to you Mr Wrinkleygit. I recall I PM'D as I followed her adventures and missed out on need a 2nd time to Warwickhunt who can't help himself and sold her a second time 😂

She stays with me and had been doing a lot of recording recently. Small body/slim neck of a sterling and the Alnico vintage balls of a classic ray, and looks amazing

Funny everybody loved her, NOBODY kept her😂 I regretted parting straight away,even though It was for a Ken smith.

 

Edited February 16, 2021 by lee650

[Treb]

Nice bass! Looks like a one piece body. Which Nordstrand MM pickup is in there?

[lee650]

1 hour ago, Treb said:

Nice bass! Looks like a one piece body. Which Nordstrand MM pickup is in there?

Yes it's a one piece body,with a striking grain. Pickup is a MM 4.3

MM4.3

The MM4.3 will drop into a Music Man® Sterling® or other 3-way switched installation, and features a dummy coil on the bottom for silent single coil mode. Like the MM4.2, the MM4.3 features Alnico V magnets and Heavy Formvar wire for an authentic early pre-Ernie Ball® tone—punchy, growly, and fat. Includes black cover (exposed pole pieces).

I'm actually not so keen on the single/series modes! They seem to cut a lot of the treble and bass. The paralell mode is pure vintage ray! All i need 😁

[Treb]

I just installed a Nordstrand MM4.3 in mine... It's too late to test it full bore though (but considering the curfew going on at the moment it would be a nice opportunity to see which of the neighbours (not strictly next-door!) has the balls to come and complain 😀). But what I'm hearing is a lot more StingRay in sound signature. 

[Lfalex v1.1]

Because the exchange Ray is so poor.

Don't look at me. I found it in a Christmas cracker

[Guest]

Well, my Sterling 5 HH arrived from Thomann this week. It only took 6 days inc a weekend door to door, which is pretty good in the circumstances. 

Edited February 27, 2021 by FDC484950

[Lfalex v1.1]

That's not a great start. 

Is the roasted neck something you specified and paid extra for? If so, it's not been sold as described and you may well be entitled to a replacement or some other form of redress.

It's a shame when a new instrument isn't up to scratch. 😔

[Guest]

.

Edited February 27, 2021 by FDC484950

[horrorshowbass]

2 hours ago, Lfalex v1.1 said:

That's not a great start. 

Is the roasted neck something you specified and paid extra for? If so, it's not been sold as described and you may well be entitled to a replacement or some other form of redress.

It's a shame when a new instrument isn't up to scratch. 😔

That's crazy especially since the new line if sterling's have roasted maple. 

[horrorshowbass]

2 hours ago, Lfalex v1.1 said:

That's not a great start. 

Is the roasted neck something you specified and paid extra for? If so, it's not been sold as described and you may well be entitled to a replacement or some other form of redress.

It's a shame when a new instrument isn't up to scratch. 😔

That's crazy especially since the new line if sterling's have roasted maple. 

[Graham A]

Posted in the lefties gallery, so thought i'd post here as well. My recent addition to the fold 😊

[E sharp]

Bought a last month , and just a few rubbish pictures - that are already up on the Musicman Porn page .

Got a mate to do a set up , new strings , and it plays really really nicely .

[Triumph_Rock]

Well all I can say is my Sterling Stingray Sub 4HH I got last year is great. Satin neck with 38mm nut is nice and fast. One of the reasons I got it was because of the sheer amount of tones I could get out of it.

[Mudpup]

Just a heads up - there's a bargain red USA Sterling on Faceache at the moment at £825. Not mine by the way and i'm not affiliated with the seller. 

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/UKBassgear/permalink/2220373274762662/?comment_id=2220481194751870&notif_id=1617535872524660&ref=notif&notif_t=group_comment_reply

Edited April 4, 2021 by Mudpup

[lee650]

On 08/03/2021 at 07:06, E sharp said:

Bought a last month , and just a few rubbish pictures - that are already up on the Musicman Porn page .

Got a mate to do a set up , new strings , and it plays really really nicely .

I'm very intrigued as to what the extra knob does! piezo volume?

[lee650]

On 25/02/2021 at 20:46, Treb said:

I just installed a Nordstrand MM4.3 in mine... It's too late to test it full bore though (but considering the curfew going on at the moment it would be a nice opportunity to see which of the neighbours (not strictly next-door!) has the balls to come and complain 😀). But what I'm hearing is a lot more StingRay in sound signature. 

Yes the tone is more stingray ish! How do you find the series/single modes?