Sterling Ray34 HH pearl white - *SOLD* £700 Orpington BR6

[Happypants]

Sterling by Music Man Ray34HH. Pearl white, roasted maple.

 

10lbs3oz / 4.6kg (on my scales).

 

Excellent condition. Only things to note are some pick marks on scratch guard, paint finish by pickup selector switch isn't great and two very minor and small indentations (can barely be seen or felt) on back of neck behind 4th fret. There's a small "graze" by 7th fret dot marker on the neck (not fingerboard).

 

Bought from this fine parish from @dub_junkie, original advert below. Originally purchased from Bass Direct https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Ray_34_HH_White.html

 

Can't help buying these. This is my third but have just picked up a Flea active bass, they cover similar territory and I like that more.

 

I've had this setup at Planet Guitar in Orpington with new DR Sunbeams 45-105 including a part fret level and dress on a couple of high frets. 

 

Up here for a couple of weeks before its goes off for a commission sale. After £700, which is what I paid for it plus some towards the new strings and setup.

 

Can ship at buyers cost and risk but would much prefer to handover in person and happy to drive up to an hour from Orpington. Can also get it to Hendon NW4 if that's any better.

 

Specs:

Body: Mahogany

Models: Pearl White (PWH)

Bridge: Sterling by Music Man Designed Bridge

Pickguard: Black

Scale length: 34” (86.4cm)

Neck Radius: 9.5” (24cm)

Frets: 21 Frets, Medium

Nut width: 1.69” (43mm) at nut

Neck: Roasted Hard Maple

Fingerboard: Roasted Hard Maple (PWH)

Face markers: Black/White Dot Markers

Tuning Machines: Open Gear

Truss Rod: Single Action

Neck Attachment: 6 Bolts

Controls: 3-band Active Preamp

Switching: 5-way Toggle Pickup Selector

Pickups: HH - 2 Alnico Humbuckers

Strings: Ernie Ball 2834 Super Slinky

Gig Bag: Deluxe Sterling by Music Man Bag

Weight: 10lb 3oz/4.6kg

 

Includes original gig bag. 

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by Happypants
Photos, can’t spell

[horrorshowbass]

Thats so nice, seriously tempted.

Where did you get the flea bass BTW?

In the market for one too

thanks 

Michael 

[Happypants]

1 minute ago, horrorshowbass said:

Thats so nice, seriously tempted.

Where did you get the flea bass BTW?

In the market for one too

thanks 

Michael 

Aye, it’s a beauty. The neck grain is particularly nice and the pearl finish is lovely; very subtle and doesn’t really come across in the photos. 
 

Flea second hand from eBay. Looked at getting one a while back but held off. Was actually looking for the passive road worn one but stumbled across the active, chap was close to me and was in as new condition. Seriously punchy!

[horrorshowbass]

37 minutes ago, Happypants said:

Aye, it’s a beauty. The neck grain is particularly nice and the pearl finish is lovely; very subtle and doesn’t really come across in the photos. 
 

Flea second hand from eBay. Looked at getting one a while back but held off. Was actually looking for the passive road worn one but stumbled across the active, chap was close to me and was in as new condition. Seriously punchy!

Active so much better!

Enjoy, would love to try one, despite the meaty neck

 

[Happypants]

12 hours ago, horrorshowbass said:

Active so much better!

Enjoy, would love to try one, despite the meaty neck

 

Well you’re a way away but welcome to come and test out the fleet if ever passing Orpington!

[Rich77]

Did you pick up the fender flea active?

how do they compare 

[horrorshowbass]

4 hours ago, Happypants said:

Well you’re a way away but welcome to come and test out the fleet if ever passing Orpington!

 

Lol cheers, not on Cloudbase as per sig but in Ireland so might as well be

I'm a Flea fan boy

[Happypants]

8 hours ago, Rich77 said:

Did you pick up the fender flea active?

how do they compare 

 

Picked up yesterday so not had long with it. For reference I'm a relative beginner so these are just my thoughts rather than anything you should base any decision upon. Whilst I like Flea's playing and some of the RHCP back catalogue, I'm not especially fussed either way on artist signature basses for the sake of them being a signature instrument. 

 

The necks are similar, the Fender feels marginally more comfortable but I'm not sure if that's psychological as I know the specs or due to the width and radius difference. Aside from its looks, I picked up the Sterling as I wanted the versatility of the different pickup combinations and the option of a thumb rest near the neck but I found myself defaulting to the bridge pickup both for sound and thumb placement. If I only had one bass the versatility would be great but I find I pick this up when I want the stingray sound and therefore only really use that one position. There's a tonal difference in the treble, hard to describe but the Sterling is more piercing/abrasive than the Fender, that's probably the wrong word as its not better or worse, just different. Could also be down to different strings, Sterling has Sunbeams and the Fender GHS Boomers. Aesthetically I love both but I'm really digging the minimalist look of single pickup, no pick guard and three knobs with the satin shell pink finish. I'm also not aware of any other Fenders with a single Humbucker which I like as it's something a bit different, although I appreciate ultimately it's a stingray clone.

 

So in summary, they are very similar for my purposes but too similar tonally for me to keep both. I'm favouring the Fender, probably mainly for looks because I'm shallow, although literally just picked it up so still in the honeymoon period. 

 

 

 

[horrorshowbass]

10 minutes ago, Happypants said:

 

Picked up yesterday so not had long with it. For reference I'm a relative beginner so these are just my thoughts rather than anything you should base any decision upon. Whilst I like Flea's playing and some of the RHCP back catalogue, I'm not especially fussed either way on artist signature basses for the sake of them being a signature instrument. 

 

The necks are similar, the Fender feels marginally more comfortable but I'm not sure if that's psychological as I know the specs or due to the width and radius difference. Aside from its looks, I picked up the Sterling as I wanted the versatility of the different pickup combinations and the option of a thumb rest near the neck but I found myself defaulting to the bridge pickup both for sound and thumb placement. If I only had one bass the versatility would be great but I find I pick this up when I want the stingray sound and therefore only really use that one position. There's a tonal difference in the treble, hard to describe but the Sterling is more piercing/abrasive than the Fender, that's probably the wrong word as its not better or worse, just different. Could also be down to different strings, Sterling has Sunbeams and the Fender GHS Boomers. Aesthetically I love both but I'm really digging the minimalist look of single pickup, no pick guard and three knobs with the satin shell pink finish. I'm also not aware of any other Fenders with a single Humbucker which I like as it's something a bit different, although I appreciate ultimately it's a stingray clone.

 

So in summary, they are very similar for my purposes but too similar tonally for me to keep both. I'm favouring the Fender, probably mainly for looks because I'm shallow, although literally just picked it up so still in the honeymoon period. 

 

 

 

Cheers man. Yeah heard the Flea is like a more mellow Stingray. Might be optical illusion but pickup looks slightly closer to neck than a ray. Enjoy both

[dub_junkie]

Lovely bass - I would have kept it had I not already owned a Sabre.
 

I’ve had a few Sterling Ray 34/35 basses and I think the quality is going up and up (from what was already a really well put together instrument), if the last couple I’ve had passing through my hands are anything to go by

GLWTS!