MusicMan Ray ?? Eh?

[thepurpleblob]

I'm possibly behind the times on this but I have just spotted the existence of a new range from MusicMan - Ray 34s and Ray 35s.. e.g (at a well know Geordie store)...

[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Music-Man-Ray-34,-Natural~ID~11411.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~M...al~ID~11411.asp[/url]

Any experiences, thoughts?

Edited April 16, 2009 by thepurpleblob

[~tl]

I believe they are EBMM's replacement for the OLP/SUB models.

[b]Edit:[/b] Eeek, just looked at the price... maybe not then...

[b]Edit 2:[/b] Here's the site...

[url="http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/"]http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/[/url]

Edited April 16, 2009 by ~tl

[OutToPlayJazz]

Yes, these are the replacement to the OLP's. They're called "Sterling - by MusicMan" Whereas OLP's ranged from £200-£340 or so, the new Sterling range starts at over £600!!! Eye watering!

Edited April 16, 2009 by OutToPlayJazz

[thepurpleblob]

[quote name='~tl' post='463981' date='Apr 16 2009, 02:53 PM']I believe they are EBMM's replacement for the OLP/SUB models.

[b]Edit:[/b] Eeek, just looked at the price... maybe not then...

[b]Edit 2:[/b] Here's the site...

[url="http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/"]http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/[/url][/quote]

...which would explain why they are not to be found on the main EB site.

[~tl]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='463985' date='Apr 16 2009, 02:57 PM']Yes, these are the replacement to the OLP's. They're called "Sterling - by Ernie Ball." Whereas OLP's ranged from £200-£340 or so, the new Sterling range starts at over £600!!! Eye watering![/quote]
Hmm yeah, that's what I initially thought too... but that sort of price puts it in a completely different market...

[thepurpleblob]

Mind you.....



That's quite pretty if it's any good.

[yorick]

No mention of where they're made though, or have i missed it?

[thepurpleblob]

[quote name='yorick' post='463997' date='Apr 16 2009, 03:05 PM']No mention of where they're made though, or have i missed it? [/quote]

The word on the web seems to be far east (Korea and/or Indonesia)... although that's not a bad thing unless you are snobby about it.

[Lfalex v1.1]

AND... The Sterling "Sterling" has a Basswood body- Not that that holds the MM Bongo back
AND... The Sterling Ray 35 doesn't do single coil- it has two Series modes; 1 with a filter, 1 without.

£600? on a good day you'll get the real McCoy on here for that or maybe even less! Just follow the fashion trends!

[thepurpleblob]

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='464006' date='Apr 16 2009, 03:16 PM']AND... The Sterling "Sterling" has a Basswood body- Not that that holds the MM Bongo back
AND... The Sterling Ray 35 doesn't do single coil- it has two Series modes; 1 with a filter, 1 without.

£600? on a good day you'll get the real McCoy on here for that or maybe even less! Just follow the fashion trends![/quote]

Well for one thing they're nearer £700, but I would like to think that the price would settle down to something more sensible once some stock builds up. Anyway, at the moment you'd just get a G&L Tribute if you wanted that sort of thing and you had any sense (buying new I mean).

[dub_junkie]

these basses were reviewed by Ed Friedland in this months bass player mag. theres links to the OP's scan of the review 4th post down

edit : sry not Ed's review. I was reading another post about him reviewing the basses just prior

[url="http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/37298-sterling-music-man-reviewed-bass-player-magazine.html"]http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-...r-magazine.html[/url]

Edited April 16, 2009 by dub_junkie

[thepurpleblob]

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='464023' date='Apr 16 2009, 03:35 PM']these basses were reviewed by Ed Friedland in this months bass player mag. theres links to the OP's scan of the review 4th post down

[url="http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/37298-sterling-music-man-reviewed-bass-player-magazine.html"]http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-...r-magazine.html[/url][/quote]

Copyright, what copyright. Mind you, I always take these reviews with a big pinch of salt. When did you last read, "the bass is a pile of cr*p, avoid like the plague". One might suggest that they wouldn't wish to adversely affect their advertising revenue

[Kiwi]

for a moment there I thought they'd released another limited edition, only with no finish at all.

[mathewsanchez]

Roughly the same pricing as SUBs and nobody ever complained about them. I always go for second hand anyway so the RRP doesn't affect me.

[OutToPlayJazz]

Here's Ed with a sneak preview....

[mathewsanchez]

Damn, now you've given me 22 fret envy.

[Jack]

Yup, If EBMM were Fender MIA, then OLP was Squier and Sterling is MIM.

Easy right? Ok, It isn't. And neither's the name. Do you want an EBMM Sterling or a Sterling by EBMM?








Worst name ever.

[~tl]

[quote name='Jack' post='464346' date='Apr 16 2009, 07:58 PM']Yup, If EBMM were Fender MIA, then OLP was Squier and Sterling is MIM.

Easy right? Ok, It isn't. And neither's the name. Do you want an EBMM Sterling or a Sterling by EBMM?








Worst name ever.[/quote]
..and the analogy is broken, since the OLP models have been discontinued. There are now only these Sterling ones and the "real" EBMMs.

[tombboy]

[quote name='Jack' post='464346' date='Apr 16 2009, 07:58 PM']Yup, If EBMM were Fender MIA, then OLP was Squier and Sterling is MIM.

Easy right? Ok, It isn't. And neither's the name. Do you want an EBMM Sterling or a Sterling by EBMM?








Worst name ever.[/quote]

Sorry but...

EBMM = Fender MIA (And more.... IMO)
EB SUB = Squier (and LOTS more)
OLP = Jap Crap copies (IMO on a par with a Squier)
STERLING by MusicMan = Squier

Stands to reason..... Sterling wouldn't put his name to a bass if it wasn't worth the money. AND the name wasn't his choice.... more the distributors idea and insistance for the contract.

[LukeFRC]

ok. cheap knock off stingrays..... im guessing they havn't seen the for sale section on basschat?

who in their right mind would spend the same amount on a new squier that they could get a second hand MIA for?

[stingrayfan]

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='463999' date='Apr 16 2009, 03:09 PM']The word on the web seems to be far east (Korea and/or Indonesia)... although that's not a bad thing unless you are snobby about it.[/quote]
I'm a reverse snob, so that's got me interested!

[bassmachine2112]

hiho,sub all the way,cheaper s/h and made in the factory.