The minefield that is EB MM Sterlings (not stingray!)

[Minininjarob]

So I’m looking for my 2nd bass and found out my favourite bass player actually has an EBMM Sterling bass - not a Stingray. They are a bit smaller (not short scale) than a Ray and have a 9v preamp as far as I can tell. 
Anyway does anyone sell one new? Not that I can see. I don’t even know if EB make them any more as the colours they have on their website both say discontinued and “new ones coming soon!”

And of course searching for EBMM Stingray brings up the whole myriad of confusing names of Rays and Sterlings they have made over the years so it’s stupidly confusing. 
OI ERNIE BALL!! You make great instruments but you don’t make them easy to buy!!!

 

if anyone is even slightly interested in my rant here is the bass I want. https://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/sterling

[pete.young]

Try putting -"Sterling by Music Man" , as in minus sign open quotes Sterling by Music Man close quotes , in your google search string, that will weed out most of the references to the non-US line of basses. Although the SB14 is a good approximation to a real Stirling for not as much money.

[MichaelDean]

As far as I'm aware, they aren't currently being made. Your best bet is to try buying second hand. There's a couple on the marketplace here.
 

 

 

[lemmywinks]

Just Google "USA Musicman Sterling".

 

The actual Sterling model is discontinued now, that "new ones coming soon" thing has been there a couple of years IIRC. I think they still take one off orders, not that there's much point when they've hiked their prices into oblivion and you can get a used one for a little over £1k.

Edited September 27 by lemmywinks

[Misdee]

I remember reading something about the Sterling being revamped, presumably along the lines of Stingray Special. Seems like EBMM have put those plans on the back burner.

 

I suspect that now they have introduced custom options for the Stingray Special, including a 38mm nut width, they might see that sufficient choice for their customers. 

 

Even so, it might be worth contacting EBMM customer services and asking them if anything is imminent for a reissued Sterling model. It was a very good bass with it's own appeal and it had some options that the Stingray Special still doesn't offer. A Sterling Special would be a very appealing prospect.

[Ed_S]

I went down the same track a couple of years ago, trying to figure out whether there was any stock lurking anywhere as it was on my own list of stuff to acquire. I remember playing a blue 5-string HH at Sounds Great Music in Cheadle (sadly closed now - I was trying a Markbass NY804 so this was 10 to 15 years ago) and it was amazingly comfortable to play. Sounded absolutely crisp through a Markbass F1 / NY804 as well, but sadly it was just too expensive on the day. Looking back it's one of a very short list of "I should have just bought that, irrespective" instruments; it may or may not have turned out as good long-term as I initially thought it was, but at least I'd have known for sure.

 

1 hour ago, Misdee said:

A Sterling Special would be a very appealing prospect.

 

I bought a Stingray Special when it became obvious that a new Sterling wasn't going to be attainable, and I completely agree - if they ever do it I'm certainly trying one!

[Misdee]

15 minutes ago, Ed_S said:

I went down the same track a couple of years ago, trying to figure out whether there was any stock lurking anywhere as it was on my own list of stuff to acquire. I remember playing a blue 5-string HH at Sounds Great Music in Cheadle (sadly closed now - I was trying a Markbass NY804 so this was 10 to 15 years ago) and it was amazingly comfortable to play. Sounded absolutely crisp through a Markbass F1 / NY804 as well, but sadly it was just too expensive on the day. Looking back it's one of a very short list of "I should have just bought that, irrespective" instruments; it may or may not have turned out as good long-term as I initially thought it was, but at least I'd have known for sure.

 

 

I bought a Stingray Special when it became obvious that a new Sterling wasn't going to be attainable, and I completely agree - if they ever do it I'm certainly trying one!

I always thought the 5 string Sterling was a much more appealing shape than the Stingray 5, most notably the scratch plate. IIRC, the Sterling had different pickups,too.

 

To me, a Stingray 4 with two pickups doesn't look right. A Sterling with two humbuckers is much better for my taste. I would definitely be interested in that. I wish I had bought a red one they had in Guitar Guitar a couple of years ago.

 

 

[dub_junkie]

Another vote for the Sterling getting the Special makeover/treatment fwiw. I had a few USA Sterlings over the years and I never had one that was lighter than any other MusicMan bass I owned at the same time. Which I always found a bit odd as the body is downsized from a StingRay. 

If they ever did it as a Special I would hope they would stick to ceramic magnets on that model. Definitely grinds a bit more than any alnico or neodymium equipped MM I've owned. Always loved that (and the neck) about the USA Sterling bass

[tubbybloke68]

6 hours ago, Misdee said:

I always thought the 5 string Sterling was a much more appealing shape than the Stingray 5, most notably the scratch plate. IIRC, the Sterling had different pickups,too.

 

To me, a Stingray 4 with two pickups doesn't look right. A Sterling with two humbuckers is much better for my taste. I would definitely be interested in that. I wish I had bought a red one they had in Guitar Guitar a couple of years ago.

 

This absolutely! 

 

[mikeswals]

The Sterling is a great bass. I sold off a minty very limited run 2006 green one a few months ago, was spectacular player. I didn't want to, or didn't really need to, but wanted to make sure I had enough money to pay for my kids' summer Europe trip (I'm in US).

 

Earlier this summer, a member on talkbass said he had to contact EBMM directly and they built him a new 4 string Sterling. Same with another guy that wanted a new Sterling 5, they built him one. These both had the new build features: roasted necks and stainless frets.

Since you're overseas (from both me and EBMM) you'll probably have to contact whoever the distributor is in your country.

 

There's a few Sterlings for sale in the talkbass classifieds. I saw a bunch on reverb too

[basshead56]

Saw this a few days ago...

 

Roger Lima from Less Than Jake took delivery of a brand new EBMM Sterling.

Pretty sure the Sterling is only available as a custom order direct from factory at the moment.

 

 

 

They periodically have them in and out of production runs. My understanding is they are currently not in production (mass production) and are awaiting a facelift akin to the Stingray coming out as the Stingray Special.

I know I read that somewhere earlier this year on one of the EBMM forums. Someone there seemed to think they were supposed to come back as Specials last year but no dates were confirmed. I guess wait till NAMM and see...

 

 

[Delberthot]

I was always a big fan of the ceramic pickup SR5 so when I made the change back to 4 string then the Sterling was the one to go for.

 

On paper, the specs are pretty much identical but they don't sound the same at all. Still very much in your face but not quite as grindy as the SR5s.

 

As above, they should be lighter than an SR4, having a smaller body and narrower neck but in my experience they feel heavier.

 

I was on the lookout for another one a few years back and managed to pick up a used Sterling 4HH  in black with matching headstock which I haven't seen that often before. In truth, I was waiting for the 30th anniversary model to come out last year but instead they seem to have discontinued them which seems odd as I am sure that there would have been enough of a fan base to make it financially viable to have made one, even if it was the last production run of them.

[Chienmortbb]

Slight;y off topic but others have mentioned they like the twin HH version better. The original Ray never appealed to me. IMHO the pickup was in the wrong place for my needs YMMV. A two HH version would be more interesting.  Thoughts?

[dub_junkie]

3 hours ago, Delberthot said:

I was always a big fan of the ceramic pickup SR5 so when I made the change back to 4 string then the Sterling was the one to go for.

 

On paper, the specs are pretty much identical but they don't sound the same at all. Still very much in your face but not quite as grindy as the SR5s.

 

 

Just goes to show how we all can perceive tone a bit differently. I've had a number of ceramic pickup StingRay 5s and never thought them to have as much grind as the Sterling. Always thought the SR5 was a bit more polite, sit in the mix nicely bass and the Sterling a bit more aggressive with more prominent mids. 

 

[Musicman20]

8 hours ago, Chienmortbb said:

Slight;y off topic but others have mentioned they like the twin HH version better. The original Ray never appealed to me. IMHO the pickup was in the wrong place for my needs YMMV. A two HH version would be more interesting.  Thoughts?

The two pickup Stingray/Sterling has the original back H in the same position....

[Musicman20]

I still have my USA Sterling 5 HS from, wow, it's coming up to maybe 11/12 years old?!
 

The build quality is absolute perfection. It needs new strings soon again.

 

Big shame they don't currently make them. I hope they get them back as Sterling Specials soon.

Edited October 3 by Musicman20

[mikeswals]

On 02/10/2024 at 23:30, Chienmortbb said:

Slight;y off topic but others have mentioned they like the twin HH version better. The original Ray never appealed to me. IMHO the pickup was in the wrong place for my needs YMMV. A two HH version would be more interesting.  Thoughts?

 

I've had many HH musicmans, to me the neck pickup is in the wrong place. Its in more of a gibson mudbucker position than anything else. All my HH's sounded too scooped in full HH mode. Only settings I like were the 'single coil' modes or rear H only. Got rid of them all and went back to single pickup StingRays and Sterlings.

 

The Sabre is different and I very much loved those, and the neck pickup is placed further back in a spot that makes more sense. The HS also made more sense than the HH. 

[Minininjarob]

This is not helping my want for a MM Sterling at all! Such a shame they don’t do them new.

[drTStingray]

1 hour ago, mikeswals said:

 

I've had many HH musicmans, to me the neck pickup is in the wrong place. Its in more of a gibson mudbucker position than anything else. All my HH's sounded too scooped in full HH mode. Only settings I like were the 'single coil' modes or rear H only. Got rid of them all and went back to single pickup StingRays and Sterlings.

 

The Sabre is different and I very much loved those, and the neck pickup is placed further back in a spot that makes more sense. The HS also made more sense than the HH. 

I guess we are all different - I really like my HH Stingrays (and Specials). You are right that both Hs together create a scooped sound - I find dropping the bass down a little and tweaking the mid up slightly creates such a usable sound that I generally use that on those basses. I do use the single H (bridge) and also the outer coils (souped up Jazz sound) sometimes (the latter when covering Marcus Miller style bass lines) but stick with both pick ups most of the time. I also have a Sabre and my go to sound is single H (bridge) and inner coil (neck) - it’s a Stingray H sound with slightly more depth (but not EQ induced). 
 

The front H, with particularly boosted mids, and with bass and treble either at detent or slightly lower, and an aggressive plucking style creates a passable Alembic sound (Series 1).

 

The SR5 (well certainly mine) are extremely resonant basses - my ceramic pick up one has a plain ash body, and the back is so resonant you can feel against your stomach whilst playing it - I have a 92 fretless in blueburst - body is either poplar or alder - it’s also extremely resonant - has an alnico pick up. However the ceramic has more grind/growl to it. I think the construction of the SR5 has a significant impact on the sound. 

Edited October 7 by drTStingray

[Twigman]

My #1 bass is my EBMM USA Sterling 4HH.

I was lucky insofar as I managed to order mine new via The Bass Gallery in 2016, delivered 2017, back when they were an EBMM dealer and just before a major price hike.

My favourite setting is position 2 (of5 ) on the switch which uses the outer coils of each pickup. Sometimes I'll go for pos3 ( all coils).

I absloutely adore mine.

I have found that some think it isn't what it is as MM having now their budget line named 'Sterling by Musicman' some think mine is a budget model. It isn't, far from it. The oiled neck is the best I've ever played.

[Minininjarob]

45 minutes ago, Twigman said:

My #1 bass is my EBMM USA Sterling 4HH.

I was lucky insofar as I managed to order mine new via The Bass Gallery in 2016, delivered 2017, back when they were an EBMM dealer and just before a major price hike.

My favourite setting is position 2 (of5 ) on the switch which uses the outer coils of each pickup. Sometimes I'll go for pos3 ( all coils).

I absloutely adore mine.

I have found that some think it isn't what it is as MM having now their budget line named 'Sterling by Musicman' some think mine is a budget model. It isn't, far from it. The oiled neck is the best I've ever played.

Wow that looks amazing! 

[Misdee]

On 07/10/2024 at 22:39, mikeswals said:

 

I've had many HH musicmans, to me the neck pickup is in the wrong place. Its in more of a gibson mudbucker position than anything else. All my HH's sounded too scooped in full HH mode. Only settings I like were the 'single coil' modes or rear H only. Got rid of them all and went back to single pickup StingRays and Sterlings.

 

The Sabre is different and I very much loved those, and the neck pickup is placed further back in a spot that makes more sense. The HS also made more sense than the HH. 

I know what you mean about the neck pickup position on some MM basses that have the bridge pickup in the Stingray position,  and I totally agree about the Sabre being an overlooked classic.

 

 I would point out though, that the Bongo HH sounds great on the neck pickup and with both pickups on full. Obviously, the bridge pickup being closer to the bridge probably helps change the sound of them combined. That's bass is an an integral design, just like the Sabre was.

 

Also, I've got Reflex HH and yes, the combination of both pickups on full in parallel is pretty scooped, but it's a very usable tone for me. And the neck pickup being in the mudbucker position gives access to some very good tones if you use it in passive mode combined with the tone control, or active in series mode, which makes the mids a bit more prominent.

[mikeswals]

It's a good thing I didn't say I'd eat my shoe or something over dual pickup Rays, but I did say I like the HS's.

 

Two days ago I got a 20th Anniversary HS SR5. Had to do a quick cleanup and restring for last night's weekly gig. But it sounded pretty good. The special pickups, switching options, and mahogany toneblock in this package would almost make it out to be the Sabre 5 that never existed. The timbre is different than any ash/ceramic dual pickup SR5 I've owned or tried. 

It's a nice difference to my '93 SR5. 

 

 

Edited October 24 by mikeswals

[drTStingray]

1 hour ago, mikeswals said:

It's a good thing I didn't say I'd eat my shoe or something over dual pickup Rays, but I did say I like the HS's.

 

Two days ago I got a 20th Anniversary HS SR5. Had to do a quick cleanup and restring for last night's weekly gig. But it sounded pretty good. The special pickups, switching options, and mahogany toneblock in this package would almost make it out to be the Sabre 5 that never existed. The timbre is different than any ash/ceramic dual pickup SR5 I've owned or tried. 

It's a nice difference to my '93 SR5. 

 

 

Wow that’s nice and a very rare bird @mikeswals - I have a mahogany bodied Sabre Classic (almost if not unique - they did some (another LE version) with alder body as well). However it’s very good and I’m gigging it currently - and use the H plus inner bridge coil setting mostly! It’s also quite light (in the 8-9 lb range). It’s a 2 band though. 

 

How do you rotate your MMs with your Wals? I’m on Paul’s list for being offered a production slot - it’s a slow process but I’ve been a Wal fan since seeing and hearing Alan Spenner use one around 1980 - that said he was also a fantastic player - you could just really hear the nuances properly compared to his P bass - this wouldn’t suit some people but I’m a big fan. 

[mikeswals]

Thanks! My last Sabre I had a couple of years ago was a 2013 Sledge, and it was absolutely fantastic! I loved the ability to run HS on it vs the vintage ones. 

 

As for rotation, I play in two different gigs: weekends is a casino circuit band in the region. I use my Wals for that, its average 2-3 weekends a month. My other gig is a weekly live karaoke band on Wednesdays and occasional corporate parties, and I use my Musicmans here. As you say about the nuances; the Wal exposes all if you flub a song! So I prefer using the MMs here as they're a little more forgiving.

As if that isn't busy enough, sometimes I get called for sub gigs, I'll usually play whatever else is in the closet like Ric or Jazz that doesn't get out a lot.

 

Paul's production is slow, and slower every year. I've had 4 builds done (2016x2, 2018, 2022), and I'm still waiting for my last one that I ordered Oct 14 2020!

I do appreciate all that Paul has done for me, but I won't be ordering any more, its gotten way too expensive!