grayn

Congrats, it looks really cool.
Love to hear a demo.

I have 2 Gordon-Smith Gryphon basses, made this year.

Fancied a Musicman Big Al for ages but they only seem to come up, just after I've just blown my cash on something else.

Back in early 80s, it was an SD Curlee.
The neck totally failed and went all wobbly.
And it wasn't much od a bass, anyway.
Fortunately the shop gave me a full refund and I found a S/H Wal, going very cheap by today's standards.

Well done, thats a very tasty looking bass.

I agree with the German, preowned theme but have to say, those asian Corvettes, are very nice and very giggable basses.

Very cool looking bass.

Congrats, look forward to hearing more.

I think it's an active-passive thing too.
Ps have a familiar, straight down the line, thump.
Rays have more edge and can sound a little aggressive.

It's Ray or J, for me.

I recently sold some gear, in order to buy a new EBMM Stingray, I'd seen.
Then, last minute I spotted a pre-owned model, going for half price. It was stunning and sold itself to me, in less than a minute.

But what really blew me away, was that with plenty of cash left, I looked around at other basses and picked up a Warwick Thumb BO4. For some reason I'd dismissed Warwicks, for years. Thought they were ugly.
I loved it playing at the dealers but when I got it home and put it through my own gear, I was really blown away by it's sound and especially the playability. What a neck. I'm even starting to love the looks.

Got an itch for a Warwick Dolphin Pro 1.

The Thumb Bolt-on-4 is known for it's dark, well defined tone and lovely, low-mid-growl. The organic and ergonomic body shape and neck are made from a beautifully, dark grained Ovangkol, with an even darker, Wenge fingerboard, which is made even more beautiful by the lack of markers, between it's 24, medium, bell-brass frets.
The 2, active, MEC, J-style pickups, in combination with the bass's woods, create some inspiring tones, that sparkle with dark harmonics. The tone is clear yet very earthy. You could say, the Warwick's looks and tone truly reflect each other. The active electronics are controlled by rotary knobs, for volume, panning, treble and bass. No middle control, it's true but with this bass's gorgeous, natural mid-tones, why would you want to mess with them?

I'm not really a fan of black hardware on a bass but Warwick's black, 2-piece bridge, security locks, tuners and (ad)Just-a-Nut 3, are not only extremely functional but blend with the bass's dark, good looks, quite well.
As you may expect from a German made bass, the BO4 is very well designed and crafted. The neck has a deep(ish) profile and is incredibly comfortable to play. The profile and immaculate fretboard just make you want to play in an accurate and precise manner. Yet also encourages sonic exploration and self expression.

This particular bass was made in 2008 and remains in immaculate condition. When I bought it, I also tried out an English made, Overwater Inspiration Std. Deluxe 4. Both basses are small bodied, with high quality construction and parts. The Overwater's tone was crystal clear and even, with great harmonic range. But it was the earthier tone and organic looks of the Warwick that sold it to me.

This bass comes with a user kit, that comes in what can only be described as a very professional folder, made of rucksack type material. It looks like something you might get with a high end car. With pockets for the beeswax, needed in the early years of the bass's life, strings, an impressive trussrod tool, a cleaning cloth and the sizeable manual and certificate. Never seen this before, even with more expensive instruments.

Overall then, this is a high quality instrument. The small body in no way hinders tone but does make the neck seem to stick out further, than on larger bodied basses. You soon adapt and it becomes as natural as any other bass. I didn't used to like to look of Warwicks but now I'm really appreciating the look, feel and sound of this most musical of basses.

[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1378487453' post='2201116']
Isn't that the same as a P bass?
[/quote]

Yes, you are right but I wasn't just referring to the nut's width, when I was talking aboiut the bass's neck, compared to a J's or P's.
On reflection though, it is nearer the P but slightly comfier, to my hands.
Then again, that depends on which P we're talking about.

[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1378394426' post='2199648']
Very nice, is it a 40mm nut width?
[/quote]

Probably nearer 42mm.

Gota pic up

[quote name='Freddy Le Cragg' timestamp='1378324262' post='2198727']
I have long been tempted by MM's but neither of my local dealers carry them
How do they compare with Jazz basses ie neck shape weight sound etc?
[/quote]

They are quite a different bass, to a jazz.
Stingrays do tend to vary in weight, I've found.
This one is a little heavier than a jazz, but not by much.
It's neck is somewhere between a J and P. Very solid, very playable.
Having a single humbucking pickup, as opposed to the 2 single coil pickups on a jazz, gives the MM bass a thicker, yet still quite focused, sound. Plenty of body in the tone and it sits well in a band mix.

Hope that helps.

Sorry, I can't seem to add a photo?

Having recently acquired a gorgeous USA Sterling, I have been very happy.
Someone said to me, "Welcome to the addiction".
Wise words, as it turns out.
I was just visiting my local guitar store, which until recently, had a great guitar selection but a miniscule bass section. I walked in and was told they now stocked MM basses. Wow!
Well, I had to try out a 2013 Sterling (mine being 10 years old), which had the slimmest of necks. Fantastic bass but it was the natural, ash bodied Stingray, that really got my juices flowing.
So I quickly sold some guitar (6-string variety) gear. Then I checked out a true gold Stingray, which again, was very tasty. Finally I found this 2001, honeyburst 'Ray. It's in top condition, looks quite lovely and just has that sound. Quite a bit different from the Sterling. Great, low, solid action and a comfy neck. What a buy.
Long live the addiction.

Congrats on a very cool bass.
I'm a big fan of Mr Sheehan and Niacin.
That's one macho bass.

My mate had one of those, in the early 70s.
It was dreadful then, I don't suppose it'll have improved with time.

If you have a tech you trust, why not get them to service the Rebel's electrics, replacing anything that needs to be. The Pickups should still be fine.
If that isn't too pricey, treat yourself to a nice new PJ bass.

Now reviewed here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215245-ernie-ball-musicman-sterling/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215245-ernie-ball-musicman-sterling/[/url]

I picked this bass up, preowned. I haven't managed to acertain it's age but I'm guessing it was built in the early to mid 2000s. It has been well looked after, with a few light scuff marks on the back and a couple of scuff/scratch marks, on the bottom side, not far from the jack socket. On the front is a tiny varnish crack, coming from the 3-way switch. The machine heads have lost some of their shine, from usage. But overall it looks very clean and in terrific condition.

This is my first Musicman bass, though I've owned a couple of their guitars. And looking back, I've worked out that this
is my 30th bass, over a period of 40 years. These range from beginners level to high end factory and handmade basses.
From the Musicman guitars I have owned, I have come to regard their instruments as some of the best in the world.
Designed for musicians, their instruments have evolved from their predecessors, to look individual and perform to a
truly professional standard.

This Sterling continues in that mould. It seems to have been designed to give lovers of MM's Stingray bass, a sleeker
and dare I say it, faster alternative. When I bought this bass, I chose it from a number of other, quality basses. All of which I'd have been happy to own. So what was it that made me take this bass home, instead of the others. I could say, the excellent price, the high regard I already held the manufacturer in, the simple, handsome looks, or even the powerful and varied tone of it's iconic pickup.
All of those could be a reason to take this bass home and I know they helped in my decision. But it was the feel of the bass, in my hands. Simply the most comfortable neck I have played, with a sleek solidity that just feels and plays right.
I don't know the species of hard wood used on this bass's body but it has a lovely grain that shows through the
translucent, dark red finish. The typical, egg-shaped, Musicman pick-guard, is a 3-ply, topped with matt-black. This goes rather well with the red body. The maple neck and fret-board, also stand out visually. I think I'm only the second owner of this bass and I don't think it got a huge amount of playing before. The neck looks and feels remarkably fresh, with no sign of fret wear. For those not used to it, the head, with a 3 tuner top and 1 tuner underneath, takes a little getting used to. Both in manipulation and looks. But overall I like the look of the smaller head, gained from this arrangement.
As with many MM basses, you get a single, large, humbucking pickup. However this one comes with a 3-way switch, that
gives you the options of Parallel Humbucking, Single Coil (with phantom coil) and Series Humbucking. At the moment, I
prefer them in this order: 1st-Single-Coil. 2nd-Parallel Humbucking. 3rd-Series Humbucking. All three are very useable though and do give a some variety in tone. However, it has to be said that IMO, 2 pickups will always give more breadth of tone. That said, I do love the simpicity of this sytem and the active volume, treble, middle and bass, rotary controls give you the scope to get some great sounds.

In general, I prefer passive basses, as every active bass I've played (which is a lot) has a certain amount of harmonic distortion. This is subtle and to many, is what constitutes a "modern" bass sound. You can hear it with this Musicman and I have to say that, when adjusted to my own taste, sounds quite beautiful. As my other 3 basses, at present, are all passive, this Sterling is a lovely difference. So, even though I'm a passive fan, this active bass has kind of, won me over.

The bridge is a very solid, professional bit of kit, giving you all the adjustment you need and still transmitting the
string vibration effeciently. It is stamped as Music Man's own. The tuners are also stamped with the MM logo, although they do seem very similar to my favourite tuners, Schaller.


As I'd expect from Music Man, this Sterling it shaped and put together excellently. It definitely works, as a whole. The body design looks cool and lays against your body, very comfortably. The tuners, bridge and controls are solid and work to make this design a success. But it is the neck, that I can say is as close to perfection, as I have played. To my (medium-sized) hands, this neck is a perfect fit. The smallish frets keep things smooth but importantly, very solid. I like to play cleanly, most of the time and don't appreciate fret buzz, unless I'm playing to get it. This Sterling's neck and fretboard accomodate my needs, very successfully.
This bass is superb, just as it is. But if I were to change one thing, it would be to add a single coil pickup, nearer the neck. As they have done, on some of the more recent Sterling models. I reckon Music Man knew what they were doing, when they designed the Sterling. It has a feel and sound of it's own. A second pickup may add some versatility but if you love the sounds it creates, why change a thing.

So overall then, a high quality bass, fit for musical situations. It's a lovely blend of modern and vintage. Very simple and all the better for that. Yet quite versatile too. It's probably my favourite MM bass. Although the "Big Al" would make a fabulous stablemate.

Gorgeous bass and well done for recovering it from the Clampets.

Thanks guys.
My mate described it as a funk machine.
I reckon it's also a top, balls-out, rock bass too.
Fantastic neck.
I'm favouring the middle position, on the 3-way, myself.
It definitely sounds better through my GK+MarkBass set-up, than through my Ampeg combo.
It really suits the clarity of the former.

Went down to the Manchester Bass Lounge and tried out some great basses.
Including a Sandberg California TT, a Jap Tokai Jazz, a US G&L L-2000 and a couple of Warwicks. A Thumb and a Corvette, I think.
All of them were stonking instruments. Particularly liked the Japanese Tokai Jazz. Amazing quality.

But the bass that came home with me, was a USA EBMM Sterling, with a lovely trans-red body and maple fret-board. Supremelly comfortable to play and the active controls, with a 3-way pickup selector, for S/C, H/B and series/parallel, gives some very mean tonal choices.

I got such a good deal that i also picked up a Cort GB99. A gorgeous, lightweight, passive J-style bass, that punches well above it's price. I actually owned one of these before, about 7 or 8 years ago. Great find.