ead Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 I'm sure that I have seen a thread on here that explains the pecking order of Stingrays, Sterlings, SUBs etc but I can't seem to find it. Could anybody please point me in the right direction? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJE Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 It gets confusing as there are some double ups name wise but I will have a bash: MusicMan Stingray - USA Made top of the range (apart from ball family reserve and limited models) 'Sterling by MusicMan' - These are the next level down in terms of cost, really good basses made in the far east as far as I know. MusicMan Sterling - A USA made bass similar to the Stingray but with slimmer neck and smaller body and slightly different pickup. MusicMan SUB - A now discontinued USA made 'budget' Stingray with textured body finish, black painted necks with USA electronics. Basically a normal stingray with no polished finish and no wood on show. S.U.B Series - The cheapest of the far east made budget MusicMan basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted April 20, 2013 Author Share Posted April 20, 2013 Cheers NJE, really helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudburst Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 (edited) The MusicMan Sterling does not fit in this list. And to put it beneath the 'Sterling by MusicMan' entries makes no sense at all. The Sterling is a different instrument to the StingRay - smaller body, thinner neck, different electronics and actually more expensive than the StingRay, so I don't know what that does to your 'pecking order'. In any case - pecking order schmecking order - I was playing an Ibanez bass in a store this afternoon and for about £250 it played far better than many £1000+ instruments I've played - and on a par with my US MusicMan instruments! CB Edited April 23, 2013 by cloudburst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Coffee Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 [quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1366487484' post='2053216'] The MusicMan Sterling does not fit in this list. And to put it beneath the 'Sterling by MusicMan' entries makes no sense at all. The Sterling is a different instrument to the StingRay - smaller body, thinner neck, different electronics and actually more expensive than the StringRay, so I don't know what that does to your 'pecking order'. In any case - pecking order schmecking order - I was playing an Ibanez bass in a store this afternoon and for about £250 it played far better than many £1000+ instruments I've played. CB [/quote] What Ibanez model was it ?? If you don't mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudburst Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 [quote name='bassman344' timestamp='1366487915' post='2053223'] What Ibanez model was it ?? If you don't mind. [/quote] I think it was an SR300. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 And try an Ibanez ATK if you can find one. Very 'Ray-esque for a lot less money.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Proper Stingrays are wonderful basses. The discontinued USA made SUB models are great though and can occasionally be had for a steal second hand. I tried one out shortly after I first bought my Musicman and was a little shocked at how close it came! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally8 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) I agree re the USA sterlings. They were more expensive that the standard stingrays and head and shoulders above the sterling by musicman. They sorta decided to bring out a musicman "jazz" with a slimmer neck than the stingray and gave more pickup sound options with the 3 way switch, which was incorporated in the stingray 5. If you want a stingray sound with a little more sound variety and prefer the slimmer jazz neck (and can afford it) go for the usa sterling. They are wonderful. i love mine and would never swap it with anything ps - the usa sterlings dont seem to hold their value very well 2nd hand. a few have been sold on here around the £600 mark which is a steal for a bass back in the day of around £1400 ish + Edited April 23, 2013 by wally8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myke Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 The Ernie Ball Musicman basses are fantastic. I played one my tutor has and it was gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kobra11 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Dont get 'Sterling by Musicman' and 'Musicman Sterling' mixed up and you'll be alright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 They don't make it easy for the average Joe, do they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1366751553' post='2056977'] They don't make it easy for the average Joe, do they [/quote] D'uh! Obviously they do. It's a big company with a big marketing budget that knows exactly what it's doing and are super savvy to forums and how they work as well as a thorough understanding of sub-branding. As someone who is a marketing and product management specialist I see that they are very calculating, clever and set a great precedent. Good on them but please don't be so naive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 Oh, sorry, pardon me for daring to express an opinion. However as I'm the punter not the marketing department I demand the right not to be confused. Many books have been written about marketing, most of them cheque books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 (edited) [quote name='ead' timestamp='1366753395' post='2057024'] Oh, sorry, pardon me for daring to express an opinion. [/quote] I suspect that Sean's tongue was well and truly stuffed deep into his cheek for his comment. Edited April 24, 2013 by hamfist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1366780402' post='2057153'] I suspect that Sean's tongue was well and truly stuffed deep into his cheek for his comment. [/quote] OK fair enough, toys back in pram now. Didn't read that way though imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1366785354' post='2057173'] OK fair enough, toys back in pram now. Didn't read that way though imho. [/quote] This was the give-away for me [quote name='Sean' timestamp='1366752467' post='2057003'] D'uh! Obviously they do. It's a big company with a big marketing budget that knows exactly what it's doing and are [b]super savvy to forums [/b]and how they work as well as a thorough understanding of sub-branding. As someone who is a marketing and product management specialist I see that they are very calculating, clever and set a great precedent. Good on them but please don't be so naive. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.