goonieman Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 I really miss my EBMM Sterling, so i've just bought a Sterling SB14 in black - being delivered from a music store in Ireland! Looking forward to that ol' familiar musicman click and zing... i'm just hoping it can at least provide some semblance to the full-bloodied sterling I had last year. Anyone have experience? They seem to be held in good repute in general, but apart from 1 or 2 half-decent reviews on youtube, they seem quite rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 (edited) I had one for a while. Fitted the band perfectly. A tad heavy for me but balanced very well as the bridge is so far back(? - or the horn is forward - one or t'other!). Lovely to play, beautifully made. Not sure why I sold it, to be honest. Ed Friedland liked it, if you haven't seen this: [media]http://youtu.be/67Fo7AKwfA0[/media] Edited May 2, 2016 by Paul S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 I really really really wanted an SB14 after seeing that very Ed Friedland review. The smaller body appealed to me, but I couldn't get a hold of one and ended up buying a SUB Ray4 instead, which has turned out to be a bargain. Still fancy picking up a SB14 at some point though, cracking basses, dunno why they didn't sell more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goonieman Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1462215027' post='3041201'] cracking basses, dunno why they didn't sell more. [/quote] Yes - kinda strange, but basically the Sterling has always been in the 'shadow' of the big bro Stingray. The sterling has quite a unique feature set, and I guess there are few (if any?) famous players of EBMM sterlings, which has an impact on advertising. I guess the colours didn't help either: metallic blue, candy apple red, and black. Not the best selection. Also, at retail price, most sensible people just say to themselves, 'I'd rather buy a second hand EBMM Sterling or Stingray, than pay 650 GBP for a new SB14'. I know I would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treb Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 (edited) Marcus Miller can be seen playing a fretless Sterling on occasion. Marcus is kinda famous... I would opt for a used Sterling instead of a new SB-14 if I was on a budget. Resale value for an EBMM bass is likely to be higher and there's no substitute for the real thing, eh? What I really dislike is the long stem tuners on the Sterling by MusicMan basses. Looks weird IMO. Just this week I read (on TalkBass?) that the SB-14 has been discontinued due to lack of sales. Still, for the money it looks and sounds great. Would love to compare an SB-14 bass to my EBMM Sterling. Edited May 2, 2016 by Treb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 MIchael Anthony has used one form time to time but for some reason everyone wants a Stingray. I love the smaller body, the thinner neck and the overall light weight of them. Plus the sound is incredible. I could never get a Stingray to sound like the Stingray you hear on records or live but I can get the Sterling pretty close Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebenezer Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 I think the sterling range are very good!...and many seem to be lighter than the us range. they got a great review in bgm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 For me, Stingrays sound amazing but are just too darn heavy and chunky of neck. I'd take a Sterling though, no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 (edited) I prefer the smaller body and thinner neck, but I've heard numerous Stingray vs Sterling comparisons on YouTube and whatnot and the Rays always sounded best to me, especially the 2-band / Classics. Edited May 3, 2016 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburstjazz1967 Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 Dougie Poynter from Mcfly uses Sterlings as well as Rays, all with LEDs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin E Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 An SB14 has been my main gigging bass for several years now. It's nice and light and compact with a slim neck. I've tried other things but I keep coming back to it. For the past year I've been using TI flats and it's just perfect. I don't know why they discontinued them. Proper rays and SUB's etc seem very heavy and clunky in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goonieman Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 Flats on a Sterling!? I bet that'll be interesting. I've just bought some d'addario balanced tension 45 rounds for it, but I bet you get some chunky tones from flats. They've been discontinued because they're either not marketable (people above keep saying 'on accasion' or 'from time to time' x or y plays a sterling) - or just too quirky. Of course, the whole branding thing didn't help. I needed to be taught the different 'sterling' varieties and SUB-groupings before I was happy I knew the market. Such a basic advertising error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I watched a video a few months back on YouTube of a guy playing a Ray strung with flats. Sounded pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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