Music Man Sterling 5

Bass about 10 yrs kind of Old School

Had to combine neck and body from different Sterlings so it cost Too Much

Neck. Originally Maple FB fretted neck, which I still have on another Sterling. Fretwork is near perfect, neck profile is classic and very comfortable. Current neck is from another Sterling, a pua ferro lined fretless that has that same comfortable feel. The other cool touch on a MM neck is the adjuster wheel for the truss rod ... super EZ to use.

Neck is great but the big deal on this ax is the neck PU. EBMM finally added a neck PU, your choice of a second MM-type or a noiseless singel coil. This is the SC and the sounds from all 5 modes of the PU config switch are very different from each other and all very useful. My faves are the front two coils nearest the neck, for general use, and the SC nearest the bridge for shock & awe. I also like to play just the neck SC for a really thick, almost slightly blurry bass. It's not muddy like a mudbucker!

A little lighter would be cool [this one is 9.5 lb]. I would like more direct control over the dual PU's rather than the 5-way switch with its 5 fixed configs.

Carbon/resin reinforcement bars in the neck would be a good upgrade.

Battery holder does not inspire confidence.

It's a MM and it lives up to that. This one is clear gloss over ash, which is my fave flavor for solid bodied basses.

PU's are in the classic MM style with the large diameter single pole pieces.

This is one of the best FLs I've ever played in terms of sound and response to player input.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Bass legend of the MusicMan. Lo thank you Fender. Stingray the first, but the sterling assets qq to please.
22 frets, made in California, 4 knob (ie, volume, treble, medium rather, bass).

It is a little more than lgre Stingray handle a little thinner, a slecteur three positions (on a single micro version), or a position series, PARALLEL and split for the two windings of the microphone.

5-string version is fairly new to the series Sterling (2 years). Before, only existed in the Stingray 5 string.

In look, the pickguard is rest "round" or Plutt shaped tasted in version 5 strings, unlike the series 5 string Stingray (one thing I like about MusicMan is this round plate, I did not like the plate of the Stingray 5).

The mine has a finite "Pacific Blue Burst" with "matching Headstock" as they say, ie with a head the same color.
Render this DGRAD is really beautiful and very Russian (and now got the colors ...). I like the dark blue that goes to the edge dunoir.

UTILIZATION

The handle is fine, but not much. It is a bit like my deuxime bass: Ibanez ATK 5-string. For the body, like the handle, is close to a Fender Precision 5.

If I have a small point, it is in the card between the strings is greater than my neck Ibanez and the Premire LATEST strings are a little too close to the edge of the handle: it can quickly "falling off" if we go too fast.

To this point, I will not put more than 8 / 10.

SOUNDS

Sound: I read a lot of the stuff above! First, it leaves much! Very much! much power (or dynamic), with lots of sustain. If there are limitations in using this bass, I would say they come from more than the color of his (or range frequency drives if you want).

I had some bass, including Regular Tunb Warwick Streamer LX-on and and Fender Jazz bass. This is the opposite is not the type single coil jazz bass. There is a world of difference.

Some say it has a medium rather his bass. True, but this mic out a good bass sound (which remains clear and specific on, not "deaf" or mushy), and treble are very good presents too. I felt very limited in the register boards, mediums, but no, the palette is broad (and you have three knobs for tone.

A very good thing also is that the strings are ringing all with the same volume (If neither serious nor do Sol are indented). I had this problem a little with my Ibanez ATK: a very beautiful sound good bass, good dynamics, but a G string back (that of R but also to a lesser extent). Otherwise, the ATK is an instrument of great quality for the price and I highly recommend it for those who love a good bass sound good, good rock (with three active coil).

3 bodies with my Trace Elliot (prampli GP12SMX 12 bands - 2x10 and 1x15 HPs), a "dgomme" and I can get Frequencies I want.

OVERALL OPINION

Very good instrument that keeps a value if properly maintained (see the opportunity in asking price!). Even with a microphone, there are ways to have a palette of rich, with a clear and specific on the range in frequency drives, and all the strings.

The usage limit comes from the momentum and sustain the active MusicMan humbucking pickup. This may not be suitable styles blues roots, jazz ... lovers of old jazz bass.

In my style "hard 70's" Deep Purple (To summarize), it agrees very well and shows good mix gnral (you must have with my guitarist and his 2x100 w lamps!) .

Made in the USA.
Musicman bridge.
Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard.
22 frets, one humbucker and one single.
Controls: Volume, 3 band EQ, 5 position selector.
Limited Edition 2008 Sequoia Gold finish (brown with gold glitter) and golden hardware. Channel

UTILIZATION

very nice, not too big.
A little heavy but very well balanced.
Access to the treble is good without being his forte.
The sound is obviously good appointment.

SOUNDS

I play a variety of musical styles and it fits perfectly with its many possible configurations of microphones and équalo very effective.
I play with an amp and 2 speakers SVT3Pro Ampeg Ampeg SVT12HE. I play from time to time through effects Electro Harmonix Big Muff, and Bass Metaphors Microsynth plugged directly into a PA system.
A shot selector, a coup d'équalo and we get any sound, the fatter the more crystalline.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for several months.
I had lots of bass before this one (Warwick, Tobias, Status, Warmoth, etc) and she buries them all. It complements my Fender Precision with which I have a good sound roots.
Obviously this choice I would do if the opportunity presented itself. Low