1989 EB MusicMan Stingray5 VS EB MusicMan Sterling5

[MauroScaparro]

Hi talkbass friends,
I own a beautiful 1989 EBMM stingray5, i love that thing, the tone, sound, feel. It has alnico pickup, maple fretboard and Alder (yes, alder) body. The only problem is its weight.
I have the opportunity to exchange it for a honeyburst maple neck 2014 EBMM sterling5, which is lighter and more ergonomic apparently.
I have never played sterlings, but the fact that they are a little downsized, lighter and more ergonomic its an advantage for me. My concern is that the “newness”, the ceramic pickup and the different EQ make a sterile bass.
As far as i understand sterlings are known for cutting thru any mix (my stingray does it too), but it would be a problem if the sterling does not have any mojo to it.

my question is:
What do you think? Is it worth it? The problem of the weight is enough to let the stingray go in your oppinion?

Today i will meet with the other owner to try them out and see how they feel.
I leave you some picks

 

[Nebadon2000]

Stingray Special ?
Sell and buy

 

[rodl2005]

Keep the Ray. Grass ain't always greener

 

[ics1974]

How much does it weigh?

 

[BassNugget]

For me, I prefer the sound of the Sterling, but I prefer the string spacing of the Ray. Play the Sterling and see how you like it.

 

[MauroScaparro]

The string spacing on the sterling is different?

 

[kmd88]

That Sterling 5 is a beauty but I wouldn’t trade your SR5 for it. The early ones rock and are hard to come by. I owned a sterling 5 a few years back and while it sounded amazing, it was a little neck heavy. I still have my SR5.

 

[Slade N]

A change in strings and eq adjustment might get you what your looking for out of the Sterling

 

[thisSNsucks]

That has to be the best looking vintage Ray 5 I’ve seen. Keep it!

That being said the sterling 5 is pretty much the same electronics as your Ray, but the ceramic pickup is more aggressive.

I think the neck/string spacing an are the same between them, but I think the early rays had chunkier necks, front to back. They’re finished vs the newer oil/wax necks too.

Im sure the Ray is heavy, but the sterling might not be that much lighter. They weren’t really trying to make lighter basses then like they are with the specials.

Keep that ray!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Hi talkbass friends,
I own a beautiful 1989 EBMM stingray5, i love that thing, the tone, sound, feel. It has alnico pickup, maple fretboard and Alder (yes, alder) body. The only problem is its weight.
I have the opportunity to exchange it for a honeyburst maple neck 2014 EBMM sterling5, which is lighter and more ergonomic apparently.
I have never played sterlings, but the fact that they are a little downsized, lighter and more ergonomic its an advantage for me. My concern is that the “newness”, the ceramic pickup and the different EQ make a sterile bass.
As far as i understand sterlings are known for cutting thru any mix (my stingray does it too), but it would be a problem if the sterling does not have any mojo to it.

my question is:
What do you think? Is it worth it? The problem of the weight is enough to let the stingray go in your oppinion?

Today i will meet with the other owner to try them out and see how they feel.
I leave you some picks

You are going to regret letting that StingRay5 go. Don’t do it. A bass that broken in is certainly your own.
Get yourself a used or a new StingRay5 Special .
Keep them both and thank me later.

 

[garrett77]

Is that your own wear? It looks like that bass was meant to be with you until the end.

 

[rojo412]

As a fellow 89 owner, and a former Sterling 5 owner, the 89 trounces the Sterling in every aspect.
Keep that bass.

 

[Dave W]

I wouldn't get rid of the Stingray.

You mention that the Sterling is "apparently" lighter. I would push for an actual weight form the seller if you're still interested. Don't assume that it actually is, I'd be willing to bet that's it's still pretty heavy.

 

[metron]

String spacing is the same on the 5s. Sterlings have a slightly shorter upper horn so they can dive more easily but thats not always the case. Depends on the body to neck weight ratio.

Tough call. I do like Sterlings a lot. Maybe more than Stingrays. But an early SR5 is hard to come by these days. On the other hand if it’s really heavy to the point that you don’t want to play it, not much use in holding onto it except maybe memories. I’m not nostalgic so I would move it out if it’s too heavy.

Test it out and see. Your ears and heart will tell you what the right decision is.

 

[MauroScaparro]

It is not an anchor, but it is heavy enough to make me consider the change.
It is true that the 89 ray is special.
In a few hours i will be playing both side by side and see if the sterling is really lighter and it retains the punch and mojo of my 89 ray.

 

[Murch]

It is not an anchor, but it is heavy enough to make me consider the change.
It is true that the 89 ray is special.
In a few hours i will be playing both side by side and see if the sterling is really lighter and it retains the punch and mojo of my 89 ray.

Are you sure that your Ray has an alnico pickup? I thought the early Stingray 5's were ceramic.

 

[MauroScaparro]

Alnico for sure, i do maintenance to all my basses myself so i know every detail

 

[five7]

I owned a 88 SR5 and I have owned many Sterling 5's. Both have ceramic pickups. They both can be 11 lbs. A sterling weighing around 9 with a nice neck would be my choice as a player. If I was a collector my choice would be the SR5.

 

[VeryTallBassist]

Weren't the pickups is SR5's of that vintage already ceramic? I thought they changed to alnico sometime around 2008 or so.

 

[Geri O]

Weren't the pickups is SR5's of that vintage already ceramic? I thought they changed to alnico sometime around 2008 or so.

Im thinking it was ‘92 or ‘93 when the Stingrays went to ceramic pups from Alnicos.

Thry went back to Alnicos in 2008.