LA Craigslist - EBMM Sterling 4 $650

C

coheph

Oct 24, 2017
48
64
4,531
Los Angeles, CA
#1
I never really liked the look of EBMM basses, and I'm not that into active electronics. But I stumbled upon this ad on Craigslist for a super clean Sterling 4 in a transparent teal color. It seems like a pretty great deal, but I really don't need to be spending $650 on a bass right now.

That said, I love great deals. And I also love Andrew Bodnar's bass tone, and I think he used StingRays a lot of the time, like on "Watching the Detectives" by Elvis Costello and some Nick Lowe and Graham Parker stuff. So I mean I wouldn't hate owning this bass. And the color is cool. But really hoping one of you will beat me to it.

Side note -- I know next to nothing about EBMMs, so if this like their budget brand or something (Sterling by Music Man, Music Man Sterling?) then my bad.

Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling Limited Edition Bass Rare USA Made


*UPDATE* It's not letting me reply to anything (new here, not too sure why). But thanks for all the advice. It's a ~15 minute drive away from where I live, and I'm going to see if I can go take a look.

Totally agree about the poor marketing. It's honestly hard to even do a search for a MusicMan Sterling without getting all results for Sterling by MusicMan. It's like if Gibson had called Epiphone "Les Paul by Gibson." I think G&L is the only company that really got it 100% right with the budget line. Large G&L logo with "Tribute Series" written in small lettering below it. Classy.
 
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#4
In my experiences, the Sterlings just don't move as often or as easily as the Stingrays do.

This might be nothing, but the bass player in my band thought that all Sterlings were the newer cheaper Sterling by Music Man line. I had to explain to him that before that line launched, and still to this day, the Sterling was a model with minor differences to the Stingray, and that it was a completely separate thing to the Sterling by Music Man line.

In my opinion, Sterling by Music Man was an odd name choice.

That said, that is an incredible deal. That color is great, and it looks to be in really good condition.
 
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#6
GBBSbassist said:
This might be nothing, but the bass player in my band thought that all Sterlings were the newer cheaper Sterling by Music Man line. I had to explain to him that before that line launched, and still to this day, the Sterling was a model with minor differences to the Stingray, and that it was a completely separate thing to the Sterling by Music Man line.

In my opinion, Sterling by Music Man was an odd name choice.
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I completely agree with this. Their marketing people should be fired; you don't conflate two very different product lines by giving them similar names. A Sterling should be a Sterling, not an "I have to explain why this isn't the cheapo budget bass you're now seeing in all the stores" Sterling. Sheesh.
 
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#7
Lbsterner said:
I completely agree with this. Their marketing people should be fired; you don't conflate two very different product lines by giving them similar names. A Sterling should be a Sterling, not an "I have to explain why this isn't the cheapo budget bass you're now seeing in all the stores" Sterling. Sheesh.
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Gibson/Epiphone did something similar, though much more forgivable I suppose.

Gibson used to make a guitar model called the spirit. It was essentially a double cutaway Les Paul. I've seen both Gibson and Epiphone versions, but I believe they only made them up to like 1982 or around there.

I had an Epiphone Spirit guitar about 15 years ago, which sadly was stolen. It was my favorite guitar that I've ever owned... Now that I finally have money to find and buy one, the search results are clouded with 1 or 2 of what I actually want, and then a hundred or so garbage starter pack guitars.

I'm just venting, but it bothers me when big name companies handle things so poorly. It's not like Spirit was such a revolutionary model name that they couldn't have just thought of something else. Also, it wasn't a reissue or anything like that. Argh!

I digress though. If I was located near this bass, I'd buy it today. Wonder if I could talk the guy into shipping it...
 
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#8
Well, if you can brave the fires, the 20 mile car ride in 3 hours, road rage and other LA hassles................BUY IT! It's a good deal. The hassle is not a good deal.

By the way, the USA Sterling is a fine bass. Smaller in size, narrower neck, extra fret, 3 pickup selections compared to the Stingray and sounding a lot like it's older brother. It's a great bass!
 
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#9
bassdude51 said:
Well, if you can brave the fires, the 20 mile car ride in 3 hours, road rage and other LA hassles................BUY IT! It's a good deal. The hassle is not a good deal.

By the way, the USA Sterling is a fine bass. Smaller in size, narrower neck, extra fret, 3 pickup selections compared to the Stingray and sounding a lot like it's older brother. It's a great bass!
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I love my Sterling and would seriously consider buying this if it were closer and I were able to get to it. Not that I need two of these, mind you, but still.
 
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#12
A-Step-Towards said:
It’s been posted since October. Stuff just doesn’t move that fast around the holidays and everyone is dealing with fires. My last sterling I sold on Craigslist I think it took 7-8 months to move and my price of $800 had to go down to $675 to sell it
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Didn't you have a passive Lull 5 middle this year?
I don't know why people are tripping about going to your place, not like you live in West Oakland next to a burned out liquor store offering $3 whole fried chicken.
 
#13
somebrains said:
Didn't you have a passive Lull 5 middle this year?
I don't know why people are tripping about going to your place, not like you live in West Oakland next to a burned out liquor store offering $3 whole fried chicken.
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Do I know you ? Not saying that in A rude way but I just went to your profile and I don’t remember meeting you ever. I have never had Lull anything, never even played one. My sterling didn’t sell not because of any factor except the fact it was A sterling they are A hard sale for over $700.
 
#14
A-Step-Towards said:
Do I know you ? Not saying that in A rude way but I just went to your profile and I don’t remember meeting you ever. I have never had Lull anything, never even played one. My sterling didn’t sell not because of any factor except the fact it was A sterling they are A hard sale for over $700.
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My bad, I mistook you for someone else.
There are 2 guys in LA that have a lot of basses listed at any given time.
Your patios looks similar, he has gone silent on CL and I don't think he's been here for at least a year.
The other guy lives near Cerritos, he had a Lull V5 up for $1200 on CL.
I just checked LA CL, you are the guy near Inglewood.
People can be funny about places mentioned in rap.

I'm not dissing your Sterling, I live in the SF Bay Area and work in our Hollywood office 1-2 weeks a month.
He was looking for something that popped up in my area.
Since I can't find him: Ampeg SVT Head Limited Edition 82 of 500 1987 Skunkworks
 
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