Sterling by Musicman Ray35 - Ash or African Mahogany bodied?

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BasslovR

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Jan 25, 2017
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#1
Looking to finally lay the green out and grab one of these beauties. I've noticed they have now three new models: Amber, Neptune Blue and Koa. All of which have an African Mahogany body and are topped with either quilted maple or koa. The Sterling basses prior to these were made with ash ( most of the top of the line Musicmans Stingrays use ash ). I would imagine that if one were wanting a true Musicman tone you would want to grab a Sterling with an ash body right? I can't help to wonder what the African Mahogany would do to the tone overall. I've got an SR505 that has a mahogany body and I love that bass and how well it resonates so I'm leaning on grabbing one with the Mahogany body. Maybe someone on here has played both and can chime in?
 
#2
Mahogony body sounds great. As you know, stingray electronics are bright and zingy. Ash is a little brighter than mahogany but not enough to be noticeable when you are playing with drums and guitars. Ray35 is on of the greatest values on the bass market. A lot of bass for not a lot of money.
 
#3
The Ray34/35s are great basses. I had an ash one and a mahogany one with a quilted top. The mahogany one had a noticeably wider neck. Check the specs on any of the new ones you are ordering, the next was much too wide for my tastes compared to the ash one.
 
#5
twc1313 said:
The Ray34/35s are great basses. I had an ash one and a mahogany one with a quilted top. The mahogany one had a noticeably wider neck. Check the specs on any of the new ones you are ordering, the next was much too wide for my tastes compared to the ash one.
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Are you referring to the 4 string or 5 string? When you say wider do you mean top to bottom (fretboard width) or front to back? I had a Ray34 ash that I had to sell because the neck was too thick front to back. However, I've since switched to 5 string basses exclusively and played a EBMM SR5 and loved that neck. Was hoping the SBMM Ray35 would have the same neck specs.
 
#6
MarkM13 said:
Are you referring to the 4 string or 5 string? When you say wider do you mean top to bottom (fretboard width) or front to back? I had a Ray34 ash that I had to sell because the neck was too thick front to back. However, I've since switched to 5 string basses exclusively and played a EBMM SR5 and loved that neck. Was hoping the SBMM Ray35 would have the same neck specs.
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I was referring to the 4 string, and it was wider Top to Bottom, larger nut width on the Quilted Maple 4 vs the regular Ray34's
 
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