Music Man Vs Sterling Short-Scale Stingray Basses - Blindfold Challenge!

[@wademiyataki9221]

It would have been hilarious if Lee just kept feeding Nathan the same bass!

[@snakeplissken44]

nathan and lee together again!! i'm so happy

[@firemarshal2629]

I’ve been playing stingrays for 20 years now and I don’t know what music man is doing in the factories that make the sterling basses but fender and Gibson need to take a few notes. My sterling sounds just as good and feels just as good as my proper stingrays. Sure there’s a few differences (the MM have more ergonomic tuners and 18V batteries as apposed to the 9V in the sterling) but eyes closed there is no way I’d notice a difference.

[@kurstone8511]

Not even the knob quality?

[@GlennJimenez]

Have you really played the stingray for 20 years? You must know that tone so well when you hear it on recordings and such.

[@paolaramirez3946]

Nah theres nothing for fender to learn

[@hadrosaurus]

good to know. i own the passive cutlass bass and have been seriously eyeing the sterling joe dart model

[@thechannelforeverything2170]

I'm a guitar player and it's fun to watch these videos. I think these guys deserve more credit/views as they're really entertaining to watch, and the guy who was playing sounds great.

[@itsratso.]

In these horrible depressing times, it makes me sooo happy to see the two of you guys. Playing stingray shorties (I've got the blue sterling).

[@susiemuirhead561]

How much does it weigh? I'm about to get the Olympic White one. Right now I have an Epiphone EB-0 short scale (it weighs close to 12 pounds)

[@oscarsierra3542]

Knob Quality would make an excellent band name. Headline or support. 🤓

[@eeeejcicjn]

Oscar Sierra How is 3 Way Selector?

[@krisberntzen]

I'd switch it up and call it The Quality Knobs

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I just bought one in Olympic White. I am very impressed with the fit, finish, set-up/playability & overall sound. (playing for 23 years) oNe LovE from NYC

[@seanrosedotcom]

I mostly play guitar bit I bought a short scale Sterling after watching this video to record with. It’s fantastic. Thank you for convincing me.

[@rexsolomon6325]

Only if you can riff and play the entire neck of the bass with blindfolds the same way Nathan did, only then are you allowed to say anything negative. Nathan guessed correctly. Lee Anderton's guys know their stuff cold.

[@shuruff904]

I love my 350$ mint green sterling...(the second one from the left in this video) It was love at first sight...I walked into a Guitar Center, tried EVERY SINGLE BASS in the store, narrowed it down to the mint green one, or the sunburst maple one. The guy at GC said he would prefer the sunburst. But as soon as I played the mint one, it just sounded so much better (also has a maple neck) and they were the same price. They asked me if I wanted a brand new one from the back, I respectfully replied "hell no." (It was set up perfectly). 360$ I finally had a stingray. (I know it's not a "real one, but sounds great.)

[@spidgeb3292]

The question for me always is: which of these guitars inspires me to pick it up and play? I have a fairly large (30+) collection and I'm totally re-tooling it using the inspiration criterion.

[@GrantJackson70USD]

I recently got the Sterling in Daphne Blue. I love that thing!

[@fredparker3384]

The HH??

[@sailingmaster]

Good to see you lads. It's been a shite week, and this is just what I needed to make my Friday a little better.

[@nickpicc]

I went from a Sub Ray5 to a Ray35 to a Stingray Special 5. All of them were great but the Special is worth it to me. More versatile, lighter, and just feels amazing to play. But you can't go wrong with any of them

[@melissaerliech9148]

I briefly tried the Sterling Stingray at GC and really didn't like it. It was heavy, the body was relatively large, and it had a lot of neck dive. Fast forward 1 year and I bought an EBMM Stingray Bombshell, off of their reserved line, and it is perfect. Light weight, beautiful finish, no neck dive and fantastic tone. Worth the money IMO.

[@gregpantelides1355]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I have a sunburst USA model and love it. Like you say Lee, the finish on the neck is unmistakable. That being said, the sterlings are extremely well built never had an issue with any one I’ve played. Fret work is good no sharp edges. It’s just that everything is more polished on the USA models. Like going from good to great. :-)

[@andrewpappas9311]

My Stingray is one of my favourite basses, they’ve always be one of my favourite basses and the one I have has always been my go-to since I got it a couple years ago for my birthday

[@jgenoese]

The musicman sterling never gets any love and it’s my favorite Ernie ball bass

[@ericvassy2849]

Agree 100%

[@zeppelinboys]

good to see another lee vid from the vault! love the chemistry between nathan and lee

[@justie1220]

These aren’t from the vault I’m almost positive. Lee is back!!

[@johnr374]

He does say the sterling short scales were just released and I believe they’ve been out for a year or so now

[@paulcharlton4788]

They are using hand sanitiser at the end of the video so it must be quite recent.

[@patricialayden5624]

I just bought a Sterling Stingray today!!! It's the tobacco sunburst, and I just learned about the boost button from watching this video...so thank you very much!!!

[@troyroy01]

Hi, how’s your journey so far with the vintage sunburst sterling. How is the maple fretboard holding up? Thanks

[@patricialayden5624]

@@troyroy01 the neck is great but the push volume is crackling and popping with dead spots, had it looked at it has to be replaced. Other than that I love my Music Man!!

[@troyroy01]

@@patricialayden5624 all the best with the repairs! Looking to get one sometime this year as back up to my Gibson SG bass. Love shorties!

[@HoracioGarciaMusic]

I have the green version of the 4 string sterling, great feeling bass. I even got a compliment for a pro bass player friend about the neck.

[@Kris_T_]

Good to have you back guys. More of the same please.

[@shwilly]

You guys got lucky he didn't touch the heel joints at any point. The MM ones are rounded off and ergonomic whereas the Sterling ones are square and pointy (which I still can't wrap my head around: is it really that expensive to remove that last bit of wood?)

[@seanclarke4875]

All of them sounded great to me. Nothing wrong with melting your credit card, and getting the bass that everyone says 'wow' when they see it. Considering that most people, and even musicians are hard pressed to rate or discern one bass player from another. Why not just have the bass that shouts "I am the Best/beast". I don't mean to get all 'American' on you guys, sorry. Don't blame us please. I'm a just a product of my enviroment. It's 'the American way'. I do have a first hand example. My blue dawn Music Man Sterling was $1,200 (dollars) 20 years ago. The neck is flammed and amazing. Everyone who looks at it says 'oh, that was expensive huh'. Now they cost around $2,000. With a house full of guitars, basses and Marshalls, I'm not sure any of it has actually appreciated other than the Ernie Ball.

[@ZauTa]

I played a sterling ray 4 in a guitar center, sounded and felt amazing. need to trade my ibanez in for one eventually

[@KeeperOfPoops]

how ironic, i have an Ibanez bass which i wanna trade in for a ray too!

[@jamesorrell7462]

Not really Ironic but it's interesting that I'd happily join the same boat as you two!

[@thesmellycatjazz]

You're better off trying to sell it yourself than trying to trade it. I actually sold my Ray25 for an Ibanez SR655. Both are 5 string, but the Ibanez retails for more. The Sterling was really good for the price, and makes me want to try the better Ray35. It just sounded too similar to another, better playing bass I already had.

[@WolverineBeast86]

Sterling is a great line of guitars!

[@Mrpsblobsoflowendmung]

Ah knob quality 😂😂😂😂. These two are comedy bass gold

[@xplanet2112]

marvellous gentleman, a pleasure to watch and great to see (bass) Lee back!

[@jsnowdendavies]

Great video and for me it really shows the difference between playing professionally and for a hobby. Not that one is better than the other of course, and maybe that doesn't matter if the passion is the same. But straight off the bat I felt you were looking at a craftsman choosing a tool that would maintain his reputation, not someone looking for a saving. Great to have that experience coming through on here for free from Andertons - thank you! Me - I'd go for the Sterling as I just am not a pro and am not that good a player!

[@spidgeb3292]

Respectfully disagree. This was not a great video for anyone who wanted a well-organized blind comparison and an opportunity to judge for him/her/other self.

[@jsnowdendavies]

@@spidgeb3292 I'm not sure what you are disagreeing with?

[@CurtisGabrielMusic]

All these basses sound great! Really impressed.

[@JoshuaC923]

Really digging those short scales

[@bsaw00]

Me too. They only made 300 so I hope they decide to make more.

[@bobbyzig3879]

Blindfolded and still playing the hell out of these things.

[@MarcG7424]

Would love to see Sterling Sub 4 vs Sterling 24CA

[@laketownmusic]

The Sterling instruments are some of the best bang for your buck instruments out there. I got a 300 dollar Sterling SUB Bass and it’s freakin amazing

[@TraesHisTraxx]

Change the picups and the nut.It will change the sustain and output

[@donh5794]

Agreed! Two days ago, I purchased a new Sterling by MM Ray24CA for $349 on sale. A few weeks ago the Ray34 was $599.

[@ChipsA17]

You aren't kidding. I just got the ash black ray34. Its basically a 2017 ebmm stingray only heavier. It plays so well and has the roasted maple neck. I got mine for $800.

[@markyates8399]

Both great blokes and excellent bass players. Very entertaining.

[@PagyBio]

Awe inspiring playing by Nathan!

[@jazzman1954]

If the bass and guitar world continue to do blindfold tests then that spells the end of all expensive 'designer' instruments to say nothing of the vintage world.

[@BrooksysBassCorner]

Lovely job, chaps!

[@bassimprovjams3772]

So no bass knob, interesting cant wait to hear this

[@molonlabe1033]

I've got the hot rodded Sterling stingray 5 HH natural finish black pick guard with the Seymour Duncan pickups and 4 knob preamp and its one of best sounding basses Ive ever owned.

[@mr.bluenotedoobop]

Love it when me knob is called quality 😎

[@MrJones-xw8mn]

The definitive way to tell is to run your hand along the neck. If there is grit in the finish it is no doubt a Sterling.

[@Denver077804]

Re-re-wind... the crowd say Bo Selecta :D I love this channel!

[@majormoody]

Bass number 3 (best) and 4 for me. On the Sterling, maybe the rosewood neck is better for warmth?

[@sgcr9223]

Im between the stingray and a spector bantam for my next bass.

[@davidsals8020]

What did you choose? And what did you think of comparing the two?

[@mindbodylightsound10]

Starry Night

[@jgodin312]

"knob quality" has to be the name of a band

[@nym053]

- "What can I touch?" - "The knooooob..."

[@liorauf]

Great video!!!

[@mentecato666]

Let's hear it boiiiis

[@Basstank]

Damn, I love you guys, always entertaining, always great playing, always fun. Keep up your amazing work! ❤️👍

[@tiptisdale5628]

Nice basses, however, I have never played any that sound better than a 60s Gibson eb2c with bass boost. They still have a few in China, so I am learning Mandarin. Cheers.

[@marciosouza8656]

What i know is that i really love my Sterling 5 !!!

[@Boris_Chang]

Based on the Sterling I received (and promptly returned), I think I could tell the difference blindfolded-even with my tin ear. The Sterling I got was so poorly finished, the fret edges would cut my fingers, and the knobs fell off the bass inside the shipping box. So the bass with the rough/sharp fret ends, and knobs missing, and scratchy tone control-that would be the Sterling.

[@quantenmoi]

Would have been interesting to get his reactions without touching the nobs. IMO the sound and playing feel are far more important than the feel of the pots.

[@widepaper]

Yes, Lee!

[@haymaker113]

about 4:00 was really disappointing to me; if he said he didn't get a good feel for the bass, *HAND IT RIGHT BACK TO HIM* . I love you guys and the videos but you're almost pushing him into saying nonsense, you can tell he was genuinely shocked you took it back so fast.

[@lawsonshawnm]

I dont think its any secret that MM are going to feel and look better than a Sterling side by side, but is a nicer paint job, a marginally better finish on the neck and a logo worth 4x the price? No. MM if money is no object and sparkly paints are what make your sound. Otherwise, Sterling is a better bang for buck considering the similarity in sound and playability. Either way, regardless of what Fender fanboys say, the Stingray was what Leo Fender obviously wanted the Fender basses to become.

[@steveheissner]

One thing bothers me, mates. If you want a passive stingray you have to buy a short scale. That's bollocks. Come on Musicman. Offer this passive version in a 34 inch scale!

[@federicopoli3872]

Hello, do you know if the dimensions of the body are the same as the full scale one? or being a short scale the body is a little smaller?

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

Does anyone know the weight difference in these bass guitars?

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Thats all? I didn't get much from that , lmao Nathan is a trip lol

[@goeatbox1]

I need this video!!!!

[@bryantwalley]

So what we just saw is that you pay an extra $1400 for a case and a USA sticker.

[@ardskoay]

I would have agreed with you before today. I played one today and it was the most premium feeling instrument I have touched. The frets were mirror finished, and it was surprisingly light. Don’t forget the roasted neck, lightweight tuners, compensated nut, contoured heel, etc. It is probably too expensive still. But there is a definite difference that is immediately noticeable.

[@giddyrightonup]

@@ardskoay the USA one will feel a million times nicer, they pretend it’s close, but my mother could tell the difference within 30 seconds, and she’s never held a bass

[@giddyrightonup]

@Toxic Potato yes, really. The feel of the finish of the neck is chalk and cheese different. I’m not saying the huge price difference is warranted, but I am saying that pretending that telling the difference blindfolded is anything less than immediately apparent, is farcical.

[@nathanspiessens4213]

I have a sterling ray5 and i must say it has some cons: the knobs arent that good and theres 1 part on a fret that gives some buzzing but sound wise its as good as a real music man, my friend has a 5 string stingrand and soundwise theres not alot of difference

[@foff4strings]

Hello!

[@rubbadubdub6543]

Danish Pete there, behind the camera!

[@BassGods]

OMG! I could have done this blind folded. I don't care how similar they sound. There is "No" mistaking the sound of a Music Man Bass. And also the feel quality is different. Music man feels and looks more expensive.

[@andreaperelli5323]

lol sterling ones are all in series pretty easy to ear

[@danielhoskins4690]

Is it me or is the sound fuzzing out on this video?

[@tomyg2766]

American version 3x the cost but it didn't seem 3x better quality...

[@portwill]

does not seem but certainly feel so. I am all for cheaper guitars but I never understood the Sterlings, I tried it once and it felt just as cheap as my first Cort, maybe even worse. I would always choose a Squier over these but to each their own.

[@jsnowdendavies]

But Nathan can tell!

[@FrankRusch]

knob quali'y! 6:39

[@Des_Armoni]

No comparison for sure the higher end was so much more balanced and precise. The other was extremely muddy and loose to me. Reminds me of a squire bass. Gross.

[@paradox7743]

It would be hilarious if they just kept giving him the same bass. The Sterling is the better value by far- 600 bucks vs 2100 n The Sterling kicks out the jams n @ more then a 3rd of the price...

[@officialmoondancer]

"A little widdle about" lol

[@gingataff]

Nathan is Michael Manring 7:34

[@d422ell]

Is Lee back now? Or is this an old video?

[@peterthomas1187]

He is actually back!

[@spidgeb3292]

How about systematically running a head-to-head comparison? This was chaotic and didn't really deliver.Volume of basses was too low for the audience to decide for itself which sounded better..Good idea, but execution was lacking.

[@Joetime90]

I'm really considering pulling the trigger for the Sterling short scale. Watching you guys have a laugh while admiring the cheaper option might make me commit. I had the standard scale Sterling and hated it due to active electronics. I'm also 5'6" so my hands are more natural on a short scale (and the shorties are only passive) so it seems a no brainer. I just wish they'd have the short in a double humbucker (as I'm used to a neck pickup). A true passive short scale with double humbuckers may be a pipe dream but...

[@jimmyjam5358]

Should of had the goofy Brit demo them instead of the snarky one

[@ChipsA17]

Sterling to ernie ball is like squier and fender There are pros and cons to all. But the sterling line is honesty the best sub series on the market. I got a ray34 ash black and its basically a 2017 ebmm stingray only heavier. It has the same pickups alnico H. Is has ash body and roasted maple neck just like the us made. The sterling ray34 is a true stingray only its not made in usa. Its Indonesian. And the quality control is better on the us models

[@hr1meg]

What is the point of these blind fold challenges? Honestly. What is the point? I always thought it was to guess by the sound of the instrument. Not by rubbing your hands over every little detail, knob, shape, bridge, smelling, tasting, etc. If you can guess what it is by touching it then why bother playing it? Isn't the objective to discern via the sound an instrument makes?

[@goodtimes12342]

Neck feel and playability is the other half of the equation. A bass can sound great and feel like shit.

[@feliciarasheed5519]

The older I get, the more interested I am in the feel of an instrument and how comfortable it is to play. Sound isn't everything.

[@fendson5745]

people hear with their eyes these days

[@harrymanback5133]

Finally

[@Viking-Guitarist]

entertaining

[@juancamilo4684]

yo but the weight gives it away right away

[@BassGods]

😂😂😂😂😂 These Dudes are Hilarious

[@chroniclesofbap6170]

Is Nathan related to Mark King?

[@mikefougere7010]

Yes, younger brother. He plays guitar with Level 42 now and you can see him in most of the recent concert videos.

[@arrell]

@@mikefougere7010 I didn't know that. Love him even more now :D

[@daveydoodle1916]

Nothing is free you pay for the case

[@jhonyjhon4071]

Indonesia ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@doghouse010]

this guy sounds like Wallace trying different cheeses...

[@AgentJot23]

And what's a bulid quality on those Sterling basses? Any improvements? As I purchased a SUB Ray 4 about 3 months ago and had to return it shortly as there was no quality there. Sharp frets, missaligned bridge (or neck or both) and the setup was awfull. For almost 400 quid that's unacceptable. I swaped that Sterling for Ibanez SR300E with a 100 quid refund. And quality of Ibanez basses is outstanding for the price. Sterling, Squire and Epiphone could learn a lot from Ibanez in terms of qulity.

[@Brookzplayzmuzic]

Pre ernie ball will always be better. Period

[@cskeise]

💙👊😎

[@fozterfossworth8276]

MM USA = a grand overpriced.

[@mirkosmi1800]

what is your style: you two are shouting like horses, and the guitars are not heard ?!

[@toppepp]

Too much talking, not enough playing. Get on with it, it’s the internet!

[@wd8440]

Some one tell these guys they are not funny.

[@nathanking1970]

I'm funny as fuck.

[@nathanking1970]

What do you care?

[@kaeruemkui2654]

Boring

[@nathanking1970]

Did someone have a gun to your head forcing you to watch it?

[@michealfrancis770]

Thanks for your input. Now go in the direction of away.....