Music Man Stirling Series

[JD01]

Anyone got any experience with these?
https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/SUBRAY4BK ... r-in-black

Both my basses are shit to the point of being firewood - one is basically worthless and the other only has any value since I changed the strings.
Anyway, I played on one of these Musicman basses yesterday - just after that purple tolex Marshall - and it felt good, sounded good, seems to have a punchy bridge pickup.

I think "Sterling" is musicman's version of Squire by Fender.

[Armistice]

No, no experience, but are you sure you need an active bass - especially at that price point?

Seems like something that could easily go wrong on a cheapish bass. Just check that it works without the active circuit powered, for when the battery runs flat and it's too late / too hard to get a new one - I assume it would, but you never know.

[JD01]

haha, shows how little I know - I didn't even realise that it was active!

I just asked the guy at the counter if he could recommend a bass at about 300 quid and he told me that's the one he likes.

[Armistice]

Not necessarily a reason not to buy it, just be aware of it. I don't know much about active basses, I just wonder about adding extra circuitry at a cheapish price point, but not my area of expertise.

I thought my Schecter bass was active but I was getting confused with my Levinson 'strat' and when it had a grounding issue I needed fixed and was in damn good need of a set up I took it to this guitar set up guy and said "It's active..." and left it with him, and when I picked it up he said "No, it's not" - felt like a bit of a chump. lollers

Read down the description in the link... "tone shaping" etc.

[JD01]

Not necessarily a reason not to buy it, just be aware of it. I don't know much about active basses, I just wonder about adding extra circuitry at a cheapish price point, but not my area of expertise.

I thought my Schecter bass was active but I was getting confused with my Levinson 'strat' and when it had a grounding issue I needed fixed and was in damn good need of a set up I took it to this guitar set up guy and said "It's active..." and left it with him, and when I picked it up he said "No, it's not" - felt like a bit of a chump. lollers

Read down the description in the link... "tone shaping" etc.

I just want a bass with a straight neck and a bridge pickup! My needs are pretty minimal really - I wasn't even going out to look at basses.

[Greg_L]

I think an active bass can be good if you're only gonna record with it, and you only record direct. If you're using amps, then I don't see any benefit to active electronics.

[JD01]

Bloody hell, just read the description - sounds very complicated.

[Lt. Bob]

it has three knobs .... how complicated can it be?

I see that a lot ...... pedals that have 4 knobs and two switches being described as complicated .... good lord .... no it's not.
I've seen the Fender Jaguar described as needing a college course to understand the switching ..... NO .... IT'S SIMPLE AS SHIT!

lol ....... I'm a geezer ..... we're supposed to struggle with such things but AFAIC there's no such thing as a complicated ax.

Personally I like active basses ..... and that one looks to have easy access to the battery compartment so even if it won't play with a dead battery it'll only be a moment to replace it.
Mine does NOT work when the battery dies and I have to remove screws to get to the battery.
So I just change it once a year .....

[JD01]

it has three knobs .... how complicated can it be?

I see that a lot ...... pedals that have 4 knobs and two switches being described as complicated .... good lord .... no it's not.
I've seen the Fender Jaguar described as needing a college course to understand the switching ..... NO .... IT'S SIMPLE AS SHIT!

lol ....... I'm a geezer ..... we're supposed to struggle with such things but AFAIC there's no such thing as a complicated ax.

I am from Wales, mate! minernuggs

[Lt. Bob]

I am from Wales, mate! minernuggs

lol ............ lollers

[Greg_L]

My bandmate has an active bass....I think a DBZ or something like that...looks like a Thunderbird, and it won't work without a good battery. He also has an Ampeg Classic head and 8x10 bass cab, so obviously I like tracking bass over there. Anyway, I went to do some tracks with his bass and it wouldn't work and I had no batteries. I swore off active basses forever.

[rammer24]

Holy crap, this is weird. I just posted and it disappeared.

Anyway, I said I have an Ibanez active bass that I love. Nothing complicated about it. 4 strings, a bunch of frets, tone and volume knobs. I record direct into my interface.
Haven't needed to change the battery in about 5 years. Just remember to not leave it plugged in when you're not playing it.

[Lt. Bob]

and as someone mentioned .... nowadays a lot of active basses can be run passive when needed.

[Bubba]

I've seen the Fender Jaguar described as needing a college course to understand the switching ..... NO .... IT'S SIMPLE AS SHIT!

Exactly - it has two circuits; one has a volume and a tone on thumb wheels, the other has a bridge pickup switch, a neck pickup switch and a bass cut switch. Simple as F.

[Roman]

You like it? Does it feel and play well? Does it sound good?

Those are questions only you can answer.

Those are the ones that should determine your decision, not our opinions.

[JD01]

You like it? Does it feel and play well? Does it sound good?

Those are questions only you can answer.

Those are the ones that should determine your decision, not our opinions.

Good point.
I was talking to my mrs about it last night 'cos she asked what I'd been up to 'cos she knew I had an afternoon off work. So I told her I was looking at all these telecasters and stuff and that I found one that was similar to the one I tried over Christmas... then as an aside I said that I tried this really nice bass... and she immediately said "Just buy a bass, yours is fucking shit and you whinge about it all the time - it actually holds you back when coming up with songs"

[Greg_L]

"Just buy a bass, yours is fucking shit and you whinge about it all the time - it actually holds you back when coming up with songs"

Wait, will this new bass write lyrics? minernuggs drums

[JD01]

"Just buy a bass, yours is fucking shit and you whinge about it all the time - it actually holds you back when coming up with songs"

Wait, will this new bass write lyrics? minernuggs drums

No, but I've heard it sings!

[Roman]

I need a bass like that.

[ocnor]

Holy crap, this is weird. I just posted and it disappeared.

Anyway, I said I have an Ibanez active bass that I love. Nothing complicated about it. 4 strings, a bunch of frets, tone and volume knobs. I record direct into my interface.
Haven't needed to change the battery in about 5 years. Just remember to not leave it plugged in when you're not playing it.

Same here. Ibanez makes some decent low budget bass guitars. They have slim necks which makes them easier for guitar players to adapt to.