2001 Sterling H with piezo bridge

[xkomo]

Great review... well done!!!!

[BenDanimage]

I'm not a bass player (just guitar) but I came here to look at piezos ... so this is a very helpful vid, mate! And your playing's pretty good too! Thanks.

[sackvegas]

Great Video. I am looking to upgrade my Jazz bridge and pickups and was trying to find a piezo bridge. Anyone know of a good brand?

[Nukleon69]

This video definitely makes me wanna buy one! Amazing sound.

[hojima]

jorts...

[toefes]

I just came

[vajranurse]

Thanks Bro... Just took my Fender Deluxe Jazzer to the shop to be told that it had one! Never heard of it,, can't wait to get it back!! Thanks so much for a great run through... All the Best from over the Pond :)

[DattaGroover]

Well done and explained. Wish I could add a piezo to my Sterling H :(

[bassmajor]

makes me really think about adding a piezo to my future bass. I love the pure piezo tone!

[dalchimsky]

great instrument and great demo...

[Blakenaats]

Such a sexy tone

[SMUDGE2511]

This is the sound I want but can't afford!!!!!

Great Bass!!!!

[smokeyupahead]

You just explained what a piezo pickup does,thanks very helpfull!

[tbcass]

Interesting. I have a Spector 5 string fretless semi hollow body with a bridge piezo and an EMG H7 magnetic setup. Mine with semi rounds sounds so close to a stand up acoustic double bass you have to listen close to hear the difference (which is what I want). Completely different than this.

[gitarcla]

I bought new guitar "Sterling" ,and I am now interesting in BassGuitar.

SterlingBassSound very Good!

Next time I want to buy BassGuitarMOdel.

YOur explanation is very useful .

[nephilymbass]

fret buzz like a mofo

[Pinstripedtie]

I just can't get over how the MusicMan piezo makes that bass sound so good!! I think if I ever buy another MM bass, I will definitely get one with the Piezo. Thanks for your review~!!

[barzoman2]

Do you use DI box ? what type ? what is the best in the market ?

[Pinstripedtie]

Nice bass, LOVE the sound!!

[synthmaestro88]

This vid is realy informative. Many thanks for this!

[voncoolio]

That peizo sound is far out! Super clear hi-fi crystal tone!

[warwickjude]

i love your bass.. and nice video.. im always wondering what does piezo bridge does... and now i know.. thanx to your bro.. ^^

[bertito7777]

thanks!

[renzolikescheez]

new strings?

[MrStingraykills]

it adds an accoustic guitar sound....great...nice video...thnx

[ubertuber57]

Thanks for watching!

[mookie2637]

Thanks very much for this dem - I have piezos on my old Yamaha TRB5P and never really figured out how they worked. PS you have great vibrato.

[ubertuber57]

Thanks! Glad it helped you get a handle on your bass!

[CCMrJones]

@mookie2637 what you can call "vibrato" on a bass with frets ;)

[aledeville]

This is a great sounding instrument. It makes me wanna buy one.

Great review. Thanks a lot!

[ubertuber57]

These guys really make a solid instrument, and it's pretty much impossible to make them sound truly 'bad.' Best thing is for me, is they really don't need any mods--factory is the way to go.

Thanks for watching!

[manzariluca]

thank you so much, I'm planning on a piezo bridge and your video's been really helpful! 5/5

[ubertuber57]

thanks !

[scarred2112]

Thanks for such a comprehensive demonstration of how the piezo "interacts" with all three pickup settings on your Sterling - I especially likely the example of how it can bring out the harmonics, as I tend to boost my high-mids to do the same with my basses. I'm not sure I'd spend the money for a piezo-equipped bridge on a fretted bass, but I'd certainly like one on my "Dream Fretless Jazz" to add those high-mids that aren't there when you remove the metallic frets from the "sound equation".

[ubertuber57]

Thanks for watching!

Yeah, the piezo is ice for some extra presence on the harmonics (especially in terms of the transients/dynamics.) On a Jazz-bass copy I have, I tend to turn down the neck pickup between 25% to 50% to help bring out harmonics.

The piezo gives me another way on a different bass to help. Gotta love it. :)

[SONoOFoLIQUID]

stingray or sterlin? which is best?

[tsup77]

Thats kinda up to you, you gotta A/B em at a store

[ubertuber57]

They're both very well built, and with the pickup options now available, you can get plenty of tones from either.

At the time I made my choice, I liked the upper fret access and smaller body of the Sterling over the 'Ray. The Stingray has a TON of history behind it, as well as great tones.

Summary: Players I love used a Stingray, I like the Sterling...it's all good, as they say.

[DattaGroover]

Great demo- great playing. I've had an Sterling H for years and love it, but I really want the extras that the piezo adds (and I DON'T want the HH or HS, thanks).

Not being able to try out the instrument (with piezo) has been frustrating.

Thanks for laying it out on the table!

[amr0306]

Hi Ubertuber57, a sincere thanks from down under for this demo. You've got the chops AND you clearly have tech skills too. Not only do you play really well, but reading your responses on here, you also go to a lot of trouble to answer questions. YouTube needs more folk like you. Thanks for going to such trouble.

Cheers

Andy

[ubertuber57]

You're welcome! Besides, we're all in your debt simply for giving us AC/DC..... :D

Glad this helped you out some. It's looking like my schedule might start to slow down some in the next months--one of the (many) things I'd like to do is a more focused demo of the piezo vs magnetic on the bass. This was a real plug-and-go thing, and I like the thought of being able to show the contrast between Magnetic with EQ, vs piezo, etc.

Again, thanks much for encouragement...means a lot.

[ubertuber57]

No need to owrry. Nothing to install, it's all done at the factory. The bass is stock.

Thanks for watching!

[20AceofBass11]

Nice playing man.. Im envious.

Im getting an SR5 some time before the end of August, just cant decide between an SR5, SR5 HH, piezo, etc..

Tough choices!

[ubertuber57]

Tough choices, indeed! :)

I tore up my hands (CTS/Tendonitis probs) about 17 years ago, so 5 strings generally are a bit wide for me (I've used a Hipshot instead, at times) I was impressed with a Sterling 4 HS that I pickup up in a store once...Though It's the Big AL that has REALLY got me intrigued. can't think of another bass I'd like more at the time, in a 4 string.

[UK2AK]

5/5

That was a FANTASTIC video! Seriously, it was VERY helpful for me.

I'm using Youtube to help me research a new bass purchase and frankly, Ernie Ball owes you money!

By the way, great playing too.

I'm a little unclear how you recorded the audio for this clip (and curious). Both vocal and bass into the recorder? Did you use compression?

Loved the bbq sauce metapher too.

Do remember what strings you were using for this clip?

[ubertuber57]

Thanks much! I've actually been meaning to re-do this video as this was pretty off-the-cuff. (I need to get some new strings first, as I haven't changed 'em since this vid was made last fall... :O These are some DR stainless Hi-Beam 40-60-80-100. I'm not an endorser for anyone/anything, but they're decent strings, and not everyone does that particular gauge set--so I need to get less picky :D I'd just put 'em on for recording this vid, so they were quite fresh then.

[ubertuber57]

Audio for these clips -- bass direct to a Korg D12 recorder. (no amp inthe room, as I have to do these super late at night, after we put the kids to bed.)

Vocal is a cheap Shure condenser resting on the kitchen counter next to the chair :) I fade it during the playing so you don't get unrealistic string noise through it

Slight compression on the recorder just to smooth it out., hafta check, but maybe 4:1.

Thx again for watching!

[genemir]

this is an active eq bass right?

[ubertuber57]

Yes. Passive humbucker, active EQ. This particular bass has a 3 band eq. I think they used to/ still do make a 2 band eq version. Often, a cheaper instrument gets an active EQ with lots of boost to offset a crappy pickup. Here, with the EQ flat, you still get a full tone from the bass. The EQ can offset what your rig may lack, or just use a touch for flavor. I don't go higher than about +2 or 3 on anything on this. Thx for watching!

[genemir]

thanks for the info man.. i really like this bass, i want to get the highs with the lows, this bass delivers it both. the looks are a plus! do they still make it like yours? coz the ones i've seen on the net which are for sale have a different look: pickups, pickguard etc.. i mean this is the old look right? it looks like a stingray except without the steel casing for the EQ. thanks

[ubertuber57]

Yeah, this would be a Sterling 4 HP (Humbucker/peizo.) You can also order an HS (Hum/Single coil in the neck) or HH (dual hum) I think only the single H model can be had with the piezo, though.

Thei peizo doesn't add treble, as much as it add dynamics and presence, since it's a contact trasnducer (gets it's signal from direct physical contact with the string, instead of by reading the movement of the magnetic field of the string.) How well it translates live will depend on your rig. Thx !

[genemir]

i have a crap rig but i can work with it using a bass eq pedal which is a real help. good for gigs too if i'm new to the club's rig. the pedal fakes the slap tones, and those lows and highs.. haha

anyway, that's good to hear.. i like it with single H model anyways.. but if it's like that, the HP is a big YES.. thanks again.. i'll subcribe and check your other vids. have a nice day!

[davecg2]

great vid and review, i always wondered about the piezo and what it gives you, i have a decent idea now.

[4stringpriest]

You sound EXACTLY like Jeff Goldblum.

[ubertuber57]

LOL! My wife votes that "comment of the year." I'll have that stuck in my head for a while now... :)

[scoobydog411]

thanks for the email . I got a Gibson P Bass used with Amp for $150.00 =)

[aledeville]

Great review. Really!

[andrecapanema]

thanks a lot man, it really helped me to decide which bass to buy, since i'm in brazil and my sister is going to buy one for me in NY. I ordered a black Stingray4 with Humbucker/Piezo, i can't wait to get it!!

[scoobydog411]

I need to get a bass . What is a good low cost bass i can play ?

[metalfunkjazz]

If you're just starting, then you should definitely go for the Yamaha RBX170. They are very good sounding, and they are $179 at guitar center.

[BASSment7al7]

Just bought my sterling =)

[AVABlinkDrWho10]

i really hope that one day i get good enough at bass so i can have a sterling, i am not worthy of one yet lol.

i mean my fingers are even too weak to bend the strings how you do, how pathetic is that!?

i cant even have a bass much bigger than a starling becuase theyre too heavy etc...

[Listendudeok]

Perfect demo !

Thanks a lot.

Best demo I saw here, in fact.

I got a Stingray (1988) and it's got the same tone, basically. But I find the piezo pickup really interesting, adds a new flavor.

[ubertuber57]

Thanks! I keep meaning to re-do/expand on this one, but family and kids take the time...and they gotta come first.

The piezo complelemnts this bass really well. They did a nice job matching it up. Thanks again for watching!

[aJazzcat]

do the electronics for a piezo bridge need batteries?

[ubertuber57]

Since this bass has an active peamp/tone circuit, there is a 9v battery needed to operate it. The piezo uses the same battery, so only one is needed.

You'll practically always need an active preamp (with a battery or phantom power,) since the piezo crystals have a low output by themselves,

Thanks for watching!

[aJazzcat]

ok, thank you! i've been looking at one of the godin fretless basses with the piezo pickups (a4 i think it's called). do you know anything about them? it seemed neat because i'd be able to use low-tension nylon strings.

[ubertuber57]

I'm not familiar with that particular Godin, but I remember one of their early instruments (Acoustibass, maybe?) that had just a piezo pickup and some resonator tines inside to make it sound like a larger bodied instrument...and it sounded amazing, like thier early Acousticaster tele-looking guitars. Their electrics seem to be pretty well built.

[tomfrankly]

this is the greatest tone i've ever heard. no jokes. i've had my eye on a steinberger synapse for a while now. you think there's any chance of getting this kind of tone on that headless freak? (it also has a piezo bridge)

[rclere1]

Great playing and demo... I just put some money down on a great used StingRay 5 w/peizo. You really showed me that I made the right decision. Thank you.

[ubertuber57]

Lol, thanks....

I'm merely affirming your great taste in basses :D

Thanks for watching.

[chris04w]

Well done! can really clearly hear the differences.

Thanks

[ubertuber57]

Thanks!

[Marlowann]

I seriously think you deserve to get paid to demonstrate basses. Too many demonstrations consist of crappy players who don't realize enough of the nuances of tone concerning the instrument in their hands to deserve the position.

[ubertuber57]

Thanks very much. Demos are kind of tough, in that at best, you can only show the 'potential' for an instrument, and it's pretty subjective at that. I intentionally recorded direct, rather than an amp, to try and focus on the instrument (vs the amp's) tone and flexibility. I'd like to do more, but haven't got time, nor access to enough instruments to be fair.

I've though about re-doing this one though and expanding on some playing a bit. Thanks for watching!

[Ibhien]

Nice playing. Nice Sound. I'm very-very loved that sounds. AMAZING MUSICMAN.

[ubertuber57]

Thanks!

It's a stock instrument that doesn't really need much tweaking at all. They really are plenty for any gig or session righ tout of the box...

Again, thanks for watching!

[eatingfrogs]

Thank you! I've been looking at buying a Stingray and wasn't sure whether I wanted a Piezo pickup or not. Couldn't find a music shop in my town that stocked the Piezo option and this video is exactly what I needed. Enjoyed your solid playing, too!

[ubertuber57]

Thanks very much!

REALLY glad it helped for you to make a decision on the bass.  The Ray is a great bass...

Again, thanks!

[j3rockstar]

Great Playing! Awesome tone. Now, by flat..do you mean the EQ is set at zero position or set at 1/2 way? Thanks.

[ubertuber57]

Thanks!

'Flat' here is--No boost or cut.

Since it's an active tone circut, the opt has a notch in the middle for 'flat.' So, midway on the knob would be zero/flat, full up is say, +5, all the way down is -5. (Passive tone is basically--full up is zero/flat, all the way down is -10.)

Someitmes, basses use an active tone circuit to compensate for weakness in the pickup. The EBMMs all seem to have a good flat tone, so the EQ is more a dash of salt or pepper than crazy BBQ sauce... thx!

[jdbrewst]

Agree with bassplayinggoalie! IN the market for a new bass and looking at musicman offerings (can't decide between sterling, stingray or bongo) but was intrigued by the piezo option. When you were playing slap I was thinking 'hmm, I kinda like it more all magnetic' but then you did the harmonics and tapping :-D There we go. That's where I see it working for me, thanks!

[ubertuber57]

Cool! See if you can try one out with your amp and see if you like how it comes through. Harmonics and tapping are always a little tough to cut through the mix in a live setting, but the piezo is great for recording, and can help live, too.

I've been thinking about trying another vid that shows some more of the harmonic and tapping kind of thing inthe future, as this was pretty spur-of-the-moment.

Again, thanks for watching!

[bassplayinggoalie]

Awesome review dude!

I've been trying to suss out whether to bother looking for a with-piezo stingray. I've searched Harmony Central & TalkBass for decent advice, but to no avail.

You have sold me :)

Cheers heaps!

[ubertuber57]

Thanks! A lot of fretless players seem to like the piezo, too. It's a nice blend with the humbucker on this bass.

[gilbertstirling]

gahhh...i wish i had one of these! they sound amazing! good review of the pickup/piezo :D

[ubertuber57]

Thanks, man. Glad it made some sense. I gotta remember to not mumble so much in the future :D

Again, thanks!

[GideonOrion]

Some great tones man, thanks for sharing. I have played a sterling as my main bass since July 2000 and I am one of the biggest fans of the sterling. I don't have the piezo bridge unfortunately but I still get great tone, keep playing!

[ubertuber57]

thanks! I've had mine since '01 and have been continually impressed. A great bargain for an upper-end instrument.

I played a newer HS model several months back and really liked the tonal variety, even without the piezo.

Again, thanks for watching!

[yellofury]

im not interested in the Sterling particularly but I am curious to see how the EBMMS are compared to my Fender Jazzes but I think you did a great job in explanation and description.

Very informative and professional in manner!!

[ubertuber57]

Thanks!

I've had this Sterling for 7 years and have to conclude that it's simply a different animal than a P or J style bass. It's going for a different tone from the outset, rather than a "new shade" of a P or J style. I've also got an American Hamer Cruise bass, which is a higher-dollar Jazz-style bolt on, with the pickups closer together than the typical Fender. It's a great bass too, but still a whole different origin and goal for tones. Try an EBMM out and good luck!

[yellofury]

well I went into a guitar store just to talk to my friend who worked there and I saw a used gold Sterling on the wall and he let me play it

well it was good and bad

it was good in the way that the tone options are amazing and the neck was real comfortable

the bad was that I dont have the funds at the moment to get such a bass...

[lycos17]

I found this video to be very helpful in my new purchase of the sterling. I had no idea that the piezo was in the bridge. Thank you

[ubertuber57]

Awesome! Very glad it proved useful. I've been continually impressed with the Sterling--and keep finding it a flexible instrument that can stand alone or in a group.

(the piezo's fun, too :D )

congrats!

[milou80]

exactly the same for me !!5 stars!

[Lifeofbass]

5 knobs??! Mine has just 4!

[ubertuber57]

Yeah, a bit crowded, huh?

Master Vol-Piezo/magnetic blend/ Treble/ Mid/ Bass.

Might look intimidating, but actually real easy to use and sensible.

(some of the 70s and 80s BC Richs would scare me though..TON of knobs :D )

thanks for watching!

[lucasguitarrist]

did you make the music from Seinfeld?

hehe just kiddin...

Great bass sound man

[ubertuber57]

LOL.  Nah, actually never learned the Seinfeld riffs.

Thanks for watching !

[adryw]

awesome man amazing sound and playing!

[ubertuber57]

Thanks so much!  The piezo adds a nice presence to the sound...really puts it up front.

[sentientmachine11]

I was looking into getting a better bass and this piques my interest in the Musicman. Great tone.

[ubertuber57]

Thanks! I've gotta say that the Musicman is as well-built as anything I've got and thier instruments are the only ones I'd leave dead-stock from the factory. (I'm ususally a pickup swapper)

They're simply a different animal than the standard P and J basses. Try one, I'll bet you'll like it. (as with any bass, make sure your store has it set up well.)

[RocketRalf]

Very useful review of the piezo, thanks!

[ubertuber57]

Thanks! really glad it helped, as I was nervous it might not make sense.

Again, thanks for watching!