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Father Gino (middle) playing his '96 fretless Sterling with
The Bluestalkers at Black Eyed Sallys in Hartford,
CT, USA, August, 2004. |
What year is your Sterling? 1996
Fingerboard? pau ferro,
unlined
Your main gigging amp? Alembic
F1X/Stewart World 1.2/two Aguilar 1x12
Your country? USA
Name of your (main) band? BLuestalkers
Other or previous basses? MM
Sabre, MM SR5, Hagstrom Big Swede (all fretless); Sekova/Guyatone EUB
Your favourite bass strings? TI
flats, jazz rounds & Super Alloys
Why do you like your Sterling? Wonderful
neck! For me it's a great fretless bass. It's a good compromise between
the classic Jacoish fretless sound and a regular beefy bass. It's a
great bass in a live situation. It sounds good in the crappiest of rooms
and always cuts through the mix. |
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What year is your
Sterling? I
have several, including the prototype from around 1995.
Fingerboard? Rosewood
Your main gigging amp? Ampeg
SVT 4 Pro
Your country? USA
Name of your (main) band? The
Dregs and the Steve Morse Band
Other or previous basses? Ernie
Ball MM Bongo, Fender Precision and Jazz, Guild Pilot, Pedulla fretless,
Spector basses
Your favourite bass strings? Ernie
Ball, of course!
Fingers, plectrum or both? Fingers.
What was the name of your very first group/band?
Did you start playing guitar or
bass first? Bass
Do you play, like or dislike 5,
6, 7 and 8-string basses? I
play 5, both with a high C or a low B.
Did you ever have a famous
person in your audience? Too
many to tell.
What track on what album should
we listen to in order to hear you and your bass-style best?
Hard to say - maybe Collateral Damage from 'Coast To Coast'.
Why do you like your Sterling? Versatility,
sound and feel.
thanks to Dave La Rue for contributing
to The Sterling Collection |
Dave LaRue playing his flame-maple top Sterling with L.A.X. in
Gainsville, Florida, USA in 2003 |
Arin Sarkissian of Victim Nation
What year is your
Sterling? 2002
Fingerboard? Maple
Body Colour? Blue
Dawn/Black PG – non match headstock
Your main gigging amp? Ampeg
SVT Classic w/ Aguilar (GS410) 4x10
Your country? USA
Name of your (main) band? Victim
Nation
Other
or previous basses?
a: Sterling 2005 LE: Buttercream color, tort pickguard, rosewood board,
matching headstock
b: EB Stingray 4: Natural finish, Rosewood board, white PG, non-matching
headstock |
c: Frankenstein bass: my first bass ever with everything modified except
the body
d: Fender USA Jazz bass: 2003, trans orange
e: ON ORDER: Sterling, Medallion Gold, maple board, white pearloid
pickguard, 2 pickups HS (first 2 pickup sterling ever ordered – ships in
January)
f: SOLD: Fender P Bass, all black, rosewood
Your favourite bass strings? I’m
currently playing DR Hi-Beams. I've been using then for 4 years. BUT my
new Sterling came with EB Slinkys which im loving ... But I like the
sound of stainless steel strings. So with that in mind, I got a few sets
of EB Stainless Steel Slinkys. If I love these than I'm switching if not
I might actually go to EB Slinkys.
Fingers, plectrum or both? At
gigs or rehearsal I use a pick 80% of the time. Sometimes my picking
hand cramps so I'll use my fingers to allow time for the cramp to go
away.
If plectrum, which one? Dunlop
Tortex 0.60 mm (orange ones)
What was the name of your very
first band? Resident
13
Did you start playing guitar or
bass first? Bass
Do you play 5, 6, 7 or 8-string
basses? Nope,
not at all. 4 does the job!
What track on what album should
we listen to in order to hear you and your bass-style best? Attention,
Black Pearls or Let the Fools Die from my last bands weekend demo. Mp3's
available at: http://www.phatduckk.com/music/demo/
Why do you like your Sterling? They're
the best bass ever made! They feel “right” to me. The body size, string
spacing and neck are, to me, a perfect combination for the best feeling
bass. And obviously they sound awesome. The active pickups are awesome,
the preamp is very versatile and puts out amazing tones and the pickup
switch is great (the switch is my favorite thing ever).
thanks to Arin
Sarkissian for being part of The Sterling Collection |
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What year is your Sterling? 1995
Fingerboard? Rosewood
but I like maple more
Your main gigging amp? Ernie
Ball MusicMan Audiophile HD-500 & Ampeg B4. Cabs ~ Ampeg SVT50 PRO
ISOVENT & Ampeg SVT410HE
Your country? Belgium
Name of your (main) band? Bourbon
Break
Other or previous basses? Ernie
Ball MusicMan Stingray 4, Steinberger XL2F, Cort Curbow, Challenge VP
bass (first bass), fretless, Status Series II headless fretless 1990,
Warwick thumb fretless necktrough lefty, Musicvox Spaceranger, EKO
fiddle bass, Hohner BA2, Ernie Ball MusicMan Sterling ‘2000, Ernie Ball
MusicMan Sabre ’89, Mexican Guitarron no name upright bass
Your favourite bass strings? Ernie
Ball Extra Slinky, EBS
Fingers or plectrum? Fingers
!! always and everywhere !! (thumb is my favourite)
What was the name of your very first
group/band? No
Cover Charge (I’m still in it but not my “main” band ;-) )
Did you start playing guitar or bass first? Bass
always and everywhere (I also play guitar but don’t enjoy it as much as
bass)
Do you play, like or dislike 5, 6, 7 and 8-string basses? I
mostly play 4 String and borrowed a 5 string Yamaha from a friend to
fool around with but 4-string is my main thing. I don't dislike any
bass!
Did you ever have a famous person in your
audience? We
(Bourbon Break) rehearsed with the drummer of “Skitsoy” Jef Aerden known
from Franky DSVD from Channel Zero. Belgium heavy metal scene (Don’t
know if you know 'em ?? ;-) )
Why do you like your Sterling? Jazz
bass neck fee |
Andy Permentier from Belgium playing
his all-black Sterling bass. |
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Jazmyn Cudney from Canada with her honeyburst Sterling and a cool Beatles
t-shirt!
What year is your
Sterling? Not
even sure
Fingerboard? Rosewood
(thats the only way I like it)
Your main gigging amp? Gallien
Krueger 2x10 paired with a Warwick 15" cabinet
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Your country? Canada
Name of your (main) band? Hip
Voodoo
Other or previous basses? Currently
I own a White Fender Precision. Previously I have had a Fender P-Bass
Special, Fender Mustang 3/4 scale, and a Fender Jazz.
Your favourite bass strings? Roto
Sound
Fingers, plectrum or both? Fingers
only. I learned that way and I'll probably always play that way because
it's easier for me.
What was the name of your very
first band? Grumpy
Old Man (because I played in a band with my dad and brother when I was
15 years old!)
Did you start playing guitar or
bass first? Bass
in Jazz Band in school
Do you play, like or dislike 5,
6, 7 and 8-string basses? I
have actually never tried anything other then a 4-string bass.
Did you ever have a famous
person in your audience? We
opened for Sass Jordan one time (Canadian Idol judge) and she sat
through our show.
What track on what album
epitomises your style? Band
is Rage Against The Machine and the track is 'Take The Power Back'. That
was and always will be my favorite bass song ever and I learned to play
bass to that song. I learned it 7 years ago and play it everyday still.
That is my sound check song for every gig.
Why do you like your Sterling? I
love it because of it's small body and its got such a sexy look to it.
Also, I've never found a sound like in any other bass. It matches my
gear perfectly in sound.
thanks to Jasmyn
Cudney for contributing to The Sterling Collection
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What year is your Sterling? I'm
not sure but I got it around 1998
Fingerboard? Maple :)
Your main gigging amp? Ampeg SVT
Your country? USA
Name of your (main) band? Two main ones Crud and 60 Second Crush
Other or previous basses? Musicman SUB is my other bass
Your favourite bass strings? Ernie Ball Hybrids
Fingers or plectrum? I let my fingers do the walking :) Seriously I like
the tactile feeling/connection with my bass by playing with my fingers.
What was the name of your very first group/band? The infamous all girl
garage rock band - Vertical Pillows - I was a teenager in Detroit and
the Mc5's Rob Tyner took us under his wing shortly before he died.
Did you start playing guitar or bass first? Bass...my older brother had
an electric guitar..and I wanted to be cool like him...but different..so
I picked the bass.
Do you play, like or dislike 5, 6, 7 and 8-string basses? I don't
dislike them but I don't own one either. I actually custom string my
Sterling with a low D flat on the bottom...I am exploring custom
stringing more and more...
Did you ever have a famous person in your audience? I've
met tons of famous people...the best story being Nikki Sixx from Motley
Crue. My band 60 Second Crush played in front of him at our showcase at
Southby Southwest, he told me I scared him..in the good way of course! |
What track on what album should we listen to in order to hear you and
your bass-style best?
I'm not sure if I really "shine" lol on one particular track..but
possibly "Why Ask Why" or "Destructive" on 60 Second Crush's CD
"Scratch" (Aural Pleasure Records).
Why do you like your Sterling? Balls-out
sound, light weight, amazing feel...I'm in LOVE with my axe!
thanks to Dana for being part of The Sterling Collection |
Ruly Kuan of Ongo |
What year is your Sterling? 2000
Fingerboard? Rosewood
Your main gigging amp? Ampeg
SVT Classic with SWR Goliath SR (6 X 10) cab.
Your country? San
Juan, Puerto Rico
Name of your (main) band? ONGO
Other or previous basses? Warwick
Dolphin Pro I, Fabregues Custom bass, Tobias Basic.
Your favourite bass strings? DR
Low Riders
Fingers, plectrum or both? Fingers!
What was the name of your very first
group/band? Oblivion
Did you start playing guitar or bass first? Guitar
Do you play, like or dislike 5, 6, 7 and
8-string basses? I
used have a 5-string but I believe that 4 strings are enough.
What track on what album should we listen
to in order to hear you and your bass-style best? From
Ongo's Negra the title track "Negra" and from Ongo's "Aqui No Pasa
Nada", the track" El Dia del Desertor"
Why do you like your Sterling? Durability,
Reliability and Extremely Punchy sound!!! |
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What year is your Sterling? 1998
Body colour: Blue
Pearl
Fingerboard? Maple
Your main gigging amp? Very
old Peavey combo
Your country? USA
Name of your (main) band? Two
main bands at the moment: The Nerve!, Bumblefoot
Other or previous basses? MM
Bongo
Why do you like your Sterling? Cuts
through the mix like no other bass - till I got my Bongo at least. :) |
Joe of The Nerve playing his Blue Pearl maple-neck Sterling bass.
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Jeremy Cohen
What year is your
Sterling? 1995
Body colour? Tobacco
Sunburst
Fingerboard? Pau
Ferro
Your main gigging amp? SWR
SM-400, AccuGroove speaker cabinets
Your country? USA
Name of your (main) band? City
Lights, Adama, and many others -I am a freelance player
Other or previous basses? 1971
Fender Jazz, Mike Lull M4V, PRS 5 string, Carvin 6 string, Ashbory bass,
Fernandes P bass, various other things. In the past there have been
other Fenders.
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Your favourite bass strings? DR
Highbeams
Fingers or plectrum? fingers
90%; thumb 9.9%; plectrum 0.1%
If plectrum, which one? Jim
Dunlop Tortex or Gator 0.88
What was the name of your very
first group/band? The
Diamonds (1964)
Did you start playing guitar or
bass first? Bass
before guitar; clarinet and sax before bass.
Do you play, like or dislike 5,
6, 7 and 8-string basses? I
own 5 and 6 string basses. I like all basses.
Did you ever have a famous
person in your audience? I
was playing in a club in West Hollywood in the early 70's - John Lennon
walked in accompanied by Mae Pang. I almost passed out. The singer in
the band announced, "We have a famous guest sitting in the back...John
Lennon. I'd like to dedicate this next song to him" Then he sang
"Yesterday" a McCartney song! The crowd all was heading toward the back
of the room. Lennon and friends left after the one song. In
the late mid-seventies I was in the house band at a Sheraton Hotel which
was very close to a major concert ampitheater. Most of the groups that
played there stayed at the Sheraton. These people all came into the
lounge at various times over the year: Jan Hammer and Jeff Beck, War,
Lynnrd Skynnrd, Andy Williams. Various famous people have sat in with
bands I have been in over the years including Steve Miller and Michael
Shrieve (Santana drummer)
What track on what album should
we listen to in order to hear you and your bass-style best? You
might as well start with the first track on my CD, "Late Night TV"
(http://www.cdbaby.com/jazzexpress). I play in a lot of styles so any
one track is only a small sample.
Why do you like your Sterling? Great
feel--neck feels like a great Jazz bass (which is what I'm used to).
Variety of sounds possible. (way more than a Fender). I picked my
Sterling after hearing Pino Palladino on his StingRay, Jaco Pastorius on
his Jazz bass and Dave LaRue on a Sterling and trying out many, many
fretless basses. I thought that the Sterling was best of all possible
choices and would be able to get the sounds I heard from all three
players and more. And I was right.
thanks to Jeremy for
being part of The Sterling Collection |
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Andrew Sussman
What year is your
Sterling? I'm
pretty sure it's from the mid 90's.
Body colour? Red
sunburst
Fingerboard? Maple
Your main gigging amp? GK
head, Hartke Cabinet
Your country? USA
Name of your (main) band? Frogg
Cafe
Other or previous basses? Fender
P-bass
Your favourite bass strings? D'Addario
45s
Fingers or plectrum? mostly
fingers.
If plectrum, which one? For
the 1/100 tunes I use it on, preferably a hard fender pick.
What was the name of your very
first group/band? Revelation,
we used to cover Rush, Yes, Boston and Van Halen...I was 14 yrs old.
Did you start playing guitar or
bass first? Neither.
Piano at 4, cello at 7, acoustic guitar at 14, bass at 15. I'm a
professional cellist and orchestra teacher now.
Do you play, like or dislike 5,
6, 7 and 8-string basses? I
was thinking about buying a music man 5-string, actually...need to raise
some dough!
Did you ever have a famous
person in your audience?
We've had Ed Mann, who played percussion for Frank Zappa sit in with us
during our Germany tour and he also played on a track on our last CD.
Not exactly famous, but cool.
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What track on what album should
we listen to in order to hear you and your bass-style best? 'Abyss
of Dissension' on the Frogg Cafe CD "Fortunate Observer of Time"
Why do you like your Sterling? It
plays like butter and has the 70's prog sound I'm looking for.
thanks to Andrew
Sussman for contributing to The Sterling Collection |
Susan Carson
What year is your Sterling? I
purchased it new in mid to late 90s.
Body colour? sunburst
Fingerboard? rosewood
Your main gigging amp? david
eden 4x10 xlt cabinet. galien krugeur head 250 watts . lately ive been
looking at the Ampeg Rocket Combo amp 100watts. The Sterling sounds so
sweet through it.
Your country? USA
Name of your (main) band? Bandmates
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Other or previous basses? Fender
Telecaster 1972, Washburn acoustic (10 years old), Godin fretless
acousticaster, Reisling upright bass, 5 string Skold (hardly ever play
it)
Your favourite bass strings? GHS
Bass Boomers (med.lite) used them for 20 years and love the sound!
Fingers, plectrum or both? always
fingers.
What was the name of your very
first group/band? Bratz
(Dallas based)
Did you start playing guitar or
bass first? violin,
viola, guitar, then bass.
Do you play, like or dislike 5,
6, 7 and 8-string basses? I
own a 5 String Skjold but hardly ever play it. I just don't like more
than 4 strings. I like being able to play cords of the E. I always go
back to my 4 string Ernie Ball Sterling. It is my #1 bass.
Did you ever have a famous
person in your audience? Do
tell! I played the Roxy in LA and supposidly there was a well know
Atlantic records producer there but nothing transpired. My Bandmate
Kimberly Cody is almost famous!
What
track on what album should we listen to in order to hear you and your
bass-style best? "Drink
My Wine" Bandmates found on www.myspace.com/bandmates
Why do you like your Sterling? I
love the tone! I went to every music store in Dallas and tried all the
basses and when I played the Ernie Ball Sterling, I knew it was the one.
It reminded me of a Fender Precision , but offered even a fuller
sound,with such great punch and clarity even more so than the more
expensive basses! The neck is wonderful and the action is so smooth.
thanks to Susan
Carson for being part of The Sterling Collection
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What year is your Sterling? Don't
know....I've had it for about 3 years
Body colour? Black
Fingerboard ~ Maple or
Rosewood? Don't
know....it's light wood colour....sorry, I just play the thing I don't
disect it. (It's
maple Chris!....ed.)
Your main gigging amp? At
the moment a Warwick
Your country? United
Kingdom
Name of your (main) band? Sack
Trick and I
Play Rock ...but
that photo of me was taken playing for the Bruce Dickinson band at
Grasspop Festival in Belgium.
Other or previous basses? Warwick
Thumb Bass. I used to be exclusively a Warwick man. I had two Warwick
thumb basses, then I met a guy who had two Sterlings. We swapped a bass
each and I haven't looked back since!
Your favourite bass strings? Bass
Centre Elites
Fingers, plectrum or both? Fingers
for me please! If it has to be a pick, I seem to have a collection of
famous rock picks around my house. Sometimes I'll use a Kiss plectrum,
sometimes a WASP one, depends on the feel.
What was the name of
your very first band? We
were a Welsh punk band called Methiant Llwyr, which in case you don't
speak Welsh means Total Failure. We lived up to the name and split up
after one gig.
Did you start playing
guitar or bass first? I
tried guitar for a bit, but it was too fiddly.
Do you play, like or dislike 5, 6, 7 and 8-string basses? I'll
stick to my four strings, thanks. I know where I'm at then. I can always
de-tune a string or two to "go low".
Did you ever have a
famous person in your audience? The
guys from Sepultura came to see me play in a rather lame funky band. I
spent the rest of the evening apologising to them saying I did love
heavy metal really. |
Chris Dale
What track on what album
should we listen to in order to hear you and your bass-style best? I
wrote a track called "I Play Bass" for my band Sack Trick. Someone once
kindly said it should be a world-wide anthem for bassists. There's an
MP3 of it at my website www.sacktrick.com/chrispaulodale
Why do you like your
Sterling? It's
got a big full meaty sound...and this may sound odd but something about
the Sterling just makes me play better...
thanks to Chris Dale for
contributing to The Sterling Collection |
Steve Andino (Tourniquet) |
Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray) |
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Bob La Marca of 20 Minutes To Monahan with his cool blue maple-neck
Sterling. |
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Stephanie Ashworth, bassist with Australian band
Something For Kate
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Rob Lopez |
Caroline Cameron |
Zach Simpson |
Molly Pauken (The Sirens) |
Tim Foreman (Switchfoot). Is he tiny or is this a giant Sterling?!
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