Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $369
Budget/Beginner
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Sterling by Music Man S.U.B.". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Looking to elevate your bass playing? The Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. is your ticket to a dynamic sound that resonates with both aesthetic allure and tonal excellence. This electric bass guitar melds the iconic design of the StingRay series with modern enhancements, making it perfect for bassists who crave both style and substance. With its lightweight ash body, this bass offers a comfortable playing experience, whether you’re grooving in the studio or performing on stage.
The active preamp powered by a 9V battery delivers a versatile tonal palette, allowing you to shape your sound with precision. From deep, resonant lows to crisp, cutting highs, this bass ensures your sound stands out in the mix. The ceramic humbucker pickup captures warm, musical tones and rich harmonics, sensitive to the nuances of your technique while minimizing unwanted noise.
A fast maple fingerboard with medium-jumbo frets invites fluidity, while the fully adjustable bridge ensures precise intonation and string height adjustments for optimal playability. Chrome hardware and classic open-gear tuners not only add to its vintage charm but also offer reliable tuning stability. The Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. is more than just an instrument; it's a statement in sound and style, crafted for the forward-thinking bassist who wants to push musical boundaries.
Key Features:
- Lightweight ash body for comfortable playability
- Active preamp (9V) for versatile sound shaping
- Ceramic humbucker pickup for warm tones and reduced noise
- Fast maple fingerboard with medium-jumbo frets
- Fully adjustable bridge for precise intonation
- Chrome hardware and open-gear tuners for classic aesthetics and tuning stability
Product specs
| Brand | Sterling |
| Model | StingRay Ray4 |
| Year | 2018 - 2025 |
| Made In | Indonesia |
| Categories | 4-String Basses, Active Bass Guitars |
| Active / Passive Pickups | Active Pickups |
| Active Preamp | Active Preamp |
| Body Material | Basswood |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Color Family | Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Pink, Red, White |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss, Satin |
| Fretboard Material | Jatoba, Maple |
| Fretboard Radius | 9.5" |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 21 |
| Number of Strings | 4-String |
| Nut Width | 1.5" |
| Pickup Configuration | H |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 34" |
| Wood Top Style | Opaque, Plain |
FAQs
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What kind of music genres is the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4 suitable for?
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The Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4 is versatile and well-suited for a range of genres, including rock, funk, and pop, thanks to its active preamp and humbucking pickup that deliver powerful and articulate bass tones.
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Does the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4 have active or passive pickups?
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The Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4 features active pickups, providing enhanced tonal control and output suitable for live performances and recording.
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What is the neck profile like on the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4?
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The Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4 has a comfortable maple neck with a 9.5" radius, offering smooth playability and easy access across all 21 frets.
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Is the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4 suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4 is suitable for beginners due to its user-friendly design, comfortable neck profile, and versatile sound, making it a great choice for those starting their bass journey.
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What is the body material of the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4?
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The body of the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. StingRay Ray4 is made from basswood, which contributes to its lightweight feel and balanced tonal characteristics.
Videos
PMTVUK
Sterling By Musicman SUB Ray4 Bass in Mint GreenB | PMTVUK
Sterling By Musicman SUB Ray4 Bass in Mint GreenB | PMTVUK
PMTVUK
Product Spotlight - Sterling By MusicMan S.U.B. Ray4 Electric Bass
Guitar Center
Sterling by Music Man Sub Ray4 Bass Guitar Demo & Review
PMTVUK
Sterling by Musicman Sub Ray 4 | All You Need to Know! | Review and Demo
Tyler Spicer
Sterling by Music Man Ray4 SUB - Stingray SUBstance at a Serious Discount! - LowEndLobster Review
LowEndLobster
Sterling by Musicman | Ray 4 SUB Bass Review
Travis Dykes
The Most Affordable Musicman Stingray Bass - Sterling By Musicman Ray4 SUB Bass Review
Marcelo Feldman - The Bass Wizard
![Video thumbnail for Is the CHEAPEST Stingray the BEST? | Sterling Sub Series Ray 4 [Review/Demo] by Jonny Dibble](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qXpH7zrH7Tw/mqdefault.jpg)
Is the CHEAPEST Stingray the BEST? | Sterling Sub Series Ray 4 [Review/Demo]
Jonny Dibble
Why bother buying USA? | Musicman Stingray VS Sterling Sub Series Ray4
Jonny Dibble
Sterling by Music Man SUB StingRay 4 - Sound Demo (no talking)
Bass Bonedo
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Sterling by Music Man S.U.B..
Features and functionality
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The preamp is noted for its bright tone, with some users finding the treble control insufficient in range for cutting or boosting.
Source -
The Sterling SUB bass lacks an active/passive switch, contributing to its higher output compared to other basses with active EQs.
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Sterling SUB basses produce a much hotter signal than passive basses, requiring use of an amp's active or -15dB input to manage volume.
Source
Mods and upgrades
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Owners recommend using flatwound strings and lowering the pickup to mitigate the overly hot and harsh stock sound with roundwounds.
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A fix from Talkbass can tame the high output of early Sterling SUB models, although it may slightly affect the low-end tone.
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Rewiring the volume control to function after the preamp instead of before can help manage the overly 'hot' output.
Source
Comparisons
User experience
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Some users prefer the aggressive and distinctive sound of the SUB 5, comparing it favorably to higher-end models like the SBMM RAY34CA.
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Owners report that the SUB's volume is either inaudible or overwhelmingly loud, necessitating careful adjustment or hardware modification for balanced sound levels.
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Players transitioning from budget models, like old Yamahas, find the SUB ideal for gigging, highlighting its reliability and sound quality.
Source
Setup and maintenance
Build quality
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Newer models "Made in China" are recommended for better preamp performance over older Indonesian versions prone to overly hot output.
Source
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 16 Reviews and 54 Ratings
162
Great beginner bass
Great if you don't want to fork out a fortune just starting off! Has similar characteristics to the classic Stingray!
11959
Great entry level bass guitar
For the price you cannot complain. Although the electronics are a bit meh, the bass plays great and stays in tune well. Great for someone who’s starting to get into playing bass
102
A working mans bass that don’t sound like one.
I have a left handed 4 string version of this bass. Anyone who’s left handed will tell you, you’ve got 2 options. You can spend a couple hundred and get what you pay for like a Dean E09 or dean Edge or even worse like a rouge or something. Or you’re stuck buying something for the name (fender, Ibanez, Spector, modulus ($2000-$5000 for a good Spector or modulous) then you have to spend another small fortune to power the damn thing. Ampeg is just a name, Hell its not even American made anymore. The older SVT-pro (mid 90’s-mid 00’s) Hartke makes good older cabs (think XL serie) the older ones were American made and had aluminum cones. (See the first 4 megadeth albums)
64
Its a good Starter bass
I used this kind of bass for a while and my only complaint ever is the quality, but then again its a low end bass.
Great step up from "pack" basses
This bass kicks ass. Plain and simple. The pickup roars when the volume is cranked. The third knob, closest to the input jack, it a bass eq knob. It has a center notch, which is helpful considering the knobs aren't labeled. I like the 21 fret design and the maple neck is very smooth. The fret work on mine gets a little untidy towards the upper frets, but I don't venture there often so it's not the end of the world. This bass can play every genre imaginable, which adds to the value. Also, it just looks cool. Everyone who has seen me playing this bass (in mint green) has stopped to tell me how much they love the color. It'll catch both the eyes and ears of audience members.
397
1822
Ernie Ball Musicman Sterling Sub Ray 4
I've played several music man sting rays/ sterlings and such and have to say that this bass is the closest you'll probably get without dropping $1k plus! By all means if you have the cash get the stingray or sterling. But this bass won't leave you disappointed. Its has the same feel and weight and balance, and that huge, wonderful, active pickup. It sounds darn good too! Its a very playable bass. The only difference is you don't have a control knob for the mid range. But with good EQ levels ( on the guitar and amp) this thing will rock your face off! I love it. I think they go for around $400 usd. Great bass!
Good Bass for around 370€
Yes, I have one ! no regrets for under 370€ you have a really good bass ! it's my practical bass, I practice in my coworking ! and you know what ? the sound is good, the booster ( Bass and Treeble ) work really ! you need to remove the string before :) you seek a good bass under 400 dollars you have one !
43
Does The Job Nicely
Needed an active bass without dropping $1K. Found this guy online with decent reviews. After some minor adjustments (adjusted truss, new flats), this thing is a beast. Holds tune very well and resonates like crazy. I use this bass for drop D tuning and it withstands everything I throw at it. For $300, you get the MM Stingray's little brother.
Artist usage
Add artist
In this photo, we can see Mike playing Sterling by Music Man SUB bass.
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In this instagram picture, we can see a Ernie Ball Music Man Sub Sterling Ray 4 between Jared's guitars and basses
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In an Instagram post, David Ellefson shares his experience with the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. bass, noting its unique tone and playability.
Bass guitar can be seen at 8:35. He also described this as a "great sounding bass". He also put the Lace pickup in it.
Used during a studio session while recording New Wave. While the headstock appears to be blank, probably from a neck replacement, we can assume the model from the year (2013) and the control setup (three knobs, front facing output jack).
In early photos and videos of the band, we can see Ned using a white Musicman SUB before purchasing and switching over to his Fender Precision Bass.
During the 2012 Soundwave Festival performance of "Antichrist Superstar," Fred Sablan played a Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. bass guitar. Although he taped over the logo, the distinctive design of the Stingray model is recognizable in the video.
In this video we can see Ahren playing a Musicman Sterling Sub Series
The image shows Max Green playing a Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. electric bass in a sunburst finish.
Rare photo of Chuck Garric with red Ernie Ball Music Man
Album Usage
The Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Sterling by Music Man S.U.B., it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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