EBMM Stingray 5 HH

[Resonance129]

Now, admittedly, I'm still a little confused about EBMM and SBMM basses and their names...

I've recently been considering purchasing a 5 string bass and love that gritty MM sound. I want the HH setup, so naturally I've been searching for an EBMM 5 HH configuration. But I can't seem to find what I'm looking for anywhere and it made me wonder if what I'm looking for even exists.

When I search "EBMM Stingray 5 HH" I get results that show what I thought was the EBMM Sterling body shape. I don't HATE the Sterlings, but I much prefer the width of Stingray necks, as well as the look (oval PG).

I've seen the bass setup I like in a 4 string config, but can't seem to find em in 5 string...
Does it even exist? Or am I just not looking hard enough/in the right places?

 

[MMiller28]

Uh, yeah, it exists. I have one. Doesn't have an oval pickguard, though.

 

[Goatrope]

Mine - no oval.

 

[rockinbilly]

I was considering the same bass, and was looking at both the bolt on neck and neck thru versions and seem to be readily available at many on line music stores. but as Matt said, they don't have the oval pick guard, but look quite handsome regardless !!!!!

 

[Resonance129]

Mine - no oval. View attachment 1052607

But that's just it: I DO want the Stingray body shape and oval pickguard and I was under the impression that what you posted/have is a EBMM Sterling.
Is what you've posted a EBMM Stingray or EBMM Sterling?

 

[monkeyfinger]

The Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling 5 HH comes with an oval pickguard. But, it has a smaller body and more importantly, ceramic pickups instead of alnico. IOW, it sounds different.

 

[Edmang]

When I search "EBMM Stingray 5 HH" I get results that show what I thought was the EBMM Sterling body shape. I don't HATE the Sterlings, but I much prefer the width of Stingray necks, as well as the look (oval PG).

Difference in neck should not be a concern with the 5 string models. The EBMM Sterlings and Stingrays have different necks in the 4 strings, but they have the same specs for the necks in 5 strings.

 

[Goatrope]

Not a Sterling. My '90s StingRay 4 has an oval pg. the 5s all have the giant pg as shown.

 

[Sid the Kid]

You should look for a 5 string Classic Stingray. It will give you all of that gritty Stingray sound and it looks like a 4 string Ray with an extra string. The 2 band EQ is really huge sounding all around.

 

[mikeswals]

Difference in neck should not be a concern with the 5 string models. The EBMM Sterlings and Stingrays have different necks in the 4 strings, but they have the same specs for the necks in 5 strings.

Nope, the 5 string necks are different too.
The Sterling 5 is slightly thinner front-to -back, and the headstock is smaller and the G tuner is in a different spot.

 

[Resonance129]

So basically, the 5 string HH configuration looks the same as the 4 string Sterling, but has the neck and feel of the classic Stingray?

 

[mikeswals]

No

So basically, the 5 string HH configuration looks the same as the 4 string Sterling, but has the neck and feel of the classic Stingray?

No, it doesnt have a neck like the Classic at all. The Classic has a gloss neck and its bigger.
the USA Sterling 5HH will have the oval pickguard like the 4 string bass, and the neck will have the oil/wax finish.

 

[beaglesandbass]

But that's just it: I DO want the Stingray body shape and oval pickguard and I was under the impression that what you posted/have is a EBMM Sterling.
Is what you've posted a EBMM Stingray or EBMM Sterling?

If you want the oval pickguard on the SR5 then you need to go with the Classic model, but that only comes with 1 pickup.

The only way to get a SR5 with an oval pickguard with two pickups is to take a Classic Stingray 5 and add a pickup.

Classic StingRay 5 | Basses | Ernie Ball Music Man

The body, neck, and pickup are all definitely different from the Sterling.

 

[andruca]

Pre 2008 Stingray 5ers were like a Sterling but in 5 strings (thin neck profile, ceramic pickup, 3 way switch), just a different body and the teardrop pickguard. When they introduced the HS and HH versions they changed the pickups, now everything Stingray (4, 5 and Classic 5) come with alnico pickups, still the Stingray 5 (non Classic) comes with the thin neck profile, 3-way switch and teardrop pickguard. And they created the Sterling 5 (only 5er with ceramic PUs), which also has the thin neck profile. I know as I have 2 pre 2008 Stingray 5s and a Sterling 5 HS. I'm a ceramic guy, love the aggressive tones you can get out of old ceramic Stingray 5s and Sterlings, altho' current production Sterlings (either 4 or 5 string) are just a tad more hi-fi (sorta' thinner) sounding than old ceramic Stingray 5ers, still can be EQed to sound similar. Sterling 5 and Stingray 5 (non Classic) necks the same too.

A side note on HH vs. HS: if you want more of the usual single PU sound I suggest the HS over the HH. The HH has only one sound out of the neck PU soloed (parallel -or series in Sterłings-), while the HS has 2 (single and parallel - or series for Sterlings-). Also the single neck PU sounds way more pleasant as a sorta' P tone than a humbucker (neck PU on HHs can only work as a humbucker when soloed). You get no dummy coil on the HHs, therefore no single coil combinations are possible, that takes away a lot of flexibility IME.

 

[edencab]

for me anyway, I love the oval P/G....add a 5th string and the P/G gets bloated?.....uggh..why EB? why?....IMHO YMMV etc etc

 

[jakka1]

If the current 5 string Stingrays and Sterlings both have the same neck specs, then why do they make a Stingray Slo Special in a 5 string model? I was under the impression that the Slo Special is a Stingray with a Sterling neck. In fact, I own a 5 string HH Slo Special, and I compared the playability with a Stingray 5, and I could tell a difference in neck width (at least I thought I could).

They do not make a SLO special 5 string. Feel free to post a pic of the headstock. If it doesn't say SLO special on the headstock then it is not a SLO Special. Not trying to be a jerk... I just do not think they exist. I own a SLO Special and yes it has the same width neck as a Sterling 4 string.

 

[zacharybass76]

They do not make a SLO special 5 string. Feel free to post a pic of the headstock. If it doesn't say SLO special on the headstock then it is not a SLO Special. Not trying to be a jerk... I just do not think they exist. I own a SLO Special and yes it has the same width neck as a Sterling 4 string.

I erased the post because I realized the error of my ways. My Slo Special is a 4 string, not a 5. I had my 5 string P bass on the brain when I wrote that.

 

[two fingers]

I have always hated that big guard on the 5ers. They make some of the most amazing finishes and then cover up 80% of it with plastic.

 

[johnson79]

I have always hated that big guard on the 5ers. They make some of the most amazing finishes and then cover up 80% of it with plastic.

I also don't care for the bevels on the horns. The Classic 5 looks best IMHO, but they all sound soooooo good!

 

[Dave W]

If you want an oval pickguard on a Stingray 5 it can be had on a Classic series, but you can't get a Classic in HH config (cause' that didn't exist on the models the Classic series in emulating).