Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
How many of you guys find the neck pickup on the HH version a little bit intrusive and uncomfortable when slapping? I've never tested an HH Ray, but I'm reading this thing pretty often. I'm not that much of a slapper but I'm curious.
I've also read that using just the bridge pickup of an HH sounds different from an H Ray.
I've also read that using just the bridge pickup of an HH sounds different from an H Ray.
How many of you guys find the neck pickup on the HH version a little bit intrusive and uncomfortable when slapping? I've never tested an HH Ray, but I'm reading this thing pretty often. I'm not that much of a slapper but I'm curious.
I've also read that using just the bridge pickup of an HH sounds different from an H Ray.
I don't think that HH bridge H sounds different than the H model, I bet the differences are mostly due to different setups people do, and slight differences from one model to another. All of those could probably be mitigated with the EQ, setup, etc.
That said, if you're worried about the HH model having less space for slapping (which it does, but might not be a problem for you), and want the Stingray for the Stingray tone - I'd go for the single H model. Just like P made me love the single pickup setup, so did the Stingray to be honest. When I play my 2 bander, I never need or want a neck pickup there. Change of hand position, slight eq change if wanted, and I get anything I'd need out of it.
I'm gassing for the new Special too, and will grab a single H model when (and if) I end up grabbing one. IMO, single H models look better (it's the classic look c'mon), you get all the room for slapping you'd want, and I've never been too impressed with the neck pickup on the Stingrays, even though the Specials do seem to sound better than the old HH models. And plenty of people love em. I'm a bit more aggressive player than most (so lack of space would be a problem as I don't play gently like a delicate flower), and I don't particularly care for tons of knobs and settings on my basses - I have a pedalboard when I need serious tonal color input.
So, do you want something really tonally flexible, where you can mix pickups and play with the eq finding tons of settings? Go for the HH model.
Are you a set it and forget it guy mostly, and want the characteristic Stingray tone with the ray pup in its "sweet spot", don't need extra tonal variety and want more room for slapping? Get the H.
PS be sure to try the Classic model, perhaps the old school 2 band would be more to your liking, you never know.
The whole idea behind this new possible acquisition is to get something a little bit more modern sounding, more versatile (in terms of EQ of course), but still classic, if you know what I mean. I'm not into super modern "hi-fi" sounding basses with tons of knobs, switches and other super cool (and complicated) stuff. Like I said I'm a simple passive P bass guy looking for something new and the new Ray Special seems the right comprimise between classic and modern.
For this reason I'd prefer an active 3 band EQ, a lighter instrument, a different neck (roasted maple should be fine) which must be comfortable but not too slim, so I thought about the Special.
I'm inclined to get the single H version for a number of reasons you already explained.
For this reason I'd prefer an active 3 band EQ, a lighter instrument, a different neck (roasted maple should be fine) which must be comfortable but not too slim, so I thought about the Special.
I'm inclined to get the single H version for a number of reasons you already explained.
How many of you guys find the neck pickup on the HH version a little bit intrusive and uncomfortable when slapping? I've never tested an HH Ray, but I'm reading this thing pretty often. I'm not that much of a slapper but I'm curious.
I've also read that using just the bridge pickup of an HH sounds different from an H Ray.
I’ve had a pre-Special HH SR5 and didn’t have any trouble with slapping on it when needed. The neck pickup was never in my way nor did I ever find it too cramped.
Bridge pickup sounded like a StingRay should to me, though all of my SR5s sounded a bit different from each other (an ‘88, 30th Anniversary, a Special, and the HH). The main difference on the SR5 was just the ability to set the selector switch to filter or series on the H, whereas the HH was all parallel settings.
How many of you guys find the neck pickup on the HH version a little bit intrusive and uncomfortable when slapping? I've never tested an HH Ray, but I'm reading this thing pretty often. I'm not that much of a slapper but I'm curious.
I've also read that using just the bridge pickup of an HH sounds different from an H Ray.
You get used to it pretty quickly. I slap more with my HH than I ever did with other basses so I guess I got used to it.
The bridge pickup in the HH is EXACTLY the same as the H.
You might want to try both. I’m not one who believes that less is more. I also think you should take any advice with a grain of salt. Especially from anyone giving you advice about an instrument that they don’t own. That’s speculation twice removed
I do own a Stingray, and have owned Stingrays before, but I don't have a Special. I don't see how I was wrong in anything I've written above. There's less space for slapping if you have a neck pickup. That's just logic. Might work for some, might not work for someone else. Did I say anything bad about it? No. So what's your point?
I’m not a slapper, but I think that if the neck pickup is lowered as recommended to a good 1/4” below the strings, it should be sufficiently out of the way.
I briefly previously owned a 4H special before getting the 4HH. I don’t really hear any difference between the H and the HH when using just the bridge pickup.
I briefly previously owned a 4H special before getting the 4HH. I don’t really hear any difference between the H and the HH when using just the bridge pickup.
Your opinions are your opinions just like anyone else. I think I wanted to clarify for anyone asking questions about these basses in this thread dedicated to these basses that you are basing your statements from a position of not owning one so that they can take that into account when weighing those statements.
Everything's an opinion. Where did I state anything other than an opinion? Did I lean him towards a specific model? No, I simply said that HH are more versatile (which they are), and that H gives him more space between pickup and neck if he needs it (which it does) and that he needs to make his pick according to his needs. Again, tell me one thing that I said in my post that isn't logical or doesn't make sense. You're acting as if I can't give advice on Stingrays to people who might not have used one before, based on the fact that I don't have the newest model of a Stingray. I know all the differences, they're still Stingrays. I was the FIRST here on TB, and probably the ONLY one who mentioned that Specials (both H and HH models) don't have staggered pickup pole pieces. Before they were even released! No one even mentions this, ever! I'm OCD about every little detail, and I know what I'm talking about, thank you.
Last edited:
I own an HH Special and find the plucking space very tight. The pickup height has nothing to do with it unless one winds it down to pickguard height. I blame the extra fret. I really wish Ebmm hadn't done that. How many of us need an extra fret, but the extra space would be much appreciated.
I too don't find much use for the extra fret. I guess they wanted to take full advantage of the new Sterling-like contour on the back which allows better access to the higher frets.
Well, it is the EBMM Stingray “Special” Club.
Yeah I just invoked the block feature. Life is too short for all that nonsense.
Oh my bad, I didn't know these Specials are not to be discussed unless you own them? What? Did I say anything about the way they sounded or how they played? I simply gave advice to try and pick whichever fits him better. What's with all this hostility?
