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EBMM StingRay Special Club
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
I hear you, it seems fairly drastic on the surface for EBMM fans.
It's all extremely reversible - I'm very comfy with a soldering iron and I'm definitely not letting a 9 lb Stingray 5 go anywhere! I bought the HH over the H knowing I'd likely do this - felt that for the extra couple of hundred and a new pickguard I could have the option of using the either the HH config whenever I felt the itch.
I guess I don't understand what you mean by "I like the restriction". Wouldn't it be easier just to not use the switch?Could any of you kind souls with a Special 5H take a photo of the wiring/switch on the inside?
Looking to change my 5HH to an H because I like the restriction
With roasted necks with ebony and a dryer wood it seems the buzz is hard to dial out especially in more humid climates.
I've been shopping around for a Special, and finally got to try a couple the other day. A couple of observations:
- I first tried a Jet Black 4 H. Wow! That thing was light as a feather, the neck felt perfect, and it was so fun to play. I almost forgot that I was trying out a guitar in a shop, and just got lost in playing. Fretting was good up and down the neck, and the EQ is killer.
- I then tried a Dropped Copper 4 HH. That one was nice too, and I like the color a lot, but I was less crazy about the neck. I know the Jet Black has an ebony fretboard and the Dropped Copper has roasted maple, but the finish on the back of the necks felt different too. The Dropped Copper felt a bit rougher, for lack of a better word. It wasn't as smooth or pleasant to play. I would have liked this bass just fine if I picked it up first, but this particular one was noticeably different than the Jet Black that I tried.
- The clerk said that the necks felt different because they were finished differently by EBMM. Is that actually true? They sure felt different, but everything on EBMM's website makes it sound like they all have the same necks/finishes, just with different fretboards.
- I've been assuming this whole time that I'll get the HH. More pickups = more options/variety, right? But when I picked up the HH, my first thought was "I wish that pickup selector switch wasn't there". Then I started playing. I don't slap a whole lot, but the H definitely felt cleaner and easier to access when I did. This will be my first Stingray and my nicest bass, so I'd love some input. Do you folks with an H find yourself wanting a second pickup? I'm finding myself leaning towards H now instead of HH, but don't want to regret it later when you can have both for an extra $100.
Sounds like the Jet Black 4H was perfect for you in every aspect - feel, weight, sound. Go for it.
The guy at the shop was wrong. They're finished the same in the fact that neither of them are finished. Get the one you like but maybe try a different HH. Mine is smooth as a baby's bottom and it's a Dropped Copper HH
I have a roasted maple fretboard/ neck and I can't imagine it being any smoother.... so what you said is interesting. I would chalk it up to a degree of variability in the basses.
As far as H vs HH, I went with the HH (I like tweaking), but if you are leaning towards H and you want something more like a traditional SR... you should follow your heart on that one, IMO.
You really can't go wrong either way!
That is awesome.
Where did you get that pickguard and can you state what one to request.
Thanks Glen
As already stated, the clerk is wrong. There are EBMM basses that have different finishes (Classics, Bongos, neck throughs, older basses, etc.), but the Specials are going to be the same.
I have not played a Special HH, but I had a 5HH before the Specials came out. Great bass that got a lot of usable tones; with a flick of the switch you could go from MM sound to P or J territory (not the same, but close), or that thick, fat sound you get with both pickups on. My thing is if I wanted a P or J, that's what I'd be playing; I like my StingRay 5 because it sounds like a StingRay 5. So, I found myself never using anything but the bridge humbucker on the 5HH. When the Specials came out, I knew my choice would be 5H. Some players need the additional sound palette that the HH provides. For me, I haven't needed anything other than adjusting the EQ or my plucking position on the 5H Special if I want a rounder or more aggressive tone than what I normally dial in (though I'm not a knob turner and rarely adjust anything on the bass). Of course, on the four string Special H you don't get the 3 position switch that the 5H has, but I don't really even use that either. I prefer the parallel setting, which is the same as 4H and the first setting on the 4HH and 5HH.
It just depends on you and what your needs and goals are for tone. Hard to go wrong with either, but I understand not wanting have remorse about going with one over the other.
Thanks folks, these are all really helpful comments. I figured that the differences I noticed were just about individual variation from one bass to the next, which sounds like it's the case.
I may be back for that Jet Black 4H soon, I think it's just what I'm looking for. Will keep this thread posted if that happens...
@Stranger Danger
Hate to be a copycat but those guards are rad and go well with the copper sparkle. (Didn't realize the copper was sparkly till after receiving)
What color/material is that?
I too am a copycat. That is black copper sparkle. The only place I know that has it is Quickguards.
Not quite true, they have a thin coat of Tru Oil (which is a varnish) and a coat of Gunstock Wax. EBMM have been doing it this way for a long time now, and although they don't use the Gunstock Tru Oil in a typical way it was intended, which is coat or 2 a day, let it dry, do this several times - they pretty much just use the "put on oil, wipe off, put on wax, wipe off" - it's still some sort of protection, small as it is. That's probably why they call their necks "raw" and why they feel the way they do. Which is also the reason the maple easily gets dirty looking (probably won't affect the visual of roasted maple as much). Yes, the necks are almost unfinished.
It's also extremely easy to "up the protection" for anyone who wants to. Just get Birchwood Casey Tru Oil and Gunstock Wax (which is what they use) and add as many coats of true oil as you prefer. I added 10 coats on mine (2 coats per day max, I'd even go for 1 coat per day next time) - the neck will never get dirty now, but I still have that smooth and fast neck feel. Especially after I buffed it with 2 coats of Gunstock Wax. Now I'll just periodically add some wax after cleaning the neck and I'm good for life.
Remember folks, Tru Oil is a varnish, it's not mineral oil or wood conditioner. It will harden and it's an acceptable form of hard finish. It gives a nice light amber tint to the wood too, so that's awesome as well.
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I made a very conscious decision to buy a 4H instead of a 4HH. I was not looking for versatility, I was looking for a good Stingray tone. The 4H does exactly that, and that on board preamp allows more than enough tonal variation on that. Sure, the HH can do more different sounds, but I don't want/need them.
The implication that I still take issue with is that the 4H has some sound in it that isn't in the 4HH. That just isn't the case. Otherwise, whatever floats your boat.
I'm a little confused as to which part of my post seemed to imply that to you.
In any case, just to be clear, I would be very surprised if the H had a sound that you couldn't find in the HH.
