How the StingRay HH should have been

[mikeswals]

Anyone agree that the HH version of the StingRay would have been better if the neck pickup was moved closer towards the bridge?

This would instantly solve two of the main issues people have with the HH:
- pickup getting in the way of slapping/popping (especially now with the special having 22 frets)
- neck pickup sounding muddy

I'd said that many times since they came out. its too far forward, it sounds muddy alone, and it sounds too scooped in all coils mode.
BTW the Sabre existed, and the pickup placement and especially the coil selection, made far more sense than any of the HH Rays.

The only 2 pickup Rays I liked were the HS.

 

[BrotherRay]

I actually agree with you 100%. I think it would he more useful that way. If they made a five with that configuration I would be all over it.

I have seriously considered the ultimate sin... getting a Ray 5 and installing a P pickup literally touching the Ray pickup. That would he a tone monster in my view.

I have a Hammersmith like this.
View attachment 4324504
I'm lucky in that my Mesa TT800 has two channels. I can get pretty extreme with tue EQ on the Subway channel and solo tue bridge pickup and it gets me in Ray territory. But a real Ray with a sweet spot pickup and a P right up against it would be fantastic in my view.

Nordstrand was making one, till he quit making basses

Called it the Dan Lutz.


MTD makes one with 2 MMs right up against each other, but the bridge pickup is closer to the bridge than the "sweet spot", and I couldn't get with their necks.

 

[murph7489]

I like the J / HB pickup config, especially if you can split the HB...many variations of tones from that config...but what do I know...

 

[anonymouse69]

Out of curiosity, decided to compare StingRay HH vs. Corvette $$ vs. MTD Kingston Super

 

[anonymouse69]

Last one I promise. StingRay HH vs. Corvette $$, if the StingRay's neck pickup was moved

 

[relayer66]

My HH is one of the most versatile sounding basses I have. I wouldn’t change a thing. I have Fenders and other basses if I want that sound. It’s a looker too.

 

[dave64o]

I'm a hard core burst fan but always loved that charcoal sparkle finish. Then I saw a charcoal sparkle 5HH in the local GC recently and was blown away by how pretty it was, much prettier in person than in pictures.

Yes, definitely a looker!

 

[FirewalZ]

I'm a hard core burst fan but always loved that charcoal sparkle finish. Then I saw a charcoal sparkle 5HH in the local GC recently and was blown away by how pretty it was, much prettier in person than in pictures.

Yes, definitely a looker!

That’s the one be been eyeing.....it has an ebony FB? Is there a notable difference with ebony?

 

[MMiller28]

I don't mind the idea, it's like a Warwick with $$. I did lol at the amount of lines you put on there.

 

[relayer66]

I'm a hard core burst fan but always loved that charcoal sparkle finish. Then I saw a charcoal sparkle 5HH in the local GC recently and was blown away by how pretty it was, much prettier in person than in pictures.

Yes, definitely a looker!

This one is Starry Night, which somehow has a faint purplish tinge around the edges. It’s a special run they did back in 2016 or so.

 

[relayer66]

That’s the one be been eyeing.....it has an ebony FB? Is there a notable difference with ebony?

It is an ebony fretboard. The main thing that gives a different feel and sound for me though, is the stainless steel frets.

 

[dave64o]

This one is Starry Night, which somehow has a faint purplish tinge around the edges. It’s a special run they did back in 2016 or so.

Doh! That’s not the first time I made that mistake.

Still a beautiful looking bass!

 

[SgtHulka]

View attachment 4324483

What a waste of money.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I use more of the neck pickup on my HH than the bridge pickup. I like the tones I get from the neck pickup.

 

[FirewalZ]

It is an ebony fretboard. The main thing that gives a different feel and sound for me though, is the stainless steel frets.

Anyone have any input on RW, Maple vs Ebony...I haven't had the opportunity to really play on a fretted Ebony neck. Im seriously considering the Smoked Chrome 4HH and want to be sure about Ebony, to dark to see on stage, any special care, etc?

 

[relayer66]

The ebony will probably have a brighter, snappier sound than rosewood, more like maple. No major care issues, a little oil when you change the strings.

By comparison, my USA Geddy Jazz Bass, with a maple fingerboard is the brightest, zingiest Bass I have. There’s no way to adjust it out with the tone control. The 4HH will darken up nicely if you need it to, and it can also be as bright sounding as you want it to.

That smoked chrome 4HH is a great looking bass.

 

[GreyBeard]

I had one and sold it because of it getting in my way and, because it didn't have a bridge pup in series setting. I'm much happier with my old SR5 H

 

[Meypelnek]

I think the SR HH was an experiment as much as the HS version was. While the latter did not sell too well it was discontinued and the HH version kept. It may indicate you get more for your money with that two chunky humbuckers.

Still, it could never really convince me: for me the only usable coil combination apart from the classic one has been the two inner coils. Tried two standard SR5 Alnico incarnations as well as the overall lovely 20th A. SR5.

In my view for the Bongo HH they did a much better job since they did not start with the single H version as a template but placed the bridge PU more towards the bridge. Hence I feel you really get a Jazz Bass like sound - but on steroids and with a lot of Music Man genes. The neck humbucker all by it self is fine - a bit less muddy and with a bit more character than the SR HH's. And on top you have the 4-band EQ. Especially the low mid pot does a good job on adding more character to the soloed neck pub.

 

[Les Fret]

I agree that the neck pickup should be moved more the right. I think it will sound better and you have more room for slapping.

I have had a HS five string Stingray for loan but didn’t like it. The combination of humbucker with single coil doesn’t sound good to me and you always have a volume drop when switching to single coil.

When I would buy a Stingray I would one with one pickup.

I think they should make a 6 string Stingray with 14mm string spacing. But they probably never will.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I don’t know if anyone has said this, but reducing the frets to 21 or 20 would free space for slappers.