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Music Man Stingray Special 4HH - So...close...

#41
I have a 2019 5H and a 2022 4HH. I can’t recommend this bass enough.

Never thought anything would nudge my P bass from first position when I am reaching for a bass, but my Special 4HH has done it. Lightning fast neck, super light, great tones. Slapping is not a problem at all.

If they are offering a decent deal for old stock, I would 100% grab it.
 
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#42
PS to my previous post;
Many Mesa users are setting HPF to 50-70Hz and boosting Bass EQ for a powerful and controlled Bass Response
HPF is a great tool for Basses and has been used for Bass in Pro Field and Studio for Decades
with Special I can reduce Bass on it's preamp a tad and get nice tight punchy Bass with HPF set at 25Hz

I can cut mid [increase Volume] and get a 2 band Vibe many 2-banders use and like. With Special preamp it is difficult to get bad sound and it is always Musical no matter how I turn the knob's IME and taste
 
#44
BK46 said:
I have a 2019 5H and a 2022 4HH. I can’t recommend this bass enough.

Never thought anything would nudge my P bass from first position when I am reaching for a bass, but my Special 4HH has done it. Lightning fast neck, super light, great tones. Slapping is not a problem at all.

If they are offering a decent deal for old stock, I would 100% grab it.
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Love hearing that as I feel the same about my American Pro II!
 
#45
Swampish said:
Interesting. What do you think is the attraction of the 2-band vs the 3? I thought having that extra band (I'm assuming it's the mid) control would be a benefit. Maybe just easier to dial in your tone?
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I can certainly see how folks come to that conclusion on the older pre-special 3 bands, and I have both. The Specials have a differently voiced eq, a bit rounder, tighter lows, more even string response.
 
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#47
Nebadon2000 said:
The Special is a different 3 band preamp [no HPF or 4k spike if vid is actually accurate] saying that I have heard both live and on video pre special 3 bands sound fantastic also surly not thin as compared to 2 band

If the Video your talking about is guy with modded Squire who built his own 2 & 3 band preamps in a box
both sounded awful which makes Video irrelevant to me [or anyone]

All Stingray versions sound great depending on who is using them and understanding EQ 2 or 3

Here is fellow TB'er with '96 3 band sounds just a tad better than that comparison video:)



He has some other nice videos in with Band Mix
Click to expand...

Thanks again for the plug, I was pleasantly surprised how good the tone turned out on that webcast. Little know fact, that is my 1996 Stingray I bought new from a musicians friend catalog way back than….i was hooked on RHCP at the time:) it has the Basslines alnico pickup and 3 band tone circuit. The birdseye maple necks from that era are simply fantastic imo.
 
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#48
Swampish said:
Interesting. What do you think is the attraction of the 2-band vs the 3? I thought having that extra band (I'm assuming it's the mid) control would be a benefit. Maybe just easier to dial in your tone?
Click to expand...

The tone depends on the frequency band sweep that is boosted or cut. I have a two band EQ on my Warwick Corvette, a different animal, but I don’t miss having a mid cut/boost at all.
 
#49
I have a Ray34 and I would really like to see what you think playing the Special, 'cause I've been thinking the same thing OP, that it must have alot to offer on tones. I'd go black with roasted neck personally but that blue is nice.
 
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#50
FirewalZ said:
Thanks again for the plug, I was pleasantly surprised how good the tone turned out on that webcast. Little know fact, that is my 1996 Stingray I bought new from a musicians friend catalog way back than….i was hooked on RHCP at the time:) it has the Basslines alnico pickup and 3 band tone circuit. The birdseye maple necks from that era are simply fantastic imo.
Click to expand...

Now you tell me: I am going to have to use another batch of Videos in which there are plenty to demonstrate great tone you can get from standard pre Special:D

Is the Video you posted using Special original equipment:)
 
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#52
Nebadon2000 said:
Now you tell me: I am going to have to use another batch of Videos in which there are plenty to demonstrate great tone you can get from standard pre Special:D

Is the Video you posted using Special original equipment:)
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I remember the overall tone didn’t change much over the original electronics, so still a fair comparison. The original has the missing G string problem, later post Internet I learned the issue was more so caused by the preamp vs the pickup. With the Basslines, the missing G string issue went away and the tone more even, but from memory was voiced pretty close to the same.

also yes, the Special is all original, heard here:

 
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#53
Swampish said:
I'm seriously considering purchasing a Music Man Stingray Special 4HH. I held off for many years owing to the weight of standard 'rays, but the Special is so light and the HH offers a ton of tonal variety while still respecting the original 'ray tone (or extremely close to it). I currently have two P's (one of which is a PJ) and a Jazz. Originally, was going to go for another American Professional II Precision, but came across this 'ray and am really digging what it has to offer, plus it will give me something completely different in terms of tone. Any thoughts on this line of 'ray Specials (I believe this is the 2018 model). Also, any thoughts about H vs HH (there were no H's at the store, only HH)?
View attachment 5336215
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I would buy that in heartbeat. Very versatile and EBMM quality is stellar. I would always recommend that you try before you buy if possible, but IME they are killer basses. I have a single H Sting and a H/S Bongo. I have my Fender P and J basses as well but mainly use the Stingray.
 
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#55
Swampish said:
I'm seriously considering purchasing a Music Man Stingray Special 4HH. I held off for many years owing to the weight of standard 'rays, but the Special is so light and the HH offers a ton of tonal variety while still respecting the original 'ray tone (or extremely close to it). I currently have two P's (one of which is a PJ) and a Jazz. Originally, was going to go for another American Professional II Precision, but came across this 'ray and am really digging what it has to offer, plus it will give me something completely different in terms of tone. Any thoughts on this line of 'ray Specials (I believe this is the 2018 model). Also, any thoughts about H vs HH (there were no H's at the store, only HH)?
View attachment 5336215
Click to expand...
In my experience the HH models are hard to slap on. The neck pickup leaves very little room for your finger to slide under the G string behind the neck heel. Maybe not an issue for you though.
 
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#57
bobalu said:
I would buy that in heartbeat. Very versatile and EBMM quality is stellar. I would always recommend that you try before you buy if possible, but IME they are killer basses. I have a single H Sting and a H/S Bongo. I have my Fender P and J basses as well but mainly use the Stingray.
Click to expand...
I tried the one in the photo at the music store and it was pretty sweet!
 
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#58
2thAche said:
I have a Ray34 and I would really like to see what you think playing the Special, 'cause I've been thinking the same thing OP, that it must have alot to offer on tones. I'd go black with roasted neck personally but that blue is nice.
Click to expand...
I had a Ray 34HH a while back, which I loved, but I found the weight a bit much for me. The Ray Special is so light! The one I played was almost in Aerodyne weight territory! That having been said, I've always been a fan of the SBMM Rays!
 
#59
Smooth_bass88 said:
How many batteries do they require? Two? That’s two too many for me… just my opinion- I know they’re a high quality instrument.
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Always prefer having the passive option, but I already have that and the tone is so different from anything else. Also, from past experience and keeping the bass unplugged when not playing, the batteries do last a pretty long time. Still, I know where you're coming from.
 
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