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SBMM Ray4HH vs Ray34HH - is it worth the extra $620?

#21
It's my understanding the Ray4 shares the same pickups as the Ray34, but the Ray4 is series and the 34 parallel. I have a Ray5HH that I had rewired in parallel and find lots of great tones with it.
The Ray34 has the three band preamp, like a Sting Ray, while the Ray4 has a two band.
As for the bridge: the Ray34 bridge has two bolts into barrel nuts drilled into the body, kinda simulating the Sting Ray bridge I guess, while the Ray4 bridge has two screws. It's not a straightforward change, but is doable with a drill press…
I'm sure the Ray34 is overall much higher quality and I'm anxious to try one out soon, but I'm pretty amazed at what a great bass the Ray4 is overall and for that price point (Full disclosure: I bought my Ray5HH on a Musician's Friend Stupid Deal of the Day for under $300!). I've gigged with it and enjoyed the power and tone I got, along with an easy to play neck.
Bottom line for me would be if you're in the market for a $900+ bass, the Ray34HH is probably the way to go.
If you're starting out thinking about having to make a bunch of upgrades, I'd skip the Ray4HH.
 
#22
1727358422943.png

I just finished the wiring diagram, I hope I didn't make any mistakes.
I got the wire color information from Sterling's support team.

The pickup wires are so thin that I ordered some cloth-covered wires to handle the connections under the pickups. This way, I can run the new wires to the electronics without having to handle the pickup wires anymore.
The wires under the pickups are now connected to my new cloth-covered wires, and I've also added plastic cable ties. This way, if someone accidentally pulls on the wires, it won't rip the solder joints or break the thin pickup wires.
 
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#23
John Patten said:
It's my understanding the Ray4 shares the same pickups as the Ray34, but the Ray4 is series and the 34 parallel. I have a Ray5HH that I had rewired in parallel and find lots of great tones with it.
The Ray34 has the three band preamp, like a Sting Ray, while the Ray4 has a two band.
As for the bridge: the Ray34 bridge has two bolts into barrel nuts drilled into the body, kinda simulating the Sting Ray bridge I guess, while the Ray4 bridge has two screws. It's not a straightforward change, but is doable with a drill press…
I'm sure the Ray34 is overall much higher quality and I'm anxious to try one out soon, but I'm pretty amazed at what a great bass the Ray4 is overall and for that price point (Full disclosure: I bought my Ray5HH on a Musician's Friend Stupid Deal of the Day for under $300!). I've gigged with it and enjoyed the power and tone I got, along with an easy to play neck.
Bottom line for me would be if you're in the market for a $900+ bass, the Ray34HH is probably the way to go.
If you're starting out thinking about having to make a bunch of upgrades, I'd skip the Ray4HH.
Click to expand...
The main difference between the pickups on the Sterling Ray4 and Ray34 models lies in the materials and design. The Ray34 uses an Alnico humbucker, which is known for its warmer and more vintage sound. On the other hand, the Ray4 features a ceramic pickup, which tends to deliver a more aggressive and modern tone. Additionally, the Ray34 has a more advanced 3-band EQ, while the Ray4 has a simpler 2-band EQ, contributing to differences in tonal versatility
 
#24
Scrouik said:
The main difference between the pickups on the Sterling Ray4 and Ray34 models lies in the materials and design. The Ray34 uses an Alnico humbucker, which is known for its warmer and more vintage sound. On the other hand, the Ray4 features a ceramic pickup, which tends to deliver a more aggressive and modern tone. Additionally, the Ray34 has a more advanced 3-band EQ, while the Ray4 has a simpler 2-band EQ, contributing to differences in tonal versatility
Click to expand...
I think it's telling that Lobster did a review video of the Ray4 HH, at the end said it was a great bass, but then proceeded to replace everything but the body and the neck. That tells me I'd be doing the exact same thing, and when I started calculating how much he spent - he spent more than just buying the Ray34 HH. Maybe in the end he got the bass that he wanted but I'm not interested in doing that this time.
 
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#25
fourstringbliss said:
I think it's telling that Lobster did a review video of the Ray4 HH, at the end said it was a great bass, but then proceeded to replace everything but the body and the neck. That tells me I'd be doing the exact same thing, and when I started calculating how much he spent - he spent more than just buying the Ray34 HH. Maybe in the end he got the bass that he wanted but I'm not interested in doing that this time.
Click to expand...
I completely agree with you.
I think buying a Ray34 directly is a much wiser choice.
I personally bought a Ray4, which I quickly returned.
I had some issues with screws that wouldn't hold in the wood and other minor problems.
But the main issue was the horrible sound from the bridge pickup. The fact is, on the Ray34, the sound from that pickup was also terrible.
There was this awful midrange "veil" over the sound.
 
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#29
John Patten said:
It's my understanding the Ray4 shares the same pickups as the Ray34, but the Ray4 is series and the 34 parallel.
The Ray34 has the three band preamp, like a Sting Ray, while the Ray4 has a two band.
Click to expand...
you are right about the wiring
however, you aren't right about the preamps. Firstly, Sting Ray originally came with a 2-EQ and there have been reissues since. I am generally all hands for a 3-EQ instead of a 2-EQ, but with the SR it is the opposite: the two preamps have distinctively different voicings no matter whether at zero, cut or boost, and the 2-EQ sounds 'better' meaning its frequencies' choice was more succesful. I've read this was a result of Leo gradually loosing the hearing of hi freqs as is common with aging.
Also, the preamps of SbMMs are still very different from those of the MMSRs be it a 2-EQ or a 3-EQ
 
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#33
Scrouik said:
You'll have to spend a lot more.
The second-hand market has exploded in recent years, at least in Europe. I'm not sure how the market is in the U.S.
And maybe you can get an H for a few hundred dollars more, but you'll need to spend much more for a Special (HH).
Click to expand...
sometimes you may come across a US EBMM S.U.B. bass for adequate money but yes, even those aren't cheap today either
also, their pickup and wiring differs from US SR and US Sterling. Same ballpark but diffent flavor, and less sound options under the hood
 
#34
I just corrected the wiring diagram.
The information given to me by Sterling's support regarding the wire colors was incorrect.
So, here's the diagram with the correct colors. I tested it, and now the pickups are fully connected in parallel, and the sound is really beautiful. Very "MusicMan," especially after comparing it to a '96 MusicMan (3-band EQ).

1727636743023.png
 
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#36
fourstringbliss said:
View attachment 7038549

VS

View attachment 7038550

If I bought the Ray4HH I'd more than likely replace the tuners, bridge, and control plate to better quality black finished ones, and also probably replace the preamp - maybe the pickups. The Ray34HH is going to have "better" woods and I definitely like the way it looks with the roasted maple neck and figured woods. Is the hardware better? The preamp? The pickups?

I'm open to spending the $1049 for the Ray34HH but not if I need to then replaced the hardware and possibly the electronics. I'd much rather get the Ray4HH with good bones and then change out the rest - I've done that kind of thing before.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Used is the way to go.

I was surfing last night and saw an SBMM Ray34HH on Music Go Round for $650
 
#38
fourstringbliss said:
View attachment 7038549

VS

View attachment 7038550

If I bought the Ray4HH I'd more than likely replace the tuners, bridge, and control plate to better quality black finished ones, and also probably replace the preamp - maybe the pickups. The Ray34HH is going to have "better" woods and I definitely like the way it looks with the roasted maple neck and figured woods. Is the hardware better? The preamp? The pickups?

I'm open to spending the $1049 for the Ray34HH but not if I need to then replaced the hardware and possibly the electronics. I'd much rather get the Ray4HH with good bones and then change out the rest - I've done that kind of thing before.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Wood use are better with Ray34, Roasted neck completely stable than one piece maple neck, both has completely different preamp and pickup magnet/voicing.

But there are still negative report on current day Ray34 even though SBMM mention they improve their hardware quality.......

If i want one, the Ray35 ! And i love how sparkling she is......

1727927785722.png
 
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#39
Yahboy said:
Wood use are better with Ray34, Roasted neck completely stable than one piece maple neck, both has completely different preamp and pickup magnet/voicing.

But there are still negative report on current day Ray34 even though SBMM mention they improve their hardware quality.......

If i want one, the Ray35 ! And i love how sparkling she is......

View attachment 7044471
Click to expand...
The hardware complaints is one of the concerns I have about these basses. Sub par hardware on a $500 bass - somewhat understandable, but on a $1050 bass? Unacceptable.
 
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#40
fourstringbliss said:
The hardware complaints is one of the concerns I have about these basses. Sub par hardware on a $500 bass - somewhat understandable, but on a $1050 bass? Unacceptable.
Click to expand...
What/where are the complaints on the hardware? I thought people were only complaining about the electronics/wiring.

Saw the blue sparkle on an Anderton's video. @Yahboy is right it's very nice.
 
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