I voted for position 3, but, I've moded my bass so I can turn coil 5 of, to I have only coils 1,2,3 on - my favorite.
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.
Stingray HH players - favorite pickup switch settings?
- Thread starter dave64o
- Start date
I'm not sure I'd say thicker, but maybe that's just a difference in how we choose our words? I know there are some who call cermaic pickups sterile or brittle, but i don't find these to be either of those things, although I do like to roll back the treble in many cases and I don't often boost the treble (to clarify, that generally applies to all of my active basses, not just my ceramic Stingray). I would say that they seem to have more punch to me with more upper midrange. To me, my Special has a warmer, maybe "softer" (?), tone with more lower midrange.
Guessing you meant that you turn off coil 4 when you use Position 5?
Interesting mod. Do you ever use the single coil by itself? I've always been HS curious, but Musicman discontinued them years ago and you don't often see them pop up for sale.
thanks. I’m considering getting the stingray special 5 HH as well. Just curious if you like the 2007 or the special better? If you could only keep one?
Tough question, and I'm kind of afraid to answer because I simply don't want to have to decide. 
What I typically say is that they're my co-number ones, and that's effectively true. Combined the two basses get about 75% of the time playing out at gigs, rehearsals, and basement jam session time, with a higher percentage going to gigs than to rehearsals or jam sessions. And that time is pretty evenly split.
But, on paper, there are multiple reasons why the Special would be the real #1. It's almost 1.5 pounds lighter, the body routing is more comfortable, the slightly warmer or "softer" general tone fits my band a little better, and the 18V preamp has a kind of heft the ceramic doesn't. Both are simply wonderful basses, but it's no contest, right?
Well, not really. There's something about the ceramic that I can't put my finger on that still makes it my #1 by a very slight margin. Maybe because it's been #1 in my small collection for so long (15 years) and survived challenges from some very nice basses to retain that spot? Most of those challengers have already been sold, too, but this one remains. It will be the last piece of bass gear I ever sell.
I can't give any solid or rational reasons why the ceramic still has the #1 spot. It just does. But, I still prefer to say they share the top spot.
What I typically say is that they're my co-number ones, and that's effectively true. Combined the two basses get about 75% of the time playing out at gigs, rehearsals, and basement jam session time, with a higher percentage going to gigs than to rehearsals or jam sessions. And that time is pretty evenly split. But, on paper, there are multiple reasons why the Special would be the real #1. It's almost 1.5 pounds lighter, the body routing is more comfortable, the slightly warmer or "softer" general tone fits my band a little better, and the 18V preamp has a kind of heft the ceramic doesn't. Both are simply wonderful basses, but it's no contest, right?
Well, not really. There's something about the ceramic that I can't put my finger on that still makes it my #1 by a very slight margin. Maybe because it's been #1 in my small collection for so long (15 years) and survived challenges from some very nice basses to retain that spot? Most of those challengers have already been sold, too, but this one remains. It will be the last piece of bass gear I ever sell.
I can't give any solid or rational reasons why the ceramic still has the #1 spot. It just does. But, I still prefer to say they share the top spot.
I have the Sterling Ray5HH, and while I realize it is not identical, the switching options are similar. With that in mind, I use all of them at some point for our set list, accompanied by pedals as needed. When I need a vintage-y thing, I have an OD with the treble turned low and use the front pickup (#5). Grindy distortions call for one of the single coil settings (usually #2). General clean, sparkly tone is #3. A chorus sounds great on #1 without being that gosh-awful Jazz-bass bridge honk. Like others have said, this is the first bass where I can actually use and like the Bridge-only pickup.
I am seriously looking for the right EBMM or SBMM 5HH to present itself for me to acquire...
I am seriously looking for the right EBMM or SBMM 5HH to present itself for me to acquire...
Well, I do actually have a 4HH Stingray (Special; there were no left handed HH 'Rays until late 2019). However...
My favorite switch setting(s)? Position #3, about 75% of the time. Otherwise? Position #2... I have messed around with the other ones, but... personally, I've never seen the point - or, TBH, cared for the tone - of just using one pickup on any of my basses with 2 pickups. And, my 4HH is no different. But, that's just me; you do you. And, as for position #2? To my ears, it's... OK, but I prefer the outer coils, thank you.
My favorite switch setting(s)? Position #3, about 75% of the time. Otherwise? Position #2... I have messed around with the other ones, but... personally, I've never seen the point - or, TBH, cared for the tone - of just using one pickup on any of my basses with 2 pickups. And, my 4HH is no different. But, that's just me; you do you. And, as for position #2? To my ears, it's... OK, but I prefer the outer coils, thank you.
Isn’t Position #2 the outer coils (i.e. Position #1 is bridge pickup, #2 is outer coils, #3 is both pickups, #4 is inner coils, and #5 is neck pickup)?Well, I do actually have a 4HH Stingray (Special; there were no left handed HH 'Rays until late 2019). However...
My favorite switch setting(s)? Position #3, about 75% of the time. Otherwise? Position #2... I have messed around with the other ones, but... personally, I've never seen the point - or, TBH, cared for the tone - of just using one pickup on any of my basses with 2 pickups. And, my 4HH is no different. But, that's just me; you do you. And, as for position #2? To my ears, it's... OK, but I prefer the outer coils, thank you.
Will have to check my Stingrays, both 5HH's, when get home from work tonight to make sure I'm remembering that correctly.
You are correct . That’s how it is on my Special 5 HH.
Ahh, so I wasn't crazy after all.
...Well, I still may be, but at least that isn't the reason why.
...Well, I still may be, but at least that isn't the reason why.
Ahh, so I wasn't crazy after all.
...Well, I still may be, but at least that isn't the reason why.
Well, that's what I get for being in a hurry. Yes, inner coils is position #4. The one I don't particularly care for. If I split the coils, position #2 - outer coils - is the one I use... This is one of the reasons I avoided active basses for so long. my '78 P-Bass is sooo much easier to keep track of...
Interesting hearing the wide variety of preferences we have. But it's great that one bass can make so many people so happy, but in so many different ways. Shows how well designed they are.
I am receiving my new special 5 hh tomorrow and these posts and suggestions have helped me with my future experience with the pickup selections and their uses. thanks again and I will voice my opinions after a few weeks and gigs with my new 5hh.
With my Stingray special 5 HH I have really been liking position 2 lately. My taste keeps changing with the HH but as of today position 2 is now my favorite after position 1.
I also have a stingray special 4 H and I do notice a slight difference between position 1 on the HH and the Special 4 H. I actually like the sound better on the HH in position 1. It seems more of a balanced tone. Pickup height are measured the same and both basses are using EB Colbalt flats.
I also have a stingray special 4 H and I do notice a slight difference between position 1 on the HH and the Special 4 H. I actually like the sound better on the HH in position 1. It seems more of a balanced tone. Pickup height are measured the same and both basses are using EB Colbalt flats.
I have been playing around with position 5 (neck humbucker) and I am really liking it when you dime the mids and set bass to about 40%. treble in the middle. Sounds almost P bass like. This is on my 2007 Stingray 5HH Ceramic. It's wired in series so not sure how it would sound on a post 2007 Stingray HH.
