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Stingray 5 / Sterling 5 H or HS?!

This is a discussion on Stingray 5 / Sterling 5 H or HS?! within the Music Man Basses forums, part of the Gear Talk category; Ok, so thanks to everyone for ongoing advice. I have whittled my Ernie Ball 5 string choice to Stingray 5 ...

  1. #1
    Movielife's Avatar
    Movielife is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Stingray 5 / Sterling 5 H or HS?!

    Ok, so thanks to everyone for ongoing advice.

    I have whittled my Ernie Ball 5 string choice to Stingray 5 or Sterling 5. I've looked into the schematics on the site, apart from the Sterling ones that my phone won't let me view. I listened to some demos and I'm definite that the hh is too much for me. So, it's down to H or HS. I want to be able to get single coil tones as well as the classic humbucker at bridge tone, but what will I gain and lose with having HS instead of just H on both models?

    Is the serial/parallel switch useful on the Stingray 5 H? Does the single coil at bridge sound better with a H or HS?!

    Stingray 5 now has the same alnico pickup like my 2 Rays in my sig, which I know I will like. From what I've been told the alnico's are slightly warmer and less aggressive/hi fi, and more than classic stingray tone I love.

    Sterling 5 are ceramic pickups, more bite, diff plate, smaller neck profile and body?! I'm not 100% on what the body and neck differences are. Can anyone help? Perhaps a Sterling would be a good idea for a bit of variety.

    Colour is already decided! White with black or tort guard....classic vintage vibe Rosewood board.

    Advice would be great, thanks!
    2010 EBMM Stingray 5 HS White/Tort/Rosewood
    2011 EBMM Stingray 4 H 3 Band EQ Vintage Sunburst/Black/Maple with birdseye/flame figuring
    2011 EBMM Big Al 5 SSS Vintage Sunburst/Tort/Rosewood
    2011 EBMM Sterling 5 HS Tobacco Burst/Black/Rosewood
    2011 EBMM Stingray 4 HH 3 Band EQ White/White or Black Pearl or Tort/Rosewood/MHS

  2. #2
    73jbass's Avatar
    73jbass is offline Registered User Junior Member
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    I have on of the first Sterling 5 H basses,and been gigging with it exclusively for almost 2 years now. I had an HH Sterling that was really cool,lots of tones available,but I kept going back to the single H. I haven't found anything that it won't do. I'm in a variety band that does classic rock,Motown,new country,etc,and the Sterling H does it all just fine. I don't change tones,eq settings,or anything. Plug and play. I doesn't get any better than that. Unless you need the extra neck pickup,the H will get it done.
    Sterling 5HS

    BFR Sterling 4 Emerald Green

  3. #3
    bradfordws's Avatar
    bradfordws is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Just my $.02. I have a Sterling 5HH and 5HS and prefer them over the 5H because I can get so many different tones out of them. I know the H is totally "plug-n-play" but I like having more tones available. Besides, I can get the H tone with the selector in the #1 position. The only issue might be that if you play slap style, the H is the one to go with because there's more space between the edge of the neck and the pup. Of course you can slap on the others, but it requires a little more accurate slap technique.
    Sterling 4H Tobacco Burst
    SUB 5 Silver Custom

  4. #4
    Metropolis_488 is offline Registered User Newbie
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    When I had my HH, I played with the settings alot for the first month or so. Then I pretty much used the bridge H 100% of the time with the band... but that is just me.

  5. #5
    keko's Avatar
    keko is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Movielife, You have 2 Private Messages from me!

    In 2nd, I added some important facts for Ya!

    Hope it helps!

    P.S. ...I already wrote around this forum about this matter, so don't want to bother again!
    If You carefully read older Threads I think You'll find all the answers!

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