HS Stringray vs. HS Bongo

[VenousPlatypus]

Ok. Im 90% sure im going to go with the StingRay 4 HS HoneyBurst with a Rosewood fretboard for my first bass ^_^ ill accept anything to try to change my mind, but for now (or at least until i have the money up to buy the bass) im sticking to this beauty. Thank you all for your input, and ill gladly accept more on the matter :}
-Gage

[adouglas]

Find a Bongo and try it.

Then decide.

It's impossible to put the experience into words.

Where in Mass are you?

[drTStingray]

so in short, what your saying is that SR is more versatile and bongo is more POW?

the bongo can definitely be more POW but they are both versatile. The ray allows you to mix the outer coils which the bongo doesnt. That bass you have in mind is a beauty btw. Any stingray is versatile. The HS just adds further options.

[oli@bass]

im not looking for a muddy bassy sound, im looking for a crisp clean S and a nice bassy H.

The term "muddy bassy sound" would never cross my mind in association with EBMM basses, regardless of the PU configuration!

But I can understand where you're coming from. I had the same fear when I first heard about the StingRay HH. And thus I first bought a StingRay HS, and thought that the HS configuration must be much cooler and "clearer" than the HH. Couldn't imagine what to do with a neck H anyway. BUT, as soon as I had a StingRay HH, that was all I'd ever play from that point on. The neck H is very well voiced, and still has enough mid range cut to be easily heard with a full band! It's throaty and fat at the same time. IMO, it's the one of the best sounds a dual PU can offer beside the classic signature bridge H sound.

i need this to be versitile as hell because im at a performing arts school. i need to be able to play in whatever style im told XD

That's in your fingers. The bass is just the tool. With proper technique and knowledge of the instrument's capabilites, you can get a sound suitable to any style out of a classic StingRay H.

The dual PU instruments allow you just to get a wider array of base sounds. A coil switching system (StingRay, Sterling, Big Al, Reflex) will allow you to access multiple different PU coil configurations, which all yield a (fundamentally) different base sound. A pickup blend will allow you to mix the two pickups however you want, but you don't have different coil settings avaialble. It's actually two base sounds that can be mixed.

I prefer (and this is really a matter of taste!) the coil switching for several reasons:

• you get (at least) 5 different base sounds, which have a fundamentally different character as if you picked up a different instrument
• the sounds are available at the flick of a switch and thus can be accessed in fractions of a second, in the middle of a song if necessary
• switching (in contrast to mixing) will always provide an identic base sound, without any guessing whether the mix pot is really at the proper position (that was something that really drove me away from mixing PUs)

Unfortunately I didn't start to record sound examples while I still had my StingRay HS, but maybe the HH example will get you an idea why I like the HH. Check these out:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...-examples.html

[VenousPlatypus]

That's in your fingers. The bass is just the tool. With proper technique and knowledge of the instrument's capabilites, you can get a sound suitable to any style out of a classic StingRay H.

The dual PU instruments allow you just to get a wider array of base sounds. A coil switching system (StingRay, Sterling, Big Al, Reflex) will allow you to access multiple different PU coil configurations, which all yield a (fundamentally) different base sound. A pickup blend will allow you to mix the two pickups however you want, but you don't have different coil settings avaialble. It's actually two base sounds that can be mixed.

I prefer (and this is really a matter of taste!) the coil switching for several reasons:

• you get (at least) 5 different base sounds, which have a fundamentally different character as if you picked up a different instrument
• the sounds are available at the flick of a switch and thus can be accessed in fractions of a second, in the middle of a song if necessary
• switching (in contrast to mixing) will always provide an identic base sound, without any guessing whether the mix pot is really at the proper position (that was something that really drove me away from mixing PUs)

Unfortunately I didn't start to record sound examples while I still had my StingRay HS, but maybe the HH example will get you an idea why I like the HH. Check these out:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...-examples.html

i know what you mean by the bass being a tool, and its me making the sound, but i want to be able to mimic the bass style (or sound as it may be) of the style of music im currently playing, from a nice deep jazz tone, to a clean crisp funk/slap, and all in between + more! i appreciate this though, i was at guitar center today playing a HH and a H, and the H was dissapointing to me. (well not dissapointing, just not what im currently looking for)

[cellkirk74]

i know what you mean by the bass being a tool, and its me making the sound, but i want to be able to mimic the bass style (or sound as it may be) of the style of music im currently playing, from a nice deep jazz tone, to a clean crisp funk/slap, and all in between + more! i appreciate this though, i was at guitar center today playing a HH and a H, and the H was dissapointing to me. (well not dissapointing, just not what im currently looking for)

Try a Big Al 5 SSS or a Reflex. Might be what you are looking for.

[Manfloozy]

Try a Big Al 5 SSS or a Reflex. Might be what you are looking for.

+1, the front single coils on the RX HSS or BA SSS are a smooth rich goodness in their own league. Do bridge+neck and it's slap goodness too.... Oh and they do passive too!

[VenousPlatypus]

+1, the front single coils on the RX HSS or BA SSS are a smooth rich goodness in their own league. Do bridge+neck and it's slap goodness too.... Oh and they do passive too!

will look into, probably wont get. now that ive seen the SR HS i want.. its hard to let it go XD

[Manfloozy]

will look into, probably wont get. now that ive seen the SR HS i want.. its hard to let it go XD

If you've found something that speaks to you go for it....

You can always snag a Reflex or Big Al as your second EBMM. It's only a matter of time !

[phatduckk]

truth is they're all good. just get the one that speaks to you and you'll be happy.

between the EQ on your bass, pickup selection, your choice of strings, your technique and the amp you can probably make any of em sound how u want

[VenousPlatypus]

If you've found something that speaks to you go for it....

You can always snag a Reflex or Big Al as your second EBMM. It's only a matter of time !

truth is they're all good. just get the one that speaks to you and you'll be happy.

between the EQ on your bass, pickup selection, your choice of strings, your technique and the amp you can probably make any of em sound how u want

Manfloozy: bingo! just to wait till next time XD

Phatduckk: I will MAKE it sound how i want :P (mwahaha)