Interesting, two HH rays..

[Mr.Mow]

So I've ended up with two HH stingrays, about the same age..

Ray 1, silver, maple, very light
Ray 2, white, rosewood, boat anchor! (ok not that bad.. Buts it's gots some heft!)

Here's what's interesting (shouldn't come as any surprise, but reading the web you would think wood, weight etc don't make any difference!)

The white one is aggressive and punchy as hell, it really punches hard.. The silver is really soft, gentle and subtle.

The in-between settings on the white have really marked differences and 'airiness', the silver, not so much..

I was expecting some differences, but not as markedly different as they are.. To the point where o think I need to check one hasn't been modified!!
Interesting I think for two basses that on paper are 'identical'.

The only problem I can find is, neither is a dud! And I can't keep both of them AND the classic I just got

 

[Resolute]

The only problem I can find is, neither is a dud! And I can't keep both of them AND the classic I just got

Well, if you can't keep them both, I could use a Christmas gift... the silver one would be ok

 

[phatduckk]

a while back i had 4 single H sterlings at the same time & they all sounded different.

thats what makes buying more basses ones fun... even if you already "have one"

 

[oli@bass]

I was expecting some differences, but not as markedly different as they are...

It's wood. Every piece is different. And it's not only the body, but also the neck which carries certain characterisitcs. As already said, it makes having several even more fun.

 

[five7]

a while back i had 4 single H sterlings at the same time & they all sounded different.

thats what makes buying more basses ones fun... even if you already "have one"

I better try more basses, thanks for giving me a reason to tell my wife I need more.

 

[bdgotoh]

Another thing to look at is action and pickup height. I have a Dargie Sterling HH that I love, and bought a Sterling 5 HH. When it arrived it sounded totally different than the Dargie. It turned out that the pickups were much closer to the strings, once I adjusted it to similar specs it sounded very similar to the Dargie (which is what I wanted).

 

[Holdsg]

not to mention strings, and playing technique.

 

[phatduckk]

Another thing to look at is action and pickup height. I have a Dargie Sterling HH that I love, and bought a Sterling 5 HH. When it arrived it sounded totally different than the Dargie. It turned out that the pickups were much closer to the strings, once I adjusted it to similar specs it sounded very similar to the Dargie (which is what I wanted).

+1

ive found that to make a huge difference as well