Jus wanted some opinions on H and HH stingrays

[IvanHardy]

so my band embers just told me that they wanted to replace me because my style and skill doesnt fit theirs. . anyways i have a Stealth slo single humbucker stingray that i got back in late december. i remember trying 2 different HH's before i tried the singles in GC. i was trying to decide between a Stealth HH ray and a Sapphire black i believed at the time. was really digging the color of the stealth black but the feel of the neck was too iffy for me. once i got a little used to it and the colors it was working on finding the right tone i liked. At the time i really liked the super heavy punchy bassy muddy distorted tone. i still do but i add a little treble now.plus i setup my ray and ray 34 with power slinky's. i was struggling to find the right tone and no matter what position of the 5 way switch it was in it just wasnt right. i checked the amp settings and saw the bass was down and treble really high on the ampeg. so i turnede the treble all the way down and bass all the way up and mids like i usually did then. so the way i used the knobs then was immediately turn volume and bass all the way up and keep tone and treble all the way down( now i turn up the tone and treble halfway). after plugging in a single H it amazed me immediately. the guy who worked in the rumble room told me that the singles were better because they were more focused with their sound. so i chose the stealth slo single cuz it felt right at the time. i originally wanted a black with maple ray but they didnt have it. since then the neck has felt a little weird and went twice to GC lately and they tighten the neck but they keep recomending i get it setup. plus i try to lower the action to make it more comfortable but the fret buzz comes so then i have to raise it up again high. so i keep reading that the HH's are better on one side and i hear that singles are better from another. The guy at GC told me pro's usually use one pickup anyways on a double so might as well get a single. so i wanted to ask you guys on your opinions because ive been thinking of taking back mine to sell it back to get a HH if i could be convinced if they were better.

 

[five7]

slow down on the meds to start with

 

[IvanHardy]

slow down on the meds to start with

what do you mean?

 

[MSilvers]

I play an HH and when I play with my band I use mostly the bridge pickup (like a single pickup ray). When I play with jazz or pit groups, I find the pickup switch is handy to quickly switch to a different tone, especially in situations with no effects pedals. The center pickup switch (both humbuckers active) gives you a very nice tight sound for slap. One left from center (from the player's view) gives a very nice warm sound for soft backing bass parts. I very rarely use solely the neck pickup.

 

[IvanHardy]

I play an HH and when I play with my band I use mostly the bridge pickup (like a single pickup ray). When I play with jazz or pit groups, I find the pickup switch is handy to quickly switch to a different tone, especially in situations with no effects pedals. The center pickup switch (both humbuckers active) gives you a very nice tight sound for slap. One left from center (from the player's view) gives a very nice warm sound for soft backing bass parts. I very rarely use solely the neck pickup.

i see so you would suggest i get one? btw i dont' slap. i like punk, alternative, post-hardcore, metal etc. so i use picks and my fingers. y friend who taught me ade me play with pick. then from watching those in bands liek cliff burton i learned finger play. but never learned slap only been playing for almost 8 months now.

 

[oli@bass]

Neither is better. It's about whether you want the four other sounds that are available additional to the exact same sound that is available on the single H.

 

[oli@bass]

You've been playing for 8 months and already have one of the best basses in the world? I hope you can appreciate your situation.

 

[IvanHardy]

Neither is better. It's about whether you want the four other sounds that are available additional to the exact same sound that is available on the single H.

oh i see. so its a single with 4 additional sounds. funny how i couldnt find that when trying the HH then. when i had it at one i couldnt hear it but at 5 had the best sound.

 

[ekb16b]

That sucks getting kicked out
Could you split your post up into smaller paragraphs its quite hard to follow.

Ive a H and a HH and personally while i quite enjoy the tonal variations i use the bridge H on it most of the time. However there are alot of HH believer on this forum.

If you enjoy your single H why change it? But if you are questioning yourself why not head to GC and give the HH another crack.

 

[mmbassplayer]

Ivan... You opened saying your band memebers wanted to replace you because your "style and skill" does not fit theres. So i must ask is the music they are playing beyond your comfort level? Is there anything you can do to improve? I think this may be the first issue you need to address before you address you instrument issues.

I personally have always perfered the Single H Ray's. There is nothing wrong with the HH but for my style of playing (mostly alternative and hard-rock) the Single H does everything i need it to do. I haven't played any type of music where a single H was out of place.

Also, if you are not comfortable making adjustments on your bass yourself i would reccomend taking it to a Luthier and getting a full professional set-up on it or consider sending it back to SLO for a set-up. It sounds to me like 1 to many people have made adjustments that may not totally understand what they are doing.

JOSH

 

[IvanHardy]

Ivan... You opened saying your band memebers wanted to replace you because your "style and skill" does not fit theres. So i must ask is the music they are playing beyond your comfort level? Is there anything you can do to improve? I think this may be the first issue you need to address before you address you instrument issues.

I personally have always perfered the Single H Ray's. There is nothing wrong with the HH but for my style of playing (mostly alternative and hard-rock) the Single H does everything i need it to do. I haven't played any type of music where a single H was out of place.

Also, if you are not comfortable making adjustments on your bass yourself i would reccomend taking it to a Luthier and getting a full professional set-up on it or consider sending it back to SLO for a set-up. It sounds to me like 1 to many people have made adjustments that may not totally understand what they are doing.

JOSH

well yeah because before the band i never knew how to go drop c and never played in it. so when it was required for the band i wast at a disadvantage. i'm only th emost comfortable with standard and a little well with drop D. but then the guitarrist tells me that they feel in th emonth ive been there that ky skill in drop C hasnt gotten better( i use the ray 34 for drop c i'd never use my stingray) and that they feel theyve done all the work helping me with basslines. so i have been bummed out because of it. but back to the instrument thing i guess the fact that ive been playing the ray 34 so much and rarely take my stingray out of its case has me feeling iffy on the necks. i loved the slo neck at first but playing the ray 34 for so long i got used to jumping around on the fat neck. plus the whole trips to GC trying to get the stingray neck to feel right and comfy has really gotten on my nerves especially carrying that case to the train station to get to union square. plus i thought what if theres more punch and stuff in the doubles liek i once thought before.

 

[spencer]

Before the band I never knew how to play in drop c as I have never played in it. So when it was required for the band I was at a disadvantage. Today the guitarrist tells me that they feel in the month I've been with them I haven't gotten better at playing in C.
------------
As for the instrument thing, I guess the fact that I've been playing the ray 34 so much and rarely take my stingray out of its case, has me feeling iffy on the necks. I loved the slo neck at first but playing the ray 34 for so long i got used to jumping around on the fat neck. plus the whole trips to GC trying to get the stingray neck to feel right and comfy has really gotten on my nerves especially carrying that case to the train station to get to union square. plus i thought what if theres more punch and stuff in the doubles liek i once thought before.???

Help?

 

[Bloodfist]

Ok first, I wouldn't worry with to hard about a band that wants you to play in Drop C. It seems like it's some what of a fad these days with the kiddies who play guitar, and they don't realize how hard it is for a good singer to sing along with so they opt for a bad singer 99% of the time. I hope that made some sense. I play an HH Ray myself. I chose it over the H just because of my personal preferences. If I'm understanding you correctly, your thinking there's more punch to an HH, and I really don't think there is. What you get is more tone options quickly. They're not necessarily more punchy. Take for example, If I use both pickups at the same time, its actually a very warm smooth tone on my bass that sounds great for finger style playing, especially on songs were the bass needs to sound real warm and fat. The neck pickup, is more jazzy sounding to me, and the 2 other positions on the pickup selector ( 2 and 4) are awesome sounding slap tones. If your going to be playing music in Drop C on a 4 string, or playing metal or punk, I don't really see the need for a HH. I'm not saying I don't recommend getting one, I just don't see the need in one when a H will do great.

On a side note about the band, sorry to hear they gave you the axe man. Josh makes a valid point. Spend some time with your instrument, and learn as much as you can about your instrument and how to play it. After you get a little more confidence in your ability, go find another band. Hell, I sale you mine for a couple of bucks lol.

 

[RaginRog]

Don't take this the wrong way. You're still learning, and with experience, you'll be able to make a StingRay do what YOU want it to do. Whether it's an H or HH isn't whats important right now, it's polishing your playing, and learning how to set the EQ on your amp and bass.

For starters, I would begin with the eq on your amp and bass set flat. Then experiment with either the eq on your amp or StingRay. Make your changes gradually so you can hear the distinct differences between each band. Many StingRay owners roll back the treble on the bass to cut some of the highs, and give you a little more of a bassy-tone.

I personally prefer HH models, and keep my eq settings pretty much the same through each of the 5-way switch settings.

Keep practicing and you'll get it.

 

[DaddyFlip]

JOSH, Fist and Rog are giving you the best advice. I've been playing less than you and have never even been in a band. On my own, I thought I had learned some songs pretty well that my church plays. When I practiced the first time with our leader, I got blown out of the water- I couldn't keep up and I couldn't play the right notes. He told me, "This is what you need to work on and this is what you should sound like." So I stopped obsessing over what bass I wanted to buy next and started practicing what and how he told me. Now I'm starting to get it.

I still love to obsess over equipment; I love equipment and I like having good stuff. But you can't buy talent and you can't buy ability- you have to work on it if you want to be a player; we all do. And you have to motivate yourself if you're teaching yourself (as I am). Let them kicking you out motivate you to be better; it may be the best thing that ever happened to you!

You asked for opinions on H vs. HH. First let me say that your Stealth H SLO Ray will do anything that you SAY you want to do sonically and it is a great match for the style you SAY you're into. I don't think you have chosen poorly at all. I do think you and others have goofed around too much with the setup for no reason. I would make arrangements with Customer Service to send it in for a factory setup OR have them recommend someone local to you that can perform a factory setup. Then leave it alone (really, LEAVE IT ALONE) and learn to play it. I prefer HH for the following reasons:

1. I like the way HH looks better than H
2. I play fingerstyle exclusively close to the neck so my thumb rests on the neck 'bucker
3. I like the tone a neck pickup produces (deep & boomy with almost no mid)
4. I sometimes like the tone a neck and bridge pickup produces (same as above with a little mid bite added)

I could take an H and do some EQ workarounds to accomplish 3 and 4, but an H would never be able to give me 1 and 2. So, you have to figure out what is pleasing and comfortable to you first. This will be a big confidence booster to you as you motivate yourself to play. Worry about tone details later. You can do it- don't quit and focus on what is important: learning the fretboard, timekeeping, and technique.

PS... can anyone name me a good drop C song?

 

[five7]

+1

 

[IvanHardy]

thanks everyone. i appreciate all the help and advice. i'll take y bass and actually let the tech set it up (even tho ill be without my ray for a few days which'll hurt). the brightside is now i do feel ore motivated to play my ray after it's properly fixed and set comfortably for me. as for flat im not sure how that works do i leave the knobs on the amp at 12 oclock or on the bass? also when i set up it up again i wont be going drop c anymore i dont wanna continue doiing that to my ray 34 neck to tune back up everytime. but will it affect my neck much going from standard e to drop d to go back up when i'm done? and as for my skill y friend taught me bass for the first month then i took it on y own by learning a lot fo my favorite bands songs and messing around a bit.

 

[phatduckk]

i LOVE the HH ray. its a fantastic bass.

Personally I'd go HH b/c it can do the single H thing + 4 other things

Playing with my band I did often use the bridge pickup (punk band - makes sense to use the bridge bucker) but at home when having fun i was constantly discovering new tones in the HH. all awesome too.

the 5 way switch + 3 band EQ is pretty endless dude.

 

[DaddyFlip]

The bass has detents somwhere in the middle of the knob's range of motion; when you feel the click, that's flat. Flat on an amp depends on the amp, but you should be able to find it. It either has a detent (click) like the bass or it will say on the faceplate.

If you want advice from a beginner on how to go about finding and keeping your tone, do the following:

1. I would spend a lot of time practicing songs you want to play in standard tuning with the bass and amp set flat. Alternate tunings might be cool (and sometimes necessary), but they can be a crutch and induce sloppy play for a beginner. This will give you a basic idea of the guitar's natural sound and should cause you to focus on your notes, style and technique.
2. Then begin making changes to the controls on the bass to find the sound you are looking for. Leave the amp flat during this time. Don't change the tuning yet. Continue to focus on your playing.
3. When you find the primary bass control setting you like, memorize this setup and practice being able to return the knobs to this setting at any time.
4. Find a second sound you think you might use using only the controls on the bass. Practice changing between the primary and secondary settings so that you can hit these anytime. Commit your sound to memory.
5. Use amp controls only when you play out (different place than where you developed your sound) to regain your tone you worked hard to achieve with the primary and secondary settings. Example: during sound check, put bass controls on primary setting. Listen for your sound. If you don't get it, adjust amp controls until you do get it. Now it's just like being in your practice room and you can go back and forth between your primary and secondary sounds with just the bass controls. This will be comfortable and familiar and you can concentrate on playing.
6. If you just have to play alternate tunings, you aren't going to hurt your bass, but you can hurt your sound if something like poor string tension makes notes unclear or kills intonation. Don't change the setup for a drop tuning. Try changing to a higher tension string first (usually a larger diameter), then you will have to go through the primary and secondary sound setup again. If this doesn't work for you, then you need more advice than I'm able to give.

Tone comes from the guitar and its controls, not a bunch of amp EQ and pedals. Hope this helps and wasn't too confusing.

 

[Jim Roseberry]

Don't worry about the band letting you go...
Worry about you. Make sure you're enjoying the process/learning/playing.
There will be *loads* of opportunities to play in other bands... if that's what you want to do.

You have two very nice instruments... especially for a younger person.
Take the SLO for a setup by the best local luthier you can find.
Ask around for recommendations.
Once it's properly setup, you shouldn't have to make any radical changes.
(I typically have to tweak the truss-rod a couple of times a year, but that's about it)

As for the H vs. HH, I used to avoid single H basses... thinking that I would "miss out" on tonal variety (compared to HS/HH models).
After having played many nice basses... and with more perspective/experience, I no longer feel limited (at all) when playing a single H. By changing right hand position/technique and adjusting the 2 or 3 band EQ, you can get a LOT of variety.