Lefty HH or HS configurations?

[Addison]

Howdy... first post under this user name. I posted a couple of times under the name Sloppopotamus a few years ago, but, for obvious reasons, I outgrew that handle.

Anyhoo...

I was just checking in to see if HS or HH pickup configurations were available yet on lefty models.

And if not... why?

Unless it's more than a simple pickup route... i'm kind of confused.

I used to have an SR5... fell out of love with it, but I've been missing it lately. Still have a '96 SR4 that I love and use for a lot of session stuff though.

Anyway... was thinking about maybe going for another SR5 soon, but... I sure would like one of those SR5 HH combos.

Thanks!

 

[drTStingray]

I was just checking in to see if HS or HH pickup configurations were available yet on lefty models.

Hi and welcome back - the 96 SR4 is a nice bass to have

I think the only one meeting your requirement is the Musicman Bongo - quite a few people on here love them (there's a currently live thread about them being cuddly and adorable - one or two people cause mayhem by hating them or even saying rude things about them) that's the only multi pick up lefty available I think. Maybe there will be a lefty Reflex bass sometime - who knows.

 

[Addison]

...

Right on! Thanks for the welcome... snd thanks for replying so quickly! My SR4 is truly special... beautifully figured neck and it's in "natural velvet" which is no longer available. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. Well, they do on the "classic" series, I guess.

Anyway... yeah, I knew that about the Bongos, but they're just not for me... I'm not a "hater" and I won't talk smack... I appreciate that people love them and there's a solid fan-base, but I'm just way more into the classic Ray look.

Out of curiosity...

Has there ever been an official answer as to why the SR4's and SR5's aren't available in HS or HH? I'd order one in a second if they were available.

I concede that Ernie Ball has been pretty lefty friendly since the introduction of official lefty production basses back in '96... and I understand that certain models aren't as popular and don't justify the costs associated with the lefty production runs, etc...

But when things that seem like "no brainer options" like certain finishes and the HS or HH pickup configs aren't available for lefties... I really get bummed out.

 

[funkymofo]

Hi there.

This concerns me a little!
I had my heart set on my first ray...I'm a lefty too and wanted a HH. I could have sworn I played one at the weekend on denmark street in london (The Bass cellar). It was a 5 string and definitely had the toggle switch and the only reason I am doubting it having 2 humbuckers is this thread (and the fact I was horribly hungover).

I've seen a few websites which seem to allow you to order a left handed HH - obviously this doesnt guarantee they are available though!

It would be great to get a definitive answer on this if anyone is sure.

Cheers.

 

[Addison]

...

Single pickup SR5's have a 3-way switch... it's a "series/single-coil/parallel" switch for the one pickup.

I'm thinking that you did not play a lefty SR5 HH, since they don't exist... unless it was used and the previous owner modified it somehow.

And I agree... MANY dealers are confused about this as well, since I literally called around to get quotes from about a half-dozen dealers and every single one of them gave me a price without blinking an eye. I actually even ordered one, but the dealer called me back a couple of weeks later to tell me "no dice."

It also doesn't help that the SR5 listing on the Music Man website has all of the pickup options listed, AND says "YES" for the left-handed option... it's pretty easy to be mislead since it doesn't say, "on single pickup version only with limited color options."

Anyway... after my order was denied, I called Music Man and talked to a CS rep... who was friendly enough, but he had no "real" answers for me, other than the fact that they aren't available and he wasn't sure why.

But... that was like 6 or 8 months ago.

It would be nice to get an official word as to why from someone who might actually know.

 

[funkymofo]

Bugger! Yeah that would explain it. Nevermind I will still go for the single, just fancied the extra tonal variety that you get with the HH.

Any idea on the colour choices available in lefty (or where I can find them for myself!?)
And also can you get the piezo bridge with a single H? That might give me a bit more variety and being as the H is slightly cheaper it helps offset the cost a little.

Sorry for the thread hi-jack btw! Damn newbies haha!

 

[Addison]

...

No worries... you're not hijacking since we're still on topic.

I might be wrong, but I don't believe sapphire black or stealth black are available in lefty on the SR5... and there might be one or two more colors as well... not sure.

But, I'm almost 100% that stealth black is a no-go for lefties.

And sorry... no piezo options for lefties either.

Yeah... I know... bummer.

 

[Jim-Bass]

I contacted the source a short wile ago and a guy from Ernie Ball told me the 'Ray is only available in H which disappointed me ...he suggested the Bongo for HH. So I got my SB MM ,and love it, but I am wondering if it's possible to create a new pickup in the middle ...get the new cavity routed.. I don't see why not, but don't know if it would mean a pickup selector need be installed .. I don't know where a new volume knob would go. But that's what I'd prefer, 2 volume knobs to blend the sound. Has anyone on this forum done such a thing .....do you have a resident 'Mod Job' person?

 

[Kristopher]

In the past, when there's been a question like "why isn't such and such option available", the answer is usually about the cost. It may seem like a simple change to route for an extra pickup or paint a bass a color already offered on another instrument, but we as consumers don't see what these extra options entail at the factory. One or two extra steps add up over hundreds of instruments, and I bet these seemingly small changes add up to more than one or two extra steps.

But hey, I'm just a guy who reads the forums. Maybe someone official will step in and say hello.

 

[funkymofo]

For what it's worth, I emailed customer services and got this reply:

"Thank you for you interest in Music Man!

The StingRay is only available left handed with a single humbucker (it is not available with piezo); it is available in all of the body colors seen at This Link Here (goes to MM website and appears to show all colours available!)

Currently, we are not planing to introduce any new options for left handed models.

For info on ordering and availability, please contact your local Music Man dealer, or our distributor for the UK:

EDIT:

had another reply saying much the same thing:

Hi Rick,



John Quinn has forwarded us your enquiry as we are the UK distributors for Ernie Ball/Musicman.



Please check out our UK website www.musicmanuk.co.uk it lists all of our dealers, has photos of stock, demos etc.

You can get exactly the same range of colours, pickguards etc in left hookers as you can in right but no piezo option and only with one humbucker I’m afraid.

Don’t know if MM have any plans to increase the range yet.



There are leftys available in the Bongo range with H, HS or HH options.



We don’t keep a massive range of leftys in stock, usually just Black/Rosewood but you can order any option through any of our listed dealers… 12-16 weeks lead time as MM make everything to order.



Hope this helps.



Nick Clubb S&T sales

Direct Line 01273 446 814



Fax:
44 12 734 40278 Email Website

Have a Great Day, and Rock On with Music Man!"

This enquiry relates to the 4 string models, sorry I should have asked about the 5ers too but I forgot at the time!

 

[oli@bass]

I don't get the alleged restriction on colours... is there a need to use left handed paint, or what?!

 

[Kristopher]

Hey kids, this is what the search function can do for you:

Here is the scoop with leftys


1.It takes the same amount of design and tooling effort as a righty with 98% fewer sales.

2. The molds and dies used to make the hardware cost the same as a righty with 98% fewer sales.

3. when ordering minimum quantities of the lefty parts from those molds usually entails investing in parts that take years to use up. When you invest in righty molds and tooling you know you will use those molds forever and many amnay times bringing the cost of the molds way down. With Leftys you reorder form those molds almost never.

4.Other than specialty lefty only dealers, regular dealers wont order them unless they are apecial ordered.

We started not charging any additional for lefty but could not continue due to lack of demand. We pretty much offer them as a cost of being in the guitar business.

Good question

Quote taken from this thread:
clicky clicky

I'm sure it's been addressed in other posts as well but maybe you can do the work.

As a side note, I'm a left handed person who plays right handed. I decided early on to go that way because of instrument availability. I'm very happy with my choice!

Peace,
-K

 

[drTStingray]

Oh dear - now we all know what it feels like to be in a minority group. I only have great interest in this because my son is a lefty, a v good bass player, and has the EBMM bug (and a v nice StingRay). Let's hope he doesn't see the following quote as it may extinguish it, along with his desire for converting every other bass player he meets to EBMM!

'We pretty much offer them as a cost of being in the guitar business'.

Sorry but that's absolutely astonishing!! Maybe true but..................

 

[mynan]

'We pretty much offer them as a cost of being in the guitar business'.

Sorry but that's absolutely astonishing!! Maybe true but..................

Not really astonishing at all...

Manufacturing left-handed instruments, from a business perspective, is a losing proposition and EBMM does more than most manufacturers for left-handed musicians.

 

[Addison]

Hey kids, this is what the search function can do for you:

Quote taken from this thread:
clicky clicky

I'm sure it's been addressed in other posts as well but maybe you can do the work.

Kids?

Ummm... after talking to a couple of other builders about this, not one of those reasons explain why lefties are limited to a single pickup SR.

Sorry you felt the need to go and search for me and everything, but... I already did "the work" and my question still wasn't answered.

As a side note, I'm a left handed person who plays right handed. I decided early on to go that way because of instrument availability. I'm very happy with my choice!

Congratulations!

 

[Addison]

Manufacturing left-handed instruments, from a business perspective, is a losing proposition and EBMM does more than most manufacturers for left-handed musicians.

No... it is not a "losing" proposition.

It is certainly "less than ideal" but it is not "losing."

If EBMM was literally losing money in any way, shape, or form manufacturing lefties, they would not offer them AT ALL.

 

[Mayers]

Well ... for the third time in my 12 years of playing I think ( again ) of stopping playing lefty and learn righty...

 

[mynan]

Kids?

Ummm... after talking to a couple of other builders about this, not one of those reasons explain why lefties are limited to a single pickup SR.

Sorry you felt the need to go and search for me and everything, but... I already did "the work" and my question still wasn't answered.

Hey man, no need to get pissy...

Apparently, it's not just a matter of putting the righty parts in upside-down, or backwards, or...whatever.

 

[mynan]

No... it is not a "losing" proposition.

It is certainly "less than ideal" but it is not "losing."

If EBMM was literally losing money in any way, shape, or form manufacturing lefties, they would not offer them AT ALL.

If you read the quote from Sterling Ball, I think that's exactly what he was saying...manufacturing lefties is a cost, not a money-maker.

 

[Addison]

Hey man, no need to get pissy...

Sorry to come off that way, but after doing the message-board thang for a number of years, nothing gets my giblets in a bunch more than someone coming into a thread of ANY kind and giving lessons on search function usage... especially when they didn't answer the question and do it in a condescending way.

I dunno... I just think it's lame. Sorry.

Message boards are fun because people post on them and interact with each other... not because people go there to search for what they need and then go away.

Yes, I understand that some questions are repeated over and over... and I understand that certain "regulars" get all upset about it... but, if you read a subject line that has already been covered, nobody is forcing you to click on it.

Apparently, it's not just a matter of putting the righty parts in upside-down, or backwards, or...whatever.

When it comes to HH or HS pickup sconfigs on the SR basses, as far as I can tell it is.

That's why I'm curious about it, and that's why I came here to ask the question.

If you read the quote from Sterling Ball, I think that's exactly what he was saying...manufacturing lefties is a cost, not a money-maker.

I think the key phrase in what he said is "pretty much"... I'm sure it costs them MORE to produce lefties and they make less selling lefties than they do with righties, but to suggest that lefties produce LESS than $0 dollars profit is absolutely ridiculous.