Question New fretless 'Ray: HH or HS

[oli@bass]

I'm on the brink of ordering a very black fretless StingRay: black/black with matching headstock. Just for the looks it should be a blank plank, but I'm not yet certain.

But, the big decision is whether to get the HS or HH configuration. I like both of them, and think they offer great sounds. On the fretted I definitely prefer the HH, because the neck H is much fuller, and I prefer to have always at least two coils active. But I have the impression that the HS could offer some very nice sounds for fretless, especially the Jaco'esque bridge single coil and the very open yet vintage sounding single coil at the neck.


So what do you guys think? And those who have dual pickup fretless EBMM's, what are your preferences?



PS: Don't try to talk me into piezo -- it's just not my thing, really

 

[ekb16b]

bfr rosewood neck!

edit: my bad forgot you were talking about fretless, woops

 

[syciprider]

Piezo

 

[mmbassplayer]

HS... that single coil is almost as mean as my shin bone (he has a temper). My Sterling HS is by far my favorite bass. JOSH

 

[Grand Wazoo]

apology to oly@bass, i wasn't wearing my spectacles and voted the 3rd option by mistake where it says you can't play, i meant to vote opt 2 sorry.

 

[oli@bass]

apology to oly@bass, i wasn't wearing my spectacles and voted the 3rd option by mistake where it says you can't play, i meant to vote opt 2 sorry.

LOL, no problem, at least someone voted for the truth, even if just accidentally!

 

[oli@bass]

BTW, I just did some comparing of my fretted HH and HS 'Rays. Direct to headphones. And I do like HH much more. To me, all of the 5 positions are really useful, where on the HS, I just dig the classic 'Ray (pos 5) and the dual single coil (pos 2). The singled out single coil settings (pos 1 + 4) really are much lower in volume and seem to lack "body". They have a tendency to make fret and string noise sound rather harsh.

Now there are no frets to produce noise on a fretless, but.... it has me thinking


So, anybody ever directly compared the HH and HS on fretless 'Rays?

 

[MrMusashi]

fretless rays with roundwounds (you know thats the only way to go with fretless' ) will make you buzz sounds... just flatten the board completely, lower the saddle slots and use a soft touch.. it will sing for days.. harder touch and some of that mwuahhh will disappear

get the hh, you like it on fretted, you will like it on fretless too! if not you got the 30th fretless to enjoy again

MrM

ps: if that dual hh 30th sr4 ever comes up for sale i hereby call dibs on it.. DIBS! you heard me aight?

 

[Rano Bass]

HS for me, or even single H.

 

[Psychicpet]

voted HH but I think that since this will be more of a 'rare bird' around the house of Oli....

why not really go out on a limb and get a single H with Piezo.... the piezo on fretless is a reeeeeeeeeally nice option to have.

and the other thing that NEEDS to happen is that it must be unlined!! Blank Plank!!
(trans teal NO matching headstock, black p/g, unlined fretless, HP)

happy hunting Oli !!

 

[oli@bass]

Thanks, Pete, for your thoughts.

I have to say that I reeeeeeeeeally dislike the sound of piezos. So I don't see myself spending a lot of money on an option I dislike from the start.

Regarding the use of the bass: It's destined to become my main fretless, which I'll take whereever I want to play a fretless. Be it at home (mostly), or on stage, or in the studio. Hence I'd really like to get some versatility soundwise, but I'm not sure about the right choice...

However, one thing's for certain, it's gonna be a plank blank!


PS: Unfortunately, due to some special circumstances, I must place my order until the end of this week... talk about pressure! So, if anybody has to share some more insight and knowledge on the HS and HH fretless StingRays, I appreciate it.

 

[Psychicpet]

hh​

 

[LowMoJo]

i just heard a clip of a freless Sabre. not the same bass of course, but it sure sounded gooooood.

 

[oli@bass]

50:50....


you guys are not being helpful!

I wish there were some soundclips to be found, but I searched the web now for several hours and nada, zilch, rien, nichts, nothing, null.

sigh...

 

[Smakbass]

voted HH but I think that since this will be more of a 'rare bird' around the house of Oli....

why not really go out on a limb and get a single H with Piezo.... the piezo on fretless is a reeeeeeeeeally nice option to have.

and the other thing that NEEDS to happen is that it must be unlined!! Blank Plank!!
(trans teal NO matching headstock, black p/g, unlined fretless, HP)

happy hunting Oli !!

I am partial to a single H on fretless as well if Peizo is not your thing thats cool....if thats not an option id go for the HS....

Of course id have lines on there........

 

[oli@bass]

Went chicken and ordered the HH