PDN Honey Roasted Big Al 5 SSS vs. 25th Anniversary Stingray 5 HSS

[BIGEJ2]

Need some advice.

I currently have a PDN Honey Roasted Big Al 5 SSS and have an opportunity to buy a 25th Anni SR5 HSS. The 25th will be shipped so I won't have the luxury of playing it before making the purchase and there is no return period unless the bass arrives damaged or defective.

Specs on each are similar enough that I feel the neck and middle pickups would sound close. My big question is how much difference would the bridge pickup sound?

Anyone have a Reflex or 25th HSS and Big Al SSS or compared both and can comment on tone?

Thanks in advance!

 

[MudvilleStomper]

I'm pretty sure Big Poppa said that the humbucker in the 25th / Reflex is the best humbucker he's ever made.

 

[Holdsg]

I have owned several Big Al SSS's, just not right now, and currently own a Reflex 4HSSS.
There is a prominent and distinct difference in having the humbucker so close to the bridge. It really opens up the growl possibilities, if that's what you're after, versus the single coil on the Al. I have to say its an acquired taste for me, and I'm still getting acquainted with it, but it definitely cuts thru in a mix when you open up that bucker.

I would say the neck and middle single coils are comparable between the Al and Reflex. You get a very nice jazz tone with the neck, and a p-like tone with the middle (or neck and middle combined), which was one of my favorite things about the Big Al and now my Reflex. I just prefer that vibe most of the time, versus the growly bucker.

 

[BIGEJ2]

Thanks for the responses. My only hesitation with the HSS is the bucker. A good friend of mine has a BA 4 H and it sounds good in series but not so good in parallel mode. His also has a significant volume drop when switching from series to parallel. Is that common on your HSS?

 

[Holdsg]

not that i've noticed. there is an understandable volume drop when going from active to passive, but not from series/parallel. IME. Although I have to say that series mode (all buttons up) is great whether you are talking the Al or Reflex, it just has so much presence.

 

[sb69coupe]

I have a Big Al SSS, Big Al H, a 25th HSS, and a 25th H (rosewood neck).

I agree that the basses with the single H sound very similar to each other. There is a significant drop in volume between series and parallel across all the models. And I agree that the humbucker in the HSS config is more aggressive due to the extreme position so close to the bridge. You will definitely notice a difference between the humbucker and the bridge single coil on the Big Al.

The guitarist in my band thought that the 25th HSS was by far the best sounding of all my EBMM basses, we were playing modern rock covers with a female singer, and that bass had an amazing way to cut through the mix with punchy mids, while having a nice tight bottom end as well.

 

[BigAlis4me]

Besides sound and esthetics theres a difference in ergonomics.
If you're not tall an play standing with a strapped bass, maybe the Big Al suits you better.
With the 25th/Reflex there's an about 3 inches longer distance from strap button to saddle.