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GGK

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Messages
198
Location
Simcoe County, ON
Greetings All,
I play a Sterling 4H, is there any difference of PUP placement beteen a H, HH and HS? Is it true that the H can be more agreesive than either the HH and HS? Easy folks just asking......
 

mynan

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
2,688
Location
Spring Lake, MI
The difference in pickup placement is only on the Bongo. On the Bongo, the bridge pickup on the HH and HS is closer to the bridge.
 

guitarafondio

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2006
Messages
52
Location
San Luis Obispo, Ca.
Sterling 4 H, HS, HH

Working in set up, I get to "test" these beautiful instruments. By far as far as simplicity and power, the Sterling H is it. But, the HS and HH give you a much broader range. Just as powerful! It all depends on your playing style and choice of music you play. Since we started setting up the new Sterling 5, I've found the bass for me. And for your info, my personal flavor is HH.
 

Kristopher

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Joined
Apr 18, 2007
Messages
751
Location
Tempe, AZ
With the HS, you get 3 more sound options than the single H, but you miss out on the "parallel" setting.

With the HH, you get 4 more sound options but you miss out on the "parallel" and "single coil" settings from the single H.

I own a single H with a rosewood fretboard and an HS with a maple fretboard. I find my HS to be way more agressive sounding, but that also might be be an issue with older strings on my single H or that it's eight years older (it sounds more mellow to my ears). Both basses have that signature Sterling bridge pickup tone, however. It's just a suble variation to my ears.

I have a HH Sterling on order, and when I tried one in the local guitar center a few weeks ago, I was mightily impressed. You can pretty much guess the main difference between the two types of neck pickups - the single coil is going to sound like a single coil (a bit more responsive to dynamics with an almost old-school tone), the humbucker like a humbucker (thicker sound with a little humbucker compression). Beyond that, you'll get the best comparision by trying them out yourself (if possible of course).

You can get a more mellow tone out of the single H if you use the "parallel" pickup setting, which isn't available on the other two models.

Regardless, Sterling basses are beasts and all variations can sound as agressive as all heck if that's what you're into.

Hope this helps!
 

GGK

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Messages
198
Location
Simcoe County, ON
Thanks for all the help, I guess I may be starting to get a warm and fuzzy feeling for a Sterling 5 HH
 

CaptainFingers

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Messages
43
Location
Michigan
I believe there is really only one reason why the pick-up(s) are closer to the bridge on a BONGO.


Answer: 24 FRETS!


Fingerboard is longer, must adjust pick-up location accordingly. IMHO


By the way: I played an SR5 HS through a Mesa-Boogie Titan V-12 the other day. WOW!!!!!! That combination is POWERFUL!!!!!!

I've always been an Eden man, but that Titan Rocks! The O.D. blew me away!

My wife doesn't know it yet, but I may be buying a Titan V-12 to go along with my Bongo 6 when it arrives.
 
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