• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Movielife

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Messages
1,340
Location
North West, UK
Hi

If my next EB is a 5 it's going to be a Ray 5 H or HS.

I've been checking schematics and threads...

Basically, is the single plus filter on the H at bridge a single coil like the HS at the bridge? The HS states single hum cancelling.

I'm not sure what's the best option. I'd like to be able to occasionally have a bridge single coil instead of the full humbucker.

The HS idea seems great I'm just hoping I'm not missing out on series/parallel.

HH is not for me...I don't need a H at the neck.
 

oli@bass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
4,272
Location
Switzerland
HH is not for me...I don't need a H at the neck.

That's what I thought until I got one. Now I play 'Ray 4 HH's exclusively and sold my HS. If you can, try and compare them before you buy. Or buy one of each and keep the one you like most.
 

3tsb

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
17
I love my HH. Tons of versatility. I find myself always playing it in HH mode. It's like a punch in the gut of tone.


That's what I thought until I got one. Now I play 'Ray 4 HH's exclusively and sold my HS. If you can, try and compare them before you buy. Or buy one of each and keep the one you like most.
 

Murphy

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
87
Location
Toronto
I love my HS.
I use the S by itself for most blues and swing numbers.
Beautiful retro soulful and rockin sound.
 

keko

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 10, 2009
Messages
2,702
Location
Zagreb, Croatia, EU
Stingray HS is sure better than single H, got more switching options, only have not series H position, if I remember well, the opposite is on my Sterling HS, it's missing parallel H switching option (like on single H SL)! :rolleyes:

Maybe You should focus mainly at this point!

Stingray single H don't have phantom coil like Sterling single H, so center switch position is kinda electronic filter fake of bridge single coil!

I think that main problem of HS Stingrays & Sterlings is not enough switch positions for all possible combinations could be wired! :rolleyes:

I suggest to try all versions before buying! ;)
 

bizmarckie

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
205
Location
Saint Louis, MO
I like both the HH and the HS (I know I have them in different models, but whichever one I happen to be plying is my favorite at the time ;) ). My next target is a Big Al H.... or a Classic SR4... mmmmmmm.....
 

bizmarckie

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
205
Location
Saint Louis, MO
So with a HS Ray 5 will i 'miss' the series option? I've only used Ray 4s before.

If you get one with the ceramic pu (pre '08) they're wired in series (according to the diagrams... the new alnico pu models are all parallel... according to the diagrams) ;)
 

Movielife

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Messages
1,340
Location
North West, UK
If you get one with the ceramic pu (pre '08) they're wired in series (according to the diagrams... the new alnico pu models are all parallel... according to the diagrams) ;)

I'm kinda glad the new Ray 5s are alnico. I'm much more used to the vintage flavourings of the alnico.

So basically now, the Ray 5 is indeed a Stingray sound with the extra string (not that simple I know but that's what I'm after).
 

kompressaur

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Messages
667
Location
Buckfast wine and Knife country,Scotland
I'm kinda glad the new Ray 5s are alnico. I'm much more used to the vintage flavourings of the alnico.

So basically now, the Ray 5 is indeed a Stingray sound with the extra string (not that simple I know but that's what I'm after).

without having A/B'd them,I still doubt that alnico 4 and the 5 string Rays sound the same. different preamps? different EQ? my bets are on the 5 sounding a bit more polite and fatter just like the ceramic ones did vs the 4

If they are indeed the same then I'm happy to be told otherwise

I love my ceramic equipped SR5. Its the best band bass in the world. always sounds just right for everything. no other bass like it on the planet imo

good luck with whatever you go with:)

Komp
 

Rano Bass

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2006
Messages
1,104
Location
Tijuana Mexico
I'm kinda glad the new Ray 5s are alnico. I'm much more used to the vintage flavourings of the alnico.

So basically now, the Ray 5 is indeed a Stingray sound with the extra string (not that simple I know but that's what I'm after).

Thats the basic idea, and now the Sterling 5 has the electronics from older SR5´s.
 
Top Bottom