Single H Shootout

[eligilam]

Hey everyone,

I'm loving loving loving my SR Classic 4...dream tone, dream playability, etc. I've been researching the other EBMM models that sport a single H pickup. Now, I live in a fairly rural area, and playing the various models side-by-side is not possible (heck, even the nearest GC doesn't have any Bongos or Big Al's on display)---so I'm turning to this forum for some advice...

Does anyone out there have a SR H, Big Al H and Bongo H? What's the down and dirty on a direct shootout on these three single-pickup models? I've heard that the single H on each is in a slightly different "sweet spot." I've heard all about the aggressiveness of the Bongos, the versatility of the Big Als, and the classic tones of the SRs. But, how do they stack up against each other?

Thanks in advance for your objective opinions on something that is, by definition, very subjective. Cheers!

PS. I'm not opposed to hearing opinions about the Sterling H in this mix---I'm just not a huge fan of the small-ness of the Sterling bodies. Therefore, at least for me, the Sterling is probably not in contention for my next axe. Thanks.

 

[JayDawg]

I have a a Stingray 4 H, Stingray Classic 4 H, Sterling 4 H, Bongo 4 H and a Bongo 4 Hp. Don't have a Big Al or Reflex yet but out of the single H Music Man basses that I do own, I have no complaints. All of them are great. All of them do have very similar tones but at the same time each one has it's own distinct tones that the others cannot produce.

Now with that being said, all do have some wonderful qualities. All cut through the mix very well in a live situation or a recording one. All are very versatile! All of them can play any style of music and sound great.

Hear are my observations with them though. For some reason unknown to me, the Classic series has the lowest output. I don't know why that is. I have played other Classic Music Man's and noticed the same out of them. They still sound great but if I sue them with my other basses, in a live show, the levels will need ot be adjust every time I switch between my Classic and any other bass.

The Bongo's have the highest output but that is due to the 18 volt pre-amp. It is simply a very hot bass but if you know how to use the extra hot pre-amp, you will be fine. This is not a bass designed to have everything maxed out. In fact, I love all of my settings set at 50% on all of my Bongos.

With my regular Stingray and Sterling, their output level is probably in the middle between the Classic and the Bongo's but closer to the Bongo's ouput level if I have the Stingray and Sterling pots maxed and the Bongo's set at 50%.

If you think the Sterling's neck is to thin, then maybe check out a Bongo. It has a slightly thicker neck and feels really good. With the single H models of all of the basses I own, all of them are in the sweet spot and feel really comfortable where they are placed at. I also have a HH Bongo and while the pickup location is slightly different, it is not bad. It too feels comfortable to me.

For me personally, I love the Bongo's the best but that is not a knock on the other Music Man basses that I own because all of the ones I have I love. They just slightly edge out the others with comfort when I play them. Last week I played my Sterling at a gig and it felt great to play it again because it had been a while. Same with my Classic and regular Stingray. I picked them up last month and just had a blast playing them because of the subtle differences I was getting out of them.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask away and I will do my best to answer them.

 

[stu42]

All of the Single H models have the pickup in "the" same sweet-spot. The Dual-Pickup Bongos (HH & HS), Reflex HSS and, of course the Big Al SSS have the bridge pickup closer to the bridge compared to the Single H models.

I've never played a Big Al H and I have limited playing time on a Reflex so I can't comment on those but, to my ear, these are the comments I'd make about the SR, Sterling and Bongo H

SR H - classic MM tone, bright-ish treble, slightly scooped mids, strong fundamental bass note. Has what I'd describe as a "clacky" kind of sound on the top end which is really a large part of the signature SR sound with its pickups wired in Parallel. When in Single-coil and Series mode (for SR5s) that distinctive "clacky" sound is reduced a lot.

Sterling H - very similar to SR tone but thicker and sweeter in the mids. Has more pickup/preamp output and greater range on the preamp gain knobs to add/subtract more bass/mids/treble compared to SR. Can be made to sound very similar (to my ear) as a SR if you dial down the mids about 1/2 way or so and slightly boost the treble. Has the 3-way switch for Parallel, Single-Coil and Series tones. Series and Single coil both reduce that "clacky" kind of sound and seem more "present" and have a drier quality to their tones. Series is also thicker in the mids and more aggressive and slightly fatter.

Bongo H - I like to describe this as a Stingray on Steroids. Mind you, it doesn't really sound like a SR. It doesn't really have that "clacky" high treble kind of sound despite the coils being wired in parallel. To me the hallmarks of the Bongo H sound are: very detailed, very tight, super punchy kick, quite warm in the mids. I'd describe it as hi-fi'ish, because of its extended frequency response and punch but with the warmth of a more Vintage/classic sound. With the eq set flat it is rather bright but not in a "high treble" way as a SR - more edgy sounding and aggressive. Personally, I like to turn the treble and mids down about 1/2 way and slightly boost the bass for a darker sound. To me, the tone of the Bongo H goes well with just about any kind of music. It has a magical kind of quality to it that cuts through the mix but also sits really well in it. It can sound very aggressive but also really pretty depending on how you play it. The Bongo H is definitely my favourite so far.

 

[adouglas]

Many words. Much talk.

Bottom line:

The Bongo is apt to give everything else an atomic wedgie and stuff it in a school locker.

 

[drTStingray]

For some reason unknown to me, the Classic series has the lowest output. I don't know why that is. I have played other Classic Music Man's and noticed the same out of them. They still sound great but if I sue them with my other basses, in a live show, the levels will need ot be adjust every time I switch between my Classic and any other bass

I have also noticed this when using the Classic and my fretless on the same gig. The reason, I beleive, is that the 2 band EQ on the Classic produces less high mid range which makes it sound quieter when back to back with a 3 band SR. Nowadays, I boost the high mids a little on my amp when using the Classic if I need to - also using Cobalt strings produces a high mid bump and more output across the whole range - and they sound v nice.

 

[b-unit]

I have all single H bases and agree with much of the above. The Ray4 is the thumpiest, the Sterling or SR5 has the most aggressive mids and the Bongo is more well rounded and slightly "hi fi" without losing any of the personality and cut you would expect from a pickup sitting perfectly in the sweet spot. I have a tough time picking a favorite because its usually the one in my hands at the time!

 

[cellkirk74]

Out of your choices, the Big Al H might be the most aggressive sounding bass. Yet it is very versatile and besides offering the Bongo 4 band preamp, it also gives you the choice of active / passive and series/ parallel.

I do especially like the passive tones from it. You should also have in mind that all three models are made of different woods:

Big Al: mahogany / Bongo: basswood / SR: ash

 

[eligilam]

Thanks everybody for your very useful input. Based on everything I've gathered from the discussion, I'm leaning more towards a Bongo 5 H (the tiebreaker with the Big Al was the difference in looks).

Another quick question which ties in to one of the comments above (that I think I've heard before, but can't recall): Does the SR5 H have the same pickup as the Sterling H and not the SR H? I just keep hearing that the SR5's have a much more aggressive sound than the SR4's.

 

[stu42]

If I recall....prior to 2008 the SR5 pickups had ceramic magnets and starting in 2008 they switched to Alnico magnets. The SR4 has always (I believe) used Alnico magnets whereas the Sterling has always used ceramic magnets. Not sure if the pre-2008 SR5 pickups are the same as what is used in the Sterling 5.

 

[Golem]

If I recall....prior to 2008 the SR5 pickups had ceramic magnets
and starting in 2008 they switched to Alnico magnets. The SR4
has always (I believe) used Alnico magnets whereas the Sterling
has always used ceramic magnets. Not sure if the pre-2008 SR5
pickups are the same as what is used in the Sterling 5.

My unnerstanding is that when the SR grew a 5th string in the
late 80's it natcherly retained the alnico type PU, being a SR
aftroll ... but that after a coupla years it went to ceramic, my
own guess at the reason for it would be it was done to wake
up the B-string.

This created an SR5 that many players preferred over an SR4
even if some of those players didn't need a B-string ... IOW
the SR5 tone was different from the SR4. Later, to create a
4-string tonal sibling of the SR5 the Sterling 4 was developed,
altho I can't guess why the neck was made thinner ....

So .... ultimately .... the ceramic SR5, which functionally was
really a Sterling 5, was displaced by essentially the same ax
wearing a "Sterling 5" tag. This allowed the SR5 to revert to
the alnico tone of its earliest years [otherwise EBMM woulda
had two 5-string models under two different names].

Corrections to this history are most welcome ! !


My fretted SR5 is alnico and my FL SR5 is ceramic, which for
my purposes, is the way to go ... strong mids for the FL and
reduced 'clack' for the fretted. Being a mostly FL player, I've
always considered it a drag that most FL basses are exactly
the same as their fretted Model-Name-Counterparts, except
acoarst for the FBs. If I were buying a brand new pair of FL
StingRays right now, the fretted would be an SR5 but the FL
would be the Sterling 5.




`

 

[Gravesend Black]

My unnerstanding is that when the SR grew a 5th string in the
late 80's it natcherly retained the alnico type PU, being a SR
aftroll ... but that after a coupla years it went to ceramic, my
own guess at the reason for it would be it was done to wake
up the B-string.





`

Did early alnico SR's5 B-string was less expressive compared to newly replaced ceramics? What about modern alnico models?
Does ceramic SR5 has the same "guts" as Sterling besides PUs? Or there is some difference?

 

[MudvilleStomper]

Relex Single H crushes all.

 

[fly]

this.