Some observations

[Figjam]

Okay so Ive had my bass for a week, the HH SR5 that is. Now that ive had time to play it Ive been able to make a few observations.

Tonewise, it seems to have less mids than my Sterling. Im not sure if its the lack of mids that is more noticeable, or the more bass. I think the extreme presence of more bass makes the mids less noticeable, but it definitely has a completely different tone.

Also, I miss my staggered pickup poles. Im not sure if it is just me but I feel like the string balance could be more forgiving in the middle of the neck, like on my sterling. There, the A and D string poles are highest, with the G a litlte raised, and the E flush with the pup. In the new pickups, every pole is flush. Im not sure if they made any adjustments according to this change, im just used to the balance of my sterling.

The tone is sooo different than what I am used to. The slap tone is absolutely great, stunning even. It is so tight, punchy, and clean.

Overall I think that it will take me a long time to get used to and start enjoying the extra bass. Im so used to my sterling, that is the bass tone in my head. The new bass sounds more like every other bass, I actually hear a lot of "Wal" bass resemblance in the tone. Its definitely a more rock tone and not as funky as the Sterling tone.

Idk, someone make sure Im not crazy.

EDIT: I think the main explanation for this difference is the series/parallel thing. Im not used to parallel tone.

 

[shamus63]

I think you nailed it when you stated that you're used to the Sterling tone.

Anytime you become accustomed to a certain tone or feel, the "newbie" is foreign and sometimes disappointing.

I have the same expectation(s) whenever I bring a different bass into the fold.

Most of the time, if you give the new bass a fair shot, it'll become an important and useful part of your arsenal...or at least a great backup.

 

[Figjam]

Its funny how we can get so used to a certain tone.

Just now after not playing the sterling for a while and plugging the SR5 back in, it sounded more familiar.

I tihnk its all a comparative thing. This bass sounds great though. Such balls. And the slap tone is definitely awesome. This bass will probably be my #1.

I really like that I am able to get different tones from it. It adds a lot to my arsenal. I dont have a bass with such great low tones as this. It really shakes the floor. The sterling tone is more of a slap in the face, this ones a belly rumble.

 

[dinosaur]

That's really interesting that you should say that, as I had experienced something quite similar to that recently. I have only just come into the Music Man fold, having bought a Bongo 4HH with some inheritance money about 6 weeks ago.

Prior to that, I had only ever played on one bass, an old Ibanez Musician, which I got in 1995. I was so used to the tone of that, and how I liked it to sound, that it was difficult to accept something new and different, even though it was obvious that the Bongo was a great bass.

Having tried not to try and replicate my (slightly Jaco-esque it must be admitted) Ibanez tone, and just playing the Bongo for a couple of weeks, I quickly got over the initial shock factor, and am really loving it. It seems to have plenty more bass punch, and although it can't quite get that mid-tone in the same way, it doesn't matter. If I want that old tone, I can still just plug up the Ibanez and I'm good to go.

The more I play the Bongo though, the more I'm digging the sound. Hope you find the same with your Stingray ...

james.

 

[syciprider]

Now you know why the P and J basses became the standards. Everybody got so used to hearing them.

 

[Figjam]

Very true, and also perhaps why the younger players are less stuck on those, because they (we) never listened to piles of records featuring that tone.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Like I told you during the 3 months of your wait, it's a completely different monster.

Glad you're liking it though. You still say position 4 is your favourite?

 

[Figjam]

4 or 1, yup.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I have a feeling i'll be a man in love with 3 and 4. We'll just have to see.

 

[Figjam]

3 doesnt sound at all like i expected. I thought itd be LOUD , HOT, PUNCHY, and everything one would expect from having all of the coils on. But it doesnt seem like that to me. It seems round, but almost like it has the treble rolled off a bit. To me, 1, 2, 4 seem very 'hot' and 3 and 5, not so much. I was a little dissapointed with 3, becaue everyone was raving about it. I dont know what type of tone you guys go for, but it was not at all what my idea of the 'holy grail' of bass tone is. Not sure why all coils are quieter than 2 coils.

 

[Aragorn35016]

You can trade me that bass for another sterling if you like . I probably wont ever get the chance to try one of these basses out before I buy but I am glad to hear some reviews about all 4 coils on. I thought My lack of bottom from my sterling was from it just having the one pickup toward the rear, but actually it was just the brand of amp I was using. With my new rig Ive totally fell back in love with my sterling. Same clarity I always had but with the low end I needed. I really cant imagine it getting any better.

 

[Figjam]

Sterlings are great, but let it be known that these basses definitely do have booty for days. Sterlings can get the job done in a lot of settings, but when you need that low, the 2 pickups do it better.

I think the settings 3 and 5 just dont do it for me because I dont dig the tone of the last coil, closest to the neck. In both of these settings, it is on. In setting 2 it is on as well but I think the coil closest to the bridge kind of makes up for it.

This bass has something for everyone though. Just because I dont really like the setting 3 doesnt mean you wont. My ideal tone is quite aggresive, much like a sterling with a bass and treble boost. I find that overal it gives the impression of having an upper middy tone, without actually boosting this, just by the nature of the bass.

With the HH, there is a distinct seperation of bass and treble. When i play a note, I can hear the highs and I can hear the lows, especially in certain pickup settings, namely 2 and 4. These settings seem to provide a natural mid scoop due to the coils they use.

3 and 5 tend to have a more wholesome tone. I guess this is why I dont like them. They give that big round precision like tone. Great for some people but not me.

 

[syciprider]

IMO 3 and 5 are good for overdriven chug, chug, chug 8th note rock. I have settled on 1 and 4 also. This summer when I finish my MS and finally have time for bass lessons I will explore funk with setting 2

My constant problem is justifying buying another bass. Can't think of anything that the HH SR4 and SR5 cannot cover.

 

[Figjam]

I agree that it is hard to justify another bass. The only thing I could justify right now is a fretless EBMM, since my fretless bass is non-ebmm... (as is yours i believe, so theres an idea )

Although I really dont play fretless enough to justify buying one. I think my last bass purchase for a long time will be in about a year, not sure what Ill want at that time though.

My main focus's at the moment are on what kind of amp i will be buying this summer.

 

[syciprider]

svt

 

[Dr Stankface]

Gk.

 

[Figjam]

The things on my 'to test out' list are basically the GK setup, and the eden/berg setup.

 

[Aragorn35016]

Trace Elliot

 

[Figjam]

Ive already had a grand old thread about amps, you can search for it as Amps Amps Amps , sooooooo this thread can stay on topic

 

[syciprider]

Ive already had a grand old thread about amps, you can search for it as Amps Amps Amps , sooooooo this thread can stay on topic

You sound like a mod in Talkbass.