Sterling 5 decision.

[oldbluebassman]

Hi all. Not been here for a while as I've been dabbling on the dark side with other brands. Quite a few have which seem to have come and gone while my trusty SR5 is still the bass of choice. The string spacing is ideal for my small hands. The last MM I bought new was a Bongo 5HH, about 5-years ago, and while I loved the tone I found the style just a little too radical and I kept smacking the end of the headstock into the ceiling at home and in the local pubs.

Anyway enough rambling, the time has come for another new MM and I have my thoughts set on a Sterling 5. I am a man of simple tastes so it will be black body, black pg and maple neck with plain headstock, a very classic look. The problem I have is whether to go for an HH or an HS. I'm not a great slapper but do very occasionally so I'm leaning towards an HS as it apparently gives a bit more finger room, while stll being tonally flexible.

Am I missing something in not thinking HH?

Just want to add that trying one is not an option as none of the
dealers in the UK appear to have either and the extremely helpful distributor only has an H, which he has offered to make available for me to try, but that doesn't really help.

 

[Thornton Davis]

I own both SR5's (H) and a ST5 (HH). Now i'll start right off the top here by saying that i'm not a slapper or a tapper, i play fingers only. I like going to my Sterling 5 because of its greater tonal versatility.

When I went out to buy it, I didn't even consider buying it as a HS, because I knew i'd be selling myself short by not having the 4th single coil in the bass.

I've seen lots of slappers using HH's all the time. Check out Ed Friedland's demo of the Sterling 5 video. It's a HH and he has no issues slapping on it.

I'd be very surprised if you bought a HH and didn't fall in love with it.

TD

 

[DTG]

i love the black black maple combo,i would go for the HS but thats just because my bongo is HH and my rays are H so i dont have a HS.however i tried and loved a SR5 HS.

 

[oldbluebassman]

I own both SR5's (H) and a ST5 (HH). Now i'll start right off the top here by saying that i'm not a slapper or a tapper, i play fingers only. I like going to my Sterling 5 because of its greater tonal versatility.

When I went out to buy it, I didn't even consider buying it as a HS, because I knew i'd be selling myself short by not having the 4th single coil in the bass.

I've seen lots of slappers using HH's all the time. Check out Ed Friedland's demo of the Sterling 5 video. It's a HH and he has no issues slapping on it.

I'd be very surprised if you bought a HH and didn't fall in love with it.

TD

Thanks for that. I must confess I did like the variations of the HH Bongo. I watched the video the other day and of course he makes it look so easy. I'm a very old finger style player and forced myself to learn to do the odd bar or two of slap, nothing more than that, so I think you're right. Why sell myself short?

 

[bradfordws]

I have one each of the Sterling 5's - H, HS and HH. I play the HH the most and I do slap - and it's not an issue like I thought it might be. You have to adjust your playing style a bit, that is if you've been playing a bass with more room between the end of the neck and the neck pickup - or a single H. I agree with Thornton - you'll love the HH + more tonal versatility = you can't go wrong.

 

[Duarte]

Ed reviews the Sterling 5 HS on this site (it's further down the page):

Bass Emporium Newsletter - August 2008

Check out all those samples, and compare to this vid of the HH:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwJz_KRlW8"]YouTube - Music Man Sterling 5 bass[/ame]

I personally prefer the HS.

 

[oldbluebassman]

I personally prefer the HS.

Having listened to both I think it will be an HS. That middle (1,2,3) position has a slight bridge bias and produces a really pleasnt more open tone.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I own both SR5's (H) and a ST5 (HH). Now i'll start right off the top here by saying that i'm not a slapper or a tapper, i play fingers only. I like going to my Sterling 5 because of its greater tonal versatility.

When I went out to buy it, I didn't even consider buying it as a HS, because I knew i'd be selling myself short by not having the 4th single coil in the bass.

I wouldn't consider it "selling yourself short" to not have the 4th coil. After all--both still have 5 position switches. Besides--one of my favorite tones on a bass is a neck single coil soloed. Something you can't get with an HH.

I'd be very surprised if you bought a HH and didn't fall in love with it.

TD

Not that I don't agree with this statement 100%.



I played a Sterling 5 HS yesterday at GC, and it was an amazing bass. The action was a little lower than I like it and the strings were roundwounds, but it was an absolute demon of a bass. Especially through the Jeff Berlin Markbass rig.

 

[Big Poppa]

Yeah bassmonkee but it HAS CERAMIC MAGNETS!!!!!!!We are supposed to prefer Alnico! Alnico is cool and vintage....wait a minute the sterling 5 outsells the stingray 5.......wait maybe ceramic is really great....THe thread on the difference between ceramic and alnico makes me laugh.

 

[oldbluebassman]

Yeah bassmonkee but it HAS CERAMIC MAGNETS!!!!!!!We are supposed to prefer Alnico! Alnico is cool and vintage....wait a minute the sterling 5 outsells the stingray 5.......wait maybe ceramic is really great....THe thread on the difference between ceramic and alnico makes me laugh.

Well Ed's demo's sound good to me and the HS is just what I need so I will be ordering within the week.

 

[Rocksolid]

Yeah bassmonkee but it HAS CERAMIC MAGNETS!!!!!!!We are supposed to prefer Alnico! Alnico is cool and vintage....wait a minute the sterling 5 outsells the stingray 5.......wait maybe ceramic is really great....THe thread on the difference between ceramic and alnico makes me laugh.

Glad to be able to supply you with such a high level of hilarity..

 

[Duarte]

Having listened to both I think it will be an HS. That middle (1,2,3) position has a slight bridge bias and produces a really pleasnt more open tone.

Awesome, and the Single solo'd sounds so sweet too (especially on Bongos)

 

[Big Poppa]

Whoa...wait a minute rock solid...It isnt about you it is a soap opera of alnico vs ceramic and I was not throwing you under the bus....it was humor my friend...sorry to burst your bubble but I wasnt even thinking of you in the slightesdt in this thread. lighen up its just magnets!

 

[EBMM7181]

My '06 StingRay5 has ceramic magnets, and I love the tone more than my alnico Stingrays Ive had.

 

[oldbluebassman]

How did we get onto magnets. Isn't there's a separate thread for that. Go and argue there.

I was asking about Sterling 5 pick-up configurations. I don't care what the magnets are. It's the overall tone and flexibility I'm interested in.

 

[Big Poppa]

thanks

 

[syciprider]

BP himself recommended HS when I got my Sterling 5. He knows a little bit about basses.

 

[Rocksolid]

How did we get onto magnets. Isn't there's a separate thread for that. Go and argue there.

I was asking about Sterling 5 pick-up configurations. I don't care what the magnets are. It's the overall tone and flexibility I'm interested in.

I apologise for the thread highjack. Dont mind me, carry on!

Whoa...wait a minute rock solid...It isnt about you it is a soap opera of alnico vs ceramic and I was not throwing you under the bus....it was humor my friend...sorry to burst your bubble but I wasnt even thinking of you in the slightesdt in this thread. lighen up its just magnets!

Sorry for being a little precious BP, sat down to read this after I had unloaded the car from a gig (2.30am) and was obviously a little tired and fragile!!

 

[Big Poppa]

we are all good!