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bigal1369

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Jan 8, 2010
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Los Angeles
Have new SR4H slo . Got MM fever going for sterling hs or hh but not sure which one to get. Can you guys give me some input on these. Thanks :D
 

bradfordws

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Jun 21, 2007
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San Gabriel CA
There was a post on this, but I can't find it. My $.02 = HH = more tones available. I have a Sterling 5HH and HS - the HH gets more play time.
 

bdgotoh

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Feb 2, 2005
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Pacific NW
I've had both and kept the the HH - I like the tones a lot more. All of the switch positions are well matched for output and sound great.

On the HS I found more differences in output and some of the positions sounded too thin to me.

But there are lots of people here that prefer the HS Sterling. It may depend on whether you like single coil or humbucker tones. People who like the tone of a Jazz with a soloed pickup may prefer the HS which gives single coils by themselves. I run my Jazzes with both pickups on and I prefer the HH for the sound of two single coils on at the same time.
 
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keko

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Jun 10, 2009
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Zagreb, Croatia, EU
But there are lots of people here that prefer the HS Sterling. It may depend on whether you like single coil or humbucker tones. People who like the tone of a Jazz with a soloed pickup may prefer the HS which gives single coils by themselves. I run my Jazzes with both pickups on and I prefer the HH for the sound of two single coils on at the same time.

Yeah, right!

I'm the one who prefer HS, that's why bought it anyway!

Main difference is that HH always work with 2 of 4 coils in serial, so split H into the single coil mode is impossible on that model!

HS have basic Sterling's option to split H pickup into the single coil 1 in serial with phantom hum canceling coil, also the single S pickup could be switched (coil 3 in serial with dummy)!
Replacement for parallel switching of single H model is found in center switch position when all coils are in function in the next order: coils 1+2/serial in parallel with coils 3+dummy/serial! That's very useful for me, great for slapping and some smooth rhythm bass lines!
One more special future You can get from the HS model and that's most powerful tone I ever heard, but not using it much, I'm talkin' about switch position 4, coils 2+3 in serial, mighty two single coils moved close to the neck and in serial, some kind of vintage Jazz Bass killer but in serial and in whole new dimension!
At last, my favorite bridge single coil/split bridge coil+dummy (position 2), vintage Bridge Jazz Bass tone (Jaco) , but must work a lot with the preamp to make sound fatter! (boost bass, mid, cut highs...)

I think don't even need to mention the main purpose of any Sterling, bridge single H in serial (position 1), ...the tone killer in positive way, of course! ;)
(that's what You get on both models HH and HS)
 
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Bass Control

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May 25, 2007
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748
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Chesapeake, Virginia, United States
When I had my Sterling 5, I had two favorite positions that I heavily relied on when playing live. I love position #1, that classic MusicMan humbucker. When I needed some loud, aggressive bass, that's what I used. Did a lot of my overdriven bass tones with that setting. I fell in love with position #4, the two single coils (2+3) in series. Absolutely loved playing with that because it gave me a J-Bass tone, which I wanted at the time because of my setting and style. I couldn't find a use in my band setting for the other three setting, but when I was alone I loved soloing while switching between the two single coils soloed.

Now I have a Bongo HS (or will have Bongo#2 on Monday). Regardless of the bass, I probably wouldn't give up that added single coil in the neck for anything, ever.
 

bigal1369

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Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
19
Location
Los Angeles
There was a post on this, but I can't find it. My $.02 = HH = more tones available. I have a Sterling 5HH and HS - the HH gets more play time.
I see you also have a sterling sigle h.How does that compare to the stingray single h? Thanks again for input.:D
 

mgauge

Active member
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Dec 22, 2009
Messages
40
Location
Los Angeles
Have new SR4H slo . Got MM fever going for sterling hs or hh but not sure which one to get. Can you guys give me some input on these. Thanks :D

For the 4 string I prefer the H..

But for the sterling 5 string, I found the HS to be AMAZING
 
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