Stingray HH vs. Reflex HH Sound Difference

[Manfloozy]

So, I've got to ask those who've tried both.

How would you describe the tone difference(s) between the Stingray HH and the Reflex / 25th HH?

What are their respective strengths and weaknesses?

Is there a clear favorite in your mind? Why?

Is there any vibe that the 'Ray can do that the Reflex/25th can't? Vice versa?

BIG THANK YOU in advance!!!

PS: For those who have tried the Reflex/25th HSS and the HH... any thoughts on the difference between those two beasts???

 

[oli@bass]

As you know, I have several SR4 HH and a 25th HH. Regarding the StingRay, I always come to the same conclusion: "Nothing sounds like a 'Ray". So, if you want that sound, there's really no other way to obtain it than to get the real deal.
That said, the 25th does an acceptably StingRay copy in parallel single bridge H. But to me the 4-band EQ sounds very different.

The Reflex/25th is a phantastic bass all by itself, that offers a couple of new great sounds that a StingRay, even the HH, is unable to acheive.

Sounds I love on the SR4 HH:
- Bridge H (classic StingRay sound)
- Neck H, a very nice throaty creamy tone
- HH, punchy phat with crisp top end

Sounds I love on the 25th
- "all buttons up" inner coils (coils 2+3) in series/parallel, passive/active
- neck H, series, passive/active similar to the SR neck H, but with more bark
- bridge H, parallel, active, StingRay fake
- both H, series, active

What I found very interesting in comparing the 25th HH with the 20th StingRay 5 H is that on the 25th (ceramic) the series/parallel switching is a very audible drastic change in character, while on the 20th SR5 (alnico) the same switch on the single H is rather subtle.

 

[cellkirk74]

I had the chance to compare both on Saturday and I think they are totally different animals, besides both can do the classic Stingray H sound.

The 25th to my opinion has the nicest neck of all EB 5ers I tried to date. I especially liked the all buttons up setting in passive and the monster truck sound in active mode. The 25th plays very even over the whole fretboard.

The 5 HH has one thing the 25th does not have, and that is my personal favorite setting of the outer coils together. Other than Olli, I end up with positions 2 or 4 most of the times, with position 4 sounding a lot like the 25th with all buttons up.

To put it short, the Stingray is a little more limited, but does it's things great, while you can go pretty much everywhere with the 25th for it's EQ alone, with the passive option being a strong argument.

If you thing about getting a fretted bass, get a Stingray, since you have the rest. This said, a Big Al might also look neat in your collection.

 

[jlepre]

You're crazy if you think you're getting rid of that 20th!

 

[MrChedda]

25th has a lot more sustain than my Stingray. Definitely like the inner coils on the 25th (active and passive). The Stingray, position 2, is a little more point and shoot for the rock I'm mainly playing.

The 4 band on the 25th is just a completely different animal than the 3 band on the 'Ray. Also, the neck on the 25th just feels a lot more comfortable than the 'Ray. I'm playing the 25th and Big Al almost exclusively now.

 

[projectapollo]

You're crazy if you think you're getting rid of that 20th!

I agree. That 20th bass needs to stay in East Tennessee!!

 

[BigAlis4me]

Despite my dificulties with foreign language when it's up to describing sound impression I'd like to continue this thread, it's not that outdated

As far as I know, the stingray preamp has its own voicing while the 25th's 4-Band-EQ responds linear (even?) when everything is set to center position.

Love the looks, feel, versatility and sound of my 25th 5HH when soloing or recording. As a starting point for rehearsal with my bands, however, I would like to know, how to set the 4-Band EQ to achieve a voicing similar to the stingrays preamp.

Thanks. Our rehearsals are too short to try out all that different soundings.

 

[oli@bass]

Funny you came up with this question today, because that's exactly what I tried to find out during a 15 minute noodling break from work this afternoon.... I came up with the following:

- switch on rear H alone
- switch on parallel mode
- switch on active mode
- boost bass by 50%
- boost treble by 30%

I found that the 25th then started to sound "like a StingRay". However, there's still a lot of difference IMO, which is naturaly given the different woods, different construction, different pickup magents and different electronics. Thus, if I want the real deal, I walk over to the wall and take my '81 2 bander off the hook.