Talk me out of (or justify) this purchase!

[ptg]

Okay...So for years I played an SR4 single H honey burst fretless (tort with unmatched headstock if you are into minutiae) and swore it was the bass I would go to my grave with. The band I was in at the time was playing 1-2 gigs every week and I wanted to get a backup bass. So, I purchased an SR4 double H in trans orange that was in stock on line.
As it turns out for some reason, the double H is a little louder and has a little more punch and growl and that has become my main bass for a while.
The "problem" is that I am not a big fan of the orange and think the honey burst is gorgeous. No big deal until out of the blue my wife says, "Well, why don't you just buy a double H in honey burst and sell the orange?"
The band I am currently in is an all original prog band so, needless to say, the gigs are few and far between.
That being the case there is really no need to spend the extra money and go through the hassle of selling the extra bass and then hope the new one sounds as good as the orange one that I have now...Or is there?

 

[muggsy]

I'm all in favor of helping other people spend money. Plus, I have a honeyburst Sterling and I agree, that's a beautiful finish. If you know the SR4HH is a keeper, might as well get the color you want.

Here's how I'd look at it. Quality control on EBMM basses is excellent, so chances are a honeyburst SR4HH is going to sound as good as your orange one. Do some homework on used prices, and keep your eyes on the classifieds/Craigslist/etc. Maybe put some money aside in a bass fund while you wait. When you find a used HH in honeyburst -- and you will -- if the deal looks reasonable, go for it. Make sure the new one is what you want, then sell the orange.

That was easy.

 

[five7]

I understand your dilemma, honeyburst is my favorite and orange not so much. So, one way to look at it. Life is too short to own an orange bass when you can own a honeyburst

 

[MrMusashi]

if your wife suggested you do that, i would listen to her

MrM

 

[jlepre]

Look used..if it doesn't work, then at least you can get your money back.

 

[ptg]

Well, the odds of finding a used unlined fretless HH in honey burst are not good, so I may just have to make this purchase darn it! (though I really am trying to talk myself out of it...)

 

[muggsy]

Didn't realize that the orange was an unlined fretless. That is a complicating factor, but I would still give it some time to look around for a used one before taking the plunge to buy new.

 

[nurnay]

I'm the last person to tell you to not buy an EBMM (see my sig). I'd hide the orange, buy the Honeyburst, then casually reintroduce the orange at a later date.

 

[five7]

You could buy a fretted one and switch necks, might be easier to sell an orange one with a fretted neck.

 

[ptg]

Thanks for all the suggestions and joining in on the fun! Decisions, decisions....

 

[Golem]

Didn't realize that the orange was an unlined fretless.
That is a complicating factor, but I would still give it
some time to look around for a used one before taking
the plunge to buy new.

Yeah, thazza new revelation not mentioned in the OP.
It's not a good idea to sell the orange unlined FL 4HH
right now, cuz it hasta come home with ME and I'm a
bit short on sheckels right now :-(

OTOH, if the FB is all chewed up from rat tail strings,
then just go ahead and don't bother about me ...

 

[Golem]

You could buy a fretted one and switch necks, might
be easier to sell an orange one with a fretted neck.

Unless the orange one has a matching headstock
as just one more detail not included in the OP. It
crossed my mind, about the MHS, cuz the orange
SR FL that I encounter most often happens to be
dressed that way.

 

[ptg]

Yeah, thazza new revelation not mentioned in the OP.
It's not a good idea to sell the orange unlined FL 4HH
right now, cuz it hasta come home with ME and I'm a
bit short on sheckels right now :-(

OTOH, if the FB is all chewed up from rat tail strings,
then just go ahead and don't bother about me ...

Well, I did mention it was a fretless but not an unlined one...Hey, Golem, the fretboard is perfect...flats only...and, yes, it has a matching headstock (which looks okay on this bass but I usually don't care for them). How about I buy the new bass and I hold the other one for you?

Now you all know how boring my life is as this is the biggest decision I am facing right now!

 

[Golem]

Well, I did mention it was a fretless but not an unlined one...Hey, Golem, the fretboard is perfect...flats only...and, yes, it has a matching headstock (which looks okay on this bass but I usually don't care for them). How about I buy the new bass and I hold the other one for you?

Now you all know how boring my life is as this is the biggest decision I am facing right now!

Well atchewly, you mentioned that your old honeyburst was FL.

Acoarst, common sense dictates that if the orange HH was it's
backup, then the orange ax must also be FL ... even tho that is
not specified in-my-face-wise and my common sense was not in
overdrive or even first gear when I read the OP, but anywho, I
get it finally at last

So how much you lookin for the orange one ? I'm quite happy
the tone of all my current basses, so if I wana try out the new
EB Flatwound Cobalts without unstringing any basses that don't
need unstringing [cuz they all sound good] then common sense
dictates that I would need an additional bass for the purpose.

If I actually had any real common sense I would never obey the
dictates of the Golem version ... stuff like, I'm the only one who
should buy an orange bass cuz :

1. I already have 3 of them [one Ibnez, two MMs].
2. I have no wife to sneak it past [orange is tuff that way].
3. Both of thee above [the final result is greater than the
simple sum of the parts].


`

 

[ptg]

Update but with a question

Okay, I am up to 80% sure that I am going to order the new bass but I have a question:

As I stated earlier for some reason my HH fretless seems to be a little louder and have a bit more growl than the single H. Being that I almost always use the bridge pickup on the HH and that the H and HH have the pickup spaced equally to the bridge, is there any reason for this? Is it just luck of the draw? Is it wired differently or have any design differences than the single H? I would hate to purchase another HH in the honeyburst and find that it does not sound as good as the HH I have now.

I am keeping in mind, of course, that I am sure that I am the only one who can hear the difference, although the guitar player I work with noticed it as well during a quiet moment when we were just goofing around.

Any thoughts? Thank you!

 

[Golem]

`

FL basses really do play the sound of the neck wood.
It's possible that your orange wonder has a denser
FB and or neck than your 1H. In your shoes, before
spending $1700 and possibly parting with what may
be an exceptional bird-in-hand, I'd take the trouble
to swap the neck from the orange wonder onto the
1H body and see if the growl follows the neck.

`

 

[ptg]

`

FL basses really do play the sound of the neck wood.
It's possible that your orange wonder has a denser
FB and or neck than your 1H. In your shoes, before
spending $1700 and possibly parting with what may
be an exceptional bird-in-hand, I'd take the trouble
to swap the neck from the orange wonder onto the
1H body and see if the growl follows the neck.

`

That is very very interesting, Golem! I never would have thought of that!

There are 2 problems, however...

1. I am not qualified to swap necks and do not have a relationship with a luthier that I trust.
2. The orange bass has a matching headstock that will not work with the honeyburst.

But if what you say is true, then perhaps I will take my chances with another single H and hope for the best. I was very happy with my current bass until I heard the HH, and I still would like to sell the orange and have 2 basses so that I have a back up. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed...

Has anyone else had 2 of the same bass with 2 distinct tonal features?

 

[sanderhermans]

Swaping a neck is really not as great of a procedure as it seems. For years and years i have never removed a neck from anny of my basses or guitars. But when you do remove a neck once, youll see that removing the strings is harder then unbolting the neck. Just take out the 6 screws and neck plate and the neck should just pop out. I at on point had an sbmm ray 34 wich had a verry tight neck fit, a bit too tight to be honest. So if you feel the neck is stuck into the pocket then i wouldnt suggest forcing it out, getting it back in is harder, and in this case a finish crack is quite possible

 

[sanderhermans]

Also i think golem is sugesting to do the neck swap only for comparison. To see if the fretless neck sounds as great on your honneyburst too. So swapping it for a while and then swapping it back. So matching headstock is no problem

 

[ptg]

Also i think golem is sugesting to do the neck swap only for comparison. To see if the fretless neck sounds as great on your honneyburst too. So swapping it for a while and then swapping it back. So matching headstock is no problem

You are quite right...I do believe Golem only suggested it for comparison but there are three things in this world you never want to see:

1. The vodka bottle is empty
2. Your next door neighbor just bought his 6 year old child a drum set to practice with in the garage
3. Me holding a tool of any kind. Ever. Seriously.