Help! What is your experience with the SR5 H/HS?

[LDonnie]

Hello everyone! This is me:

My name is Lyndon and I have a little problem. I am planning on selling my SR4 and buy a new SR5 with alnico pickups. My problem is I can't decide which pickup configuration to choose . I love the sound of the single H on my SR4 and this is the sound I want to find on my SR5 too. With the HS configuration, does the humbucker still sound like the H on the SR4? Sorry to bother, but I could not find my answer through the search function and there are but few stores in my area that carry Music Man . I can't actually try both configurations . Many thanks for any input!

Greets,

Lyndon

 

[bovinehost]

My problem is I can't decide which pickup configuration to choose . I love the sound of the single H on my SR4 and this is the sound I want to find on my SR5 too. With the HS configuration, does the humbucker still sound like the H on the SR4?

Greetings, Lyndon! Glad to have you on the forum.

The question you ask is a good one, but you're going to get a lot of slightly different OPINIONS, not hard information, because tone is so subjective. Just keep that in mind as you read the answers - including mine.

So my opinion is that the SR5 and the SR4, even with the same pickup configuration, sound different. It's not this HUGE, AMAZING, SHOCKING difference, but there is a difference. I find the SR4 to be slightly more aggressive, tonally. The SR5 has plenty of that, too, but is easier to tame.

Plus with the SR5, you get the pickup selector switch. And the preamp is different, and the body and neck are bigger.

That said, they sound similar. I think there is a "signature tone" in all of the EBMM basses, but a Stingray doesn't sound like a Sterling and a Bongo doesn't sound like a Stingray 5. But they're all in the same family.

It's hard to go wrong with a Stingray 5. I have two and love them both. I personally prefer the single H configuration, but I'm old skool, heh heh.

When it comes to Stingrays, anyway. The Bongo problem I have is another thing entirely. I love my single H Bongos but appreciate the dual pickup models, too. (Am I helping you at all? I doubt it.)

My final take on the single H versus the HS is this. While I prefer the single H on the Stingrays (I like simple), the single coil at the neck is going to give you the option of really dialing in some deep thump. If that's something that appeals to you, get the HS.

Let us know how it goes!

Jack

 

[LDonnie]

Greetings, Lyndon! Glad to have you on the forum.

The question you ask is a good one, but you're going to get a lot of slightly different OPINIONS, not hard information, because tone is so subjective. Just keep that in mind as you read the answers - including mine.

So my opinion is that the SR5 and the SR4, even with the same pickup configuration, sound different. It's not this HUGE, AMAZING, SHOCKING difference, but there is a difference. I find the SR4 to be slightly more aggressive, tonally. The SR5 has plenty of that, too, but is easier to tame.

Plus with the SR5, you get the pickup selector switch. And the preamp is different, and the body and neck are bigger.

That said, they sound similar. I think there is a "signature tone" in all of the EBMM basses, but a Stingray doesn't sound like a Sterling and a Bongo doesn't sound like a Stingray 5. But they're all in the same family.

It's hard to go wrong with a Stingray 5. I have two and love them both. I personally prefer the single H configuration, but I'm old skool, heh heh.

When it comes to Stingrays, anyway. The Bongo problem I have is another thing entirely. I love my single H Bongos but appreciate the dual pickup models, too. (Am I helping you at all? I doubt it.)

My final take on the single H versus the HS is this. While I prefer the single H on the Stingrays (I like simple), the single coil at the neck is going to give you the option of really dialing in some deep thump. If that's something that appeals to you, get the HS.

Let us know how it goes!

Jack

Thanks for the welcome and elaborate answer, though I have to ask this: is the difference in sound between the 4 and 5 so much different now even with the alnico magnets used for the newer 5 models? And how does the back humbucker on the HS model compare to the single H? You mentioned it is more simple (I do not mind complex, I have a HH Bongo ), but is that all there is to it?

 

[oli@bass]

Hello everyone! This is me:

nice collection!

With the HS configuration, does the humbucker still sound like the H on the SR4?

I can only answer that single question. And it's a loud and clear YES! If there's any difference at all, it's hard to tell. My take is that two single H can sound more different from one another than a H and a HS or a HH.

That said; I like the sounds I can get from the HH better than the HS. But that's personal.


Oh, and don't sell that SR4 H. There's nothing like the simplicity of an old style four banger single H StingRay.

 

[ekb16b]

Find a 20th.

 

[LDonnie]

Find a 20th.

I am afraid that would exceed my budget.

So far I can conclude this: if I were to purchase a SR5 HS new (with the alnico magnets), I would keep the H sound I love of my SR4 in addition to the possibility of dialing in a more jazz bassish sound. Can someone else confirm this? I recollect something about there being a ''sweet spot''? How does the additional pickup influence this? Sorry about asking so much details but I really need to be sure.

 

[Duarte]

Well regarding pickup placement, the S on the HS has no affect on the placement of the H (unlike on the bongo where the 'back' pickup is closer to the bridge), so pretty much the H on the HS sounds exactly the same as on the single H.

I do not own a SR5, but I have played many, and honestly could not distinguish a huge difference in the tonal characteristics between that and my SR4. Obviously, it had a slightly different character to it, but very distinctly a stingray, through and through. That goes for the HS too.

I prefer the HS on SR5's, as I like the single coil tones, it's not 'Jazz' but it is chunky as hell. I find it more useful than an HH.

I'd say go for the HS.

 

[strummer]

if I were to purchase a SR5 HS new (with the alnico magnets), I would keep the H sound I love of my SR4 in addition to the possibility ... Can someone else confirm this?

Yes, definitely.

You must really love blue? Nice collection

 

[LDonnie]

Well regarding pickup placement, the S on the HS has no affect on the placement of the H (unlike on the bongo where the 'back' pickup is closer to the bridge).......

This was exactly why I was doubting. I always felt like my HH Bongo sounds different than single H Bongos. Now I know this does not hold true for SR5s, I will probably make my order for an HS SR5 in Electric Blue with an orange swirl pickguard and maple neck without matching headstock. Thanks everyone!

You must really love blue? Nice collection

Is it so obvious? The Str*t is actually purple (the color is really hard to photograph) and the EBS is just ''blue'' by coincidence. I chose the amplifier out of alot of brands (yes even including Markbass). Then again, I also own a blue OLP .