Really appreciate that demo. I was one of the people who assumed that i wanted the HH, but after listening to this i realize that the single pickup model is the tone im looking for. Keep doing what you are doing. This is helpful to so many people. Awesome playing as always!
I used to have the dual HH stingray five and I tried to use the other positions for different tones and for some reason I just kept going back to the bridge humbucker and so I’m buying a new one soon, I’m only gonna get the single H, for some reason the other tones just did not work for me.
Just to note, there are 5 different tonal possibilities from different pickup configurations on the HH, not just 3. Really an amazing sounding and feeling bass.
@@catthat9999 The new specials are a bit different from my 2010, but they sound just as good from what I can tell and they are a few pounds lighter which is a big plus.
Repeat your test, but on fresh strings for both instruments. I've A/B'd these bases myself, and there's very, very little difference aside from the HH model being versatile. It's very clear to my ears that the H version of this bass had strings that were either completely different, or otherwise much newer than the HH version.
I've had both. On the same, new strings there is definitely a good difference, the HH definitely has less sustain. One surprising difference I found is that the HH really doesn't work well with overdrive pedals. The H doesn't work with quite a few overdrives but I never found one that works with the HH which is why I sold it
The black one is a mahogany stingray. Say what you like about woods but having owned that one and several other stingrays it does sound different but not because it has an additional pickup
Something isn’t right. There’s NO way they could possibly sound so different. FAR more clarity in the H. Sounds like the HH has different strings (or they are completely dead).
I have both and indeed, somehow the HH is way less bright, I suspect is because the preamp is designed to handle the single coil positions without sounding too harsh or overly bright, they sound totally different
Very insightful. Thank you! I play bass for solo/vocal stuff and in an R&B/ Soul/Jazz band and the HH seems to be more versatile for both cases! I noticed that it’s perfect for hitting across all frequency ranges for both situations. When playing in the band, the HH ALWAYS supplements the low end for the overall sound and the tone control is perfect for cutting through the mix when it needs to. With the solo sing/songwriter bass stuff, the HH fills the overall sound especially with playing chords and stingrays always provide a solid percussive sound with things like palm mutes and thumping! The H is definitely perfect for straight to the point lead bass sound, and perfect for more firepower in the solo bass world of slapping and tapping. It’s a perfect grab and go if that’s what your primary playing style is. But for me personally, the HH wins in the world of versatility and integration in all music. Although amazing in its own respect, the H is more a one trick pony and it’s very very very good at what it does. If I could own both I would! Lol
Same reasons for liking the HH5 version. I don't slap and love the neck pickup sound in a bass. I play fingerstyle in a blues/rock setting with a little shit-kicker country thrown in. The 2 pickup version covers all that for me. Picking one up this week.
Still for me the hh model is the best i like to take a lot of different sounds of the stingray for any style of music can't wait for the hh ray35 on white to be in my home studio 😍
It's also worth noting that, on five string versions with a single humbucker, you'd get a 3-way toggle to go between parallel (default) and series modes, which would give you even more options. A single H Stingray is never a bad investment; just a different one than a HH.
I'm all about the single H! Great demo and insights. I think that the single H is more versatile than players give it credit for! It works for funk, rock, jazz, R&B, and fusion. It's easier to mellow out the single H than to brighten up the dual H. Both are killer basses though!
Very interesting. The HH sounds more muted, but has a tighter sound. This makes sense with the additional magnets. I wonder if some additional treble would get the HH to sound more like the H. I must go and find out at the store!
When you've got an EQ with a treble, bass & mid configuration, there's absolutely no way the single pickup version is a non-versatile bass. I've used my stingray for everything from blues to heavy metal.
Yep I knew all about this having owned a 2005 Stingray 5H, I sold it to buy a Stingray Special 5HH which to me is a much more versatile bass, that still can do the classic Stingray stuff.... it just needs a bit of tweaking to get that classic slap sound (which honestly I don't do much any more) But the H and the HH are definitely different animals, and this was a great demonstration of that. I believe the tonal difference is more from the preamp differences and the way the EQ is built too. Nice video.
A delayed “thank you” for doing this video. I was considering getting a Stingray 5 back in my collection back in 2019 and I wasn’t sure which one I wanted to get. Your video helped me decide on the single H, and I couldn’t be happier. Thanks again.
Marcelo, did you measure the resistance of the two and make sure that they're both wired the same? Most likely both should be wired in series (unfortunately this is the default for most SBMM basses), but I've heard that some were wired in parallel. The resistance is significant as the variations in the pickup winding will affect the tone. Unlike the premium EBMM Music Mans, SBMM pickups vary in their construction and I've seen series resistance as low as 6650 ohms and as high as 6980 ohms. Given the likely series wiring and the fact that the StingRay preamp was designed for resistances more like 1750-1850 ohms these variations can make a noticeable difference. LowEndLobster did the same test you just did but with EBMM Special 4H and 4HH basses and there was no noticeable difference. Those basses are wired correctly in parallel and the winding counts are standardized.
The Dazz Band bassplayer used a two pickup musicman (slapping the bass in most of there songs.) Seemed to work. And don't forget that Louis Johnson slapped a two pickup bass on the song STOMP. Sounded great!
One comment, from the jump he stated he lowered the neck pickup to “get it out of the way”. Always thought the H Stingray was a one trick pony. Having said that, I wish I still had my 70s Stingray. Don’t shoot me, I’m the bass player 😊. Wish he had played a 5 string version of the HH at the end. The pickups are placed differently with the neck pickup closer to the neck.
The single has way more punch. I own both but, then I’ve thing about the HH is that you can convert it into a single if you really want to. New pick guard and you’ll need to rewire it but that’s an easy swap.
I don't slap a lot, but I still found the HH model's neck pickup to be in my way during finger style playing. I've owned both H and HH. Once I learned this, I sold the HH.
MixingGBP I agree. Playing purely finger style the extra pickup just seems to clutter up the striking area. Playing live and cutting through a drum mix, a mid pup can also muddy up the sound, very very quickly.
the look of the single is so iconic and used in so many genres. i wanna see a comparison between the stingray hh and bongo bass hh. love the versatility of the HH, but the H has so much attack to it. i really cant decide on what i like better. i grew up on punk and loved the attack a single stingray did
Really amazed at how much even with identical settings the H version MM Stingray sounded more acoustical, scooped, touch sensitive, and the HH version sounded a lot more muffled and with more midrange presence. This video has helped me to make an informed, and finalized decision, and I think I would go for the H version, because I already have an Ibanez SR300E GVM, which has HH, a 3-Band EQ and pickup balance knob. It gives me tons of variety. I don’t think that the Music Man Ray34 Natural Ash M-2 comes in a HH version anyway ?? This one I’m buying to see the differences in creativity it can pull from me as an artist and musician, in opposition to the aforementioned current bass. It is also essentially the bass that my stepdad had and played in his band for over 30 years, ( 1970’s Ernie Ball MM Stingray Natural with maple Neck) so there is a bit of nostalgic draw. I hope everyone finds what they are looking for. Thanks Marcelo!
I had 2012 Stingray HH (not Sterling), it was nice and I was able to play slap easily (without double thumb). But 90-95% of the time I was playing bridge pickup only, so I think 1 pickup version is still best choice for most of situations.
I've long felt the same about putting a jazz bass pickup in a Precision. I did it to my 70's P and the magnetic pull took some of that nice loose feeling away. It also took some of the wood out of the body. It never sounded or felt the same, I hated it and ended up selling the bass.
I think that's a fair assessment. IF you're primarily slapping, and don't need different colors to paint with , get the H....but if you need more flexibility, the HH( I have one) has more to offer in that department , and I can still slap well enough for the majority of material audiences want to hear .The average audience listener can't tell the difference anyway....
A million thanks! You just saved me from making the wrong choice. I was going to go for the dual pickup one but after listening to your video I definitely prefer the single pickup version! THANKS!!!
Excellent video and great playing, Marcelo - as always! Thanx for this great comparison ... but maybe you should point out, that we're talking Sterlings (Ray34s I believe) in this video, which certainly differ from the modern EBMM (Special) Stingrays in body wood and Humbucker magnet type ... probably another reason why some differences appear more obvious. To me, the Sterling H sounded more "treble-ish", something I haven't noticed when comparing my EBMM Stingrays (Special 5H and Special 4HH).
I got the 4 string HH yesterday wanting to get some Justin Chancellor-ish tones out of it. It does deliver. Plenty of tonal variety. I only slap bottoms, so I'm happy with it so far.
I have the 4HH. The neck pickup doesn’t get in the way if you take the time to get used to it. I also have a P and a J bass and guess what? They all have 2 pick ups. The double pickup MM has way more versatility. Which is great if you want more than 1 sound.
Did you have both pickups selected everytime you played? When playing basses with two pickups I would generally just use the middle one for most styles, especially when using a pick. Sure the bridge pickup is better for slap but I stick at slapping, when playing metal however I will use both at the same time to overdrive the top end a little bit.
Extremely familiar with both- good video, thx. Playing purely finger style as I do -the extra pickup just seems to clutter up the striking area. Playing live and cutting through a drum mix, a mid pup can also muddy up the sound, very very quickly.
I was wondering if the setups are really the same and if the pickups are the same. Same magnets and coils? Parallel vs. Series? The big difference I'm hearing is more highs from buzzy strings. I don't see that just another hole in the body can be doing all that. Are the component values for the pre-amps the same? The same mechanical design can definitly be made to sound different by changing electronic, if one is out to make them different. Well... there is the extra damping from the magnets. They're right in a spot to do that.
These 2 basses come from the same factory from the same production line probably. It’s very likely the pickups all have Alnico magnets, and they are wired parallel individually. I’m not sure what you’re hearing but you should probably listen again using quality headphones of some sort. Even using just my Apple EarPods I can clearly discern the difference amidst the buzz. I can also hear the same on my much more expensive Sennheiser studio monitors. And yes, the components of the preamp look to be the same. I don’t see much financial gain from a budget line to use different preamps in almost similar basses.
Appreciate you making the video. It answered a question I had, whether the neck pick up would get in my way. After watching the video, I'm definitely going to the single pickup, because of the sound and slap-a-bility.
Okay, that was really really helpful. I've been in love with the M.M. sound since I saw Louis Johnson. After playing friends MMs and some at the store I finally bought one in 2010 and I got the Singray 5 HH. I LOVED the tones I got and found because of the tonal variety, I could dial in A LOT of different tones that'd work I all kinds of music I wrote and recorded. However, 3 things I realized. 1) I HATED slapping on that thing! Slapping is a big part of my playing and I just couldn't do it comfortably. 2) I felt like I was only getting about 85%-95% of that Music Man sound and it just wasn't totally there. I'd even wonder if for some reason they changed the pick-up. 3) I got rid of my HH and a few years later I went back to MM and got a H. Obviously the slap thing was no longer an issue but I quickly missed the tonal variety of the HH. Lately the tonal variety got me thinking about going back to the H.H. but now after listening to them side by side, that thought has been laid to rest. As a player I LOVE Music Man Stingrays but I will say that I feel that they are one of the harder basses to play. What I mean is playing fast slap riffs or really fast licks are harder to do than on most bases. If I was a shredder (not my taste), MM would not even be on my list, but if you want your sound to have HUGE personality, have a great voice and you want your groove to cut through anything? Then Music Man Stingrays can't be beat. Thank you for your great videos!
Mark thanks for sharing your knowledge.You helped make my decision easy .I took order of the two pickup black sparkle version after testing it because I play all types of music.
When you said they’re two different instruments, I thought you were saying that like when Gibson purist say weight relief chambers make a night and day difference, but damn you’re right. The scope is totally different. No one would suit my taste that much, but I sure love that HH Stingray. Luckily, I can’t afford it lol
Definitely a decent review. Even though I already decided on the HH, I was still a bit torn between the two. Also, I appreciate the fact that you mentioned Reggae and Ska, 'cause being a Jamaican bassist & Instrumental Artist, it can be difficult at time to find bass reviews that consider those genres as well. Give thanks, Marcelo.
I’ve been thinking about getting this or an Ibanez or Jackson, since I’ve been looking for a humbucker bass that reminds me of the dark and aggressive tone of a Rickenbacker 4001. This video has seriously made me consider purchasing a Music Man.
Good review and breakdown of the differences btwn the two Stingrays. Also great choice of showing Louis Johnson thumping on his Star Licks series video.
Thank you so much for this man. I have a Squier Jazz and PJ bass and am looking to buy a 5 string stingray but was torn and uneducated as to the differences for the single pickup vs HH versions of the bass. This has helped me beyond words thank you so much man!!!!! God Bless!!!!!
Thank you. This was EXTREMELY HELPFUL. I am planning to add a sting Ray to my other basses for the slap sound and was going to buy an HH . Now I will buy a single H version.
What do you think the mechanics are to the solo rear pickup compared to the H? The mere presence of the extra magnets? I personally presume that the HH bridge pickup is different than the H pickup, for the simple reason that you can configure the HH to sound like an H with the extra choices in coil splitting and coil split location choices. This being the case, the HH is better due to the larger array of possible sounds. I love mine, except the preamp is a bit too strong, with no internal adjustability. Because the HH can recreate the H sound, and that wasn't done here, this review is a bit biased. But still very educational and entertaining!! Thanks
My musicman hh has the front pickup even closer to the fretboard I think. And that really is in the way when it comes to slapping. But then, I slap very rarely the additional sounds are really different and make the choice easy. HH all day.
I have the HH version with the 5 way switch and I love it. I don't care for or play slap so the Neck pickup does not bother me at all. For me, the HH is like having a StingRay and a Jazz bass in one and it can do more.
Probably one of the best honest comparisons and contrasts between stingray H and stingray HH. Concise and complete, very nice. Would be cool to add the new 2018 Special into this video. I have a Special 4HH and a pre-Special 4HH. Very similar, but slightly different tones even between the two. Excellent comparison and explanations!
One simple reason the two bridge pickups sound different is that the H is wired in parallel and the HH is wired in series. 5 string H's have a switch to choose between the two (and a singlecoil setting) which makes it easy to hear the difference.
I have bought a Sterling BMM Ray 35 H in swampash first. It is amazing. Great playability and sound. I have bought now a second ray 35 HH. So I have more sounds. You are right. The neck pick up is more in the way also for not slapping. Very different feel. Different sound. I have know a mahagony with a very different wood. And yeah, both are cool and cheap stingrays. And now in a beautiful daphneblue. The strings are on this basses really near the edge of the fingerboard. That can make trouble with special slide techniques. I have not this problem. I love this pick selector. Very easy.
This video came at the perfect time for me. I've been bouncing back and forth whether I wanted an H or HH for weeks now. I'm dead set on a Stingray and I think you helped me decide. I'm in love with that single H and will probably be pulling the trigger on getting one soon. Thank you for the insight!
Thank you for the video! I think something was off in your settings there. From my experience strings make a significant difference and to my ear, you had different strings. If the pickups are the same, the string scale is the same, buttery power is the same, electronic circuit is the same, it's definitely the strings, not the extra pickup. The argument about slapping is very valid, I totally agree.
Victor Wooten's signature Ying Yang Fodera has two humbucking pickups and that doesn't slow him down. Also it looked like the switch was set on the single coil bridge pickup selection.
Thanx for the comparison between this two pick ups in the bridge position. Now I understand. I wanted to buy HH version but now I changed my mind👍🏻great video. Greetings from Poland, Wizz🤘🙃
was the Sabre neck pickup that close to the neck? I recall it had a little more space. Same with the G&L L2000, that had even more space. The bass player in Dazz used a Sabre on Let It Whip, the Sabre slap tone is unmistakable.
I have that exact same color Ray34 and it's one of the best basses I've ever played. Granted I've never owned or played anything that cost above $1000 but still. It's an awesome bass. I wanted an HH for a while but then I got a G&L L2000 Tribute and I like it a bit better for when I want to use both humbuckers. But the Single-pickup Stingray is honestly way more versatile than it gets credit for...that preamp is pretty flexible and a little but of cutting/boosting goes a really long way to shaping your tone.
Cool comparison, marco. 😎🤘🏻🎸 I do like what I hear from both basses and considering that I play rock and metal, I don’t think I can go wrong with either of them. And I will agree that rather if 2 pickups are better than one is not really the case. It’s really about preference on rather if a single pickup or a double pickup bass stingray is suitable for your style of playing. Either one is very suitable for metal. And they sound killer with distortion.
First of all ,I own both the single H and 5hh models, don't get me wrong the single gives you the classic Stingray sound but it is a one trick pony that does its job very well, the 5hh, to me takes it to another level, Slapping is not a problem, I've gotten used to it, its not nearly as bad as he says, Overrated, If you know how to slap you can , the versatility on the Hh is awesome, so many tones, you can dial in that classic Stingray tone, slapping as well as other tones, he sounds biased to me for the single, I bring both to my gigs, and I use the 5hh more, my choice 4 or 5Hh you'll love it
Well sir, you might be my latest purchase savior cus I'm already looking into the retailer's policy returns. I bought the Special HH and i cannot dial a great tone from it aside from the bridge pickup that sounds great(classic tone) even with flat eq. It came with super slinkys, i don;t like those, i prefer regular ones 130-45. So, if you could throw a few eq settings for it, I'd appreciate it!.. I'll be changing the strings soon of course.
I don't use a lot of mids, most of the time I cut them, I love to play with the different configurations on the 5hh, selector in bridge position boost treble, bass half, mid cut, my favorite middle position, mid half, treble boost ,bass just a little, I am enjoying and discovering tones
This was very helpful. I'm new to bass, but I've got my eye on this bass and wasn't sure which one I would want, and since I might want to learn slap bass, looks like the single pickup will be the winner. Thanks :)
Thank you for playing finger style, with a pic, and slap to really give us a good idea of what both vases sound like. I do a lot of pop punk stuff so it helps when you play with a pic because most video creators only play slap or without a pic so it was good that you did all three.
Great video! Never thought about the magnets of the second pickup affecting the string vibration. It's an argument. But I can't believe that the magnetic field plus the extra hole in the body are the only reasons for the big difference in sound. Didn't expect these two basses to sound that different. I definitively was right to keep my mid 90s Stingray MM 30 (exactly the model Flea played in that picture). I'm actually still amazed by the huge range of sounds you can get out of this bass with just one pickup and that mighty three band EQ. I've heard no other bass that cuts through in the mix as well as the original stingray. The neck pickup really doesn't add much value to it for me.
For sure. Two basses with exact identical specs can even sound different from each other. Every piece of woods used and pickup is going to sound slightly different.
@@codyhansonbass If the bridge pickup is in the same spot, the difference in the sound comes down to the PreAmp. The Single H Stingray has a 3 band EQ. The HH Stingray only has a 2 band EQ. The wood, or the missing material from the body for the second humbucker, don’t do anything to the sound in an electric bass. P b
you sold me on the single! not sure if I made the right choice as I'm a total beginner but I wanted to start out with the 'best' right off the bat. I know, what if I lose interest? I've played drums for over 20 years and guitar on and off for maybe 10. almost exclusively metal. with bass im really wanting to learn slapping and funk and all the stuff I never really listened to. I got the single at a really good price so I couldn't say no. thanks for the review and great channel!
For my needs the dual pickup had the sound I was looking for. The single h strikes me as something for lead instruments, I want something that will blend more with my own compositions
Really appreciate that demo. I was one of the people who assumed that i wanted the HH, but after listening to this i realize that the single pickup model is the tone im looking for. Keep doing what you are doing. This is helpful to so many people. Awesome playing as always!
Right on T.J Keep on funkin BUDDY.....
Absolutely, new tech and the options that come with it are great but sometimes you don’t need to mess with perfection
For real
I used to have the dual HH stingray five and I tried to use the other positions for different tones and for some reason I just kept going back to the bridge humbucker and so I’m buying a new one soon, I’m only gonna get the single H, for some reason the other tones just did not work for me.
HH doesn't bother me when I slap at all
Just to note, there are 5 different tonal possibilities from different pickup configurations on the HH, not just 3. Really an amazing sounding and feeling bass.
Paul Haddad Hey do you have one? Thinking of getting the HH.
@@catthat9999 yeah I have a 2010, fitted with flatwounds. I love it very much, will never get rid of it.
Paul Haddad I have just ordered the HH :)
@@catthat9999 I hope you like it as much as I do. It's the best purchase I've ever made in my life.
@@catthat9999 The new specials are a bit different from my 2010, but they sound just as good from what I can tell and they are a few pounds lighter which is a big plus.
Repeat your test, but on fresh strings for both instruments. I've A/B'd these bases myself, and there's very, very little difference aside from the HH model being versatile. It's very clear to my ears that the H version of this bass had strings that were either completely different, or otherwise much newer than the HH version.
I've had both. On the same, new strings there is definitely a good difference, the HH definitely has less sustain. One surprising difference I found is that the HH really doesn't work well with overdrive pedals. The H doesn't work with quite a few overdrives but I never found one that works with the HH which is why I sold it
Owning both (but 5 strings) I can confirm that the HH sounds much darker.
The black one is a mahogany stingray. Say what you like about woods but having owned that one and several other stingrays it does sound different but not because it has an additional pickup
Great point, I’m about to do the same. Thanks for the input!!
Had both HH and H, I liked the HH better too. Pedals were better on HH, IMO.
I lowered the neck pickup on my HH and slapping is not a issue anymore. Easy fix and aaaaawesome tone. HH all the way.
lowering the neck pickup sounds like rubbish to me
You might as well remove it
Something isn’t right. There’s NO way they could possibly sound so different. FAR more clarity in the H. Sounds like the HH has different strings (or they are completely dead).
I have both and indeed, somehow the HH is way less bright, I suspect is because the preamp is designed to handle the single coil positions without sounding too harsh or overly bright, they sound totally different
It's probably because of the magnets pulling on the strings. You have twice the amount on the hh
HH looks bad ass but man..that sound of the single pickup is wild man. Im shopping for a new guitar as we speak. Single H is the way to go for me.
Very insightful. Thank you!
I play bass for solo/vocal stuff and in an R&B/ Soul/Jazz band and the HH seems to be more versatile for both cases!
I noticed that it’s perfect for hitting across all frequency ranges for both situations.
When playing in the band, the HH ALWAYS supplements the low end for the overall sound and the tone control is perfect for cutting through the mix when it needs to.
With the solo sing/songwriter bass stuff, the HH fills the overall sound especially with playing chords and stingrays always provide a solid percussive sound with things like palm mutes and thumping!
The H is definitely perfect for straight to the point lead bass sound, and perfect for more firepower in the solo bass world of slapping and tapping. It’s a perfect grab and go if that’s what your primary playing style is.
But for me personally, the HH wins in the world of versatility and integration in all music. Although amazing in its own respect, the H is more a one trick pony and it’s very very very good at what it does.
If I could own both I would! Lol
Same reasons for liking the HH5 version. I don't slap and love the neck pickup sound in a bass. I play fingerstyle in a blues/rock setting with a little shit-kicker country thrown in. The 2 pickup version covers all that for me. Picking one up this week.
Still for me the hh model is the best i like to take a lot of different sounds of the stingray for any style of music can't wait for the hh ray35 on white to be in my home studio 😍
It's also worth noting that, on five string versions with a single humbucker, you'd get a 3-way toggle to go between parallel (default) and series modes, which would give you even more options. A single H Stingray is never a bad investment; just a different one than a HH.
I'm all about the single H! Great demo and insights. I think that the single H is more versatile than players give it credit for! It works for funk, rock, jazz, R&B, and fusion. It's easier to mellow out the single H than to brighten up the dual H. Both are killer basses though!
True! The onboard preamp is very powerful and can shape your sound in many ways
Very interesting. The HH sounds more muted, but has a tighter sound. This makes sense with the additional magnets. I wonder if some additional treble would get the HH to sound more like the H. I must go and find out at the store!
When you've got an EQ with a treble, bass & mid configuration, there's absolutely no way the single pickup version is a non-versatile bass. I've used my stingray for everything from blues to heavy metal.
Even tho some people want a non nasally sound, it's still a very good bass.
Now thats something i wanna hear
To me H sound is better than HH one only for slap playing. I have a MM Stingray 5 Special HH and now I’m happier! Great video👍🏻
Yep I knew all about this having owned a 2005 Stingray 5H, I sold it to buy a Stingray Special 5HH which to me is a much more versatile bass, that still can do the classic Stingray stuff.... it just needs a bit of tweaking to get that classic slap sound (which honestly I don't do much any more)
But the H and the HH are definitely different animals, and this was a great demonstration of that. I believe the tonal difference is more from the preamp differences and the way the EQ is built too.
Nice video.
Wow, there is a huge diference in tone! Didn't expect to be that much. I'm all in on the single H :)
The twin pickup musicman came out in the seventies it was called the musicman sabre bass.
Two very different basses though. Electronics are completely different.
the Sabre had a Jazz bass narrow neck
A delayed “thank you” for doing this video. I was considering getting a Stingray 5 back in my collection back in 2019 and I wasn’t sure which one I wanted to get. Your video helped me decide on the single H, and I couldn’t be happier. Thanks again.
Thanks for reaffirming that I juts bought the correct model! Should have my HH in 3 days! 🤩
Me too, just got an HH for classic rock and blues. Love the low tone.
Marcelo, did you measure the resistance of the two and make sure that they're both wired the same? Most likely both should be wired in series (unfortunately this is the default for most SBMM basses), but I've heard that some were wired in parallel.
The resistance is significant as the variations in the pickup winding will affect the tone. Unlike the premium EBMM Music Mans, SBMM pickups vary in their construction and I've seen series resistance as low as 6650 ohms and as high as 6980 ohms. Given the likely series wiring and the fact that the StingRay preamp was designed for resistances more like 1750-1850 ohms these variations can make a noticeable difference.
LowEndLobster did the same test you just did but with EBMM Special 4H and 4HH basses and there was no noticeable difference. Those basses are wired correctly in parallel and the winding counts are standardized.
Came here to say this.
The Dazz Band bassplayer used a two pickup musicman (slapping the bass in most of there songs.) Seemed to work. And don't forget that Louis Johnson slapped a two pickup bass on the song STOMP. Sounded great!
the guy in Dazz played a Sabre, unmistakable sound
@@rrdream2400 That is correct!!!
You can really change the tone on the HH more than he did in the video. But I still love that single pickup, farty sound.
One comment, from the jump he stated he lowered the neck pickup to “get it out of the way”. Always thought the H Stingray was a one trick pony. Having said that, I wish I still had my 70s Stingray. Don’t shoot me, I’m the bass player 😊. Wish he had played a 5 string version of the HH at the end. The pickups are placed differently with the neck pickup closer to the neck.
I love how the double pickup looks and it’s good for what I play but the tone of the single is so funky I love it
The difference sounds like something a bit of eq could fix easilly.
Or a rewire.
One thing I'll say about the Ray 34HH is if you rewire the pickups to parallel it will sound exactly the same as a regular musicman pickup.
The single has way more punch. I own both but, then I’ve thing about the HH is that you can convert it into a single if you really want to. New pick guard and you’ll need to rewire it but that’s an easy swap.
Wow. The single H is way brighter. Very informative. I always thought about the neck humbucker on the HH getting in the way for slap.
You can close the neck pickup.
I don't slap a lot, but I still found the HH model's neck pickup to be in my way during finger style playing. I've owned both H and HH. Once I learned this, I sold the HH.
MixingGBP I agree. Playing purely finger style the extra pickup just seems to clutter up the striking area. Playing live and cutting through a drum mix, a mid pup can also muddy up the sound, very very quickly.
I am shocked! The HH has a totally different sound! Single H I prefer
the look of the single is so iconic and used in so many genres. i wanna see a comparison between the stingray hh and bongo bass hh. love the versatility of the HH, but the H has so much attack to it. i really cant decide on what i like better. i grew up on punk and loved the attack a single stingray did
Really amazed at how much even with identical settings the H version MM Stingray sounded more acoustical, scooped, touch sensitive, and the HH version sounded a lot more muffled and with more midrange presence.
This video has helped me to make an informed, and finalized decision, and I think I would go for the H version, because I already have an Ibanez SR300E GVM, which has HH, a 3-Band EQ and pickup balance knob. It gives me tons of variety.
I don’t think that the Music Man Ray34 Natural Ash M-2 comes in a HH version anyway ??
This one I’m buying to see the differences in creativity it can pull from me as an artist and musician, in opposition to the aforementioned current bass.
It is also essentially the bass that my stepdad had and played in his band for over 30 years, ( 1970’s Ernie Ball MM Stingray Natural with maple Neck) so there is a bit of nostalgic draw.
I hope everyone finds what they are looking for.
Thanks Marcelo!
I had 2012 Stingray HH (not Sterling), it was nice and I was able to play slap easily (without double thumb).
But 90-95% of the time I was playing bridge pickup only, so I think 1 pickup version is still best choice for most of situations.
I've long felt the same about putting a jazz bass pickup in a Precision. I did it to my 70's P and the magnetic pull took some of that nice loose feeling away. It also took some of the wood out of the body. It never sounded or felt the same, I hated it and ended up selling the bass.
I think that's a fair assessment. IF you're primarily slapping, and don't need different colors to paint with , get the H....but if you need more flexibility, the HH( I have one) has more to offer in that department , and I can still slap well enough for the majority of material audiences want to hear .The average audience listener can't tell the difference anyway....
I own both. HH for the smoothness , and H for Slap and everything else.
A million thanks! You just saved me from making the wrong choice. I was going to go for the dual pickup one but after listening to your video I definitely prefer the single pickup version! THANKS!!!
Excellent video and great playing, Marcelo - as always! Thanx for this great comparison ... but maybe you should point out, that we're talking Sterlings (Ray34s I believe) in this video, which certainly differ from the modern EBMM (Special) Stingrays in body wood and Humbucker magnet type ... probably another reason why some differences appear more obvious. To me, the Sterling H sounded more "treble-ish", something I haven't noticed when comparing my EBMM Stingrays (Special 5H and Special 4HH).
All I can think of is a Sabian hand hammered stingray now.
Rise up drum-bass gang.
I got the 4 string HH yesterday wanting to get some Justin Chancellor-ish tones out of it. It does deliver. Plenty of tonal variety. I only slap bottoms, so I'm happy with it so far.
I have the 4HH. The neck pickup doesn’t get in the way if you take the time to get used to it. I also have a P and a J bass and guess what? They all have 2 pick ups. The double pickup MM has way more versatility. Which is great if you want more than 1 sound.
Did you have both pickups selected everytime you played? When playing basses with two pickups I would generally just use the middle one for most styles, especially when using a pick. Sure the bridge pickup is better for slap but I stick at slapping, when playing metal however I will use both at the same time to overdrive the top end a little bit.
Extremely familiar with both- good video, thx. Playing purely finger style as I do -the extra pickup just seems to clutter up the striking area. Playing live and cutting through a drum mix, a mid pup can also muddy up the sound, very very quickly.
I thought that was just a noisy thumb-rest they'd installed in the neck position. We live and learn ;)
I was wondering if the setups are really the same and if the pickups are the same. Same magnets and coils? Parallel vs. Series? The big difference I'm hearing is more highs from buzzy strings.
I don't see that just another hole in the body can be doing all that.
Are the component values for the pre-amps the same? The same mechanical design can definitly be made to sound different by changing electronic, if one is out to make them different.
Well... there is the extra damping from the magnets. They're right in a spot to do that.
These 2 basses come from the same factory from the same production line probably. It’s very likely the pickups all have Alnico magnets, and they are wired parallel individually. I’m not sure what you’re hearing but you should probably listen again using quality headphones of some sort. Even using just my Apple EarPods I can clearly discern the difference amidst the buzz. I can also hear the same on my much more expensive Sennheiser studio monitors.
And yes, the components of the preamp look to be the same. I don’t see much financial gain from a budget line to use different preamps in almost similar basses.
The single is wired parallel and the double is wired in series. SBMM confirmed this in an email.
@@ProfessorGroyper
Could indeed be it.
:)
tnx
@@ProfessorGroyper that would be contrary to the diagrams they have on their website
@@codyhansonbass They don't have diagrams on their website. Only Music Man has those.
Appreciate you making the video. It answered a question I had, whether the neck pick up would get in my way. After watching the video, I'm definitely going to the single pickup, because of the sound and slap-a-bility.
Great video. I have owned both, but I stuck with the Stingray H model.
Okay, that was really really helpful. I've been in love with the M.M. sound since I saw Louis Johnson. After playing friends MMs and some at the store I finally bought one in 2010 and I got the Singray 5 HH. I LOVED the tones I got and found because of the tonal variety, I could dial in A LOT of different tones that'd work I all kinds of music I wrote and recorded. However, 3 things I realized.
1) I HATED slapping on that thing! Slapping is a big part of my playing and I just couldn't do it comfortably.
2) I felt like I was only getting about 85%-95% of that Music Man sound and it just wasn't totally there. I'd even wonder if for some reason they changed the pick-up.
3) I got rid of my HH and a few years later I went back to MM and got a H. Obviously the slap thing was no longer an issue but I quickly missed the tonal variety of the HH.
Lately the tonal variety got me thinking about going back to the H.H. but now after listening to them side by side, that thought has been laid to rest.
As a player I LOVE Music Man Stingrays but I will say that I feel that they are one of the harder basses to play. What I mean is playing fast slap riffs or really fast licks are harder to do than on most bases. If I was a shredder (not my taste), MM would not even be on my list, but if you want your sound to have HUGE personality, have a great voice and you want your groove to cut through anything? Then Music Man Stingrays can't be beat.
Thank you for your great videos!
As far as I know, a difference in sound is also due to: single pickup model = alnico magnet, dual pickups = ceramic magnet
Yeah, this guy is misinformed
Great info
I was on the fence couple weeks ago if I should get the 4H or 4HH. This video helped me to decide on getting the 4H. I can’t be happier.
This video give the reason why marc bought a new H special one, not a HH. Maybe H style is more important for you. Love your video,Thanks Marc!
Mark thanks for sharing your knowledge.You helped make my decision easy .I took order of the two pickup black sparkle version after testing it because I play all types of music.
Great breakdown of the two Basses. Great Basses at a great price point.
Cheers.
When you said they’re two different instruments, I thought you were saying that like when Gibson purist say weight relief chambers make a night and day difference, but damn you’re right. The scope is totally different. No one would suit my taste that much, but I sure love that HH Stingray. Luckily, I can’t afford it lol
It's incredible how different they sound, even on the same bridge pickup. Thanks for this Marcelo!
Double hh is wired series. Single h is parallel.
@@richardmilligan1410 incorrect
Single Pickup all day long. Great Video! Thanks for doing it. Are those The Indonesian Sterlings?
I just bought the exact single H bass today, loving it 😁
Definitely a decent review. Even though I already decided on the HH, I was still a bit torn between the two. Also, I appreciate the fact that you mentioned Reggae and Ska, 'cause being a Jamaican bassist & Instrumental Artist, it can be difficult at time to find bass reviews that consider those genres as well. Give thanks, Marcelo.
I’ve been thinking about getting this or an Ibanez or Jackson, since I’ve been looking for a humbucker bass that reminds me of the dark and aggressive tone of a Rickenbacker 4001. This video has seriously made me consider purchasing a Music Man.
Do the frets/necks feel the same and all? I have played the HH on which I really liked how it felt, but I didn’t play the H. Thanks in advance.
yes, both have the same stingray neck feel
Good review and breakdown of the differences btwn the two Stingrays. Also great choice of showing Louis Johnson thumping on his Star Licks series video.
Thank you so much for this man. I have a Squier Jazz and PJ bass and am looking to buy a 5 string stingray but was torn and uneducated as to the differences for the single pickup vs HH versions of the bass. This has helped me beyond words thank you so much man!!!!! God Bless!!!!!
Thank you for steering me clear of the two pickup model. Absolutely no doubts! 👍
Thank you. This was EXTREMELY HELPFUL. I am planning to add a sting Ray to my other basses for the slap sound and was going to buy an HH . Now I will buy a single H version.
What do you think the mechanics are to the solo rear pickup compared to the H? The mere presence of the extra magnets? I personally presume that the HH bridge pickup is different than the H pickup, for the simple reason that you can configure the HH to sound like an H with the extra choices in coil splitting and coil split location choices. This being the case, the HH is better due to the larger array of possible sounds. I love mine, except the preamp is a bit too strong, with no internal adjustability. Because the HH can recreate the H sound, and that wasn't done here, this review is a bit biased. But still very educational and entertaining!! Thanks
My musicman hh has the front pickup even closer to the fretboard I think. And that really is in the way when it comes to slapping. But then, I slap very rarely the additional sounds are really different and make the choice easy. HH all day.
Marcelo, very great video ! Thankfully I already have a 1976 MM Stingray, so Im gnna add to his new lil brother, the MM Stingray HH!
I love that Single pickup one! However, I´m missing the deep low end of the HH. Thanks for the Slap comparison! Great video as always!
I have the HH version with the 5 way switch and I love it.
I don't care for or play slap so the Neck pickup does not bother me at all.
For me, the HH is like having a StingRay and a Jazz bass in one and it can do more.
Probably one of the best honest comparisons and contrasts between stingray H and stingray HH. Concise and complete, very nice. Would be cool to add the new 2018 Special into this video. I have a Special 4HH and a pre-Special 4HH. Very similar, but slightly different tones even between the two. Excellent comparison and explanations!
One simple reason the two bridge pickups sound different is that the H is wired in parallel and the HH is wired in series. 5 string H's have a switch to choose between the two (and a singlecoil setting) which makes it easy to hear the difference.
I have bought a Sterling BMM Ray 35 H in swampash first. It is amazing. Great playability and sound. I have bought now a second ray 35 HH. So I have more sounds. You are right. The neck pick up is more in the way also for not slapping. Very different feel. Different sound. I have know a mahagony with a very different wood. And yeah, both are cool and cheap stingrays. And now in a beautiful daphneblue. The strings are on this basses really near the edge of the fingerboard. That can make trouble with special slide techniques. I have not this problem. I love this pick selector. Very easy.
The 2 pickup version can give me a tone much closer to a Gibson EB0 style bass, which is kinda my "holy grail"
This video came at the perfect time for me. I've been bouncing back and forth whether I wanted an H or HH for weeks now. I'm dead set on a Stingray and I think you helped me decide. I'm in love with that single H and will probably be pulling the trigger on getting one soon.
Thank you for the insight!
Evan Brooks hey give the bongo a shot. I just got one. It’s great. Stingray are great to
@@redneckrocker412 God I hate Bongo's personally. They sound good, but that look is definitely an acquired taste.
Really looking at getting the single. Love the finish and clear pick guard. Great video man!
Hello, thanks for this review. These are sterling by musicman basses? Do you have a stingray special comparison? Thanks
A very clear explanation about the tone difference..2 thumbs up..
Thank you for the video! I think something was off in your settings there. From my experience strings make a significant difference and to my ear, you had different strings. If the pickups are the same, the string scale is the same, buttery power is the same, electronic circuit is the same, it's definitely the strings, not the extra pickup. The argument about slapping is very valid, I totally agree.
I have the same pickup issue in the Yamaha JP2. The single pick up can be better to have more home for your finger.
Victor Wooten's signature Ying Yang Fodera has two humbucking pickups and that doesn't slow him down. Also it looked like the switch was set on the single coil bridge pickup selection.
Thanx for the comparison between this two pick ups in the bridge position. Now I understand. I wanted to buy HH version but now I changed my mind👍🏻great video. Greetings from Poland, Wizz🤘🙃
Love the video. Fact: Louis Johnson played the Sabre on "Stomp"..:-)
was the Sabre neck pickup that close to the neck? I recall it had a little more space. Same with the G&L L2000, that had even more space. The bass player in Dazz used a Sabre on Let It Whip, the Sabre slap tone is unmistakable.
Thank you been waiting for this one!
All right, this was very clarifying bout getting one of those beauties. Thanks a lot.
Single was my fav by far. Thanks for posting.
I have that exact same color Ray34 and it's one of the best basses I've ever played. Granted I've never owned or played anything that cost above $1000 but still. It's an awesome bass.
I wanted an HH for a while but then I got a G&L L2000 Tribute and I like it a bit better for when I want to use both humbuckers. But the Single-pickup Stingray is honestly way more versatile than it gets credit for...that preamp is pretty flexible and a little but of cutting/boosting goes a really long way to shaping your tone.
Cool comparison, marco. 😎🤘🏻🎸 I do like what I hear from both basses and considering that I play rock and metal, I don’t think I can go wrong with either of them. And I will agree that rather if 2 pickups are better than one is not really the case. It’s really about preference on rather if a single pickup or a double pickup bass stingray is suitable for your style of playing. Either one is very suitable for metal. And they sound killer with distortion.
After this video I figured which bass I wanted n bought it 😂 thank you! For the awesome video.
First of all ,I own both the single H and 5hh models, don't get me wrong the single gives you the classic Stingray sound but it is a one trick pony that does its job very well, the 5hh, to me takes it to another level, Slapping is not a problem, I've gotten used to it, its not nearly as bad as he says, Overrated, If you know how to slap you can , the versatility on the Hh is awesome, so many tones, you can dial in that classic Stingray tone, slapping as well as other tones, he sounds biased to me for the single, I bring both to my gigs, and I use the 5hh more, my choice 4 or 5Hh you'll love it
Agreed. The bass player for the DAZZ Band played a Sabre bass; (the real two pickup music man bass) and he slapped the bass on a lot of his songs!
Well sir, you might be my latest purchase savior cus I'm already looking into the retailer's policy returns. I bought the Special HH and i cannot dial a great tone from it aside from the bridge pickup that sounds great(classic tone) even with flat eq. It came with super slinkys, i don;t like those, i prefer regular ones 130-45. So, if you could throw a few eq settings for it, I'd appreciate it!.. I'll be changing the strings soon of course.
I don't use a lot of mids, most of the time I cut them, I love to play with the different configurations on the 5hh, selector in bridge position boost treble, bass half, mid cut, my favorite middle position, mid half, treble boost ,bass just a little, I am enjoying and discovering tones
Thank you for the clear-cut explanation! I'm window shopping for my second bass right now and this has really helped me out! :)
This was very helpful. I'm new to bass, but I've got my eye on this bass and wasn't sure which one I would want, and since I might want to learn slap bass, looks like the single pickup will be the winner. Thanks :)
Thanks for making this video I have now decided I need both
Thank you for playing finger style, with a pic, and slap to really give us a good idea of what both vases sound like. I do a lot of pop punk stuff so it helps when you play with a pic because most video creators only play slap or without a pic so it was good that you did all three.
This was actually so insightful! didn't think i needed this video but i did and learned a LOT of valuable info!! thank you so much :)
Great video! Never thought about the magnets of the second pickup affecting the string vibration. It's an argument. But I can't believe that the magnetic field plus the extra hole in the body are the only reasons for the big difference in sound. Didn't expect these two basses to sound that different.
I definitively was right to keep my mid 90s Stingray MM 30 (exactly the model Flea played in that picture). I'm actually still amazed by the huge range of sounds you can get out of this bass with just one pickup and that mighty three band EQ. I've heard no other bass that cuts through in the mix as well as the original stingray. The neck pickup really doesn't add much value to it for me.
I think the bridge pickup on the HH is in a different spot than the H also.
For sure. Two basses with exact identical specs can even sound different from each other. Every piece of woods used and pickup is going to sound slightly different.
@@codyhansonbass If the bridge pickup is in the same spot, the difference in the sound comes down to the PreAmp. The Single H Stingray has a 3 band EQ. The HH Stingray only has a 2 band EQ.
The wood, or the missing material from the body for the second humbucker, don’t do anything to the sound in an electric bass. P b
Thank you for the enlightening video, it actually helped me a lot to choose which StingRay was right for me.
you sold me on the single! not sure if I made the right choice as I'm a total beginner but I wanted to start out with the 'best' right off the bat. I know, what if I lose interest? I've played drums for over 20 years and guitar on and off for maybe 10. almost exclusively metal. with bass im really wanting to learn slapping and funk and all the stuff I never really listened to. I got the single at a really good price so I couldn't say no. thanks for the review and great channel!
Wow! The difference is so obvious. A really helpful video bro. You're doing great!!!
Thank you for this great comparison!
For my needs the dual pickup had the sound I was looking for. The single h strikes me as something for lead instruments, I want something that will blend more with my own compositions