Music Man Stingray H vs HH - Which One Should You Get?

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In this video I talk about the differences and Pros & Cons between the Musicman Stingray Bass H with a single pickup vs the HH which has two pickups.
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[@t.j.meechan682]

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!

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

Right on T.J Keep on funkin BUDDY.....

[@whitt-fitt8028]

Absolutely, new tech and the options that come with it are great but sometimes you don’t need to mess with perfection

[@jreschke5]

For real

[@robertlusk8423]

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.

[@jone915]

HH doesn't bother me when I slap at all

[@paulwadehaddad]

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]

Paul Haddad Hey do you have one? Thinking of getting the HH.

[@paulwadehaddad]

@@catthat9999 yeah I have a 2010, fitted with flatwounds. I love it very much, will never get rid of it.

[@catthat9999]

Paul Haddad I have just ordered the HH :)

[@paulwadehaddad]

@@catthat9999 I hope you like it as much as I do. It's the best purchase I've ever made in my life.

[@paulwadehaddad]

@@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.

[@alessandroruta]

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👍🏻

[@cilantroshrimp6177]

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

[@davidcudlip6587]

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.

[@jttech44]

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.

[@stevec6427]

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

[@JM_2019]

Owning both (but 5 strings) I can confirm that the HH sounds much darker.

[@alexanderhemming9148]

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

[@healing2gether]

Great point, I’m about to do the same. Thanks for the input!!

[@dansoto6147]

Had both HH and H, I liked the HH better too. Pedals were better on HH, IMO.

[@KeithCopeland778]

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!

[@TheBassWizard]

True! The onboard preamp is very powerful and can shape your sound in many ways

[@LochNessAnthony]

Thank you been waiting for this one!

[@chon4413]

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 😍

[@leftauparxoun]

I lowered the neck pickup on my HH and slapping is not a issue anymore. Easy fix and aaaaawesome tone. HH all the way.

[@blop-a-blop9419]

lowering the neck pickup sounds like rubbish to me You might as well remove it

[@weschilton]

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.

[@Jackal_Blitz]

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.

[@kusi0r]

Wow, there is a huge diference in tone! Didn't expect to be that much. I'm all in on the single H :)

[@KinggSkiller]

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.

[@jery3385]

Even tho some people want a non nasally sound, it's still a very good bass.

[@Melkor0410]

Now thats something i wanna hear

[@heyshwa5102]

Really looking at getting the single. Love the finish and clear pick guard. Great video man!

[@TheDp1965]

Great breakdown of the two Basses. Great Basses at a great price point. Cheers.

[@Grumdot]

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.

[@jaredmatthews9403]

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!

[@albert4321234]

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.

[@jackalberts9319]

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

[@bflo1000]

No slap or funk for me, HH all the way. Way more body & depth to the sound.

[@casenbledsoe6674]

yeah i play in a pop punk band and i played on a single pickup music man for a while and i went into a local guitar shop and found a electric blue HH bass and it fits how i want to sound

[@thebionicbassplayer]

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.

[@AGabaldoni]

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!!!

[@marilouneko2340]

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 :)

[@magicbeanparty9324]

Been waiting for this one!

[@Mandy75642]

Thank you for the clear-cut explanation! I'm window shopping for my second bass right now and this has really helped me out! :)

[@togibok18]

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.

[@sniggity]

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.

[@BassVideoAcademyES]

Thank you for this great comparison!

[@oscarlunavazquez6543]

All right, this was very clarifying bout getting one of those beauties. Thanks a lot.

[@valhallaatmedawg6446]

Thank you for steering me clear of the two pickup model. Absolutely no doubts! 👍

[@RDB11B]

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!!!!!

[@robertroestenburg3528]

The twin pickup musicman came out in the seventies it was called the musicman sabre bass.

[@6lillium]

Two very different basses though. Electronics are completely different.

[@rrdream2400]

the Sabre had a Jazz bass narrow neck

[@Geriatric_Punk]

Thank you for the enlightening video, it actually helped me a lot to choose which StingRay was right for me.

[@danroberts3585]

Very informative! TY for posting!

[@Mezziah777]

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.

[@k_aos3224]

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).

[@sustainabledashboard]

Hello, thanks for this review. These are sterling by musicman basses? Do you have a stingray special comparison? Thanks

[@david41209]

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!

[@MrTennisgolf]

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.

[@avh9394]

Cool review! Enlightening!

[@jdms_yt]

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!

[@INbassman78]

Thanks for reaffirming that I juts bought the correct model! Should have my HH in 3 days! 🤩

[@Theospeak1]

Me too, just got an HH for classic rock and blues. Love the low tone.

[@Dan_Sanch24]

After this video I figured which bass I wanted n bought it 😂 thank you! For the awesome video.

[@Jack-pp2ng]

Thanks for making this video I have now decided I need both

[@carlossarabia8028]

Thank you so much Marcelo !!! I really appreciate this video you did; I'm going for the single H version.

[@Diispaceyone]

this video helped me make a choice on what version I want

[@adibass2674]

A very clear explanation about the tone difference..2 thumbs up..

[@nram3930]

All I can think of is a Sabian hand hammered stingray now. Rise up drum-bass gang.

[@elhazelrah]

Fantastic demonstration. Thank you!

[@falkholze5037]

I am shocked! The HH has a totally different sound! Single H I prefer

[@mowler8042]

really great explanation it helped me choose my next bass thank you

[@d3vzvanezzia]

Thanks, it really helps

[@tommisalo]

Great video, thanks!

[@420scene]

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.

[@riffdigger2133]

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.

[@SalimBrowne]

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.

[@davidaubuchon7309]

Single was my fav by far. Thanks for posting.

[@ulash12344321]

Wow! The difference is so obvious. A really helpful video bro. You're doing great!!!

[@Shoeshine71]

thanks, helped me decide on the single

[@popsfitch7938]

Excellent demo, thank you.

[@joejarusinsky2244]

Great video, thanks. You just helped me decide on the single pick up version, although they’re both nice but different like you said. Rock on!

[@adnap]

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!

[@winstontk]

Great video. I have owned both, but I stuck with the Stingray H model.

[@richardmilligan1410]

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.

[@guidorusso60.]

You can close the neck pickup.

[@Marco-ls6ou]

Thanks Marcelo very helpful review!

[@oscararreola7756]

Thanks bro, you open my eyes

[@sp00g37]

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

[@rrdream2400]

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.

[@jasoncherry3404]

That was a very helpful video, I picked up the HH not really knowing the difference but now that I’ve seen and heard the difference I’m still convinced that I made a good choice. Both sound great and I don’t think you could really make a “Bad” decision in either instance, however for the type of sound and playing style that I’m looking for the HH meets those expectations. Thank you for the video, it was extremely insightful and informative.

[@bentpolski]

Single Pickup all day long. Great Video! Thanks for doing it. Are those The Indonesian Sterlings?

[@johnharshfield4726]

Excellent presentation - thanks!

[@jseveri]

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.

[@RettaTheRipper]

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 :)

[@rano5851]

The difference sounds like something a bit of eq could fix easilly.

[@ProfessorGroyper]

Or a rewire.

[@jimalbruzzess2445]

Great video!!!! I'm liking the H tone much better. But I also love my old school Hartkes 410 XLs.

[@taylortarr9281]

Hartke for life

[@brandonlee2237]

I just bought the exact single H bass today, loving it 😁

[@jreschke5]

Dude perfect video for comparison really helpful

[@BloodFireDoom]

Thanks for the vid bro. I'm currently doing the same research 👍

[@BlackRootsUNLIMITED]

Very nice review 👌🏿👊🏿

[@andyspark5192]

That was really helpful. Thank You very much

[@BassBajo]

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.

[@noodlegts]

It's incredible how different they sound, even on the same bridge pickup. Thanks for this Marcelo!

[@richardmilligan1410]

Double hh is wired series. Single h is parallel.

[@codyhansonbass]

@@richardmilligan1410 incorrect

[@jamesalfaro3155]

Thank you for your kindly share. It help me to decide which bass, based on the sound I need to go for. 👍

[@vanyiszabi]

Hi! This comparison is so cool! Thank you! Just one question...the string-sets are the same on H and HH?

[@marccolon5458]

Great video. Thanks for the comparison. I’m curious if you’ve ever played one of the original, 2 band eq, pre EB Stingrays and if so, what differences you found.

[@TheBassWizard]

No but I would love to!

[@chanoom]

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.

[@BruceLane]

very helpful, thanks! I will buy the single pickup one!

[@restojon1]

I thought that was just a noisy thumb-rest they'd installed in the neck position. We live and learn ;)

[@byjuu246]

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!

[@rrdream2400]

the guy in Dazz played a Sabre, unmistakable sound

[@byjuu246]

@@rrdream2400 That is correct!!!

[@MrSW-qx8nn]

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.

[@HueyVi]

Hi Marcelo, I have a jazz bass, and really hard to slap, I’m not sure that because of the neck pick up or I slap wrong technique.

[@davidcroteau4738]

I was wondering what do think about the h/s configuration???

[@augustus1562]

Both are the best! Musicman basses are amazing! I wish i could have one huhu

[@nickdurfey2312]

im thinking of getting a 5 string sterling and im not sure if it would be worth that tone tradeoff for the versatility, ive never played a 5 before so idk how important having that bridge pickup would be

[@arrakian]

Thank you for this. I was one who thought they were the same at the bridge.

[@mr.wunderful4361]

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!

[@florisvanvliet3542]

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.

[@gezi0752]

yes, both have the same stingray neck feel

[@paulgilleece5887]

Great video thank you exactly what I needed to hear as a metal player. Still will play both to see but I think I know what sound I am going for…

[@kazman29]

Great stuff! Any thoughts about 4 or 5 string influencing tone?