Streamer STD vs. Stage Streamers

[Shoewreck]

I've played my 4st. Streamer STD for more than a year and it's an amazing bass despite being nearly the simpliest and cheapest WW ever made. I can get some nice tones from it with or without EQ. I believe it sounds somewhat like Thumb with low mids raised and high mids cut and somewhere in between Fender Precision and SSII with high mids raised.
But, as you know, even the perfect setup doesn't protect you from GAS.
Probably I'll buy a used 5-string NT Streamer in a year, but I'm not sure which one should I GAS for. "Both" is not an option, of course. I lean towards SSI because of it's wider string spacing, that would probably ease 4-5 string transition, but I already got used to low-mid emphasis of SSTD, that reserves me a good place in the mix, but I expect more highs rather than mids and lows from all-maple SSI.
SSII seems to have more growl, focus and character. I like Dirk Lance's tones, but he's slap upsets be a bit. There's more click than zing and punch. That's probably he's technique and EQ settings.

I hope there are people familiar with both SSTD and Streamer Stage (I and/or II). I want to know which Stage sounds closer to my STD and what differences are.

 

[Benjamin]

I think you'll have a more variation in your tone if you go for the SSI. The Std will probably be closer (a little) to the SSII because of the same neckwood. Then again, there's pickups. SSII has Jazz pickups in 5 string, SSI has soapbars. SSI has a maple neck, SSII Ovangkol. I suggest you do your best to try both or just one of them out, see if you like it.

 

[Shoewreck]

I suggest you do your best to try both or just one of them out, see if you like it.

Well, I'll try to find a local owner kind enough to lend me an SSII. It's barely possible to find one in a store. Otherwise I'd simply try one there.
Another possibility is to buy one used once I get both offer and money and then decide should I keep or resell the bass.

 

[elpelotero]

here's a great example of SS2 slap tone

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhgN-d3-gxs[/ame]

 

[maddrakkett]

Well, my SSTD is a 5-string with a Swirly Bubinga top - part of the Millennium Project that introduced the Custom Shop to NAMM 2000. So the tone on mine is different from most, giving the added properties of Bubinga. I also found it needed a bartolini preamp to boost the levels a bit. The vintage MEC humbuckers make it a very low-mid favored bass, but the Bubinga adds a (slightly) Thumb-like zing to the top end.

My SSI is a 4-string, with P/J pups. A lot brighter - more transparent and defined. I do prefer the sound of the SSI - it's like the bass comes "alive" compared to the SSTD.

Having these two gives me a good variety of tones for different tunes. Perhaps my SSTD is better for R&B while the SSI excels at funk... but the SSI can cover more and any ground!

 

[Shoewreck]

here's a great example of SS2 slap tone

Florin rocks! I'd also buy his hands :lol:

 

[Florin]

to the SSII because of the same neckwood.

No way dear Ben! SSII has a very unique sound. so the std will sound closer to the SSI, but not really close. You can make a SSII with wide neck too, or a SSI with afzelia/ovankol ;-)

Cheers/ Flo

 

[Shoewreck]

SSII has a very unique sound. so the std will sound closer to the SSI, but not really close. You can make a SSII with wide neck too, or a SSI with afzelia/ovankol ;-)

Custom Shop is way out of my budget. I would order a piezo'd wide SSII if I could. Used is what I'll most probably buy. Narrow spacing isn't a big issue while talking about tone. The link elpelotero provided is the decision-making one. Btw, what kind of EQ settings then were?

 

[Benjamin]

Really? I seem to remember someone saying the neckwood goes for about 40-50% of the basses overall sound. Seems quite fair that a STD will be closer to a SSII than a SSI. Maybe I've been misinformed.
When it comes down to it all, they are three totally different beasts. I haven't tried any of them (I get to try the SSI soon ) but wanna try all.

 

[Gerry]

here's a great example of SS2 slap tone

Florin rocks! I'd also buy his hands :lol:

I like when he pats the kid's head! He'll probably grow up to be a great bassist thanks to that day!

 

[Jarman]

I have a SS1 4 and a STD 5 and they are both great basses

 

[Shoewreck]

I have a SS1 4 and a STD 5 and they are both great basses

How could you describe the differencies?