Stingray HS pickup and string height adjustment help please

remo · #1 11-28-2007, 02:32 AM

My neck (S) pickup on my stingray seems to be too low, when I solo it the volume of the bass drops dramatically. For all you HS (or even HH I guess) Stingray guys out there, could you please measure the height of your front and rear pickups from the bottom of the B (E if its a 4 banger) string and the bottom of the G string...

I've attached a pic to show you the lowness of my S pickup...

Also, how high do are you guys running your B string from the 12th fret? Mine is sitting at about 2mm and I would like to take it down a bit.. I do like it low, so where are you low loving guys running it?

FYI Strings are fresh Sadowsky Nickels..

swrbass5 · #2 11-28-2007, 03:23 AM

I tell ya what I'd do...... I'd drop that MM down to meet the Single (or even below it) My EB 5 string has a smoother tone now that I've dropped the pickup some. But, it's an early 5 string (91) and I'm pretty sure had a different pickup. I did that to my G&L 2000 too, but that was out of sheer necessity. That bass has such a powerful punch even in passive, that it would create havoc with the soundman. I haven't played an HS yet. I stopped by Bass Central when they first came out with the HH --- To be honest with you, I didn't thnk the Music Man really needed another pickup, but blended it did have more punch than I was expecting. As for the string height, don't even bother taking measurements. All those numbers change halfway thru a gig just due to temperature changes anyway. I have my Stingray set to just before buzzing on the B. My G&L IS Buzzing, but you can't even hear it thru the amp.

remo · #3 11-28-2007, 08:45 PM

bump...

Hullaballoo · #4 11-29-2007, 09:12 AM

If you go to the Musicman web site, and look in the forum, the exact measurements are given. Try raising the S p/up until the volumes are similar, or dropping the H. Don''t worry. youi can't hurt anything - you could even count the no of turns you raise/lower the p/ups so you can return it to it's original state if you wish. Same with the action - check the neck relief, and if that's ok, try lowering the strings until it suits you. There's no magic to any of this, everyone likes they're basses set up differently, and it won't hurt to experiment a little. Good luck, and let us know how you get on
My B is about 1.5 mm at 12th fret, and I've got the p/ups set to equal volume, with the bridge one at 3 mm approx

Hullaballoo · #5 11-29-2007, 09:32 AM

I've just looked up the figures for you
Brige p/up = 4.76mm, front =6.35mm
String height = 2.4mm on bottom string, possibly a bit lower on G. (to me, that is INSANELY high)
In other words, according to the site, your action is already low, which it's NOT. Just set it ass low as it will go without too much buzz, and take it from there.
With the p/ups, I'd drop the H a bit until the volumes are more equal
So - just do what seems right to YOU - don't worry too much about the official figures, if it plays and sounds right to you, it is right.

bluegreenturtle · #6 11-29-2007, 04:28 PM

How are you getting these so low without buzzing? my H/S is something like 3-4mm at the 12th fret (E string - 4 stringer) and it buzzes. Bridge is not very low - about 11mm from the body just in front of the bridge plate to the bottom of the e string.

Ostinato · #7 11-29-2007, 04:30 PM

For the pickup height, Ernie ball recommends 3/16" for the bridge pickup and 1/4" for the neck pickup (H or S). I like to tilt the covers on my HH Ray so that I get better balance of string output form low to high strings. I use 3/16" under the G, 7/32" under the E, for the bridge pickup, and 1/4" under the G, 9/32" under the E for the neck pickup. That seems like a lot, but those poles are bigger than the dots on your fingerboard...and they have MASSIVE output.

For the action I measure at the 17th fret, that's where the neck meets the body on most basses and it's the best place for an accurate measurement. I set each string to 5/64" from fret crown to string bottom, and that would be considered a medium/low action.

swrbass5 · #8 11-29-2007, 05:43 PM

If you're still having string buzz, you might need to adust the truss rod some. Your neck is probably TOO straight.

remo · #9 11-29-2007, 07:34 PM

Hmm thanks guys, interesting stuff. What strings are you running to keep the B flapping against the frets at a 5/64" strng height? I think these Sadowsky Nickels are a bit floppy for a low action.. Hulaballoo, I agree 2.4mm is WAY high in my book, I play very light and like the action very low... where are the MM forum guys taking this measurment from? the 12th or the 17th fret?

Ostinato · #10 11-29-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remo

Hmm thanks guys, interesting stuff. What strings are you running to keep the B flapping against the frets at a 5/64" strng height? I think these Sadowsky Nickels are a bit floppy for a low action.. Hulaballoo, I agree 2.4mm is WAY high in my book, I play very light and like the action very low... where are the MM forum guys taking this measurment from? the 12th or the 17th fret?

I play a four. I also like the action as low as possible...your action seems fine. I measured mine and my E is at about 2mm at the 12th. And those frets are jumbo frets, so strings will be high off the fingerboard and thus higher off the neck even if you set it up for low action. Until you start getting your frets dressed that's the way it will be.

For me, I like the lowest ation I can get without buzzing, and for me on a Stingray that's 5/64" at the 17th.

remo · #11 11-29-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ostinato

I play a four. I also like the action as low as possible...your action seems fine. I measured mine and my E is at about 2mm at the 12th. And those frets are jumbo frets, so strings will be high off the fingerboard and thus higher off the neck even if you set it up for low action. Until you start getting your frets dressed that's the way it will be.

For me, I like the lowest ation I can get without buzzing, and for me on a Stingray that's 5/64" at the 17th.

cool, what strings are you using?

Hullaballoo · #12 11-30-2007, 03:17 AM

The figures I gave earlier from the Ernie Ball FAQ on string height were for the 12th fret. I find if I set the relief to almost non-existant, set the strings as low as possible, and then take out buzzes with tiny relief adjustments I get the action as low as possible. If you get buzzes at the nut end of the neck, you need a touch more relief, and if you get buzzes at the p/up end, you probably need less relief. If it buzzes evenly up and down the neck, then you just raise the strings a little! On my present bass, I can get a ridiculously low action, but of course you need a bit of room for the strings to "speak" properly. I just couldn't play a bass with the G at 2mm (or rather it would slow me down A LOT!) Instruments do vary though, and I've had some that just won't go any lower, but usually if the frets are level, and the relief is right, it should go pretty low
Good luck

Ostinato · #13 11-30-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remo

cool, what strings are you using?

D'Addario Prosteels .045 - .105

You also may want to check your nut slots for any gaps under the string. I noticed after my first string change that the slots are cut specifically for the light gauge factory strings, and now there's a gap under the E and A where it won't seat properly in the slot. I plan on taking it in to get them recut to accomodate a thicker string gauge.