Getting My P Bass to sound like a stingray

[Sceptical1]

I think my favorite bass sound ever may be some of the earlier sublime stuff, Robbin' The Hood for instance. However, their bassist Eric Wilson used a stingray bass. I like the stingray bass sound, but I really prefer to play a P Bass (also the stingrays are way WAY out of my price range, and there don't seem to be too many suitable copies out there ). So how can I get that really trebley aggressive growl to come out even more than it is now but still be able to tone it way down when I want that upright tone? Active electronics (I'd prefer not to replace my natural sounding passive pickup.)? New strings? I use roundwounds now, but I kinda like flatwounds... then again they probably would muffle that growly tone a little, huh? Any tips on how to get that Stingray sound would be great, thanks!

[wshines1892]

I wanted the same thing, so I took a chisel to my pbass, put in a stingray pickup and installed an active pre amp. It sounds good to me anyway.

[NineSpine]

The stingray sound and the P sound are nearly opposite ends of the bass tone spectrum. You are kind of asking for a miracle. Short of routing out a new pickup, I don't really think what you want is possible.

I might be wrong though, so we will just have to see if anyone has any ideas.

[Gasman]

Frankly, you can't. The stingray sound comes from pickup placement (closer to bridge), the high impedance humbucking pickup itself, and the active MM preamp. Short of doing something similar to wshines, a precision (even with an active pre) won't sound like a ray. If cost is an issue, check out the Sterling by MM line- foreign build, cheaper, but I've heard the quality control is great. I played one at GC, and it sounded like the real mccoy to me (at least in that environment).

[Marton]

Find a used SUB bass.

[bigchiefbc]

They ARE very different sounding basses. But a good preamp might get you a good part of the way there. Normally I'd suggest a Submarine by MusicElectronix/Zeibek, but the builder's been AWOL for a couple months now so I don't recommend buying anything off them directly. If you can find a Submarine used, give it a shot, with the tone knob around 2:00 or so.

[Sceptical1]

Oh alright. I'm fine with my P Bass sound now, it's really good, the stingray sound is nice but i guess it's difficult to get from a P Bass. Maybe someday I'll have enough and be willing to pay for a stingray. I may try a preamp though, thanks.

[Ric5]

Getting My P Bass to sound like a stingray

Put in a mm pickup and a 3 band preamp and you will nail it.

[Matt Dean]

Sell the P and buy a Ray (or just buy the Ray).

[BigOldHarry]

Yeah, I'm with the crowd here - you want a MM sound? Get a MM.

[CapnSev]

Sorry, but the only way to get an MM sound is with an MM. Even other companies that try to put out a MM style bass can't nail the MM sound, IMO.

A P bass isn't even in the same ball park.

[thehangingmist]

dig into the wood and throw in a MM pickup with a pre at the bridge! woohoo done!

[moose23]

I don't think you need a stingray to get close enough to Eric's sounds, not sure about a P-bass but a Jazz would get you pretty close. I think it's more about getting his style right either way.

[BassMaster4s]

Not speaking from experience, but I hear the Ibanez ATK basses come close to the MM sound while being much easier on the wallet. I'm still of the belief though that only a Stingray will live up to Stingray qualities

[ga_edwards]

The other option is modelling via a Roland V-bass and pickup system - if you like a plastic lump mounted on the front of your bass.

But I'm with the others, if all you want it a MM sound, get a MM!

[BassGreaser]

not going to happen.. wrong pickup and wrong place on the body. to get the MM sound you need a MM pickup near the bridge

[BrandonBass]

Originally Posted by BassMaster4s

Not speaking from experience, but I hear the Ibanez ATK basses come close to the MM sound while being much easier on the wallet. I'm still of the belief though that only a Stingray will live up to Stingray qualities

second that

[stflbn]

I'm a big fan of punchy MM or modern jazz bass tones.

I've struggled with 'wanting' to play a P-bass, but always ended up wanting or expecting that P-bass to be able to do more of a MM type tone. No matter what I did to the single pickup P-bass it just won't happen.

Different pickup configs give different tones, and a P-bass you either love, or need and learn to love because you need it.

[Eric!]

Yep. I bought an ATK to replace my Stingray when I sold it to fund a summer trip. Heavy bugger, but whatever.
Not exactly sure why this thread is in effects...but, if only someone would invent a sliding pick-up..

[Hippos Melas]

Not gonna happen. Go buy a 'Ray. And for cheap copies, look at Sterling By Musicman's Ray34. I've played several and own a real MM bass. They're pretty close and definitely a worthy copy.