Alnico Pup for my Stingray 5

Rocksolid · #1 05-26-2009, 07:08 PM

3 years ago I had my Stringray 4 stolen. I eventually got it back but thru insurance in the meantime I purchased a SR5.

I sold my SR4 to a good friend and I recently borrowed it back off him for a show I did.

I was devastated to find that I instantly fell back in love with the tone of my SR4 in comparison to my SR5! The meatiness especially of the tone when popping when playing Slap/pop style and the gruntier mids that allowed it to cut thru the mix.

The new SR5's are now coming out with Alnico Pole pieces again, but you can't purchase these Pups stand alone to retro fit to a ceramic Pup SR5.

I have heard good things about the Seymour Duncan Bassline 3 coil Alnico replacement, but I was just hoping to get more info from the broad knowledge base at TB on any comparisons or experience with this pickup and bringing the tone of an SR5 closer to that of the SR4.

Cheers!

Rano Bass · #2 05-26-2009, 07:43 PM

The Basslines smb5a is as good as anything out there, the Nordstrand version of the MM pickup is also good but more expensive.
I would get the Basslines pickup.

Rocksolid · #3 05-27-2009, 08:36 PM

Thanks for your thoughts! I just don't get why Music Man won't let you buy one.

CapnSev · #4 05-27-2009, 08:46 PM

The Nordstrand is about as close as it gets:

http://www.nordstrandpickups.com/bass-pickups/modern/

You'll want the MM 5.3, it's a direct drop-in replacement.

OrionManMatt · #5 05-27-2009, 09:04 PM

Mine wasn't drop-in. And the tone was markedly different than I expected.

Ach · #6 05-27-2009, 10:45 PM

Try to contact with ErnieBall service, i believe they will send to you replacement alnico pickup in exchange to your current ceramic one, with minimal fee.