Stingray 5 PUP Replacement

[corradoc]

Hey y'all, thinking about putting some new PUPS into my SR5 (she's about 20 years old and could use some sprucing up). Been thinking of going basslines, but thought I check in and see if people had other ideas - just to get an idea, I'd love to get the grindiest, nastiest tone out of the bass as possible (think steroid P bass).

[king_biscuit]

If your SR5 is twenty years old, it already has an alnico pickup, so the basslines will not change the tone much. A SR5 will never sound like a P bass, either. If you want something totally different maybe look into a Bart or an EMG.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

If your SR5 is twenty years old, it already has an alnico pickup, so the basslines will not change the tone much. A SR5 will never sound like a P bass, either. If you want something totally different maybe look into a Bart or an EMG.

Basslines also make ceramic MM pickups, which have more bite and grind and top end.

The alnicos sound a lot warmer and duller IMO.

I agree a MM wont sound like a P bass. Barts and EMG's are also good choices depending on the tone, though he wanted "grindiest, nastiest" so a ceramic Basslines in series would be more like a grindy P on steroids.

[pickles]

20 years, so thats an '88? Collector's item at this point -- don't change a thing!!! I also don't think there is a pickup out there that will get you any closer to the tone you're talking about with that bass. If its not doing it for you, you should be able to get good money for it on the semi-vintage market.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally Posted by pickles

20 years, so thats an '88? Collector's item at this point -- don't change a thing!!! I also don't think there is a pickup out there that will get you any closer to the tone you're talking about with that bass. If its not doing it for you, you should be able to get good money for it on the semi-vintage market.

Since he wants a different tone, the original pickup isn't as close as he can get, otherwise he'd be there already!

I say put the original parts in a zip lock bag. This is a common thing to do with older instruments. If he already doesn't care for the tone, then a new pickup will make a big difference.

A ceramic MM pickup will have a brighter attack than the original alnico pickup.

It's nice to keep old instruments stock, but you also have to play them. I have two 1973 Rickenbackers that I did a lot of mods to. The resale value is lower now, but I have no intention on ever selling them, so that doesn't matter at all.

If you are only interested in vintage resale value, put the bass in a cass and don't play it at all. But that's not what players do, that what non playing collectors do, and they are the ones driving the prices so high.

That's my 2 cents.

[pickles]

If a newer SR5 gets the tone you're looking for then you could think about it. If you want a P-bass sound, just sell this sweet old ray and get a P-bass. I don't think a ceramic pup is going to get you where you want to be.

That's my take.