thinking of adding a jazz pickup (MM Sterling content)

Mental Octopus · #1 05-25-2010, 10:03 AM

I have a 1996 Sterling. After 3 unsuccessful attempts to sell it, as well as recovering it unharmed after it was stolen from me, I have just begun to accept that this bass is meant to be with me. And you know what, that's totally fine - it's simply the best playing, most solidly constructed instrument I have ever owned. And I've had quite a bit of them.

I only tried selling it because I felt that I need something with a pickup closer to the neck. I still feel that way, and I'm really not interested in picking up another bass just because of that - I'm married to the Sterling neck and I don't really enjoy playing much else.

Has anyone carved up their Sterling (or Stingray) to add an additional pickup?

Am I destroying any potential future value? Am I crazy/stupid?

BruceBass3901 · #2 05-25-2010, 10:13 AM

If its what you want, then go for it

NicJimBass · #3 05-25-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mental Octopus

Am I destroying any potential future value? Am I crazy/stupid?

Yes, you'll be killing the resale value, without a doubt, but if it's what you want to do, then no, you're not crazy or stupid. Now, if you try it, and you don't like the end result, you're screwed.

joeyl · #4 05-25-2010, 08:38 PM

you should really try to give it to me, in a last ditch attempt to get rid of it. This time it will work, I promise

depalm · #5 05-25-2010, 09:36 PM

No, no, no, no.
(Amy Winehouse)™

Chasarms · #6 05-26-2010, 08:47 AM

I would agree that you would compromise resale if you modified the bass, although I don't know that it is that big of a deal cosmetically. A new pickguard could cover up any evidence of the mod if you chose to reverse it.

The bigger concern for me would be integrating additional controls into the existing tone circuit. how do plan on wiring it into the existing preamp and controls? I have never had a look inside the guts of a Sterling, but most factory preamps are very much intergrated circuits.

EddieG · #7 05-26-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mental Octopus

...it's simply the best playing, most solidly constructed instrument I have ever owned. And I've had quite a bit of them.

If you've passed that hurdle, then its probably safe to say that it is your bass, on the level of feeling physically confortable with it. Anything you do to it to get your sound should be completely immaterial once you've established that you can get on with the bass!

Mental Octopus · #8 05-27-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

The bigger concern for me would be integrating additional controls into the existing tone circuit. how do plan on wiring it into the existing preamp and controls? I have never had a look inside the guts of a Sterling, but most factory preamps are very much intergrated circuits.

this is the hurdle i've run into. i'll have to do some research on the preamp. if i was to go ahead with this, i would ideally like to find one of the single coil pickups that Musicman uses on their HS models. but i'm sure they're impossible to find used and i'd wager a fair amount that i can't buy one from the factory.

but in the mean time, if anyone has done something like this i'd love to hear about it.... and any other thoughts on how this might work...

darkstorm · #9 05-27-2010, 04:58 PM

Kewl idea and thing to do imo. I have the blend toward the neck jazz pup on my Traben which has MM style humbucker bridge pup. The jazz pups angled so E string side is closer the the bridge then is the G string side.

Resale value can certainly vary by who potential buyers are. Someone else who liked Sterlings but wished they had a neck pup to, would be quite into getting yours. Provided the pup add was done with professional qaulity and nice jazz pup. Will you be adding pup blend pot so the stock and added pup can be soloed and blended variously to taste?

Myself, I d be more prone to like the sterling if its pup was either closer to the neck, or it had a 2nd pup for neck position. Of course my view on modded instruments is toward what kinda mods would I have made if had it and could? If a used one has those kind of mods, its of more interest to me.

depalm · #10 05-27-2010, 08:35 PM

If I were you I'd install a Nordstrand MM 4.3 or 4.2 in neck position.
Or ask Carey to build a custom made MM style single coil.

A jazz pickup would ruin the bass in my opinion.

EagleMoon · #11 05-27-2010, 08:57 PM

The J/MM combo is killer. I love it in my Peavey USA Millennium. Heck, I'd do it. Especially if you love the way the bass feels. Who cares about resale value? Loving how the bass sounds should be more important.

Chasarms · #12 05-28-2010, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mental Octopus

this is the hurdle i've run into. i'll have to do some research on the preamp. if i was to go ahead with this, i would ideally like to find one of the single coil pickups that Musicman uses on their HS models. but i'm sure they're impossible to find used and i'd wager a fair amount that i can't buy one from the factory.

but in the mean time, if anyone has done something like this i'd love to hear about it.... and any other thoughts on how this might work...

I don't know how much coin you want to drop, but I think one of those Delano J pickups with the big exposed poles (JMVC) would look great with the existing PU.

It is a tough call, because even though you have the look and placement of a single pickup bass, because of the coil selections, the wiring is more like that of a multiple pickup bass.

I am a pretty big proponent of doing nothing that can not be undone. So, I think the ideal way to install it would be to get a double detented concentric pot and put your existing bass and treble on the back pot. Move the mid to the second position and put a blend pot in the third. Leave the volume fourth. That way you would have all the flexibility of the existing coil switch and have complete control of the pickups. I also think this may be the easiest to design, but probably the toughest to execute as you would have to disassemble most of the circuit to replace the pots.

I also think it may be possible to swap out the three-way blade switch for a 5-way strat blade switch and wire it so the back three positions were as the current three way is, the fourth is both pickups and fifth is the J PU soloed. I'm not sure exactly how it would work without tearing it apart. Plus, you would be limited because your "both pickups" selection would have to be one of the existing three. (unless you want to add a mini toggle or push/pull pot.)

There are a lot of options. I think it would be a fun project. I have an '02 SR5. Assuming the two circuits are similar in design, I think I could take off my PG and figure out how to wire it.

TB has plenty of smart and creative people. We can get it done!!!!

EagleMoon · #13 06-19-2010, 12:01 AM

Why does nobody make a stick-on pickup that can fit between the body and the strings without routing out the body? Seems like there would be a market for them.

**line6man** · #14 06-19-2010, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

Why does nobody make a stick-on pickup that can fit between the body and the strings without routing out the body? Seems like there would be a market for them.

It would have to be a pretty thin coil to fit!

EagleMoon · #15 06-19-2010, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

It would have to be a pretty thin coil to fit!

Sure, but you would think it could be done with all the new-fangled thingamajiggers out there.

faulknersj · #16 06-19-2010, 12:13 AM

Here is a thought from a Sterling Owner....try playing with your right hand close to the neck when youb want that fat 'neck pickup' tone. I am a long time Jazz bass player and find that with a little boost to the bass knob, and my right hand up between the neck and Sterlin pup, I can get some seriously deep fat lows. I also favor the switch in 'parallel' (swith all the way back toward the bridge). Try it and let me know what u think!

**line6man** · #17 06-19-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

Sure, but you would think it could be done with all the new-fangled thingamajiggers out there.

If you can talk the laws of physics into allowing a thin coil with short pole pieces to sound the same as a regular pickup, sure.

depalm · #18 06-19-2010, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

Here is a thought from a Sterling Owner....try playing with your right hand close to the neck when youb want that fat 'neck pickup' tone. I am a long time Jazz bass player and find that with a little boost to the bass knob, and my right hand up between the neck and Sterlin pup, I can get some seriously deep fat lows. I also favor the switch in 'parallel' (swith all the way back toward the bridge). Try it and let me know what u think!

+1

I do like that when I want to get a lower tone.
You might consider install a thumb rest.

faulknersj · #19 06-19-2010, 12:42 AM

It works almost like having a neck pup...a lot less tension on the string near the neck and the pup really captures that 'fatter' sound well. The thumbrest is a great idea for players that prefer a thumb anchor.

i_got_a_mohawk · #20 06-19-2010, 08:46 AM

??

Granted, you will loose the ability to put the MM pickup in parallel. (tho you retain the series option, the SC option, and gain 3 others)

Surprised you had trouble selling one of those tbh!

I've got an Ibanez ATK400, they have an additional J pup at the neck, HH Stingrays too. An extra pickup towards the neck certainly does add a lot of good tonal options.