Sterling Ray34 Pickup Question

[spego]

I just bought a new Ray34.....got it for $497 so i couldn't pass up the deal. I like the way it feels and plays.....however after spending a little time with it I don't care much for the ceramic pickup....sounds a little harse on the top end. I ordered a alnico smb-4a for it (Amazon.com: Seymour Duncan Basslines SMB-4A for 4-String Music Man Bass - Black - 11402-22: Musical Instruments) hoping it will tame it down a bit (little bit more rounded sound and not as modern). After doing some research I picked this pickup based on reviews and seeing it put in OLP's and even someone saying it was a replacement for a Sterling (Sterling Ray 34 wiring questions). The thing that scares me a little bit is reading the description of the SMB-4A 3 coil (4/5 string for Music Man® (3-coil alnico) SMB-4a & 5a - Seymour Duncan Progressive) that states ""For post-1996 Music Man® Sterling® and StingRay® with 3-coil pickup system." So does my single pickup Ray34 have a 3 coil system? It seems that 3 coil systems usually have switches which this does not but I may not understand 3 coil humbuckers on these basses. Did I order the correct pickup (being the $85 2 coil one)? The 3 coil is over double the cost of the 2 coil!

[kjpollo]

My GUESS would be that the Ray34 does NOT have the 3 coil pickup. After all, its a budget model.

I have the 2 coil version in my Clement custom and its killer.

[spego]

Thats what I was figuring too....just wanted to get a 2nd opinion! Thanks

[Rano Bass]

Originally Posted by spego

I just bought a new Ray34.....got it for $497 so i couldn't pass up the deal. I like the way it feels and plays.....however after spending a little time with it I don't care much for the ceramic pickup....sounds a little harse on the top end. I ordered a alnico smb-4a for it

I dont think the Ray34 uses ceramic pickups, those are alnico.

[kjpollo]

My bass has the SMB-4A by the bridge and a Quarter Pounder P in the neck position.
They play well together but each pickup has its own voice. The SMB-4A doesnt quite have the bottom end of the Quarter Pounder but it really cuts through when I solo it. My band plays classic rock and I emphasize that pickup on the Aerosmith tunes- it really cops Tom Hamilton's sound.

[Bobster]

Only HS Stingrays Have the "hidden coil".

4-string H model Stingrays have a two coil pickup wired in parallel.

5-string, H model Stingrays have a two coil pickup with series/filter/parallel modes.

This is the same for Ray34 and Ray35 basses.

The SB-14 SBMM has the hidden coil.

Bob

[spego]

Rano you are correct.....not sure where I got that info from or just confused it with another bass I was looking at. Well I hope the SMB-4A gives it a little rounder sound.....we will see I guess. Thanks guys.

[bovinehost]

I probably would have tried different strings first.

In any case, I have a Ray34ca and don't find the pickup harsh at ALL. I think the flats tame the zing a bit.

[spego]

With flats I could understand the difference. I guess I should have explained further.....I do like the zing....and some of the clank.....but this bass has a "clicking" upper register to it.....that's kind of annoying at times. I raised the strings as high as I want to go (to avoid as much fret contact as possible to get rid of the click).....rolling off the treble on the bass just gets rid of all the highs....which I dont want to do. I do use bright strings.....I like a bright high end. There is just a particular frequency that cuts through with this setup I don't find that desirable. I got the pickup at a decent price on Ebay.....and enjoy experimenting so it's not going to be a loss for me as I have a feeling its going to be an improvement anyway. I'll have to post results and maybe even a sound clip or 2 comparing them. If the SMB doesn't take care of it.....maybe I'll flats for fun....think i have a set but I took them off a bass years ago because I didn't care for the lack of zing. The bass had new nickels on it when I bought it.....steels all around sounded better to my ear.....except for the particular click I'm referring to which was pronounced with either string on it.

[spego]

Pickup came today....installed and I'm liking it. It took that "edge" off which I didn't like. It sounds more musical to me now. Here is a sample.....first one is the stock and second is the SMB-4A. Both same settings on amp and bass.

Ray34 Pickup vs Duncan SMB-4A

[azzyrazzy]

The new one sounds a little darker to me, with a little more muted higs.

[spego]

Yeah it does sound darker and a bit more compressed to me. A bit more mid heavy too I believe. Not a drastic change but definitely an improvement over the stock IMO. I couldn't stand that high end click on the stock pu. This one I am able to turn the highs up and not get that particular frequency that the stock pu was boosting.

[spego]

This pickup also can be wired in series.....i kind of wonder what that would sound like now too.

[johnk_10]

in series it'll be hotter and even darker. i'd leave it in parallel.
BTW, judging by your clips, i think that it made a big improvement too. it's way more punchy, and has better note definition which will show up even more when playing with a full band.

[spego]

Good to know about it being darker.....I don't think I will experiment and just leave it be. In the instructions it states it was designed to be wired parallel but you can wire it in series for a hotter output. Not really looking for a hotter output anyway.

[Miskatonic]

The new pickup should sound great when you really dig in on stage, man.

[spego]

I'm thinking so too! Can't wait until tomorrow night!