sting rays mid shy????

Devo-lution · #1 06-04-2010, 05:56 AM

Hi

I am a happy stingray owner for a couple of years now. While gigging it, I got some comments from other bass players that rays are awesome bass guitars, although being a bit mid-shy. I don't consider this to be a remark on my EQ'ing, as I play flat with some highs cut.

Now, in my opinion my ray gives plenty of low mids... But I'd like to compare this matter with the opinion of other bass players here and other stingray users. Do you guys consider a ray to be mid shy?

greetz

PSPookie · #2 06-04-2010, 06:00 AM

No. Tons of mids from a 'Ray -- especially those with the alnico pups. The ceramic pickups are a bit more scooped, but still have plenty of mids.

I think this impresssion may come from the way many players EQ their Stingrays/lack of understanding of the onboard preamp. If you pick up a Stingray in GC you can be assured that the mids will be cut and the bass and treble will be boosted.

NicJimBass · #3 06-04-2010, 06:01 AM

Being an SR5 player, I think that StingRays are naturally a little scooped sounding. Not much, but it's there. I don't really care though... I tend to boost the mids whenever I play, and it sounds great!

Devo-lution · #4 06-04-2010, 07:52 AM

Anyone know if there is a difference between 2 and 3 EQ's in this matter?

bovinehost · #5 06-04-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devo-lution

...got some comments from other bass players that rays are awesome bass guitars, although being a bit mid-shy

They must be internet savvy bassists. There are certain "internet truths" which are repeated so often that they MUST BE TRUE. The midrange on Stingrays is one of those "truths".

I've played Stingrays for years and if anyone finds the mids lacking, it's operator error.

ausf · #6 06-04-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bovinehost

They must be internet savvy bassists. There are certain "internet truths" which are repeated so often that they MUST BE TRUE. The midrange on Stingrays is one of those "truths".

I've played Stingrays for years and if anyone finds the mids lacking, it's operator error.

+1

I'm usually dialing back the mids for my taste: Bass and treble flat and the mid back a good bit. Usually the same settings on my GK too, (mids around 11 o') unless I needed to compensate for something.

KarateKid25 · #7 06-04-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausf

+1

I'm usually dialing back the mids for my taste: Bass and treble flat and the mid back a good bit. Usually the same settings on my GK too, (mids around 11 o') unless I needed to compensate for something.

Same. I roll off the mids a bit on my Ray as well.

ricknote · #8 06-04-2010, 08:45 AM

I find myself cutting the mids on my Ray because there's a little
too much mid grunt compared to my Zon and P bass.
Stingray mid shy? ***...

RT

bovinehost · #9 06-04-2010, 09:29 AM

I wonder about a couple of things when people say (wrongly, as we all now know) the Stingray is shy on mids.

1. What strings are being used? I've found certain types of strings have an intrinsic mid-cut. I don't use those anymore.

2. How is the bass being EQ'd? I think we're all familiar with the dreaded smiley face.

3. Same as question two, only the amp. Smiley faces AGAIN?

FromTheBassMent · #10 06-04-2010, 09:34 AM

Utter rubbish. Unless someone's looking for a bass that sounds like a cross between a trombone and a cheap boombox, the Stingray is very well-balanced with plenty of mids. I typically boost the bass and mids just a tad (just barely off the center detent) and leave the highs flat on my SR5 fretless. Everything on my Markbass Littlemark II is flat except for the VLE filter, which is at about 8:00 to tame just a bit of finger noise.

And my Sterling HH... faggedabahdit! I need to keep the mids flat or even roll them back a bit on that bad dog... it really barks!

darthplagis · #11 06-04-2010, 09:40 AM

yeah rays, to me are very middy.

if its front of house complaints/comments then maybe its your speaker set up and the mids not being projected enough.

KJung · #12 06-04-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

No. Tons of mids from a 'Ray -- especially those with the alnico pups. The ceramic pickups are a bit more scooped, but still have plenty of mids.

I think this impresssion may come from the way many players EQ their Stingrays/lack of understanding of the onboard preamp. If you pick up a Stingray in GC you can be assured that the mids will be cut and the bass and treble will be boosted.

+1 If you crank the bass and treble a bit on the Stingray, it will get scoopity doopity on you. Unfortunately, that's the way MANY MM players set their Stingrays, giving the impression that these basses are all 'click and boom'.

KJung · #13 06-04-2010, 09:45 AM

Just FYI, here is a clip of my old Stingray 5 through a little GK MB150 combo with a mic in front of it. The amp is flat, the bass EQ is flat, with just a very small amount of bass boost.

Skip to the middle of the clip to really hear the tone of the bass... nice, warm, articulate midrange, with that classic MM treble IMO!

http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=116669

Gearhead17 · #14 06-04-2010, 09:51 AM

I guess I live in a different world. The Stingrays I have tried have been lacking in the 300hz to 700hz range. I keep all knobs flat and put the toggle switch in the middle. I use midrange all the time and make sure I am not cutting anything on the amp.

With the maple fretboard Stingrays, I find boosting the mids (500hz) sounds really nasally, and not very punchy and smooth. With the Rosewood fretboards, it's a little thicker sounding but less clarity in the highs. Most Stingrays have a 800hz midrangey centered tone that does not sound very good to my ears. To others it does I guess.

If the basses are strung with EB Slinky's that could be part of the problem. I find those strings WAY TOO bright and possibly mid shy.

I have never been able to get a Stingray sounding good enough for me - I stick to Spector's!

BassMaster4s · #15 06-04-2010, 09:58 AM

Lots of mids in a Stingray. Chancellor even used to use them in the mid-90's for about 35% of his sets before he went Wal-exclusive. If it satisfied his insatiable desire for mids, then it should be good enough for just about everyone.

Thunder Pulse · #16 06-04-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Tons of mids from a 'Ray -- especially those with the alnico pups. The ceramic pickups are a bit more scooped, but still have plenty of mids.

Some Stingrays have ceramic magnets? I thought Stingsrays were alnico and Sterlings were ceramic?

Bill G. · #17 06-04-2010, 10:11 AM

My Stingrays have never lacked in the mid department!

**jmattbassplaya** · #18 06-04-2010, 10:13 AM

I boost everything full on and then only slightly cut my bass tone. The thing sounds like a knife. Love it!

GregC · #19 06-04-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

No. Tons of mids from a 'Ray -- especially those with the alnico pups. The ceramic pickups are a bit more scooped, but still have plenty of mids.

I think this impresssion may come from the way many players EQ their Stingrays/lack of understanding of the onboard preamp. If you pick up a Stingray in GC you can be assured that the mids will be cut and the bass and treble will be boosted.

Ain't that the truth! Same goes for just about any bass amp in GC.

steamthief · #20 06-04-2010, 10:26 AM

I chose to keep my 30th Anniversary SR4 over a standard variant because I thought the 30th had more pronounced mids.