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02-03-2013, 11:34 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, United Kingdom | | | Stingray - The Bernard Edwards Tone
How would you setup the EQ on a 3-EQ Stingray HS to get the BE tone?
I'm assuming that we stick with position one - the humbucker, as BE's SR was a single HB model.
What about plucking location?
Just to remind you all - here's an 8-bar section from "Good Times", just the drums and Bernard.
Have a listen... http://www.davidwogan.com/music/good_times_bass.mp3 |
02-03-2013, 11:55 AM
|  | Sponsored by Jagermeister | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Seattle / Tacoma | | | You'll have to put flatwounds on it. Bernard used the stock factory installed strings. |
02-03-2013, 11:55 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Netherlands | | | Closest I can get to the sound with my single H 3EQ is by rolling off highs a bit, rolling off mids some more and by adding bass. Can't get the 2EQ sound out of a 3EQ though.
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02-03-2013, 11:59 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Caca de Kick  You'll have to put flatwounds on it. Bernard used the stock factory installed strings. | Not going to happen. I get friction burns from flats when sliding and the plucking fingers stick to strings and slow me down - unless I dip my fingers in Vaseline, which can give the wrong impression entirely. |
02-03-2013, 12:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by LDonnie Closest I can get to the sound with my single H 3EQ is by rolling off highs a bit, rolling off mids some more and by adding bass. Can't get the 2EQ sound out of a 3EQ though. | Yes, that's got me closer - although I suspect that without the flats, closer is as close as I'm going to get.
Anyway, it doesn't have to be perfect - just not totally wrong. |
02-03-2013, 12:07 PM
| | Sponsored by Jagermeister | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Seattle / Tacoma | | | I've owned a ton of Rays...A 3eq bass isn't going to sound like a 2eq bass. Even more when flats are involved. You'll have to do your eq'ing at the amp. |
02-03-2013, 12:09 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: 53.0000° N / 71.0000° W | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Misterwogan How would you setup the EQ on a 3-EQ Stingray HS to get the BE tone?
I'm assuming that we stick with position one - the humbucker, as BE's SR was a single HB model.
What about plucking location?
Just to remind you all - here's an 8-bar section from "Good Times", just the drums and Bernard.
Have a listen... http://www.davidwogan.com/music/good_times_bass.mp3 |
Sterling Ball (CEO/owner of Ernie Ball Musicman) talking about the 2 eq versus the 3 eq on the Stingray:
"Keep in mind that the design objective with the three band was for the player to keep the mid flat and boost the treble and bass and replicate the two band preamp. With the treble and bass boosted this is the classic setting for the old school stingray. The idea was that you should get the classic sound and tons of tones inbetween."
So there's a good starting point for you. How Bernard had his 2 band EQ set up is anyone's guess.
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02-03-2013, 12:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: 53.0000° N / 71.0000° W | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Caca de Kick I've owned a ton of Rays...A 3eq bass isn't going to sound like a 2eq bass. Even more when flats are involved. You'll have to do your eq'ing at the amp. | Sterling Ball would tend to disagree with you on that.
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02-03-2013, 12:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Yango Sterling Ball (CEO/owner of Ernie Ball Musicman) talking about the 2 eq versus the 3 eq on the Stingray:
"Keep in mind that the design objective with the three band was for the player to keep the mid flat and boost the treble and bass and replicate the two band preamp. With the treble and bass boosted this is the classic setting for the old school stingray. The idea was that you should get the classic sound and tons of tones inbetween."
So there's a good starting point for you. How Bernard had his 2 band EQ set up is anyone's guess. | That's very, very helpful - thanks. |
02-03-2013, 12:14 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX | | | I read in an old interview that Bernard used Dean Markley Flats.
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02-03-2013, 12:14 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Yango Sterling Ball would tend to disagree with you on that. | One thing that I do find with the 3-band eq, is that when going DI to mixer, if I boost say the bass, then I have to cut either of the other two - otherwise it clips at the mixer. So not an issue direct to an amp - but for recording the output has to be balanced. |
02-03-2013, 12:34 PM
| | Sponsored by Jagermeister | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Seattle / Tacoma | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Yango Sterling Ball would tend to disagree with you on that. | Yes, that's okay, he can all he wants. The two pre's are voiced differently, and I've owned multiples of every combo: vintage, new, 2eq, 3eq, single pickup, dual pickup. |
02-03-2013, 12:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ATX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Caca de Kick Yes, that's okay, he can all he wants. The two pre's are voiced differently, and I've owned multiples of every combo: vintage, new, 2eq, 3eq, single pickup, dual pickup. |
I agree. The 2 band doesn't sound like the 3 band. You can twiddle to get them close, but the way that the clip you've got sounds, it just has the 2-eq sound all over it.
A John East or Nordstrand replacement and maybe some foam rubber to mute at the bridge would get you there.
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02-03-2013, 12:41 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by sevdog I agree. The 2 band doesn't sound like the 3 band. You can twiddle to get them close, but the way that the clip you've got sounds, it just has the 2-eq sound all over it.
A John East or Nordstrand replacement and maybe some foam rubber to mute at the bridge would get you there. | Or - I need to buy a 2-EQ Ray. Now look what you've done! |
02-03-2013, 12:45 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ATX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Misterwogan Or - I need to buy a 2-EQ Ray. Now look what you've done! | I've owned Lakland(s), Zon, Modulus, Fender (newish and vintage), a 199x something Sterling and a 199x Stingray...my Stingray Classic 5 is my favorite sounding and playing instrument that I've ever owned.
...does that help calm your GAS down? 
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02-03-2013, 12:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by sevdog I've owned Lakland(s), Zon, Modulus, Fender (newish and vintage), a 199x something Sterling and a 199x Stingray...my Stingray Classic 5 is my favorite sounding and playing instrument that I've ever owned.
...does that help calm your GAS down? | No - just made it worse. At least this time, I have someone to blame directly. |
02-03-2013, 01:07 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Berkeley, CA | | | Bernard played on the E & A strings as much as possible, playing UP the neck for higher notes. And he really felt what he played. |
02-03-2013, 02:00 PM
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Endorsing artist: Brubaker Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Gaithersburg, Md | |
Quote:
Originally Posted by winston Bernard played on the E & A strings as much as possible, playing UP the neck for higher notes. And he really felt what he played. | EQ isn't going to get you his sound. Thinking and playing like him will get you on the right track. For instance that staccato vibe on Good Times? That's hands, not EQ.
He sounded like Bernard Edwards on several basses. Buying a bass to sound like him is a waste of money IMO.
Last edited by Brad Johnson : 02-03-2013 at 02:12 PM.
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02-03-2013, 02:04 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Johnson EQ isn't going to get you his sound. Thinking and playing like him will get you on the right track. He sounded like Bernard Edwards on several basses. | Great answer - but, to a question that was not asked. The question was not how he produced the tone - but how to get close to the outcome.
Anything that can be produced can be analysed and synthesised. |
02-03-2013, 02:17 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing artist: Brubaker Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Gaithersburg, Md | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Misterwogan Great answer - but, to a question that was not asked. The question was not how he produced the tone - but how to get close to the outcome.
Anything that can be produced can be analysed and synthesised. | It's not EQ. You can get close to his sound with your bass' EQ set flat. I know, I've done it. So while you think it's not the answer you seek, unfortunately it is. 
If you really analyze what Bernard did, this will become painfully obvious. I'm trying to help you avoid chasing your tail. That's all... I've been a big fan since he hit the scene and get his sound on so many basses it's ridiculous and I rarely use onboard EQ and I keep my amps set flat. And I don't use flats.
IIRC Marcus Miller tells a funny story about Bernard. He bought a bass that he saw Bernard played on an album only to run into him later and find out that the bass Bernard used in the studio was a P bass.
hth
Last edited by Brad Johnson : 02-03-2013 at 02:21 PM.
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