Stingray - The Bernard Edwards Tone - Page 3

king_biscuit · #41 02-03-2013, 06:54 PM

Just backing off the mids on the three band doesn't work either, because, although it may get rid of the high mids to scoop the tone, it cuts too far into the low mids and winds up making the bass sound rather anemic. I just embrace the differences rather than try to make both preamps sound the same.

drTSTingray · #42 02-03-2013, 06:57 PM

Indeed he did - I have only ever seen him pictured with the natural one though which John Taylor of Duran Duran now has. I believe Bernard changed the pickguard for a white one, possibly to match his white stage suit.

According to JT in a recent Bass Guitar magazine article, it's B003212.

drTSTingray · #43 02-03-2013, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

There is nothing wrong with my technique or the setup on any of my basses.

Heaven forbid - I would never (and didn't) suggest such a thing. My own technique clearly still lacks perfection occassionally, even after all these years!

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

The two band is just a warmer sounding preamp. I really do like both preamps, though.

We will have to agree to differ. I do agree that they sound different - it is entirely possible to get a 3 band pre amp Ray to sound as warm as any other, especially recorded though.

JTE · #44 02-03-2013, 07:16 PM

My '78 StingRay came from the factory with GHS Brite-Flats, and the one next to it had Boomers. That was a recent change for Music Man as they previously used GHS flats. Definitely GHS for factory strings at both Music Man and also at G&L in '81 and '82.

John

king_biscuit · #45 02-03-2013, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

My '78 StingRay came from the factory with GHS Brite-Flats, and the one next to it had Boomers. That was a recent change for Music Man as they previously used GHS flats. Definitely GHS for factory strings at both Music Man and also at G&L in '81 and '82.

John

Boomers? Now that is interesting!

sevdog · #46 02-03-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drTSTingray

Heaven forbid - I would never (and didn't) suggest such a thing. My own technique clearly still lacks perfection occassionally, even after all these years!

We will have to agree to differ. I do agree that they sound different - it is entirely possible to get a 3 band pre amp Ray to sound as warm as any other, especially recorded though.

2 band and 3 band sound the same? No way, bro...I own and like both.

birminghambass · #47 02-03-2013, 08:04 PM

Been doing some experimenting lately. I took the stock 3 band out of my Ray, swapped it with a stock 2 band. Definitely a difference but in the same tonal ballpark. Less clank and more sizzle available in the two band. In a live setting i actually preferred the 3 band, seemed to cut through the mix better. Now, IMO the biggest improvement you can make to a Stingray is to swap the pickup with a Nordstrand. I did the swap not expecting much and was blown away by the difference! More warmth and mids, less clank, tighter bottom. The 3 band + Nord combo was definitely my favorite.

drTSTingray · #48 02-03-2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birminghambass

Been doing some experimenting lately. I took the stock 3 band out of my Ray, swapped it with a stock 2 band. Definitely a difference but in the same tonal ballpark. Less clank and more sizzle available in the two band. In a live setting i actually preferred the 3 band, seemed to cut through the mix better. Now, IMO the biggest improvement you can make to a Stingray is to swap the pickup with a Nordstrand. I did the swap not expecting much and was blown away by the difference! More warmth and mids, less clank, tighter bottom. The 3 band + Nord combo was definitely my favorite.

Did you have a view on which was best for getting the Bernard Edwards sound?

Brad Johnson · #49 02-04-2013, 10:07 AM

Ask Marcus.

Belka · #50 02-04-2013, 03:09 PM

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. 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.

It's hands all right! I mean, you can definitely hear the Stingray sound on the second album, but on the first album, although I'm sure that 'Dance Dance Dance is the p bass, I always thought that 'Everybody Dance' was the Stingray, but others in this thread say that was the p bass as well.

One fact no one has mentioned is that you have to factor in the fact that these are album tracks, probably the bass was DIed into whatever multi-thousand dollar board was being used at Electric Ladyland / the Power Station studios, and then it was compressed, again using the technology of the day. And for live stuff it was 1970s amp technology - I wouldn't go on the Budokan videos as being representative of his sound. Anyway, what I'm getting at is that whether your StingRay has a two or three band eq is probably a moot point in the grand scheme of things.

I remember being surprised when I heard that Louis Johnson maxed the bass and treble on his Musicmen when playing / recording. But if you asked anyone on Talkbass how to get the Louis Johnson sound I doubt anyone would suggest maxing the preamp in this day and age.

Belka · #51 02-04-2013, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Ask Marcus.

I just listened to 'Everybody Dance' and I'm sure it's the 'Ray. But I could be wrong. It could be a P, or it could even be a J. It's definitely not a BC Rich though, I'm sure of that.

Belka · #52 02-04-2013, 03:36 PM

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fxVq8G66Vqg

Here's a recording of Bernard on a Sadowsky. You can't hear him well here though. Those Sadowskys are notorious for getting lost in the mix

Brad Johnson · #53 02-04-2013, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belka

It's hands all right! I mean, you can definitely hear the Stingray sound on the second album, but on the first album, although I'm sure that 'Dance Dance Dance is the p bass, I always thought that 'Everybody Dance' was the Stingray, but others in this thread say that was the p bass as well.

One fact no one has mentioned is that you have to factor in the fact that these are album tracks, probably the bass was DIed into whatever multi-thousand dollar board was being used at Electric Ladyland / the Power Station studios, and then it was compressed, again using the technology of the day. And for live stuff it was 1970s amp technology - I wouldn't go on the Budokan videos as being representative of his sound. Anyway, what I'm getting at is that whether your StingRay has a two or three band eq is probably a moot point in the grand scheme of things.

I remember being surprised when I heard that Louis Johnson maxed the bass and treble on his Musicmen when playing / recording. But if you asked anyone on Talkbass how to get the Louis Johnson sound I doubt anyone would suggest maxing the preamp in this day and age.

LJ was another guy whose vibe is mainly hands... extremely physical player. I have a couple of friends who nail this and its almost exhausting to watch.

**CB3000** · #54 02-04-2013, 06:20 PM

I am a huge Bernard Edwards fan. From what I have read he had flats on his ray and never changed them. Another thing about his sound is he often played very staccato. This element of funk playing kind of gets overlooked.
I think the current GHS flats are the same or similar to what the stock musicman flats were back then.

Spaldo · #55 02-04-2013, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

My '78 StingRay came from the factory with GHS Brite-Flats, and the one next to it had Boomers.

Interesting. I always thought Bernards strings were dead rounds....

king_biscuit · #56 02-04-2013, 11:49 PM

We know that Stingrays from that period were available from the factory with a variety of strings, including rounds. Check out the hang tag from a 78:

http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/TOWN8019...ompage0027.htm

DirkP · #57 02-05-2013, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belka

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fxVq8G66Vqg

Here's a recording of Bernard on a Sadowsky. You can't hear him well here though. Those Sadowskys are notorious for getting lost in the mix

Somewhere in the liner notes of the 1992' cd "Chicism" :

"Bernard Edwards plays Sadowsky Basses - Nile Rodgers plays anything that sounds good."
http://www.discogs.com/Chic-Chic-ism/release/1847300

Dirk

Tunaman · #58 02-05-2013, 07:42 AM

Rock !

Megavega4 · #59 04-05-2013, 11:28 AM

Bernard used the Stingray exclusively for the studio recordings. That is from his own words in an interview for Musician magazine back around 1980/81. He used the B.C. Rich for TV appearances, because of how it looked. Live, he went back and forth between the MM and the P Bass. He also used a Jazz bass live a few times. And he played Brite Flats or Half Rounds, whichever he could get at the time. His slightly muted tone came from the mutes on the MM bass bridge. He played his Sadowsky with round wounds on the last Chic album, "Chic-ism."

I got a chance to meet him back in the mid 90's right before he died. He was a little more astute about his gear at that point. Such a gentleman.

Down_Low · #60 04-05-2013, 03:44 PM

From memory he had the mutes engaged too. So maybe cut up some foam and put under the strings nears your bridge to get a bit more of a thud.