Adding a J-pickup (or other) to a Stingray

I'd definitely put the alnico in but I wouldn't route it for the J.

I wasn't happy w/ my 'Ray5 and went through the same thing... a few sets of PU's, hours of driving, a pickguard, and a few hundred $ later... and it still didn't sound the way I wanted it to. When it comes down to it - I wasn't really digging the bass acoustically or feel-wise.

The J PU doesn't add a whole heck of a lot to the sound. If you think the bass generally sounds good and could be your main bass 'as-is' then keep it - maybe try a drop-in replacement PU or electronics as a slight improvement of a sound that you already like. If it doesn't work out then you still have the stock set up.

If you're not crazy about the bass' inherent sound then sell it off (they hold their value pretty well) and get a Lakland, G&L, J bass or whatever bass you click with.

Just my opnion.

 

try the SD Basslines preamp before you touch the wood of your SR. The slap contour that you can engage by pulling the volume knob can be the asnwer to the depth you're looking for in your tone,...and not only for slap, it sounds great for finger style too.

keep groooovin'
Fran

 

I went through a Lane Poor MM5 double wide aperture PU and a set of Bartolini's from a Lakland 5 before I sold it. I used Lane's preamp w/ both.

 

If deeper sound is what you are looking for I'd go with the Bartolini replacement PU. I also own the Bassline PU for it. I swap them depending on what I'm doing. I find that the Bartonini has a warmer sound to it. The bassline has more range, and the original, well you know nothing else sounds like it.

 

I don't think that the J really adds much depth. My opinion is that it gives the the sound a more Jazz bass like sound - the additional signal loading of the pu and the parallel wiring scheme tightens up the tone, cancels some of the harmonics and gives it more of a compressed feel on the top end.

 

Talk to Ed Friedland who tried a J pickup in a MM and was not pleased at all.

Buy a Lakland.

 

If you can, check the d.c. resistance on the mm humbucker. It should be about 10 or 12k, I'm guessing. If you do decide to install a J pick up, make sure the resistance is about the same.
a regular j single coil output is usually far less than the mm's output. If you match them they should compliment each other very well. Besides, you'll never know how good it could sound unless you try.

 

Typical passive J's are about half by themselves or about 11k together. Maybe if you installed one of the high output bridge pickups out of a Fender Hot Rod P-Bass in it they might balance out better. There's always a blend pot or individual output trim pots like on the J-Retro preamp that would do the trick but like I said, that seems like a lot of messing around in order to get a Lakland (which would still sound better).

Pop the Ray on the Bay and buy a Lakie 55-02 is my considered advice.

 

yeah, I'm married. I get $200 a month for toys.
Thats it. Wanna trade your "Lakie" for a mim Pbass & mim Jazz. I'll even throw in that $200

 

Ummm no thanks but then again I wasn't talking to you now was I?? I was responding to the original poster of this thread.

 

sorry

 

No Prob...sorry back.

 

buy a Lakland

 

i think your used to your axe and don't want to try other axe but you're looking for a more versatile tone?Try to replace it with both Bartolini MM and J style pick up with active Bafrtolini preamp(optional)!!! have fun..

 

Yeah, or try a Lakland, which already has all that, without routing.