I love LOVE my 98 Black N Maple StingRay, but I have always been disappointed by its top end. Notes on the D and G strings always get lost in the mix, while the bottom end tends to overpower everything. In short its very unbalanced. I have tried all kinds of different EQ combos but can't get it to even out, or get the top end to be more bassy. I think I am bassically looking to get P-Bass sound out of my StingRay. Your thoughts???
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Beef up StringRay's top end
- Thread starter bassbrutha
- Start date
That's a common problem with a lot of older Rays. My advice is to buy a newer one (they seem to not have this problem), get a new bass that isn't a StingRay, or just learn to live with it.
IIRC, Rays are notorious for a weak G, but I cant ever remember a complaint about the top end. With the pickup so close to the bridge, thats your ultimate treble spot.
I know you said you've tried all kinds of EQ configs but have you ever tried raising the D-G side of the pickup? (or lowering the E-A side if you dont have enough room to lift the D-G side?)
I know you said you've tried all kinds of EQ configs but have you ever tried raising the D-G side of the pickup? (or lowering the E-A side if you dont have enough room to lift the D-G side?)
if you're willing to mod, get a humbucker that has each coil wired separately (like a Seymour Duncan) and wire up a series/parallel/single coil switch like the Sterling has.
You will get closer to a precision on the single coil and boomier on the series. You can use your stock pickup, but itll have to be modded carefully.
You will get closer to a precision on the single coil and boomier on the series. You can use your stock pickup, but itll have to be modded carefully.
I will try adjusting pickup/string height. By top end, I mean giving some more (a lot more) beef to the D & G strings. Speaking of pickups, what about a Nordstrand vs SD?
I have a 79 Music Man Sabre and I have the same issue. I lowered the E and A side of the pickups and raised the D G side as much as possible. I started having more success when I ran the bass with higher volume at the amp and adjusted my playing technech. By playing softer over all I was able to dig in and get a hotter sound from the high strings.
This has worked for me for several years. This last april I bought a new MM Stingray classic and the tone productions is very even.
I hope that this helps.
This has worked for me for several years. This last april I bought a new MM Stingray classic and the tone productions is very even.
I hope that this helps.
Just so you guys know for future reference, raising the pickup height or lowering the strings does not fix the problem with Rays. It can help some, but it has never seemed to fix the problem on any of the Rays that I have owned or played.
Interesting... Then how about just a straight pickup swap without adding the coil tap switch?
I ask that because I have an SD MM at the bridge in my Clement custom and I definitely dont get lost in the mix when I solo that pickup. My guitarist has a pretty good ear for that stuff and he's never said that my sound got lost when I played on the D-G strings. (side note: its nice to have a guitarist ask you to turn UP and not down!)
This has been discussed to death, and any attempt at a search would yield much information. Briefly, there is no difference in the older ones and newer ones (single H Stingrays) to correct the poster above. Sterling Ball has acknowledged the issue on the EB forum for all of those who deny it exists. You can't just raise the g string side up to correct it, because the e gets out of balance with the a string. On the new two pickup models, the pole pieces are not radiused with the fretboard, and you can raise the g string side without screwing up the a/e string balance.
- Feb 16, 2008
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the stingray pickup IS a dual coil pickup (humbucker). if you install a coil tap switch and run it as a single coil (the one closer to the neck) it seems to smooth out the response and add clarity (no phasing). that's how i run mine most of the time. i have a 3 way (4 pole) rotary switch that switches it from single coil, both coils in parallel (like the stock configuration) and both coils in series. the 4th pole is so a could add a trim pot to make the series setting not overpower the other two settings, and keep all 3 modes balanced.
I got more beef with both my Stingray and SUB by LOWERING the pickup on the G side
and rolling the highs slightly and adding more bass on the 2 band EQ
and rolling off the highs and adding more mids and lows on the 3 band EQ
and rolling the highs slightly and adding more bass on the 2 band EQ
and rolling off the highs and adding more mids and lows on the 3 band EQ
jmattbassplaya said:
BS!!!!
25 Rays and NEVER experienced a 'weak G' problem. I chalk it up to either user error or poor amp performance (voicing).
That's old and new Rays ranging from 77 to 2010 I've had.
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+1 you gotta let the string breathe man! no idea if this will fix the OP's problem, sometimes basses just seem cursed with problems that can't be fixed. but it's a good idea in general.
