• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

"clanky" Stingray

#21
king_biscuit said:
Stingrays are great at what they do (a sort of active clank), but if you want a warm organic tone try something else.
Click to expand...

Does Pino, playing his Stingray, sound actively clanky?

Does Tony Levin, on any given recording, sound clanky?

I know, I know, it's "common knowledge" that Stingrays have to sound bright and sort of like Flea, maybe, but come on, really.

It's a tool. It's a BASS. If you don't know how to make it do what you want it to do, where's the blame?

An "active clank"? Please. I've been playing Stingrays since the late 70s and my tone, for better or worse, has never been characterized as 'active clank'. If I thought that was all the bass could do, why would I - a fan of old school thump - still be playing these things?

I'm not a genius. I'm not a really great bassist, try as I might, but I know how to play a Stingray and how to make it do what I want it to do.

I have played many, many basses in the course of my life. Name one, I've probably owned and gigged with it. Some were not exactly what I was looking for, but really, seriously, if you can't manage a Stingray - or a P bass or a Jazz or a Ric - then maybe, just maybe, it's not the TOOL.
 
#22
Since this is an HH StingRay, how do you have the bass eq knobs set? and what switch position are you using most?

To me, traditional H pickup with a 3 band eq has always been a zingly-metallicy sounding bass. But when I got my HH StingRays, I was thrilled to find switch positions 2-5 sound much different and a little warmer. I actually prefer positions 2 and 4, I never use the rear pickup alone. I have the treble and mid knobs flat, and the bass knob boosted about 40%. Sounds pretty meaty.

Or yes, you can always try flats....
 
#23
bovinehost said:
Does Pino, playing his Stingray, sound actively clanky?

Does Tony Levin, on any given recording, sound clanky?

I know, I know, it's "common knowledge" that Stingrays have to sound bright and sort of like Flea, maybe, but come on, really.

It's a tool. It's a BASS. If you don't know how to make it do what you want it to do, where's the blame?

An "active clank"? Please. I've been playing Stingrays since the late 70s and my tone, for better or worse, has never been characterized as 'active clank'. If I thought that was all the bass could do, why would I - a fan of old school thump - still be playing these things?

I'm not a genius. I'm not a really great bassist, try as I might, but I know how to play a Stingray and how to make it do what I want it to do.

I have played many, many basses in the course of my life. Name one, I've probably owned and gigged with it. Some were not exactly what I was looking for, but really, seriously, if you can't manage a Stingray - or a P bass or a Jazz or a Ric - then maybe, just maybe, it's not the TOOL.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't describe Pino's tone or Tony Levin's tone as warm or organic. Hey I have a few Rays myself. and I like them too, but they are just instruments -- I have no loyalty to EB or any other corporation! To paraphrase the movie "Coming to America," every time a Stingray topic comes up the EBologists pull Pino, Tony Levin and Bernard Edwards out of there asses :) I doubt you would be all that interested in Pino or Levin if they didn't play EB basses. btw, I'm not some kid; I bet I have owned as many basses as you.
 
#24
Caca de Kick said:
Since this is an HH StingRay, how do you have the bass eq knobs set? and what switch position are you using most?

To me, traditional H pickup with a 3 band eq has always been a zingly-metallicy sounding bass. But when I got my HH StingRays, I was thrilled to find switch positions 2-5 sound much different and a little warmer. I actually prefer positions 2 and 4, I never use the rear pickup alone. I have the treble and mid knobs flat, and the bass knob boosted about 40%. Sounds pretty meaty.

Or yes, you can always try flats....
Click to expand...

btw, I'm not relying on "internet common knowledge" for my opinion about Stingrays, I've been playing them since the 80s.


edit: Sorry man, I meant to reply to Bovin's post, not yours.
 
#25
king_biscuit said:
I wouldn't describe Pino's tone or Tony Levin's tone as warm or organic.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that means something, then.

king_biscuit said:
I doubt you would be all that interested in Pino or Levin if they didn't play EB basses.
Click to expand...

You'd be wrong. I don't have many musical idols, and maybe Pino wouldn't be in the top ten, but Tony Levin? I had no idea, the first time I was aware of him, what brand he played, but I knew he made me want to be a better bassist. To what extent that has worked out is a different question.

king_biscuit said:
I'm not some kid; I bet I have owned as many basses as you.
Click to expand...

Maybe even more. It's still a bad worker who blames his tools.
 
#27
It sounds like a different set of strings and a good setup are in order. Personally, I don't like Stainless Steel strings unless they are flatwounds. Round SS strings are too pingy, clanky, metallic, etc. sounding and I don't like the rough feel. Try a set of nickel/steel strings. Fender Super Bass or Dean Markley NickelSteels strings are pretty mellow for rounds. If those still have too much zing for you, yes, go for flats. La Bella flats have that classic, ballsy thump. I love them on my Fender P-bass.
 
#28
One more thing... It's important that the strings don't have any twist in them. That always makes them sound like crap. It's easy to twist them when making the first wrap on the tuning pegs. But it's just as easy to remove the twist. Loosen the string so that it isn't tight at the bridge. There's no need to remove the string off the peg. Now, grasp the string between your thumb and index finger starting between the nut and first fret. Then run down the length of the string towards the bridge and the twist will be removed. Tighten up / tune the string and you're all set.
 
#29
PaulMacCnj said:
One more thing... It's important that the strings don't have any twist in them. That always makes them sound like crap. It's easy to twist them when making the first wrap on the tuning pegs. But it's just as easy to remove the twist. Loosen the string so that it isn't tight at the bridge. There's no need to remove the string off the peg. Now, grasp the string between your thumb and index finger starting between the nut and first fret. Then run down the length of the string towards the bridge and the twist will be removed. Tighten up / tune the string and you're all set.
Click to expand...

never ever heard of that... never ever payed attention to it, and still my strings sound great...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Watchootognbout
#30
If it's the guy's first StingRay then he'll need to spend time with his gear and sort it out himself. Set everything flat on the bass, turn up your amp to club volume and get the best sound you can from your amp, and attenuate the tweeters on your speaker cabs (if any). This should all be done at a place where you can crank it and just spend a few days trying out different things. The idea is to round out the treble and warm up the sound of the bass to the way you want it. Fender settings do not work with Musicmans.
 
#31
bovinehost said:
It's still a bad worker who blames his tools.
Click to expand...

I'm not blaming anything for anything. I am sitting here playing one of my favorite basses right now, which is an old Stingray 4. All I'm saying is that is does not and never will sound as woody, organic or naturally warm as my passive (passive) Fenders. I suppose I could roll all of the treble off and put flats on it, but then it would be just another mushy bass tone. The characteristic Ray tone is active sheen with a little clank. I love it, but someone looking for say a traditional P bass tone should look elsewhere; at a Fender Precision, perhaps.
 
#32
ROON said:
I can emulate Ric, P-bass and J-bass tone with my Ibanez, and I can't get ONE tone I like with my Ray. So sorry, the problem with my tone comes from my Ray, not me.

@ Michael Jewels I tried those settings and my Ray still sounds incredibly clanky. :(
Click to expand...

If you're talking about the settings I posted in post #5, you should get a sound something like this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th7rlPqcUjA

I think Paul Denman is using a pick in this recording, and I'm not sure if those are flats on his bass, but this is very close to the sound I'm getting with DR LoRiders, and using my fingers just in front of the pickup.

If you're still getting clank at those settings, I don't know what to tell you.

I'm at a loss.

Good luck. ;)

Mike
 
#37
JonathanD said:
EQ everything at the center dent, and turn the treble down 1/8th a turna nd the bass up 1/16th a turn.
See if that helps.
jonathan
Click to expand...

Yes, it seems everybody wants to crank the eq on EBMM basses. You'll generally get clank and mud if you do this. Just over saturation.

I suggest center detent for all three bands, and change very sparingly one band at a time. If you want to get rid of this "clank", lower treble maybe 1/4 turn at most.

If you're still in the clank zone, likely it's strings, setup, or you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kkaarrll
#38
bobalu said:
Some good suggestions here, thanks very much all.....

Yes, I was thinking about flats maybe. I also like the Elixir idea, but I have always heard that the coating starts to peel off very quickly (ie: they don't last long). I don't know how true this is though.

Thanks again for your collective help! :bassist:
Click to expand...
try the Elixirs. I dont know who said the coating falls apart quickly, maybe with a pick. But,
I have them on my Schecter Stilleto Custom 5 and have been practicing and gigging with it for over a year and they sound bright and new still. The coating is just now starting to fray a little down by the bridge. These arent my favorite, but yes the coating tames clank and dang they sure last. Try these. I dont like flatwounds. Havent used them in 25 years! They are good if you are looking for vintage sound with no sustain.
 
#39
This is funny.

I have owned many basses. I had a stingray - I had it for about 14 years from new. I had a bit of an uneasy relationship with it which was down to what I would describe as 'clank'. So I sold it...eventually - it cut through a live guitar band very well but it has an element in the tone that was 'clanky'. That's exactly how I would describe it.

You could even describe it as 'clatter'. Which can be a very useful attribute in some situations...but not all.

Cairo
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back