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"clanky" Stingray

#61
On my Stingray 4s and 5, I like heavy nickle rounds. With the onboard eq, I run the bass flat, mid bumped just a hair*, and either run the treble flat, or cut just a hair. This gives a snarly mid heavy tone that sounds good live for rock and funk. The ever present Ray active sheen and compression is always present, and therefore, for some stuff I really like a P bass. I do not like radical adjustment of eq on any bass.


edit: medium action (which I like) helps to smooth out the sound a bit, too.

* The mid bump tends to help with the weak G string almost every Ray 4 seems to have -- by the way, Sterling Ball has publicly acknowledged the weak G string on Rays issue, and hopefully this will provide a shield to the inevitable zeolot attacks which might otherwise be forthcoming :)
 
#65
I think everyone here has a good point. Being a past SR5 owner I did have some trouble with the weaker G-string and the "clanky":hiding: highs.

With that said, the bass sounded so beautiful in the mix. It cut through everything and had a punch and growl that was unrivaled. I think that not using SS strings is a big must as is getting a good setup and trussrod adjustment.

SRs are incredible instruments and can handle any style and are very well constructed. They will never sound as organic as a passive P or J. A Ric wont either, nor a Spector, Warwick, Pedulla, etc. They're just different types of basses for different types of sounds.

If you want an organic tone I'd recommend a passive bass.
Try to adjust your Stingray and change strings, if it doesn't suit you then sell it by all means. You wouldn't be the first one to do so and to not like an instrument that a whole lot of other people like.

Good Luck!!
 
#67
Just to throw in my .02:

I've found that nickel strings definitely help matters and I snagged a set of Sfarzo nickels off of juststrings.com for cheap (14 bucks or so). They "tamed" things quite a bit and, like I said, they are cheap (and well made).

Otherwise, I've just been too damn stubborn to dial down the treble *too* much, though i do cut it by a hair.

Edit: I see you're playing through an SWR Triad cab. Unless I'm way off, I think the tweeter is adjustable, no? If so, turn the tweeter way down or off.
 
#68
afroman said:
SRs are incredible instruments and can handle any style and are very well constructed. They will never sound as organic as a passive P or J. A Ric wont either, nor a Spector, Warwick, Pedulla, etc. They're just different types of basses for different types of sounds.

If you want an organic tone I'd recommend a passive bass.
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A Ric is a passive bass, and can sound very organic and woody, as well as aggressive.

Beatles/Tool
 
#69
At one time I really wanted a Stingray. I could never find one that wasn't "clanky" or could get a nice warm bassy tone, no matter how I played with the knobs on the bass or the amp. I did end up with a rosewood Sterling which gets the nice, warm bassy tone by simply tweeking the bass knob just past the detente position (clockwise).
 
#71
i actually played a music man today adn to be honest i expected more, i dunno if it was the amp they let me play on or the bass itself, i was expecting a bass with a wonderfull deep sound that played very light and was great for slapping.... but i was kinda dissapointed :( so having tried that i'll just coninitue with my original plan and buying a 1962 richwood jazz bass wich in my opinion sounds better than the music man i tried today. anyhow, i'm also gonna try a musicman with a carbon fibre neck which will be the first carbon fibre neck i will play on and i hope it will be a fun experience
 
#72
Arie_TheDispite said:
i actually played a music man today adn to be honest i expected more, i dunno if it was the amp they let me play on or the bass itself, i was expecting a bass with a wonderfull deep sound that played very light and was great for slapping.... but i was kinda dissapointed :( so having tried that i'll just coninitue with my original plan and buying a 1962 richwood jazz bass wich in my opinion sounds better than the music man i tried today. anyhow, i'm also gonna try a musicman with a carbon fibre neck which will be the first carbon fibre neck i will play on and i hope it will be a fun experience
Click to expand...

I wouldn'e describe the Musicman's tone as "deep" so that's probably why you where dissappointed with it. A Jazz bass is a feel good, good-for-any-style instrument. So if you prefer that you will not be dissappointed. I would describe MM tone to be agressive, bright and punchy, but where they really shine is in a live mix. I used to own an SR5 an sold it because I went back to passive 4-stringers. But that MM tone is unique and now I'm wanting to get one again.

Which MM did you try? a Stingray or a Sterling? Keep in mind Sterlings have ceramic magnet pickups and Stingrays have alnico ones.
 
#75
bobalu said:
I have a new (December 2006 actually) Stingray HH that I ordered and waited 10 months for. I love the feel, the sound, the look (natural with a tort. guard :smug:). But....it just sounds "clanky" no matter how I try and play it. By clanky I mean sort of rattly, but not the low action poor set-up kind of rattle. Just metallic fret noise when I play. Everthing about this bass is perfect btw, frets are awesomely polished and the neck is wonderful. This never happens with my Fender P or J, or even my Ric 4003. I tried changing the stock strings a few times to D'Addario XL's and most recently DR Sunbeams (I never had a problem with any of the previous string sets, btw, I was just desperate). It's bothering me so much so that I have been subconciously avoiding the Stingray to paly and am seriously considering getting rid of it. Is this a MM thing? Just the nature of the beast? Can my technique be that bad?? No slap and no thrash metal, just pop, blues and jazz playing for me. If it matters, I'm playing through a Mesa Walkabout Scout. I just don't know why this wouldn't happen with all my other basses if my technique is so bad.

Any thoughts?
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Dear bobalu. I read through the thread and you're right. It IS "clanky" from the getgo (I own a SR4). String type and EQ can change the sound toward your liking. People have their own way of dealing with it, or not dealing with it. Good luck!
Oh btw I put flats on mine, and I like mine even more now. (Labella)
 
#76
afroman said:
I wouldn'e describe the Musicman's tone as "deep" so that's probably why you where dissappointed with it. A Jazz bass is a feel good, good-for-any-style instrument. So if you prefer that you will not be dissappointed. I would describe MM tone to be agressive, bright and punchy, but where they really shine is in a live mix. I used to own an SR5 an sold it because I went back to passive 4-stringers. But that MM tone is unique and now I'm wanting to get one again.

Which MM did you try? a Stingray or a Sterling? Keep in mind Sterlings have ceramic magnet pickups and Stingrays have alnico ones.
Click to expand...

I think it was a sterling i dont exactly remember, maybe you can determine it from the picture i got from it
 

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#77
Just got a used Sterling and while the action was low and easy to play the setup had too much fret buzz for me. I set it up to MM specs and don't care for the playability this way. Also, most of the 'clank/click' has left the bass - it still has nice mids and zing, but much less aggressive tone with my style - I'm of the camp that MM basses aren't designed to be clanky, only setup that way sometimes.
 

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