Drop in Stingray pickup that does NOT sound Stingray

[LowWay]

Consider a Turner multicoil. It will drop into a MM route. Then get a lusithand filter pre for it. That’ll give you all kinds of tonal options. Plus the turner can be switched between P, Reverse P, parallel, series.

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

Are emg MMTWs available in Europe? Single coil mode is literally one of their cs jazz pickups if i remember correctly, and straightforward volume/tone controls is what it sounds like you want. Just need to have space for the battery

 

[sunbeast]

Sounds like what I want then!


No, because there are only two leads coming from the pickup, so I have no idea of if the coils are in series or parallel. However, I doubt I would like it even if I could change it, because it has a character that is like completely opposite from what I want. It's both "sterile" AND "blunt". Like there is a very narrow frequency response that overloads whatever you put after it, even without the preamp. Every overdrive just farts out, even if you lower the output volume.


It's hard to describe, but look at my answer above...

Since I've been pretty happy with my other basses, I don't think a preamp or EQ is the way to go, even if it probably would make it less bad.

---------

Now, how the heck do I get Nordstrand pickups in Europe? They will end up extremely expensive if importing.

Since you are in Europe, maybe one of the Delano options would work for you? I’ve never tried any of their MM-shaped pickups, but have loved all their P and J pickups I’ve tried. They have a number of different options in an MM shell. This one looks promising, an alnico-mag pickup with one of the coils being configured like a Jazz pickup: DELANO JAY-RAY 5
Here’s all their 5-string MM offerings (including a pickup with two split-coils, similar concept as the Big Splitman but using ceramic magnets instead of alnico- mind the two different pickup sizes shown): DELANO MC 5 Series

 

[Saetia]

Since you are in Europe, maybe one of the Delano options would work for you? I’ve never tried any of their MM-shaped pickups, but have loved all their P and J pickups I’ve tried. They have a number of different options in an MM shell. This one looks promising, an alnico-mag pickup with one of the coils being configured like a Jazz pickup: DELANO JAY-RAY 5
Here’s all their 5-string MM offerings (including a pickup with two split-coils, similar concept as the Big Splitman but using ceramic magnets instead- mind the two different pickup sizes shown): DELANO MC 5 Series

There is a decent demo over at:

Delano Jay-Ray 4 Dual Coil Music Man® Bass Pickup

The video all the way at the bottom.

I almost chose this for my build but went with the Big Splitman.

During this quest I also fell in love with Turner pickups so I have a build going with those as well.

 

[sunbeast]

Sounds like what I want then!


No, because there are only two leads coming from the pickup, so I have no idea of if the coils are in series or parallel. However, I doubt I would like it even if I could change it, because it has a character that is like completely opposite from what I want. It's both "sterile" AND "blunt". Like there is a very narrow frequency response that overloads whatever you put after it, even without the preamp. Every overdrive just farts out, even if you lower the output volume.


It's hard to describe, but look at my answer above...

Since I've been pretty happy with my other basses, I don't think a preamp or EQ is the way to go, even if it probably would make it less bad.

---------

Now, how the heck do I get Nordstrand pickups in Europe? They will end up extremely expensive if importing.

It sounds like the stock pickup is a ceramic magnet humbucker hardwired in series, it would have a big honky midrange at the expense of treble extension. That’s not really typical of a traditional MM pickup which are usually pretty low output and clear without a preamp (often hardwired in parallel with the exception of the MM basses with coil switching or the passive models). Probably even being able to wire your current pickup in parallel would be a big help if you could.

 

[sikamikanico]

Now, how the heck do I get Nordstrand pickups in Europe? They will end up extremely expensive if importing.

Assuming it’s up to date: Dealers

 

[maxschrek]

Scroll down to the Gordo, could be pretty cool?

Turner Pickups | Unique Pickups For Bass Guitar Turner Pickups | Unique Pickups For Bass Guitar

 

[Makten]

Assuming it’s up to date: Dealers

No pickup dealers in the EU according to that link.

 

[sikamikanico]

No pickup dealers in the EU according to that link.

There are, in Central America

• Gitaarbouw, Schiedam, The Netherlands • Invalid Link Removed
• Gitary Mayones S.C., Gdansk, Poland • www.mayones.com
• Kristall Bass, München, Germany • Link Removed
• M2, Poppi, Italy • www.m2wood.com
• Pas Audio, Budapest, Hungary • www.pmsaudio.com
• Public Peace Audio, Aldenhoven, Germany •www.public-peace.de
• Soller Guitars, Zakamenne, Slovakia • www.sollerguitars.com
• Voodoo Factory, Torino, Italy • www.boxguitar.com
• Warwick Bass, Gewerbepark, Germany • www.warwickbass.com

 

[Jens Telemark]

Curtis Novak has been known to custom wind pickups. You could ask.
Novak MM-Stingray

 

[Makten]

There are, in Central America

• Gitaarbouw, Schiedam, The Netherlands • Invalid Link Removed
• Gitary Mayones S.C., Gdansk, Poland • www.mayones.com
• Kristall Bass, München, Germany • Link Removed
• M2, Poppi, Italy • www.m2wood.com
• Pas Audio, Budapest, Hungary • www.pmsaudio.com
• Public Peace Audio, Aldenhoven, Germany •www.public-peace.de
• Soller Guitars, Zakamenne, Slovakia • www.sollerguitars.com
• Voodoo Factory, Torino, Italy • www.boxguitar.com
• Warwick Bass, Gewerbepark, Germany • www.warwickbass.com

Hah, that was a bit unexpected! Seem like boxguitar.com has them in stock in Italy.

Gonna investigate a bit more first though... Thanks!

 

[Nedmundo]

That's because I've adjusted the bridge to its narrowest string spacing. Actually makes the string balance better, since the pickup poles are flat and E and G are otherwise too close compared to the other strings. I don't understand why almost no pickups have staggered poles.

I'm as confused as you about the rarity of staggered poles. I can't stand poor string-to-string balance, and in my experience, even basses with 12" or 14" radius fretboards can benefit from some radius to the poles.

Maybe some kind of preamp/drive/eq type of pedal would be an alternative? If you can articulate exactly what you don't like about the sound, you'll have a better chance of finding an option to fix it. I do know how you feel, having a corvette $$ that is beautiful and feels amazing to play but having a hard time getting the sound I wanted. Cutting some 250-300 hz range helped for my preference.

When I had a bass with a pickup in a StingRay-like position (a G&L L-1500), I wasn't happy with the tone through my rig, because it usually sounded somewhat thin and nasal. (Through some other rigs, it was awesome.) I cured this with an Aphex Bass Xciter pedal, which filled in the tone and sounded fantastic. It was amazing.

But it isn't plug-and-play, so eventually I moved on from that bass, even though it had the best playability of any bass I've owned, with the possible exception of my Sandberg TT-5.

Thus, in your situation I'd also want a different pickup and possibly a preamp. I hope you find something that works, because it's frustrating to give up on a bass that feels good and has great playability.

 

[sprag]

Some companies will make a P pickup in an MM shaped housing. I had Nordstrand do that for me a few years back.
And someone is making pickups for the Reverend basses that have that style, just not sure who.

Reverend sell them on there site
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Makten]

Soooo.... I ordered a Nordstrand Bigman. But accidentally got a Big Splitman. Oh well, I think I'll be fine with that.
Now I just have to figure out how to wire it to my two switches that will allow series, parallell and single/single.

 

[sunbeast]

Soooo.... I ordered a Nordstrand Bigman. But accidentally got a Big Splitman. Oh well, I think I'll be fine with that.
Now I just have to figure out how to wire it to my two switches that will allow series, parallell and single/single.

View attachment 7407930

I actually just drew up a diagram for a guy in another thread who was looking for a 2-switch single A/Series/Single B and series/parallel switch for some Bartolinis. You will just have to change the color codes to match the Nordstrand ones- the coil key is at the top of my diagram so you will just need to substitute the correct colors for start and end of each of the two sides (unfortunately there is no standard wire color coding between different pickup makers):
Post in thread 'North coil/both coils/south coil + series/parallel'
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/no...h-coil-series-parallel.1681557/#post-29411343

 

[Makten]

I actually just drew up a diagram for a guy in another thread who was looking for a 2-switch single A/Series/Single B and series/parallel switch for some Bartolinis. You will just have to change the color codes to match the Nordstrand ones- the coil key is at the top of my diagram so you will just need to substitute the correct colors for start and end of each of the two sides (unfortunately there is no standard wire color coding between different pickup makers):
Post in thread 'North coil/both coils/south coil + series/parallel'
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/no...h-coil-series-parallel.1681557/#post-29411343

I think I will try this, that I found in an ancient forum post elsewhere...

Edit: The colors are correct for Nordstrand, even if the schematic is for Seymore Duncan.

 

[Saetia]

Soooo.... I ordered a Nordstrand Bigman. But accidentally got a Big Splitman. Oh well, I think I'll be fine with that.
Now I just have to figure out how to wire it to my two switches that will allow series, parallell and single/single.

View attachment 7407930

I hope to do something like that with the Big Splitman and a rotary switch. Just completed week 7 of my wait on my body.

 

[Makten]

Pickup installed and I've played a bit, and I must say I'm a bit disappointed. The difference from the stock pickup is far lesser than I expected. The only sound I really enjoy is the "neck" (still split) coil solo'd. In parallell there is too much loss of clarity and in series it's just too much of everything.
There is also issues with string balance, but opposite of how it is usually. Now A and D are louder than E and G. There is a tiiiiny staggering with a millimeter or so higher poles for A and D, but I wonder if the magnets are also stronger. I can probably live with E, but G is too quiet.

I actually think the main part of the not-so-impressed feeling is because I simply don't like the pickup this close to the bridge (even if it's less close than on a Stingray). Too "farty" and low-mid heavy, while also lacking true bottom end.

Oh well, at least it sounds better than before...

Edit: The dual switch system works great though. Very intuitive to get the coil/s you want.

 

[Saetia]

Pickup installed and I've played a bit, and I must say I'm a bit disappointed. The difference from the stock pickup is far lesser than I expected. The only sound I really enjoy is the "neck" (still split) coil solo'd. In parallell there is too much loss of clarity and in series it's just too much of everything.
There is also issues with string balance, but opposite of how it is usually. Now A and D are louder than E and G. There is a tiiiiny staggering with a millimeter or so higher poles for A and D, but I wonder if the magnets are also stronger. I can probably live with E, but G is too quiet.

I actually think the main part of the not-so-impressed feeling is because I simply don't like the pickup this close to the bridge (even if it's less close than on a Stingray). Too "farty" and low-mid heavy.

Oh well, at least it sounds better than before...

Edit: The dual switch system works great though. Very intuitive to get the coil/s you want.

I’ll buy this if you decide to sell.

Maybe it will grow on you.

 

[Makten]

I’ll buy this if you decide to sell.

Maybe it will grow on you.

I'm on the other side of the globe, so not very practical.

We'll see, even if it's a waste of money, the neck coil alone is at least somewhat reasonable. I don't really understand how I can get so much more bottom from all my other basses though. All with passive, much weaker pickups. The Warwick is and was more or less unusable with any sort of overdrive/saturation. It just sounds like the speaker is broken. Tons of low mids but still very litte real lows. Hmmm...