• 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.

EBMM StingRay Special Club

#1,621
JaseOfBase said:
This is my new SR Special...pay no attention to the name...I was trying out all kinds of basses at a shop and recording the samples myself. I used the same track when creating that example.

Do you have a measurement that I should lower the pup too from the E and G string on a SR? Thanks in advance and for the help!
Click to expand...

I would say they are new enough that you can be the guinea pig. Can go hard drop and bring them back up slowly as you listen, or down slowly but it comes down to your ears.

But I do agree it could still just be string noise caused behind or at the nut, it may not be as bad with other strings, you may have to press the strings down firmly at the nut and bridge to settle them down. I have that problem with particularly Jazz basses, and go to great lengths to try and stop it, I love J’s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JaseOfBase and HD007
#1,622
IMG_20190111_165113407_LL.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kubicki Fan, nocluejimbo, Chiliwailer and 15 others
#1,624
JaseOfBase said:
Do you have a measurement that I should lower the pup too from the E and G string on a SR? Thanks in advance and for the help!
Click to expand...

It's truly variable, due to the strings, tension, tuning, pickup magnetic strength, pickup position, how hard you play, and even the tone you want. Plus, I don't have any Neo pickup'ed basses, so I can't really say. I would suggest experimenting with the height, as Keto said. Before I do ANY adjustments to my basses, I always take measurements, so I can always return to the "before" settings in case I don't like what I've done. You might try doing this, then lowering a fair amount just to hear if the problem goes away... and to hear the difference in tone, so you know how far you're willing to go. Then you could find a happy medium, or bring it back to the original setting and gradually lower until the problem is solved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JaseOfBase
#1,625
ChrisHooker said:
It's truly variable, due to the strings, tension, tuning, pickup magnetic strength, pickup position, how hard you play, and even the tone you want. Plus, I don't have any Neo pickup'ed basses, so I can't really say. I would suggest experimenting with the height, as Keto said. Before I do ANY adjustments to my basses, I always take measurements, so I can always return to the "before" settings in case I don't like what I've done. You might try doing this, then lowering a fair amount just to hear if the problem goes away... and to hear the difference in tone, so you know how far you're willing to go. Then you could find a happy medium, or bring it back to the original setting and gradually lower until the problem is solved.
Click to expand...

I have a light touch and have always liked pickups really close to the strings. With this bass I found out pretty early that wasn't really going to work. You definitely have to go lower than you would normally. When I got the bass the pickups were quite low and I immediately raised them because that was my norm. Didn't last too long before they went pretty much back to where they were. Maybe a smidge higher.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JaseOfBase and ChrisHooker
#1,626
JaseOfBase said:
Thank you for the suggestions Rich.

I didn't check the truss rod out but I did palm mute over the bridge and the sound remained. It is so slight but I can hear it and have become fixated on it.

I made a simple recording of the sound...to my ear it becomes noticeable around 5 seconds in and then becomes more and more audible as I move my plucking hand to the bridge but as soon as I get just in front of the bridge at about 10 seconds the sound stops. As I move away from the bridge it becomes audible again but gets progressively less noticeable as I pluck closer and closer the the neck.

I'm thinking it's just the sound of new strings and this will die down...I do have a set of half rounds that I plan on trying out as I head deeper into this tone journey with my new bass.

I should mention this is my first new bass with new round wound strings on it so I'm pretty ignorant to what new strings sound like too.
Click to expand...
Hmm. Why not reach out to Music Man directly? Let them fix it. It's under warranty. :bookworm:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kubicki Fan and JaseOfBase
#1,628
Thank you everyone so much for all the recommendations!

I have no plans on sending the bass back so quickly...I'm trying to work everything out here.

I have changed the strings to a new set of half rounds that I had here. While the issue isn't as "boiingy" it is definitely still there. I was extremely mindful when restringing the bass to make sure I was as low as I could get on the tuning post and also used as much string as I could use.

I couldn't stand the strings so I put the factory strings back on but this time kept things low on the tuning post again. The problem came back but seemed a little more in my face than before.

I pressed down on the strings just before the bridge and after the nut and that helped but it's still "boiiiing"ing.

I measured the PUP and lowered things pretty considerable. While the tone changed and I lost a little of the clankiness that all Stingrays seem to have...the problem persisted.

I raised the pup back up to factory settings and I seem to be exactly where I left off.

One thing I should mention...there is ABSOLUTELY no sign of the noise on the G string no matter if I am playing it open, on the 5th fret, or anywhere.

I'm going to give Ernie Ball a call tomorrow to see what they have to say about this noise. It's driving me absolutely insane...I'm really hoping to work it out because I absolutely love the guitar besides the Tigger issue.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Staccato, HD007 and bumble yeti
#1,629
JaseOfBase said:
I'm going to give Ernie Ball a call tomorrow to see what they have to say about this noise.
Click to expand...
Good man. I had an issue with a bass neck some years ago that I thought was just a fret issue. My luthier agreed and fixed the issue but I still had problems through the years. Little did we know that the neck had shrunk slightly. I contacted the manufacturer and eventually had the neck replaced to the tune of over $500! It's fixed but if I'd sent it back when I first noticed the issue, the manufacturer would've have fixed it under warranty!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Briton and JaseOfBase
#1,630
bumble yeti said:
Good man. I had an issue with a bass neck some years ago that I thought was just a fret issue. My luthier agreed and fixed the issue but I still had problems through the years. Little did we know that the neck had shrunk slightly. I contacted the manufacturer and eventually had the neck replaced to the tune of over $500! It's fixed but if I'd sent it back when I first noticed the issue, the manufacturer would've have fixed it under warranty!
Click to expand...

Aw man! That is such a bummer...it's definitely been worth it to check here with everyone BUT this doesn't seem to be a normal issue like I was hoping. I definitely don't want to add on an extra $500 to this guitar.

I will definitely take advantage or EB and Sweetwater's warranty if I have to head down that path. I really hope that it's not a replacement deal if it comes down to it...I scooped this specific one because of how dark the firing made everything compared to other necks that I have seen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HD007
#1,631
JaseOfBase said:
Aw man! That is such a bummer...it's definitely been worth it to check here with everyone BUT this doesn't seem to be a normal issue like I was hoping. I definitely don't want to add on an extra $500 to this guitar.

I will definitely take advantage or EB and Sweetwater's warranty if I have to head down that path. I really hope that it's not a replacement deal if it comes down to it...I scooped this specific one because of how dark the firing made everything compared to other necks that I have seen.
Click to expand...
Best not to jump to conclusions. Have the folks who built it look at it. Hopefully it's a simple fix.
Please report back. Inquiring minds wanna know… All my best, my friend.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HD007 and JaseOfBase
#1,632
JaseOfBase said:
Thank you everyone so much for all the recommendations!

I have no plans on sending the bass back so quickly...I'm trying to work everything out here.

I have changed the strings to a new set of half rounds that I had here. While the issue isn't as "boiingy" it is definitely still there. I was extremely mindful when restringing the bass to make sure I was as low as I could get on the tuning post and also used as much string as I could use.

I couldn't stand the strings so I put the factory strings back on but this time kept things low on the tuning post again. The problem came back but seemed a little more in my face than before.

I pressed down on the strings just before the bridge and after the nut and that helped but it's still "boiiiing"ing.

I measured the PUP and lowered things pretty considerable. While the tone changed and I lost a little of the clankiness that all Stingrays seem to have...the problem persisted.

I raised the pup back up to factory settings and I seem to be exactly where I left off.

One thing I should mention...there is ABSOLUTELY no sign of the noise on the G string no matter if I am playing it open, on the 5th fret, or anywhere.

I'm going to give Ernie Ball a call tomorrow to see what they have to say about this noise. It's driving me absolutely insane...I'm really hoping to work it out because I absolutely love the guitar besides the Tigger issue.
Click to expand...
One more thing to try; cut a small piece of paper, fold it in half and put it in the nut slot under the string. It could be a bad nut cut (say that three times fast).
 
  • Like
Reactions: JaseOfBase
#1,633
[ BOIING ISSUE RESOLVED ]

Be gone springy sound! So here is what I did...I raised the saddles up a bit and then gave the truss rod a solid 1/2 turn clockwise and the "boiing" sound has disappeared COMPLETELY. I had the tiniest itty bitty amount of fret buzz on my A string but when I raised the saddle up just a bit more that disappeared as well.

Massive thanks to RichSnyder who called it out previously...It seems that I didn't give it enough of a turn. Thanks again everyone who chimed in and gave me potential solutions to chase after...you guys rock.

The tone is where it should be and action is super low and fast...I can't wait to play this bass out! My first show is with Chris Barron from The Spin Doctors in a few weeks...I can't wait to show the new guitar off =)

Thanks again everyone! I'll stay locked here in this thread as well! Cheers!

MultiScaleMale said:
There are springs on the bridge that can rattle. Palm mute the strings and see if the sound goes away. I'd also check to see if the truss rod is in a loose, neutral position. If so, just a slight turn should give it some tension and relieve the sound.
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: WesC, Stranger Danger, Chiliwailer and 8 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back