• 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.

Help me get a reggae tone out of my Stingray- please?!

F

Flatty Banks

Oct 26, 2008
1,314
44
Arizona
#1
Hi TalkBass!

I recently got my hands on a custom EBMM '01 Stingray with a 3-band. It looks delicious and feels amazing. I know that because I had a shirtless jam. And yes, even reggae bassists can go half-nude. Going on tour soon, and need to master this gorgeous bass before I can take it on the road.

33xd6vr.png


Although, I've been working hard, and most of the tones I get out of it are trebly. I'm trying to go for this tone (the bassist seems to play right over the pickup?!). Can't get it. Although, palm muting and playing with the thumb makes a rather nice Family Man sound.

Any help, fellow Stingray players?
 
#7
The single pup 'rays are probably the last bass I'd ever use for that style music. Flats would be a must for sure, as would a good passive tone control I'd think. The problem to me is that boosting lows will make it too deep and boomy, without giving that low-mid warmth of a good Reggae tone.

Impossible to beat a jazz bass for Reggae IMHO.
 
#12
It's not like I only have a Stingray, guys. I'm touring with a reggae band- of course I have a J-Bass lying around.

But I love the feel of this instrument over all my others- I played around with some things suggested here and I'm liking the tone. I'm just confused how in a lot of the reggae Stingray videos I'm seeing, the bassist is playing over the pickup. Is he major amp EQing?
 
#18
I disagree with a lot of the previous suggestions. Some might help, but none are necessarily the end-all be-all answer.

I think the real answer is this: time.

Usually, I have to do a lot of gigs with a bass before I really feel like I am capable of making it sound like I want. Stingrays are amazing, but they respond differently than other (Fender-ish) basses I'd used previously. I had to have a couple years with mine before I really felt like I could make it do whatever I wanted, tone-wise.

If you just recently got the bass, give it some time. Put it through its paces in rehearsal. The same goes for your amp. If both your amp and your bass are fairly new to you, it may take quite a while to really zero in on the sound you want. Or it might never work for you. Time will tell.

IMHO.

Anyway, that's the long version of my answer. The short version is this: boost lows a little, cut mids a little, cut highs a little more. Roundwounds are fine. Work the rest out at your amp.

Finally, how 'bout a "full frontal" on that 'Ray? No pics, no front-of-the-bass.
 
#19
Normally I would agree with most of the posters above, but I suspect they didn't listen to the clip.

To me he's got a fairly straightforward even tone you should be able to get with a 'ray, with some roll-off of treble and maybe a tad on the mids, bit of bass boost as in the above post. It really sounds like old rounds to me.
 
#20
ha.. im listening to illscarlet right now.

i saw them a couple weeks back. squier P bass with tone roll off.

they sound better with keys. turntable.. meh.

kill the treble. flats or old rounds. slinkys will die in about a week. turn tweeter off on amp. kill highs there. this is all low mid. not sub bass. obviously fingers.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back