Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
I want a Stingray...I really do...
- Thread starter JC BASS 91
- Start date
I love tort, but only on certain colors: sunburst, black, white and some shades of red. I find the tort on this shade of blue to be incredibly unattractive. I toyed with the idea of doing a black pearl pickguard instead, but after seeing a some of this blue with the white pearl, I liked it and went that route.
Some perspective. Played a 77 Ray from 78 thru 88 cause P basses were basically poison in the 80's, tho I always thought somethin was missing, was never satisfied. Got out the game then got back in and got a P bass. I'll never play another active bass. Rays are impressive and beautifully built...but.
Oh, I have a P...and a few J style basses, and a couple of Rics...I just didn't have a Ray and wanted one.
We have very similar taste .
You could also get the black pearl for a change up. Those Tony Franklin basses with lake placid blue and black pearl are bluetiful !!
I have a 24ca. Set up beautifully, minus some pretty serious buzzing on the E string around F and #. It sounds like the real deal. I've been trialing a Ray 34 and the tone just doesn't compare. The Ray 24 is truly a gem. Very overlooked. The weight and slab body are a turn off for me, but I'm a sturdy fellow who can muscle the weight for a few hours.
After playing the 24CA for a while, I am liking the 2-band preamp for sure. I rewired the pickup to parallel as it should be, with the expected drop in output. But the bass still wasn't getting quite what I was looking for tone-wise.
I have a Nordstrand MM4.2 that has arrived that I will install this weekend. I think that will get me the tone I am wanting on this thing. Other than that, I am really pleased with the fit, finish and playability of the bass. I think it will ultimately get me exactly what I have been wanting.
I've seen a lot of people rewiring their pick up. I love it where it's at. I couldn't really pick out the tonal differences on Low End Lobsters mod. I'll need to re-watch. I'm curious about upgrading the pup in the future. How much was your nordstrand? Do you have to swap out the electronics, too?After playing the 24CA for a while, I am liking the 2-band preamp for sure. I rewired the pickup to parallel as it should be, with the expected drop in output. But the bass still wasn't getting quite what I was looking for tone-wise.
I have a Nordstrand MM4.2 that has arrived that I will install this weekend. I think that will get me the tone I am wanting on this thing. Other than that, I am really pleased with the fit, finish and playability of the bass. I think it will ultimately get me exactly what I have been wanting.
The pickup was $120 shipped.
There really isn't a tonal difference that I can hear, just lower output.
Should be a direct swap. No need to change anything else. I'm going to give it a shot and see what happens with the stock preamp. I think it will be an upgrade and sound closer to the original 70s. The stock pickup is ceramic magnets and the classic 70s Stingrays had Alnico magnet pickups. Apparently, the Alnico gives more of the top end bite that the early model basses had.
Ok, installed the Nordstrand MM4.2 tonight and WOW!!! What a difference! It sounds EXACTLY like what I was hearing in my head. Stock preamp will stay as it gives enough control to be useful and sounds good, especially with this pickup. What a major improvement in tone!
On the topic of Stingrays can someone explain why the OP's bass is slab like and then there are these others that are carved (light blue pic). Then there is this weird neck thru model.... (dark blue) the variations are hard to keep track of!!!!
Attachments
Last edited:
"So you will buy ALL our basses!" EBMM
Sure. The straight answer is there are different versions. The neck through models are up-priced considerably. I'm not an expert on the different variants in models but there's roasted maple ones which I think are called specials. True experts should pipe in any time now.
Not an expert but from what I've seen is there are the "classic" series of stingrays which have a slab body and then there are the modern stingrays with some contours. Then there are the StingRay 5s which have more body contours. There are neckthrough stingrays that have been offered previously but now they seem to be just bolt on only. The last time I saw them selling a neckthrough was a 1 off in the vault on their website like 3 years ago.
Love when modifying works out as good or better than expected congrats enjoy.
Not sure if this option has been mentioned… Buy a Stingray Special with matching headstock and non maple fretboard. That way you will not have to suffer that much from the look of roasted maple that you seem opposed to.
