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MM Stingray weak G

#101
It is worst with the 3 band preamp vs the 2 band one. I tried a Classic and it was much better.
After I dicovered this issue I googled "Stingray weak G" and discovered there was already countless threads about it. It is too bad my Stingray was the coolest looking (white with matching headstock and black pickguard) and best playing bass I had ever owned.
 
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#102
Aha - Internet myth #6 is resurrected yet again!!

So where did you notice this ' 'problem'? In guitar centre?

The reality is that the issue doesn't exist as far as an audience or recording is concerned. It is something that can be achieved in front of your rig if you dial in a very scooped sound (extreme smiley face) either on your amp or by boosting to max the bass and treble on your bass - this will cause the thicker strings on any bass to sound fatter and louder on the E and A string - the especially if you play with a guitarist or keyboard player who plays in the same frequency range as you too much - it just makes it difficult to hear yourself properly.

The Stingray, Fender Jazz and quite a few other basses have a naturally scooped sound anyway so over scooping EQ enhances the natural scoop. Do it on the Jazz by having both pick ups on full and max bass on the tone.

To say the 3 band Stingray EQ is worse is nonsense - it has more natural mid at centre detent and having the mid range control enables you to boost the frequency which helps you to hear yourself in the mix.

The other thing you must remember is that set up makes a difference - set your pick up and neck relief to the settings shown on the FAQ on the EB Musicman site and you won't go far wrong.

Much of this 'problem' seems to have been pushed by people who have either been banned from the EBMM forum or been very outspoken there and seem to be harbouring a grudge, taking any opportunity to make mischief - rather like the people who take issue with John Hall at Rickenbacker. Unfortunately it's a tiresome facet of the Internet that this type of thing happens unmoderated - but is outweighed by the good information out there!!!

In short, the Stingray weak G string theory is a classic example of user error in three forms:-

1) over use of the bass EQ
2) poorly set up bass
3) mistaking the sound heard stood next to the bass speakers as the sound heard in the audience
4) expecting a Stingray to sound its best with exactly the same amp settings, tone control settings and playing style as a Fender Precision.

If you don't believe any of this then fine - but watch Ed Friedland's demo and allay all the Stingray myths in less than 5 minutes!!
 
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#103
This old chestnut?

Of course the 4-string StingRay has a weak G string. The manufacturer has acknowledged this as a characteristic of the instrument. Saying it doesn't exist or blaming it on user error is almost as silly as calling it a problem. It is just a characteristic of the instrument. EQ and technique can exaggerate or minimize this characteristic, but it is still there. IME/IMO, it isn't really a volume issue, but a tone issue. By itself, all four strings sound even and great. In a mix, though, it is pretty easy for the G string to get lost - especially when playing finger style.

Of course, I could be wrong. It may be that I understand how to set up, EQ and play my twenty-seven other basses and that the intricacies of my StingRay have eluded me for the past decade. :rollno:

Regardless, StringRays are great basses!
 
#105
stingray.jpg I have not read the entire thread, but I have a 2009 3-band 4H Ray with a very even balance among the four strings (I check all the time and am very picky) . The pickup is elevated about 1/4 inch along the G string side, so maybe this is the solution; it came that way from the factory and I have never messed with it. I use the G string a lot, and it cuts through like a razor. Just my experience and hope it helps.
 
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#106
Ok ok so this is my experience:

I love music man basses. Currently own,gig and adore a Reflex 5 Hh since early 2011- I ordered it as soon as it was announced as a production model. If I had a bunch of $$ I would certainly be an " EARLY ADOPTER" of all things Ebmm.

No weak G on the reflex. No weak anything whatsoever.

Now I bought my first ray in 2003 (was a 94 honeyburst 4 string) 4 years before I discovered talkbass.

As a complete bass noob way back then i found that notes on the G tended to disappear. The internet had no bearing on my experience.

Nowadays I know that when I buy another, I would back myself to set it up and EQ in such a way as to minimise the issue (if that particular ray has it)
 
#107
birminghambass said:
TB member: Help, my (insert model) bass has an issue.
Helpful TBer: Have you tried x,y, or z?
Fanboy of said model: your issue doesn't exist, the bass is perfect and YOU are the issue.

Repeat x1000....
Click to expand...

Wrong. This is how it goes most of the time...

TB member: Help, my (insert model) bass has an issue.

A Helpful TBer: Have you tried x,y, or z?

A Helpful Owner of said model: "I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with insert model bass. I wish I could be of some help, but i don't seem to have the issues you are having with insert model bass. Maybe another Helpful TBer can help. I sincerely hope you get your issue resolved."

Pretentious Anti-fanboy of insert model bass: "You're a fool and an idiot. Your insert model bass has a fatal flaw and is about to kill your family and children and make the planet un-inahabitable, yet you deny it to TB and everyone around you as if you live in a clueless vacuum. You low-life scum of the Earth, less than the amoeba you walk on. I'll bet you kick yer dog every morning when you get out of bed."

No need to remind to repeat, that will assuredly take care of itself.

Seriously, it's gotten this bad...I'm done. But I truly, respectfully, and sincerely wish the best of luck to those that are having the issue. May you find a fix or find another bass. And soon.
 
#108
Geri O said:
Seriously, it's gotten this bad...I'm done. But I truly, respectfully, and sincerely wish the best of luck to those that are having the issue. May you find a fix or find another bass. And soon.
Click to expand...

Indeed!! The really wierd thing about this issue is of all the bass players I see playing whatever make not that many play that much on the G string anyway - a lot of bass parts don't require it.
 
#111
I don't know what other bassists do or what strings they play the most.

I, for one, seem to use my Ray's G string pretty regularly (and have all the fun with that statement you want).

Irony is also a handy weapon when you are trying to make a case for something.
 
#114
u84six said:
I like to play slap bass, and there's nothing worse than a G string that's lower than the rest when playing that style. I need to hear the "pop", but it's very weak. My Fender P has perfectly even volume across all strings in the mix.
Click to expand...

Somehow there's something very wrong with some element of your bass or signal chain set up. To say a Stingray has a weak G string pop sound is like saying the earth is flat - unbelievable. Mine and every other one I've heard have an astounding slap and pop sound. It leaves any passive Fender bass for dead (which of course is what it was intended to do by design ;-) )

In all the few recent years of this phenomena coming to light (bearing in mind the Stingray in one form or another has been with us since 1976) I have yet to hear anyone post a sound sample.

I often hear people comparing the sound of a G string on Fender basses ( I guess they are P or J versions ) - the G strings on those basses are arguably too loud and overpower a mix. Expecting a Stingray to exhibit the same characteristic is maybe where people find this issue.

I recently bought a used Ray and the guy had a Sadowsky as well, which he kindly let me play - the string to string sound of the Ray and Sadowsky played back to back had no appreciable difference except when playing slap and pop - the Stingray pop sound was fuller and livelier.
 
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#115
drTSTingray said:
Somehow there's something very wrong with some element of your bass or signal chain set up. To say a Stingray has a weak G string pop sound is like saying the earth is flat - unbelievable. Mine and every other one I've heard have an astounding slap and pop sound. It leaves any passive Fender bass for dead (which of course is what it was intended to do by design ;-) )

In all the few recent years of this phenomena coming to light (bearing in mind the Stingray in one form or another has been with us since 1976) I have yet to hear anyone post a sound sample.

I often hear people comparing the sound of a G string on Fender basses ( I guess they are P or J versions ) - the G strings on those basses are arguably too loud and overpower a mix. Expecting a Stingray to exhibit the same characteristic is maybe where people find this issue.

I recently bought a used Ray and the guy had a Sadowsky as well, which he kindly let me play - the string to string sound of the Ray and Sadowsky played back to back had no appreciable difference except when playing slap and pop - the Stingray pop sound was fuller and livelier.
Click to expand...

You will not notice the weak G outside of a band context. Playing in Rogers shop would not exhibit the problem. This is not a recent issue, people have complained about this for years. If I can convince my guitarist to set up a recording mic at the next practice I will gladly highlight the issue.

It is an issue that many people experience, why is that so hard for you to accept? I will concede that it probably doesn't happen across all Stingrays, because plenty of Stingrays have two pickups to assist with the issue.
 
#116
I'll just reiterate I don't get this issue with any of my four Stingrays - played in gigs ranging from small bars to medium sized venues - I have had issues before hearing myself when playing with guitarists and keyboard players playing in the same register and it gets worse the higher up the bass you go (simply because you're approaching the notes they're playing) - I've had this on jazzes also - and my SR4HH, Sabre and Bongo - but if I've felt the need I've compensated using the mid control (amp or bass) and it's enough to deal with it. Filming of some of these gigs with both ambient sound and PA sound show the bass to project over the guitars at FOH even in areas I may have not been able to hear well where I was standing - by all means post samples - I'd be interested - but Ed Friedland's review shows no sign of the issue.
 
#120
drTSTingray said:
I'll just reiterate I don't get this issue with any of my four Stingrays - played in gigs ranging from small bars to medium sized venues - I have had issues before hearing myself when playing with guitarists and keyboard players playing in the same register and it gets worse the higher up the bass you go (simply because you're approaching the notes they're playing) - I've had this on jazzes also - and my SR4HH, Sabre and Bongo - but if I've felt the need I've compensated using the mid control (amp or bass) and it's enough to deal with it. Filming of some of these gigs with both ambient sound and PA sound show the bass to project over the guitars at FOH even in areas I may have not been able to hear well where I was standing - by all means post samples - I'd be interested - but Ed Friedland's review shows no sign of the issue.
Click to expand...

Just because you don't have the issue, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You're basically saying that if your car doesn't have any problems, then no one should have problems with their car of the same make. Use your brain.

You can do a web search on Stingray weak G and find quite a few hits with people experiencing the same thing. There's even youtube videos with fixes for this specific problem. So before defending your favorite bass as if defending your religion, try doing a little research.
 
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