MM Stingrays and their trademark fret noise

Hi Gruffpuppy,

I have a StingRay 5 and I haven't noticed excessive fret noise compared to my other basses (unplugged). I can get fret noise from all of them due to having my action on the low side and playing aggressively.

OTOH the 'Ray's punchiness does emphasise fret noise more easily. I saw a similar query in an old issue of Bass Player mag- the advice was to raise the action/play softer/tweak the EQ or a combination of all three.

 

All Stingrays have the same fret noise that is just a part of the instrument, love it or hate it. Even with hi action and flat wounds you will still get that sound, I even tried a different pickup with nixed results.That's why I got rid of my very cool Stingray (got 2 basses and an amp for it) and put the pickup, a Bartolini, in my 'swiss army' bass.. .

 

I bought the StingRay specifically for it's sound-frets galore.The pickups are quite hot and the frets are rather large,this definitely contributes to the "buzzing" that is easily heard.Also,dynamics is a big part of the StingRay's sound.The harder you pluck,the more you hear the frets;just listen to Tool and RATM.They're the reason why I invested in a MusicMan.I just love the sound.So,unless you go fretless,you will never get rid of the buzzing.

 

How much did you sell it for?If you don't mind me asking.Should I be on another thread? Oh well,you know what they say about curiosity.

 

gruffpuppy - I'm having the same problem with the Carvin LB75 I recently received. I've been adjusting the Hipshot bridge saddles high/low, and have been turning the truss rod clockwise/counterclockwise, but still I get "click" and "clack" and not just above the 12th fret.

I've tried maxing my pups heigths so I'm forced to modify my somewhat typically hard attack. That helped minimally, but there is just too much music that requires laying some meat on the strings.

I've considered taking it for a pro setup but I really don't see what they can do other than what I've already tried. When I boost my high freq. controls, modify the crossover, or boost the amp handling the high freq.'s, the "clacking" is almost as much a part of the sound as the notes themselves.

I replaced the tapered roundwound strings that came on it with conventional roundwounds, (.045-.130's)- no difference.

My Precison and Rick, among others I've owned, don't have this problem, at least to this degree. Are we StingRay and LB75 owners just doomed?

(I know this thread originated with the StingRay, but I think the solution, if one exists, is germane to both of us.

 

The only suggestion I have ever gotten is get a fret job done on it. In my town it runs about $70. The guy at the store said he would even down the frets across the board and that would help. I am sceptical about the results, and have not yet spent the money to experiment on the bass. Although, if you turn your amp up and have a lighter touch, it helps a lot. It also helps your speed if you really practice it. That whole economy of motion thing.

Cameron Dye

 

rickbass1 sorry dude i went through the same thing, had it set up a bunch of times and it still did it. the last thing i was told was, stop plucking so hard let the amp do the work, just not the way i play. so i sold it. [/B][/QUOTE]

DAMN!!! When I practiced, I tried being so sweet to it, you'd think I was Sheryl Crow on her Jazz. I don't want to sell it because the doggone thing gives me about everything I ask of it. Luckily, the snare drums and guitars make it imperceptible in the clubs. But alone with my rhythm trainer, it's like the sympathetic drone on a sitar. Not continuous buzzing, just mettalic "clinks" when the strings are attacked. I've got a St. Louis gig in 2 weeks plus a little studio job. I was hoping to use it.

Anyway, thanks for your input!

[Edited by rickbass1 on 01-04-2001 at 04:51 PM]

 

Ever try playing with your fretting finger on top of the fret?

jc

 

$650.00??!!! Ouch,wish I had the money to take it off your hands.Well...I'm happy for the other person who bought it.Man,this site is a good place to find great deals on gear.Wow!!

 

I've got a '92 StingRay and have never had a problem with fret noise. I use to have this Fernandes Jazz Bass copy, though, that had really narrow, tall frets that made an annoying, very high-frequency grating sound unless I was using groundwounds.

 

It's all good,Warwicks are great basses.

 

I own a 2000 mm stingray 5 I'v didnt notice the fret noise until I heard my bass in the full range p.a. It's not as bad is the previous post make it seem. Just play a little softer. Pick playing will raise your basses sharpness and attack.
And of course having a maple neck will give you a brighter sound(and more fret noise) I have a rosewood neck.

 

You think S-rays make a lot of fret noise? Try an Ibanez Soundgear.

 

I have the same issue I guess it's the bass and I can't do anything about it.