MM Stingrays, Pup location?

[RayO5421]

Hello everyone, I have a question for you stingray owners out there...

I played a MM Bongo last weekend at Sam Ash music, it had two humbucker Pups in something like a J configuration. The bass sounded pretty good and was comfy to play. For a few days I've been looking at Bongos online but then I remembered the other popular model MM makes- Stingray.

I was looking at pics and noticed something, the Pup is really close to the bridge... Wouldn't this end up in putting out a really bright sound? I've never played one so I don't really know how they sound. I know they're pretty popular but can they produce a nice mellow tone like a Fender P?

Thanks for any help,
Ryan

 

[thisSNsucks]

The StingRay's pickup placement along with the preamp does cause it to be very aggressive and pretty bright.

Some guys use flats on their rays and have had great results.

Some people, myself included, Find the 2band rays a little smoother, and deeper than the 3band.

The new Dual Pickup StingRays, especially the HH configure, will give a very "p" like vibe.

I have 2, 3 band rays, and 1, 2 band stingray. All have the single pickup and you can definately get a nice mellow tone with the right eq and plucking technique. Try b4 you buy, most guys either love or hate stringrays.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

They are aggressive sounding pickups, i dont think you'll find a huge difference between an HH stingray and an HH bongo (they also make the Sterling which is a bit different too)

If you are looking for a wider range of tones, like you got from that bongo, you should look to try out one of these :

The tone using both pickups or just the neck pickup can be nice and mellow, and the bridge alone is more aggressive, and you can get different sounds using a single coil from each pickup (sounds like a J bass on steroids!)

 

[Rano Bass]

Stingrays do not sound like a P bass, completly different animal. If you like P basses sound look for a good Fender.
Stingrays can sound deep and mellow but it's a different kind of sound.
The HH Rays can get closer IMO.

 

[RayO5421]

Stingrays do not sound like a P bass, completly different animal. If you like P basses sound look for a good Fender.
Stingrays can sound deep and mellow but it's a different kind of sound.
The HH Rays can get closer IMO.

I like the P Bass sound but thats sorta what I always thought of the Stingray (compact body, one pup). I'll have to try one out.

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

I recently got a Warmoth Dinky P with a MM Pup in it. I LOVE it! In the past I would play on the Bridge Pup, on whatever I was playing. It makes for a more stable attacking surface, as the string moves less, and you can play FASTER! I was also breaking strings, so I adjusted to playing on the neck Pup, and the extra travel of the string when plucked.

I find the MM Pup placement to be about perfect. It is still close enough to the bridge to gave a stable attack surface, but has enough give to not break strings as often. None, as of yet...

Oh, and the controls are "Backwards" from most other basses.

V - T - M - B on the MM. My Peaveys are V - Shift - B - M - T. Took some getting used to...