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Music Man sound and pickups

LemmyLicious said:
I figured this is the right place to ask this, not making a seperate topic: How do StingRays sound with nylon strings? I have a cheapy fretless Wolf that could do with a 'pup change (along with hardware update...) and I like what I've read about 'Ray 'pups. The bass has a humbucker and a single coil, but I figured it'd be fine with just the 'bucker, and the StingRay fiver pickup could be a fine choice for the punchy sound I'm after.

Nylon tapewounds?
I quite like it.
I have Fender tapewounds on my Stingray and rounds on my SUB.
 
Not sure exactly what they're called (threw away the pack), black nylon Roto's anyway. The stock 'pups hum quite much especially when I'm finding that sweet, clear and punchy nylon tone I'm trying to go for. :D Can't blame the strings for that, they should be noise-free, being so mellow.
 
LemmyLicious said:
Not sure exactly what they're called (threw away the pack), black nylon Roto's anyway. The stock 'pups hum quite much especially when I'm finding that sweet, clear and punchy nylon tone I'm trying to go for. :D Can't blame the strings for that, they should be noise-free, being so mellow.

With nylon tapewounds, you no longer are in contact with the ground of the bass via the strings, as they are insulated. Therefore on some basses you can notice a slight hum.
I don't really get that on my Stingray, though...
 
With nylon tapewounds, you no longer are in contact with the ground of the bass via the strings, as they are insulated. Therefore on some basses you can notice a slight hum.
I don't really get that on my Stingray, though...

Being wired in parallel, there's very little chance of hum really, unless you're cranking treble and rubbing it off a computer or something! :D
 
Hi TB,

I own a Black n' Maple '03 MM Stingray (Single pickup/3 band active preamp) and I need some suggestions as how to change/modify the sound. I've owned this bass since 2007 and its great looking but gets very little attention because I frankly can't stand the intensely "hot, treble-filled" Stingray sound of this bass.

So, that being said...I've been reading this thread and doing some research online and need some help selecting pickup/preamp combination to remedy the Hot n' Clacky MM sound and I should add that the application for this bass is a hard/classic rock sound.

I would try a Nordstrand quad coil and a 2 band pre. From what I hear the pup can be split to a standard MM, p bass and front coil or rear coil. A lot of options there. This is my plan one day and would like to use the SGD 2 band pre.
 
I made soundclips with different 5 strings MM pu, in my Maple Monster Warwick Thumb bass.

The bass came with a Seymour Duncan SMB5D pu, with balance pot between the 2 coils, 2 bands MEC preamp.

I added a switch to get neck or bridge single coil, paralell or serial because the sound is very close between the 2 adjacent coils of the MM pu and the balance pot was almost useless. I decided to try other pickups, because i found the SMB5D had too much high (The bass is 100% maple!)

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The nominees are
- Bartolini Triple Coil 72MV5E
- Nordstrand MM5.2
- Delano MC5HE/SL EB
- Seymour Duncan SMB5D (the original pickup in the bass)
- EMG MM5TW (not in the pic above)

All the soundclips were recorded direct in the soundcard, same set of new strings (except the Bartolini "erotomania" clip which are older)

The Bartolini soundclips are in separate files here: http://soundcloud.com/bassgyver-1/


Recorded in one file: neck coil - bridge coil - paralell coils - serial coils:
Delano:
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Nordstrand
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Next pickups when i get time to swap and record...

Enjoy listening
 
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Any reason why you went with the quad coil Delano? Expecting less highs?

I have one in a bass wired to the output jack in parallel, sounds wild. Have a MC5FE too, replacing a Nordstrand, which I love. The Nordstrand sounded better to me straight to the jack, rather than with a preamp.
 
The Delano MC5 HE/S-L is a dual coil, in the 5 string MM shape with no "ears". I choose it because i got a good deal on it :)
The MC5HE (with no S/L) is a quad coil but in a 4 strings MM shape. It would have been better for me because the "single coil" mode (which i can select with a rotary switch) will be humbucking.
 
I'm now a pro in changing pickups! I recorded once again 4 pickups, in the exact same conditions: Nordstrand, Bartolini, Basslines and Delano (in one afternoon!).

I could not test the EMG MM5TW: the connectors they use on their 'fast-connect' system are too big for the hole between the pickup cavity and the electronics cavity!

4 files with the direct recordings. Same recording level, same pickup height (4,5mm). The Bartolini has a much lower level!

4 files called "xxx_norm": i normalized the level to compare the sounds of the 4 pu at the same maximum level.

All here: http://soundcloud.com/bassgyver-1/
 
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I've read this entire thread, lots of good info. I have two Stingray copies both are OLP's. Both are as I purchased them, one is a 4 knob active with BassLines pickup and preamp (love the tone!). The other is passive 3 knob.
I was told by quite a few folks that the OLP is the closest to the "MM sound", which I like. I'd love to have a EBMM but tuition to the College of the Incarnate Word says it ain't happening!
I'd like to boost the tone on the passive a bit to get closer to the MM sound. I played around with a real MM at the local Guitar Center and my passive is close to the sound but not close enough.
What can I do to get closer to that sound without breaking the bank? I was checking out the Stellartone ToneStyler Bass 16 position switch for one, all I've heard is good and its within my price range too. I know Audere makes great products but I've heard (not verified) that it sorta takes away some of that "sound".
And I have a great shop as well, GuitarTex here in San Antonio if I need any woodwork or wiring done.