No, they used ceramic for a few years but then they used alnico on the SR5s, not just the classic ones.
Can't recall the years... Sometime between 1998-2001?
I'm sure someone who remembers will chime in soon.
Edit: 2008, not 1998!
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Music Man sound and pickups
- Thread starter TonyP-
- Start date
No, they used ceramic for a few years but then they used alnico on the SR5s, not just the classic ones.
Can't recall the years... Sometime between 1998-2001?
I'm sure someone who remembers will chime in soon.
Edit: 2008, not 1998!
SR5's started with alnico then switched to ceramic in 1991.
They remained ceramic until 2008, and now they're all alnico.
They remained ceramic until 2008, and now they're all alnico.
I've followed this thread with interest for a few weeks now. I'm really glad it's a sticky.
I started following it when I got my 1998 Stingray H 5-string sometime before Christmas, thinking the first thing I wanted to do was change the pup and preamp.
However, very shortly after I got it, I came to realize that I'm 100% happy with the tone it has in its stock form. I'm fairly sure it has the ceramic pup. I leave the 3-band EQs all set to flat and the volume at 100%. I've listened to all of the sample clips here and while they all sound great, I can't see where the mods performed to achieve the tones in those clips would benefit me. All the sound guys and producers I work with love the sound of this bass, even over the Precisions, Jazzes, and even the Alembic Series 1 I have (which, admittedly, isn't quite mainstream, but I love it nonetheless).
So while I feel no need to modify my Ray, I want to express appreciation to those that have posted audio clips and other information. My boss's son has a 1974 4-string (no kidding, eh?
) Stingray that I've been handed to make it playable. The bass makes no sound and I'm pretty sure the continuously spinning tone and volume controls have a lot to do with that!...
So, based on what I've read here, I'm ordering a John East 2-band pre map for this bass.
This bass weighs a TON! It has a 3-bolt neck, which feels very solid. And it has an odd finish, it's natural, finished with some kind of oil, no laquer used. You can feel the wood grain on the body. The son sez he removed the neck to get the serial number and determine the age, which I haven't done yet. So this will be my project bass for a while.
I look forward to following this thread. Thanx to all the contributors!
I started following it when I got my 1998 Stingray H 5-string sometime before Christmas, thinking the first thing I wanted to do was change the pup and preamp.
However, very shortly after I got it, I came to realize that I'm 100% happy with the tone it has in its stock form. I'm fairly sure it has the ceramic pup. I leave the 3-band EQs all set to flat and the volume at 100%. I've listened to all of the sample clips here and while they all sound great, I can't see where the mods performed to achieve the tones in those clips would benefit me. All the sound guys and producers I work with love the sound of this bass, even over the Precisions, Jazzes, and even the Alembic Series 1 I have (which, admittedly, isn't quite mainstream, but I love it nonetheless).
So while I feel no need to modify my Ray, I want to express appreciation to those that have posted audio clips and other information. My boss's son has a 1974 4-string (no kidding, eh?
) Stingray that I've been handed to make it playable. The bass makes no sound and I'm pretty sure the continuously spinning tone and volume controls have a lot to do with that!... So, based on what I've read here, I'm ordering a John East 2-band pre map for this bass. This bass weighs a TON! It has a 3-bolt neck, which feels very solid. And it has an odd finish, it's natural, finished with some kind of oil, no laquer used. You can feel the wood grain on the body. The son sez he removed the neck to get the serial number and determine the age, which I haven't done yet. So this will be my project bass for a while.
I look forward to following this thread. Thanx to all the contributors!
I've followed this thread with interest for a few weeks now. I'm really glad it's a sticky.
I started following it when I got my 1998 Stingray H 5-string sometime before Christmas, thinking the first thing I wanted to do was change the pup and preamp.
However, very shortly after I got it, I came to realize that I'm 100% happy with the tone it has in its stock form. I'm fairly sure it has the ceramic pup. I leave the 3-band EQs all set to flat and the volume at 100%. I've listened to all of the sample clips here and while they all sound great, I can't see where the mods performed to achieve the tones in those clips would benefit me. All the sound guys and producers I work with love the sound of this bass, even over the Precisions, Jazzes, and even the Alembic Series 1 I have (which, admittedly, isn't quite mainstream, but I love it nonetheless).
So while I feel no need to modify my Ray, I want to express appreciation to those that have posted audio clips and other information. My boss's son has a 1974 4-string (no kidding, eh?…
This bass weighs a TON! It has a 3-bolt neck, which feels very solid. And it has an odd finish, it's natural, finished with some kind of oil, no laquer used. You can feel the wood grain on the body. The son sez he removed the neck to get the serial number and determine the age, which I haven't done yet. So this will be my project bass for a while.
I look forward to following this thread. Thanx to all the contributors!
How about replacing the pots only? Just wondering..... thats what id do. Love my ebmm preamps!
My boss's son has a 1974 4-string (no kidding, eh?
Stingrays first went into production in '76 so I think you've been given the wrong info there.
Ahh, a mystery! That'll give me an excuse to pull the neck to have a look-see at the number (or is that incorrect, too?).
Before you go and replace the preamp, have a look to see if it's something simple to fix. If I couldn't fix it, I would bring it to a tech to have them look. Having an all original pre EB bass is very desirable. Sounds to me like it may just need new pots which is very easy.
Okay, I'll have another look-see at the preamp. I'm used to working on modules from large-frame analog audio consoles (a dying art these days, to be sure), so replacing the pots shouldn't be a big deal. I was just thinking, new preamp, new pots, done. I'll reconsider. Well, while I'm at it, I'll try to post some pics along the way. Stay tuned.
Thanx!
If it's truly at '74, a new preamp - especially something modern like an East (which I have) - will destroy the value. Definitely get the original preamp working. In fact, there shouldn't be any reason that it can't be reconditioned, even if that means replacing some caps and an opamp or transistors.
The original preamps had a black epoxy coating over them making them unserviceable. The pots could easily be replaced though. That's what Id try first to maintain the value of the instrument.
Well, in that case, do the pots first.
The East 2-band MM is a fine preamp - I really like it with the Nordstrand MM4.2 pickup I have. If it comes to that, it will certainly be a good choice. I just hate to see the original thrown out without first doing everything possible to see if it works.
Only for the first couple years were they epoxied iirc. And year of bass is in question so might not be epoxied still..... still yea po5s first
Man, you guys rock! I hope to delve into this bass this week sometime. I'll figure out the year and compare the preamp with the pics.
I truly appreciate the interest, guys. I'm thankful that my '98 5-string Ray is perfect just the way it is. I guess there's not a lot of Music Man instruments in this area, I'm forever getting compliments in its sound and tone. I'm ASSuming that part of the reason for that is the ceramic pup that this model has (well, it seems to fall in the time period for ceramic pups in 5-strings).
I hope I can resurrect this older 4-string into a similarly-appreciared instrument.
Ex-tension... i know that page well
Sorry i minimized the number of years of epoxied boards....
Sorry i minimized the number of years of epoxied boards....
Ex-tension... i know that page well
Sorry i minimized the number of years of epoxied boards....
I wasn't trying to imply you're wrong or something like that.
I just wanted to point a direction about the subject. ;-)
Would a Dimarzio Model J neck wired in parallel work well with a Seymour Duncan SMB-4d bridge wired in series? I'm thinking of using this setup in a Schecter Stargazer that has been converted into a passive bass.
The John East preamp is amazing I put it I'm my stingray with a Bartolini pickup from 1991-92. Deep beautiful piano like tone usable harmonics. The only thing I don't get is I don't see any difference in sound with the treble boost.. I would recommend this preamp
