Music Man sound and pickups

[isher1992]

I played an OLP passive once that had a nicer MM pickup swapped in, it still didn't sound like a real MM. Wood may have played a part, but I think the preamp plays a big part. The Ibanez ATK is the same way, at least the 2008-ish ones--take the preamp out, it doesn't sound nearly as good. Someone mentioned the magnets, those do make a difference too...Some are ceramic, and some are alnico.. Also, not all MM pickups even in the EBMM model family are equal--There's a tri-coil (humbucker with a dummy coil for single coil operation), a dual coil, and I think a quad coil in some models. I think the newer MM's sound a little thinner than older ones do. I thought a lot of the models were Basswood, not Ash. At looking at their site, looks like the Classic series is made of Ash, but they call the Ray5, Sterling, and Sterling 5 body wood as "Select hardwood" (kinda scared of what that means at that price range). I don't like how you have to have this color to have this fingerboard. They do that with the new Sterling brand too, can't get maple fingerboard unless you buy the black bass...If it weren't for that, I'd be all over a Cherry Red Sterling 5-string Ray35 with maple fingerboard.

That aside, the MM pickups sound good even when passive, just won't be the Stingray sound.

 

[uOpt]

That aside, the MM pickups sound good even when passive, just won't be the Stingray sound.

That is highly dependent on the year. The ones that have parallel coils (and can't be switched) are really not very good in passive mode. They are completely neutral and sparkle with string playing noise.

 

[isher1992]

That is highly dependent on the year. The ones that have parallel coils (and can't be switched) are really not very good in passive mode. They are completely neutral and sparkle with string playing noise.

The stock Ibanez ATK pickup has that same fault. And you can't really rewire it any other way but to have one coil or both in parallel.

 

[mastaihei]

If you add some capacitors (1000pf,2200pf),you will feel much better, even the PUs wired in parallel and w/o preamps.
Usually I do so for my atk and musicman.Please try.

 

[aledeville]

tell me more...

 

[mastaihei]

You can get much more information fr the forum. (musicman aftermarket preamps).

Shortly ,the key of the stingray tone is the particular capacitor on the preamp board.2200pf capacitor.

It is the famous story.

The capacitor makes the harsh higher tone flow to the ground,and raise the new peak around 4khz. That is the stingray tone, It works without preamp.But it has relationship with the reactance of the PU.In other word,the sound changed with coil wiring.If you use series wiring between 2coils, the reactance gets bigger and the peak shifts to lower freq,middle enhanced.On the other hand ,if you use EMG MMTW the sound does not changed.

 

[mastaihei]

The 2200pf capacitor is found on the ATK.But it locates not in the main board,but in the small board w/switch.

The role of the capacitor is separable with preamp.
Good luck.

 

[uOpt]

You can get much more information fr the forum. (musicman aftermarket preamps).

Shortly ,the key of the stingray tone is the particular capacitor on the preamp board.2200pf capacitor.

It is the famous story.

The capacitor makes the harsh higher tone flow to the ground,and raise the new peak around 4khz. That is the stingray tone, It works without preamp.But it has relationship with the reactance of the PU.In other word,the sound changed with coil wiring.If you use series wiring between 2coils, the reactance gets bigger and the peak shifts to lower freq,middle enhanced.On the other hand ,if you use EMG MMTW the sound does not changed.

Is that capacitor just parallel to the pickup?

I'm afraid I can't make it out in the picture you posted.

 

[mastaihei]

Yes.Just like the tone capacitor.

 

[mastaihei]

Please refer --multi capacitor tone control forum--.Many members try to make tone variation by switching the capacitors ,including me.

Good luck!!

 

[uOpt]

Yeah I used one of those rotaries long ago.

Are you one of the Lemme readers?

Can you confirm that what you think is the load capacitor for the SR pickup is 2.2 nanoFarad? Does that only apply to those pickups that have the coil in parallel? I still can't see a load capacitor in the schematics you posted.

 

[mastaihei]

Yeah I used one of those rotaries long ago.

Are you one of the Lemme readers?
---No,I'm not.
Can you confirm that what you think is the load capacitor for the SR pickup is 2.2 nanoFarad?

----Yes,red marked one.(I borrow someone's post.)

Does that only apply to those pickups that have the coil in parallel?

----Yes.If you do the same thing in other coil pattern,you feel quite strange.Here is my experiment.

total 4 coils,the pair of North PU bridge side-SouthPU neck side corresponds to SR location.

If you use single coil ,or series wiring 2 more coils,the tone shifts worse.In other word,My recommend of maximum resistance of PU combination with2200pf capacitor is less than 2.2kohm in my experience.

I still can't see a load capacitor in the schematics you posted.
------Please refer to the diagram above.

 

[mastaihei]

Actually,I feel big difference when I compared my 2bandSR and3bandSR.
The 2200pf capacitor works not always in 2band SR.It works only when I fully boost treble (dial9-10).On the other hand ,the 2200pf capacitor in 3bandEQ SR works always.

So very hard to find the role of 2200 pf capacitor in 2band EQ shematics.

 

[mastaihei]

shematics ----schematics

 

[supermod]

I have a Bongo that sounds fantastic, but I love the feel of my MIJ 1995 Squire Jazz that I picked up cheap. The Bongo really growls, and Id sure like the Jazz to have that effect. Any ideas?

 

[blindrabbit]

That's a pretty steep challenge, given that the Bongo preamp and pickups are what defines its sound.

Maybe someone with more experience with them can suggest if any aftermarket 4 band preamps can cop a Bongo's tone. Then there is the issue with the pickups...

I have a Bongo that sounds fantastic, but I love the feel of my MIJ 1995 Squire Jazz that I picked up cheap. The Bongo really growls, and Id sure like the Jazz to have that effect. Any ideas?

 

[supermod]

That's a pretty steep challenge, given that the Bongo preamp and pickups are what defines its sound.

Maybe someone with more experience with them can suggest if any aftermarket 4 band preamps can cop a Bongo's tone. Then there is the issue with the pickups...

That's a pretty steep challenge, given that the Bongo preamp and pickups are what defines its sound.

Maybe someone with more experience with them can suggest if any aftermarket 4 band preamps can cop a Bongo's tone. Then there is the issue with the pickups...

Thanks, blindrabbit. Ill keep looking

 

[uOpt]

I have a Bongo that sounds fantastic, but I love the feel of my MIJ 1995 Squire Jazz that I picked up cheap. The Bongo really growls, and Id sure like the Jazz to have that effect. Any ideas?

The Bongo has a pretty massive 4-band EQ preamp. The preamp is linear with pots in the middle, though. When you say you like the Bongo, what settings do you use, specifically?

Putting active pickups with a 4-band EQ into the Jazz might be a doable thing here.

 

[BassLife77]

Actually,I feel big difference when I compared my 2bandSR and3bandSR.
The 2200pf capacitor works not always in 2band SR.It works only when I fully boost treble (dial9-10).On the other hand ,the 2200pf capacitor in 3bandEQ SR works always.

So very hard to find the role of 2200 pf capacitor in 2band EQ shematics.

If you want a warmer sound in the 2-band you can raise the 120pf in the feedback loop. raise it until you get the roll off you want.

 

[mastaihei]

If you want a warmer sound in the 2-band you can raise the 120pf in the feedback loop. raise it until you get the roll off you want.

Thank you very much for great information!!
I will try it!