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Music Man sound and pickups
- Thread starter TonyP-
- Start date
I'm new to MM pickups but I very much liked the sound clips I've heard on YT. I bought an Alnico 5 Tesla PU (wired // = 2.6K) not realising it was staggered, and it remains to be seen if this works on my intended build of a Telecaster guitar body with a 30" bass neck. Haven't got a neck yet, so don't know if it will suit the radius or have a weak G.
Meanwhile I've been trying out the PU on my Gretsch G2220 short scale by means of inverting it and trying it in different positions above the strings. My sweet spot was unlike anything in production. I was very surprised how obvious even a couple of mm either way were to the sound. So, from 20th fret down to centre of PU the distances were:
Maruszczyk Cazpar = 166mm (maybe my favourite ever short scale sound)
My sweet spot = 157.5mm
Stingray short scale = 150 (roughly where the 36th fret would be)
Mustang/Bronco neck PU = 100mm
I was encouraged that the MM pickup sounded quite a bit better than the stock Gretsch Junior Jet PUs. I'd be tempted to replace the bridge PU on it with a MM, but it's around 197mm down from the 20th fret, not at all where I'd want to put a MM.
I'm tempted to think the 9.5mm pole pieces help with the sound quality. I was wondering if these can be obtained in Alnico 2 or 3 but I think that's doubtful so it'll be Alnico 5.
Meanwhile I've been trying out the PU on my Gretsch G2220 short scale by means of inverting it and trying it in different positions above the strings. My sweet spot was unlike anything in production. I was very surprised how obvious even a couple of mm either way were to the sound. So, from 20th fret down to centre of PU the distances were:
Maruszczyk Cazpar = 166mm (maybe my favourite ever short scale sound)
My sweet spot = 157.5mm
Stingray short scale = 150 (roughly where the 36th fret would be)
Mustang/Bronco neck PU = 100mm
I was encouraged that the MM pickup sounded quite a bit better than the stock Gretsch Junior Jet PUs. I'd be tempted to replace the bridge PU on it with a MM, but it's around 197mm down from the 20th fret, not at all where I'd want to put a MM.
I'm tempted to think the 9.5mm pole pieces help with the sound quality. I was wondering if these can be obtained in Alnico 2 or 3 but I think that's doubtful so it'll be Alnico 5.
The weak G is caused by weak magnets under the G string of some MM made pickups.
This is strongly denied by MM (Sterling Ball in particular) but anyone with an enquiring mind, a MM bass with a weak G, and a Gauss meter can verify it.
Definitely. I have a flat pole HH Ray and a traditional staggered H Ray and both the E and G are weak (or A and D are too hot, however you want to put it). I'm trying to find a good replacement right now and am starting to figure out which sound the closest with even string response.
I had a SR5 that had weak magnets under the G and B (20% weaker than the rest). The B was no problem but the G drove me insane. I also had a SUB4 that had equal strength magnets under all strings.
They are both gone now. I was sorry to see the SUB go but it wasn't getting any playing time after I discovered G&L.
This is just a hypothesis. Notwithstanding that a sweet spot on one bass may differ from another due to the many variables that can determine the strongest resonant frequency of the instrument.
pawleeP finally got himself a loaded black "roasted alder" MM inspired bass body to play around with. Need advice on finalizing the project for sure. It comes with a nice solid bridge and a Nordy MM.2 pup wired in series and straight up passive for now. My first and second tasks are #1 - Choosing and fitting a neck, then #2 - Adding a ser-single-par 3 way switch and maybe a custom chrome control
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Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I installed a $12 chinese ceramic mm-style pickup into a $99 Harley Benton jazz-bass (JB20)
There's only a volume controle on the bass (no tone) and I wired in a 3 way switch, setting the pup to either parallel, series or single (bridge) mode
All passive...
Recorded straight into the computer, no mixing or fx etc.
The sounds are par/ser/single respectively
Lemme know what you think (soundwise, not playing technique)
There's only a volume controle on the bass (no tone) and I wired in a 3 way switch, setting the pup to either parallel, series or single (bridge) mode
All passive...
Recorded straight into the computer, no mixing or fx etc.
The sounds are par/ser/single respectively
Lemme know what you think (soundwise, not playing technique)
It does sound !
I think a preamp is lacking particularly for the lows but onboard or on pedal format or in amp would be fine !
Is the pickup RIGHT on the sweet spot ?
Hi, guys. I wanna share some experience how to setup your MM Stingray 5 pickup.
So, I took off pickguard and soldered the pickup away from preamp to make adjustment easy. I started push down pole pieces with some strength, coz it seemed to me they were glued or smth like this. But do it carefully without fanatism
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It sounds like a Stingray
We should sticky this post so we can use it as a reference everytime someone says "no, you need the preamp to sound like a Stingray" or "the Stingray pickup, passive, has poor output and need a preamp"
A passive MM pickup at the right spot just sounds like it should. Really nice! Do you have pictures of the bass?
Yeah, I did not expect this much Stingray sound to be honest...
Also have a chinese alnico MM pup I want to try and might install a cheap preamp I have laying around, just to see what happens
Once I decide on the final set up, I'll close all holes, repaint and make it look half way decent again ;-)
It's still in ugly-mode right now as I'm experimenting with some different setups
Also have a chinese alnico MM pup I want to try and might install a cheap preamp I have laying around, just to see what happens
Once I decide on the final set up, I'll close all holes, repaint and make it look half way decent again ;-)
Thanks for posting the sound file and sharing your experiment!
Yep, sounds like MM to me. Incredible.
Did you have to move the metal control plate ? It falls perfect with the MM pickup !
