Music Man sound and pickups

[Bassiclees]

The value and variety of the Ray/4/5 HH is wonderful. That 5 way switch is legit.
I got a Ray4HH to accompany my CA24.
Sterling released a bunch of new colors today as well, Pacific Blue and Candy Apple red in the Ray4HH.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

I would love to be able to buy a fretless neck for my short scale. Would EBMM sell just a neck?
If not would a Warmoth SS neck fit, I wonder?

 

[narud]

I can say with almost 100% certainty you will be getting classic vintage Stingray tones. I am aiming for the same thing with my mods.

Much of the tone of Stingrays is in the pickup and the placement. An alnico pickup in parallel in that spot gets you most of the way to the tone. The preamp adds a bit of spice to that and completes the recipe. I think the Stingray bass is one of the designs least dependent on body woods, though I do think the neck has a small influence - maple adds just a touch more snap and high end than rosewood.

All IMO of course, but @LowEndLobster's SUB Ray4 mod videos demonstrate very well how the pickup can take you most of the way for the classic Stingray sound...

ime the body good gives the same character responses you would expect in a jazz bass with the pickups in the same spot. ive had music man basses with alder, poplar and ash bodies, all with ran with ernie ball alnico pickups and 2 band pres and live in a room, you can hear the low mid and top end response differences. on recordings, the differences are definitely much more subtle. same could be said a j or p though.

 

[SuperFunkyPete]

Well, I must admit some disappointment.

The Aguilar AG4M and John East MMSR 2 band combo sounds absolutely brilliant. Very vintage Stingray. Problem is, the pickup seems to hum a touch.

I found, after installing, that the hum was fairly high pitched and low volume (but persistent), and went away any time I touched the bridge, strings, or tuners. I assumed this meant it was a shielding problem, as I think the bass was in fact, grounding me, when I touched those metal parts. My grounding certainly seemed to be intact.

I checked in with John East and he gave me instructions to double check the preamp and we double checked the install. Everything checked out there.

The SUB Ray4 has no shielding in the pickup cavity, though it seems to in the preamp cavity. I foil shielded the pickup cavity and grounded the pickup poles for good measure. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound to me like this has made much odds.

My multimeter died so I await another tomorrow. I will check all my grounds and soldering etc from today. I also need to check how good the shielding paint is in the preamp cavity once I have my multimeter. Perhaps it may not be as good as I currently think it is. But it looks like the Aguilar pickup is sensitive to some kind of electromagnetic noise in my house. Perhaps not surprising as the Aguilar is a 'vintage correct' design, I guess it is more sensitive.

Next step may see it returned and I suppose go for the Bartolini MMC that @LowEndLobster liked so much. It appears to be a modern design with 4 wire conductors and probably better internal shielding. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

 

[Ian774]

I've also just got an Aguilar AG4M installed in my SUB Ray4, but I decided to keep the stock preamp. I think it sounds good that way, more "authentic" and way less hot than the stock ceramic/series pickup. More authentic Stingray vibe! I've yet to try it out in a band setting (we're in lockdown...) but it's promising on my home combo...

I haven't noticed any hum yet, I'll try again tomorrow when it's day time. My home electrical installation is rubbish so we'll see...

 

[SuperFunkyPete]

Well, good news, my new multimeter proved handy, and I found some of the shielding in the control cavity not to be doing what it ought. Long story short I sorted that control cavity shielding and the bass is quiet now. Sounds fab! Aguilar and John East for the win.

I suspect grounding the Aguilar pole pieces wasn't necessary, but it was a nice little mod. Shielding for the win for me though, overall!

 

[steveinohio]

I bought a new Stingray Special and really dont care for the new sound. Ive got a few older Ray's and I'm leaning towards replacing the new 3 band with an older one. Has anyone tried this with the new pickup? Will it be too hot?

 

[Ian774]

I've also just got an Aguilar AG4M installed in my SUB Ray4, but I decided to keep the stock preamp. I think it sounds good that way, more "authentic" and way less hot than the stock ceramic/series pickup. More authentic Stingray vibe! I've yet to try it out in a band setting (we're in lockdown...) but it's promising on my home combo...

I haven't noticed any hum yet, I'll try again tomorrow when it's day time. My home electrical installation is rubbish so we'll see...

Tried today, no hum with this setup on my end... glorious sound though.

 

[ddamm]

Just check this up!
I've made two tracks with differnt pickups. Stock MM ceramic pickup and Seymour Duncan SMB-5A alnico 3-coil.
I use stock MM preamp. The big difference in sound.
Oh... I forget to say few words about my StingRay 5 (2001). Ash body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, stock MM ceramic pickup and preamp.

 

[Mr Ralph]

I did a Sub series (with the SUB on the headstock) looked like new paid $150. Put in the Tone Monster pickup and Mojotone clone 2 band preamp and it sounds fabulous. I will eventually get a USA Stingray but this got me somewhat close for very little investment.

 

[Harper]

@LowEndLobster Sorry to bug you again....

Did you mention somewhere that one of your videos showed the parallel wiring for the SUB/24CA preamp?

 

[LowEndLobster]

I don't think I ever showed it. There's a nordstrand graphic that I use to remember

 

[LoveJackBruce]

I too often wonder about that... I'm gassing to get one of those new Sterling short scales, but truthfully I don't hear much difference at all between the 3 options (parallel, single, series) available with it's rotary PU switch! Maybe it's just the poor sound coming from my PC; maybe it's my admittedly 'tin ears', but I also wonder if maybe it's just us bassists being anal about tones as usual...? Would anyone in an audience, or for that matter anyone else in the band, even notice when one switched between those options?
Greywoulf

I would love the Short Scale Too!!!! Will get one. Purchased a R200 and 2x210 cab instead. But I may sell these and get the bass.

 

[LoveJackBruce]

The Stingray is super sensitive to string type. I like D'Addario XL nickels myself. I'm sure others will chip in.

I playing the Ultra-lights from, oh hell, hummmmm They make those $5,000 and up basses. Fodera. I find them much easier to play then the D'Addario XL nickels. Sound great to me.

 

[LoveJackBruce]

Just check this up!
I've made two tracks with differnt pickups. Stock MM ceramic pickup and Seymour Duncan SMB-5A alnico 3-coil.
I use stock MM preamp. The big difference in sound.
Oh... I forget to say few words about my StingRay 5 (2001). Ash body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, stock MM ceramic pickup and preamp.View attachment 4132891 View attachment 4132892

They both sound great to me. Nice

 

[Harper]

UPDATE ON MY RAY24CA...

I'm having my guy put a parallel/series push/pull switch in. To be continued.

 

[Harper]

Here it is! My Ray24CA now has a series/parallel switch.

 

[dabis]

Here it is! My Ray24CA now has a series/parallel switch.

Nice! not enough difference to me on this video (maybe in front of the amp you feel more that), but both options have a huge tone. Impressive.

 

[ex-tension]

Here it is! My Ray24CA now has a series/parallel switch.

In the video you say old classic Stingray pickups wired in series. I've never heard there was an old stingray wired in series. Only the first Stingray5s with coil switch and they were more like Sterling than Stingray. Maybe you mix it up with something else?

 

[Harper]

Ope! You are correct, I mispoke in the video. I will need to get that fixed. Thank you