Ooh Whatcha get? SD Ceramic?It's NPD. I'll swap out the pickup tonight along with a nice antique pearl pickguard. The pickguard is at least 3% of the improvement in tone I expect to get
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Music Man sound and pickups
- Thread starter TonyP-
- Start date
I got my brightness back for sure. With the 2 band, I think this sounds more like my old Cutlass 1 than the Aguilar did, and the pole pieces line up correctly now. This weekend I may install a series/parallel switch. Not sure if I want to do split since there's no phantom coil.
Oh, and the pickguard actually adds 4% more tone, exceeding my expectations
. In all seriousness, it's crazy how a little touch like that makes this look like a much more premium instrument. I'm happy.
Oh, and the pickguard actually adds 4% more tone, exceeding my expectations
. In all seriousness, it's crazy how a little touch like that makes this look like a much more premium instrument. I'm happy.Attachments
Ok, now that I've spent more hours than I should have playing this bass tonight I can give an honest answer. First things first - before I changed the pickup I recorded a cover that captures the sound I was going for: RCHP's Soul To Squeeze. Nothing fancy, just one take into my computer with the MP3 backing me up. After I swapped it out, I recorded another bass track onto the same recording. Same strings, 30 minutes later, same EQ settings, etc. In comparing the two, the SD has a slightly hotter output. The way the EQ responds is much different though. It reacts better with the SD and the response is more musical than with the Aguilar. The Aggie had a lot going on in the low mids, but was lacking that sparkle on top and that round bottom that Stingrays are famous for getting simultaneously. When I dig in, the SD will still break up about as much as the Aggie did but with a clearer bottom. It kind of reminds me of the way a Spector with a Haz will overdrive slightly but only on the high frequencies.
The Aggie is a good pickup, no doubt, but it's not a great match with the John East. With an OBP-2 or OBP-3, however, I think it would shine. Those preamps have a much brighter top end than the John East, which is voiced more like a pre-EB Stingray. I think pairing it with one of those would give you a great option for a Ray25CA and even for a Ray5. Although the pole pieces won't line up, Aguilar tech support told me that the pickup will work with 17mm string spacing (and my experience was that the volume was very even, despite looking a little strange.) Looks like I'm going to have to get a supporting membership because I hit the combination I wanted. The Aggie is going to the classifieds.
The Aggie is a good pickup, no doubt, but it's not a great match with the John East. With an OBP-2 or OBP-3, however, I think it would shine. Those preamps have a much brighter top end than the John East, which is voiced more like a pre-EB Stingray. I think pairing it with one of those would give you a great option for a Ray25CA and even for a Ray5. Although the pole pieces won't line up, Aguilar tech support told me that the pickup will work with 17mm string spacing (and my experience was that the volume was very even, despite looking a little strange.) Looks like I'm going to have to get a supporting membership because I hit the combination I wanted. The Aggie is going to the classifieds.
Thanks to Tony and all for the great information in this thread. Currently building some 5-strings with 19mm spacing but with the classic 4-string appearance and looking for that classic sound. Settled on Nordstrand MM5.2 wide and East 2-band. Talkbass comes through again. I participate in a lot of great forums online, and none are better than this one.
I'm interested in hearing how that combo winds up working for you.
I have the Nordstrand MM5.2 in my SUB Ray 5 with the John East preamp but it's the 3 band.
I think it's a very good match, but I like the mid sweep control feature that the 3 band gives you.
I think it's a very good match, but I like the mid sweep control feature that the 3 band gives you.
The thing to remember with the John East MMSR 3-band is that it is not the same as the EBMM 3-band. John's design is essentially* a StingRay 2-band with the addition of a semi-parametric mid control. With the mid control flat in the centre you have a proper 2-band StingRay.
* A little more cut and boost than the original and with a little more progressive bass extension, uses 2 op-amps instead of one and has the switchable 'pick attack' treble filter.
Yes, I do understand and I did read on the East site before I bought the preamp about having the mid control flat etc etc, what I find is that it does benefit from a little amount of mid boost (which is how I used to set my EBMM Ray 5), it just gives a slightly beefier sound which helps in the mix. There are on occasions times when I do have the mid control flat though.
Likewise. In fact, the main thing I find myself adjusting the most for different songs/tunes is the mid frequency. For the most part I have quite a boost in the bass (about 10° up from centre - I think nominal 'flat' is about half-way between centre and full CCW), a little cut in the treble (about 10° down from centre), the mid is boosted about 20° up from centre and the mid frequency goes anywhere across the full range. Mine is set to the 'high' range in the DIP switches. A little goes a very long way with this preamp!
It sounds pretty much how I have mine set but I haven't altered the dip switches. Might be worth a try.
I was searching for a pickup upgrade for my Ray 4 and was offered this...EBMM pickup code/part #ERB5309. I can't find any info on this anywhere online or on Talkbass. Has anyone heard of, used or has this pickup??
@Jim C
I've just purchased the 2nd one you listed a week ago, based primarily on the positive feedback on it. Might be a few more weeks before it arrives here in NZ. I'll update you once it's installed in my Ray 4. I'm just trying to work out which pickup I'm going to install with it. The Nordy MM4.2, Bartolini MMC4 or Seymour Duncan SMB4A. Just researching through all these threads and posts & checking out LowEnd Lobsters Ray 4 upgrades on You Tube.
I've just purchased the 2nd one you listed a week ago, based primarily on the positive feedback on it. Might be a few more weeks before it arrives here in NZ. I'll update you once it's installed in my Ray 4. I'm just trying to work out which pickup I'm going to install with it. The Nordy MM4.2, Bartolini MMC4 or Seymour Duncan SMB4A. Just researching through all these threads and posts & checking out LowEnd Lobsters Ray 4 upgrades on You Tube.
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I soldered up this little DIY kit from Musik Ding
It's a copy of the early MM preamp
Only costs € 14 including complete, so I figured to give it a shot
Schematics look the same as the retro-vibe preamp posted above
So far, it went pretty smooth (I'm a total electronics noob), but haven't hooked it up just yet...
Hope to finish/install it soon and find out if I did everthing right (fingers x-ed)
It's a copy of the early MM preamp
Only costs € 14 including complete, so I figured to give it a shot
Schematics look the same as the retro-vibe preamp posted above
So far, it went pretty smooth (I'm a total electronics noob), but haven't hooked it up just yet...
Hope to finish/install it soon and find out if I did everthing right (fingers x-ed)
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I got my brightness back for sure. With the 2 band, I think this sounds more like my old Cutlass 1 than the Aguilar did, and the pole pieces line up correctly now. This weekend I may install a series/parallel switch. Not sure if I want to do split since there's no phantom coil.
Oh, and the pickguard actually adds 4% more tone, exceeding my expectations
Good to read a positive review of the SMB-5D. It is a very underrated pickup IMO. I have one in a box of parts (all brand new parts) waiting for a body and neck in which to be installed. I will be using a passive VVT control with a 2-band preamp I pulled out of a Dean I had 12 years ago (though I might get an OBP-1 instead…I'll see how it sounds)
When I owned my Stingray, I did a split coil mod using 2 switches. I had access to Neck Coil, Bridge Coil, Series, and Parallel. This mod brought my Stingray to the next level. I would look into it, SC hum doesn't really bother me unless I'm using headphones…
here is an example:
(Not me, but the guy who helped me with the wiring for it)
The VVT with give me access to each coil, I will add a Series/Parallel switch
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This is awesome! I have yet to install a switch. My two year old sees to it that I don't have the time.
UPDATE: Ended up buying this pickup for my Ray 4. Apparently, it's an Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling bass pickup. Part # M05309. Not what i listed above (ERB5309). I've contacted Ernie Ball to verify this. I figure if I'm trying to get the Stingray sound from my Ray 4, a pickup from an actual EBMM Stingray would help.
I have one of those in my Ray34 - search up the thread and you will find it.
As it is the pickup will not fit the Ray4/Ray34 cavity. You need to either rout the body or remove the phantom coil. They come off easily enough, although you also have to clip one wire right back. IIRC it is the purple one, but check first. Then it will drop right in. They are great pickups if you prefer ceramic over alnico.
Thanks @SteveCS
I noticed there is the black wire connected to the phantom coil as well. Does this get resoldered anywhere, or clip it right back like the purple wire?
