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Music Man Stingray 4 2EQ with contoured body?

#26
SoulApprentice said:
Thanks! Since 1984 is when MM became EBMM, are you saying that I just need to stay away from pre-EB models?
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From 1976 - 1983 (Pre-EB Music Man Period).
Sting Rays have slab bodies with a 2EQ preamp.

From 1984 (Ernie Ball Music Man) - first half of 2018.
Sting Ray 4 with contoured body and 2EQ preamp (or optional 3EQ from Jan 1987).

From July 2018 - current.
New lightweight special Sting Ray 4 string retains the contoured body but a new re-voiced 3EQ 18 volt replaces the 2EQ (and 3EQ option) ie no more 2EQ for the contoured body Sting Ray 4.

The 2EQ still exists for the "Classic Series" Sting Ray 4 introduced in 2010 (and current). Slab body only.

"Old Smoothie" introduced 2016 (and current) has a slightly different 2EQ preamp in that it's based on the original 1976 Pre-EB preamp. The 2EQ preamp referred to elsewhere is based on the 1978 Pre-EB preamp. Slab body only.
 
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#27
bassdude51 said:
I'm guessing on the years (maybe 15 yrs ago), Music Man used to offer brand new 4 H Stingrays with 2 band. They were actually $30 or $40 cheaper than the 3 band. They had contoured bodies.

About 2 years ago, I bought a used 2 band Stingray and it was made in the 2000s. It was contoured.

Many rave that the 2 band sounds a little bit better than the 3 band. I personally didn't care much for the 2 band because there is no center indent for the bass and treble eq. Meaning that we just don't know exactly where the "flat" setting is. The 3 band does have center indent.

"To each his own."
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It doesn't matter where the flat setting is. What matters is adjusting until you like what you hear, detent or not.
 
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#29
bassdude51 said:
I have flats strung on my 3 band 'Ray. So, clickety clackity and sizzly is not an issue. When I did have my 2 band, I did appreciate it's warmth over the 3 band. But, IMHO the actual difference in sound between the 2 band and 3 band is about 10% more or less. Also, I never knew if the 2 band sounded warmer because I had the bass eq up from flat, since it's impossible to know where flat is with the indentless 2 band.

I actually like the 2 band better in a way. Simple to use and warmer sounding but not knowing where flat is really bothers me. The 2 band does lean the Stingray over more to a "one trick pony" than so with the 3 band.

Also, being able to tame down the 'Ray's dominate mid range (when needed) with the 3 band is a really big plus for me. Going up from "one trick pony".

Both 2 band or 3 band, "I wouldn't kick out of bed".

It's a matter of taste. Like with bourbon and whiskey.
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Respectfully, I totally disagree with your assessment of the Stingray tone. I played a 2eq Ray for over 22 yrs, now playing P and J Basses. The P Bass is heavier in the mids than the Ray and there is not much you can do to get a Ray to sound like a P Bass. Totally different animals and the Ray is in no way a 1 trick pony.
 
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#30
SJan3 said:
Respectfully, I totally disagree with your assessment of the Stingray tone. I played a 2eq Ray for over 22 yrs, now playing P and J Basses. The P Bass is heavier in the mids than the Ray and there is not much you can do to get a Ray to sound like a P Bass. Totally different animals and the Ray is in no way a 1 trick pony.
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Been read on EB forum that 5 string with 3 selector voice able create P bass-like voice on series mode + EQ tweak.
 
#32
Dabndug said:
If memory serves, the two band preamp used on Stingrays provides boost only, whereas the three band provides boost and cut.
Click to expand...

This is not true, but many presume it is the case because of the eq having no centered setting. However, I also believe I have seen that the range of the EQ is not exactly 50/50 boost/cut either. I believe that the treble is 50/50, but the bass control allows 25% cut and 75% boost, or something to that effect. Maybe I've got it wrong and someone will correct us both.

Regardless, setting the EQ without "flat" is pretty easy. Start with the controls all the way off, turn each up one at a time until it's "too much", then back it off slightly and you're good to go. I actually move the set screw on my bass and treble knobs so that it is facing straight up at my preferred settings. Then, I can tweak as needed and easily get back to my default without having to guess.
 
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#34
nivagues said:
From 1976 - 1983 (Pre-EB Music Man Period).
Sting Rays have slab bodies with a 2EQ preamp.

From 1984 (Ernie Ball Music Man) - first half of 2018.
Sting Ray 4 with contoured body and 2EQ preamp (or optional 3EQ from Jan 1987).

From July 2018 - current.
New lightweight special Sting Ray 4 string retains the contoured body but a new re-voiced 3EQ 18 volt replaces the 2EQ (and 3EQ option) ie no more 2EQ for the contoured body Sting Ray 4.

The 2EQ still exists for the "Classic Series" Sting Ray 4 introduced in 2010 (and current). Slab body only.

"Old Smoothie" introduced 2016 (and current) has a slightly different 2EQ preamp in that it's based on the original 1976 Pre-EB preamp. The 2EQ preamp referred to elsewhere is based on the 1978 Pre-EB preamp. Slab body only.
Click to expand...
Thanks! This is the noob-proof recap I was looking for! :)
 
#37
SJan3 said:
It doesn't matter where the flat setting is. What matters is adjusting until you like what you hear, detent or not.
Click to expand...
This is the truth!

Double Agent said:
This is not true, but many presume it is the case because of the eq having no centered setting. However, I also believe I have seen that the range of the EQ is not exactly 50/50 boost/cut either. I believe that the treble is 50/50, but the bass control allows 25% cut and 75% boost, or something to that effect. Maybe I've got it wrong and someone will correct us both.
Click to expand...
This is my experience with the 2EQ. Treble is 50/50, bass may be up to 25/75, but it may be as low as 10/90. The 2EQ was designed for a specific tonality and not audio laboratory perfection. There is a baked in curve to the design, and it's pretty dodgy to get a truly 'flat' setting. Closest I can get (when compared to my more clinically flat sounding basses) is bass around 1-ish and treble at 4-ish.

Anywho, perhaps other options would be:
1. Get a Classic or Old Smoothie and have the body contoured..?
2. Get a 3 band, contoured Ray and retrofit a 2EQ preamp in it. Actual EB/EBMM preamps are hard to come by, but the East MMSR 2 band 3 knob preamp is great, as is the Mojotone MM 2EQ clone.
3. Get a 2003-2006 USA made EBMM S.U.B. and have it's body contoured and refinished. The active versions are 2EQ, and the truck liner they sprayed these with is not for everyone. A well done contouring and refin wouldn't be heresy. These basses were made on the same production line, are high quality and often found for decent prices. That leaves financial room to have them contoured and refinished to taste.
 
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