Test it out, see which way gives you better tonal balance. The neck symmetry looks a bit off too.
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Music Man StingRay Club | PART FIVE
- Thread starter fivestringgecko
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Test it out, see which way gives you better tonal balance. The neck symmetry looks a bit off too.
Yes, unfortunately that's the common thing with Rays. They should have solved this problem on the new Specials.
Guys I have a question. What are absolutely the best pickups and onboard preamps (but top of the tops boutique and handmade ones not just Seymour Duncan or Aguilar) for Ernie Ball Musicman StingRay 4 H 3 band eq 2005 ? I have now my stock preamp and pickup but I'm looking for sth with more transparent and flat tone or maby sth with more usefull mids and less too brittle highs but definitely I'm looking for sth more transparent and flat one than stock pickup and preamp. Is it possible to install passive/active or sth different configuration than my stock vol, bass, mid, treble without changing anything in instrument building or any serious changes in a bass ? Any thoughts ?
Well, I'd say the stock pickups and preamp. EBMM basses tend the be the least modified. But that's not what you're looking for. Sorry.
Seems to me like Nordstrand pickups and pre might do what you're looking for. Here's a thread that might help: Music Man sound and pickups.
I'd confirm the sentiment that there's no need to replace a StingRay's p'up or pre. They're top quality.
Maybe you can tailor your tone further with a nice outboard preamp, like a Noble or a Monique? I know that my '78 Fender Studio Bass head adds some lovely depth and beauty to all my basses.
Best wishes!
Maybe you can tailor your tone further with a nice outboard preamp, like a Noble or a Monique? I know that my '78 Fender Studio Bass head adds some lovely depth and beauty to all my basses.
Best wishes!
When You found what You looking for, You can send stock preamp and pickup to me...surely there will be no problem for the price
I've tested several pickup & preamp combinations in my Stingrays and my old USA SUB. I ended finding the best combination to me was stock 2 band preamp and stock pickup. It just gives you that specific low end and high end that no other combos really did for me.
I had Aguilar AG4M, Nordstrand MM4.2, John East MM preamp and Nordstrand MM preamp. On top of that, I've tried those pickups with the stock 2 band Stingray preamps.
I think the worst combo (to me) was stock 2 band preamp and Nordstrand MM4.2. Now don't get me wrong, it's not a bad sound, but there was a certain phase cancellation happening with that pickup and preamp combo where if I cranked the treble and bass on full, you could hear and feel the bass drop off and be left with a thin clanky tone. I think it has something to do with that pickup being more low mid oriented and just not giving you that lower frequency that the stock pickup does. Plus, Nordy was a bit too polite for my rock needs. Aguilar AG4M sounded better to me, and was a better fit with the stock 2 band preamp. Nordy worked great with John East, thanks to the mid/sweep knob, where you could really hone down the frequencies you wanna bump.
That said, if the stock 3 band version is a bit too aggressive or in "your face", try a John East MM preamp. Very versatile, and based on an old 2 band preamp, sounds great and the mid/sweep knob gives you a lot of tonal variety. That alone might be enough of a change for you, but if you wanna mellow it out even more, pair it with Nordstrand MM4.2. If you don't want it too mellow, and want a bit of that Aguilar tone in the mix - try it with Aguilar AG4M. I haven't tested Seymour Duncan MM stuff, but there's plenty of info on those.
I wonder what is your guys opinion on a 1.5" nut StingRay? The thing is, pretty much the only reason why I never even considered a StingRay is the 1.69" nut because I know I can't play it for good two hours straight without pain, so I stick to Jazz-Bass-nut basses. Now I love the StingRay, and my only luck is that Sterling by MusicMan once made Ray with a 1.5" nut and I got one. But now, Status started making a graphite 1.5" nut StingRay neck and I've been thinking about getting a StingRay and swapping the neck.
So ... heresy?
Oh and one more thing, it HAS to be a 2-band eq
So ... heresy?
Oh and one more thing, it HAS to be a 2-band eq
I wonder what is your guys opinion on a 1.5" nut StingRay? The thing is, pretty much the only reason why I never even considered a StingRay is the 1.69" nut because I know I can't play it for good two hours straight without pain, so I stick to Jazz-Bass-nut basses. Now I love the StingRay, and my only luck is that Sterling by MusicMan once made Ray with a 1.5" nut and I got one. But now, Status started making a graphite 1.5" nut StingRay neck and I've been thinking about getting a StingRay and swapping the neck.
So ... heresy?
Oh and one more thing, it HAS to be a 2-band eq
Not a bit. The StingRay 'SLO Special' neck is 1.5"...
But now, Status started making a graphite 1.5" nut StingRay neck and I've been thinking about getting a StingRay and swapping the neck.
So ... heresy?
Oh and one more thing, it HAS to be a 2-band eq
Nope, not heresy. Probably your best bet, outside of finding a SLO Special with a 2 band preamp.
I am not a fan of EBMM 1.5" nut necks, at least the ones I've owned and/or played. I can play jazz necks and several of my favorite basses have 1.5" nuts. But, the EB necks felt weird: too thick front to back, and too skinny at the nut. I should say that my favorite width is Stingray.
Stingray and B neck Precision (like my Highway One) are my favorite necks. Jazz necks are too skinny for me. Haven't tried a Sterling, but I don't dig 1.5" nuts as much as 1.625" or 1.65".
For me, I think my bigger hands feel better on a slightly wider neck. Although, having never played a 1.75" P in the early years, I can not adjust to that and get used to the spacing of the strings on the fretboard. I've tried many times to play and love a 1.75" neck and can't. It's 1.625 or 1.65 for me. Funny how a tenth of an inch can mess with me.
Regarding the nut size. I have chunky fingers but I was not blessed with long digits. I'm the total opposite of what you'd think. In addition to my Stingray I have a p-bass with a 1.75" nut and I love it. I'm not a fan of the 1.5" nut. I love the Stingray nut. I guess I am a Stingray nut myself.
Mine Fender 62 AVRI Precision 1.75" (44.5mm) is widest ever, and Sandberg California just 1.49"(38mm) but I enjoyed it both. Ray is somewhere in the golden middle.
A rare StingRay was local and I knew about it, and it popped up for sale and I couldn't let this get away again. The only first series Dargie Delight fretless 2eq made.
