Music Man Stingray w/ weak G string

[Funk 'N' Stein]

I adjusted the pickup height on my 3 band and that seems to have fixed the problem. Bumping the mids certainly helps in that regard as well

Dead spots on the G string seem to be a problem inherent with 34" scale instruments. The dead spot on my 'ray is quite pronounced.

 

[winston]

I tend to agree with the thin headstock theory - Fenders have the same style headstock with similar G string issues. Anyone out there that has changed a Stingray neck to a different neck or graphite neck? Improvement?

You don't need to change necks to test this. If the G string is the same volume acoustically as the other strings it's a pickup issue, plain and simple. Also the typical Fender G issue is a dead spot around the 6th fret Db, not a G string that sounds thin/weak up & down the neck.

I had a 'Ray 4 with a very weak G string. The polepieces were barely under the string. The G was the same volume as the other strings acoustically. When I bent the G toward the center of the polepiece, it was as loud as the other strings amplified. When I replaced the stock pickup with a Bartolini with blade polepieces, the problem disappeared entirely. IME it's a pickup issue.

I have a Pedulla Rapture 4 with a thin headstock that's smaller than a StingRay's. Also has a single soapbar in MM position...notes are totally even on all strings up & down the neck.

 

[anonymous073020132]

my 1988 ray is sweet & even sounding all the across the board. I set it up to factory specs & it plays like a dream. I must have a dud I guess? This is the first ray out of 4 I've had that I've kept. The others we're post 1995 models & I just wasn't feeling them. Even after the set up on those, be it finger style or pick I had no problem with a weak G string. & No ass kissing here believe me I've been a Fender Jazz man for 20 years & that Sterling ball dude gives me the creeps.

 

[bwoodman]

I have a Stingray 4H that is a few years old - not sure of the year, and I've been trying to dig it, but tonight was the real test. I played it on the first song of the first set and anything I played on the G string just disappeared - could barely hear the notes. I had this problem on another Stingray around 1996. After the first song, I hung the Stingray on the stand and grabbed my Tobias Killer B5 (pre-Gibson) and heard everything - no dead spots on that bass and it has a lot more output. I'll stick with my Fender Jazz if I want to play a 4. I'm pretty much done with Stingrays - gonna sell this one asap. I have a Sterling 4H that I'm still working with, but maybe I just prefer 2 pickup basses. I know I like the slap tone a lot better on 2 pup basses.

 

[kamakiriad7]

One thing I can honestly say after experiencing this problem with stingrays and sterlings, is that the preamp causes a lot of the problem. I have a Bongo HH and a Big Al with a humbucker, and even with a loud rock band the G string stands out without having to tweak the EQ or resort to other tricks. The 25th anniversary bass and the new Reflex bass has the same preamp, so that's more options.

Also, I did play one Ray with two humbuckers that was well-balanced. Anyone else find this? As long as the neck pickup was engaged, the G string spoke well.

 

[dj5]

I jst had a look at their site - it's like a mixture of communist Russia and a Kafka novel.
Amazing how many people can't wait to kiss a*s and put genuine seekers after the truth down.
Just the personality of that man would put me off buying a MM, let alone weak G's and tight spacing!

 

[dave_bass5]

I jst had a look at their site - it's like a mixture of communist Russia and a Kafka novel.
Amazing how many people can't wait to kiss a*s and put genuine seekers after the truth down.
Just the personality of that man would put me off buying a MM, let alone weak G's and tight spacing!

Its improved since the last time i was there then

 

[bassplayer1494]

does this same issue occur with the stingray classic?

 

[BioDriver]

does this same issue occur with the stingray classic?

[del]I wouldn't think so, since it's a different preamp, but I haven't played a classic yet so someone else is going to need to confirm this.[/del] Ha ha nevermind.

Also, I'd heard that the 4HH/HS and 5 string models don't have this problem. Is this true?

 

[king_biscuit]

does this same issue occur with the stingray classic?

Yes (because it is the same two band preamp as the pre-EB Rays), and there is a good post on the EB forum by Sterling Ball confirming the same. It's a non issue if you adjust the pole pieces on the bass so they are all flush (like the new two pickup models). This lets you cheat the pickup higher on the treble side, without getting the d string too loud (compared to the g string) or the e string too soft (compared to the a string).

On the Single H four string (Stingray) models, the pole pieces are encased in the pickup bobbins and do not come it to direct contact with the coil wire. Therefore, it is possible to carefully lower the a and d string magnets (they are just pressed in), so they are flush with the e and g string magnets. The pickup should be removed (no need to rewire) to do this. Good luck and YMMV

 

[cristian MM93]

Foam mutes! just a touch.

 

[bob atherton]

I've owned two Stingrays and sold them both because of the G string issue. I now use a Sterling (made in USA) and the G is just dandy and has a nice Fender Jazz like neck. It's a shame they never got thier act together with the G issue. Nice basses apart from that fatal flaw IMHO.

 

[moebass]

Is this only a Sting Ray issue?
I own a sss Big Al, and i had to lower the bridge pup a little bit on the g string side.
The g string was a little loud, in a harsh kinda of way.That seemed to fix it. It also may be my ears like somthing that some don't. It just might be a taste thing.

What kind of strings are being used on these rays? maybe some roto's or pro steels to brighten up the sound?

 

[Quickie]

and there is a good post on the EB forum by Sterling Ball confirming the same.

I remember a time when this issue was denied. I just played the string harder when I had a Sting Ray.

My new G&L 2000 has the exact opposite issue....the G string is loud as heck.

Rickenbacker had some string balance issues as well. Their fix was all the newer 4000 series basses now have adjustable pole pieces on their pups.

 

[king_biscuit]

I remember a time when this issue was denied.

It's still denied by many. I've had enough four string Rays to know better, though. Fortunately it's a pretty easy fix.

 

[NicJimBass]

I've owned a StingRay 5 for about 10-11 years now, and haven't had any issues with the G string. I have the pickup closer to the treble strings than the bass strings, and everything is nice and even. Perhaps it's only an issue with 4 strings?

 

[Quickie]

It's still denied by many. I've had enough four string Rays to know better, though. Fortunately it's a pretty easy fix.

Yeah...was a pretty heated denial at the time...still a great bass however.

 

[mikeswals]

Man I just don't get it. Took a bunch of basses to practice with me last night; my 78 Ray, my 07 Ray, a BB Yamaha and a Wal. The G's on the Rays were the same volume as anything else I played lst night.

 

[Quickie]

The G's on the Rays were the same volume as anything else I played lst night.

And there are people who claim that a 70's SVT head sounds "totally different" than a newer classic model. I don't get that either....but I won't say it's not true.

 

[BioDriver]

It's still denied by many. I've had enough four string Rays to know better, though. Fortunately it's a pretty easy fix.

And I've played enough Rays to know this is prevalent. Very relieved to hear the double pickup models don't have this problem

But yeah, as I've said in other threads, the EBMM forums are a little too kool-aid filled for my liking. Great, great source for product feedback and EBMM-related info, but their rabid fanboyism has been a constant turnoff.

I still want a Ray HH, though