• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

my EBMM stingray begins its diet today

#101
since i actually like having a midrange control, i just figured out a way to keep the original three band eq system, and add a 4-way rotary pickup selector for the two pickups without drilling an extra hole, or cluttering up the control plate.

the pickup selector will provide:
position 1- both pickups on in series
position 2- middle pickup
position 3- both pickups in parallel
position 4 -bridge pickup.

so the control plate will be: master volume, 4 way rotary pickup switch, middle (with center detent), stacked treble and bass controls with center detents. the parts for it should be here in a few days (i just ordered them second day air).
 
#102
beautiful project! My compliments. One humble suggestion: since the body grain is so beauty and the couple body/neck is even more beautiful seen together, after having sealed the body, just think of giving a subtle yellowing overall stain to the body so to match the neck color before the final transparent laquer...
 
#105
Avezzano said:
beautiful project! My compliments. One humble suggestion: since the body grain is so beauty and the couple body/neck is even more beautiful seen together, after having sealed the body, just think of giving a subtle yellowing overall stain to the body so to match the neck color before the final transparent laquer...
Click to expand...

rather than matching it, i actually like the contrast of the body & neck. when i shot the neck, i did add a little amber tint, but i kinda like how white the swamp as is. once there's lacquer on the body, it's going to darken it up a bit anyway.

and as far as a contoured heel, IMO, there's no need for one. access to the upper frets is great as it is and i like having the original neck plate on it.
 
#106
BTW. i was just playing it a little more at full volume and the bass is so great now (and very comfortable), that i think i'm going to wait on adding/routing the second pickup and keep it as a single pickup ray for now. i can still get the classic SR quickness, growl and snap, but the new body allows me to get a fuller/smoother tone that it never had before, and it's amazing that the dead spot is gone. the G string sings and thumps with fullness, whereas before, it could get a little thin as compared to the other three strings. i'm hoping that with the arm relief and tummy cut, i can get it down to an 8 lb AUW (all up weight). and if i can get a hold of the G&L aluminum tapered tuner shafts, i think it'll be get it into the sub 8 lb range.
 
#107
johnk_10 said:
nope, just sealer, then 8 coats of clear gloss.

i put it together tonight to test it out and it sounds great, and IMO, better than ever. it is still VERY much a stingray and sounds just a little more full, but still has the ray's famous attack and punch. i did notice that the previous dead spot that it used to have on the G string (E-9th fret) seems to be gone now :).

stingraybody-21.jpg


stingraybody-22.jpg


stingraybody-23.jpg


stingraybody-24.jpg



i decided that i am going to route it for the middle pickup since i'd like it to have more tonal variations, but i gotta say, it sure is nice to play this bass on a strap now, and it balances perfectly (with NO NECK DIVE AT ALL). as it sits, it weighs 8 lbs 3 oz and will lose a bit more with the contours, but gain 5 oz with the additional pickup, so with paint and the additional pickup, i'm thinking it'll be under 8 1/2 pounds when finished as an HH (2 pickup), and would weigh around 8lbs 2 oz. with a single pickup
Click to expand...


just beautiful!
jealous... I wish I could make a body as well as that. :)
 
#108
got the arm relief and tummy cuts done today and sanded the whole body with 220 grit. i'm going to sand it with 320, bake it and seal it if it stops raining (i don't want any moisture to get absorbed into the wood).

it weighs 3lbs 4.7 oz right now and i expect it to at least lose the .7 oz after its baked/dried). wow! a 3 1/4lb stingray body! i was shooting for 3 1/2lbs or less, so i'm extremely happy with the way that it's turning out and its super lightweight.

stingraybody-26.jpg


stingraybody-27.jpg
 
#114
Kael said:
If you wanted, you could always route for the 2nd pickup now, then just cover the hole with the pickguard and leave it as a single pickup ray. Not sure how much weight that would shave off, but it might get you close to the 8lb mark.
Click to expand...

yeah, i'm thinking about that right now, since it would be nice to have the option to be an HH, and i don't think the shallow 1/2" depth extra pickup route would change its tone much, if at all.

i just checked its weight after being in the drying room for the last 2 1/2 hours and it's down to 3 lbs 4.0 oz. the pickup route would probably account for another 1/2 oz or so. i just weighed the duncan MM pickup and it weighs 5.7 oz, so even with two pickups, its still would be pretty lightweight for a stingray, and a featherweight for an HH.
 
#117
just weighed the body again. after drying out a little bit, it now weighs 3bs 3.9oz and i haven't even routed it for the middle pickup yet.

i'm making a w/b/w HH pickgurad for it right now (with thanks to timbledum for scanning me his).

i'm sure it's just me, but the only tortoise guards on a musicman bass that i like are on a 3TS vintage Sabre. i always thought the oval SR guard looked strange in tortoise. and i'm not a fan of pearloid (in white, parchment or gray) either.
 
#118
johnk_10 said:
since i actually like having a midrange control, i just figured out a way to keep the original three band eq system, and add a 4-way rotary pickup selector for the two pickups without drilling an extra hole, or cluttering up the control plate.

the pickup selector will provide:
position 1- both pickups on in series
position 2- middle pickup
position 3- both pickups in parallel
position 4 -bridge pickup.

so the control plate will be: master volume, 4 way rotary pickup switch, middle (with center detent), stacked treble and bass controls with center detents. the parts for it should be here in a few days (i just ordered them second day air).
Click to expand...

Very interesting. Will you be willing to post the schematic pwetty pweese?
 
#119
SoonerMatt said:
Very interesting. Will you be willing to post the schematic pwetty pweese?
Click to expand...

sure. it involves modifiying the stock stringray preamp. you remove the treble and bass pots from the PCB, mount the 4-way rotary switch where the treble pot was, and install a stacked concentric 50K/50K pot where the bass control was. then run 3 wires from the pcb where the treble pot was, and solder them to the three lugs to the top stack pot for the treble, and run the 3 wires where the bass control was to the lower pot (ring) for the bass control.

for the 4-way switch's wiring you can use this diagram courtesy of David Schwab ('SGD Lutherie'), that he posted on another thread, here on talkbass:

4-pos_series-parallel.gif
 
#120
not adding/routing the second pickup and keep it as a single pickup ray for now
Click to expand...

I was going to say it myself but since you already showed the second pickup cover I did not want to bother you. But if it was me honestly I would definitely keep the originality of the design, not even routing the second cavity. It was born that way so leave it that way, that already is soooo much of a bass!!! A winning project from the beginning.

You can always toy around building "a second bass" when you have spare money using the original black body (don't sell it!) for a two pickup axe. Better: take the occasion to do a deep routing under the pickguard, I mean routing within the complete oval, even very very deep, so to take off a big chunk of wood (weight)!!!
:) V.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back