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Passive Stingray

#23
jasper383 said:
I'm not sure if it is still the case, but the older Rays ran perfectly well without a battery in them.

I used to have an early 90s Ray, and, without the battery, it sounded just like what Caca de Kick says.

IMO, basses with that pickup in that spot need the active EQ.
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I took the battery out of my G&L L-1500 and it sounds great. Parallel mode with about 50% bass roll off gives plenty of lows as well as a ton of rock n roll grind and growl...
 
#25
Not really. The MM pickup is located just about dead-center between the pickup positions of a modern J-Bass.

It might just be the optimal position ('sweet spot) with a hot enough pickup. I own two P/J basses, and the "P" is often too bassy and throaty for my taste, while the "J" is too nasal by itself, unless I really pump up the lows.

I've had a back-burner project in my head for the past few months: a passive P-Bass with a single, high-output MM pickup in the "sweet spot", similar to a G & L L-1500. For me, it's about the right pickup in the right position, with the right strings and knowing where and how to pick.
 
#26
Usually, if anyone is playing a StingRay, it's because they WANT that typical StingRay tone. I don't like it all so I don't own a Ray but, having said that, it's entirely possible to just use your Ray in such a fashion that it emulates passive tones pretty well. I didn't quite think that was possible until I saw this:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/ed-friedland-classic-stingray-review-769139/

StingRays are SUPER versatile. Use foam mutes, use fingerstyle, roll off the high end, boost the lows and low mids, string it with flats... it's surprisingly warm and thumpy and you may not need to swap out electronics or do anything complicated at all.

Almost all basses are more versatile stock than they're given credit for. It's crazy how people want new electronics or a whole new instrument just to get one new sound.
 
#29
nocontrols said:
Usually, if anyone is playing a StingRay, it's because they WANT that typical StingRay tone. I don't like it all so I don't own a Ray but, having said that, it's entirely possible to just use your Ray in such a fashion that it emulates passive tones pretty well. I didn't quite think that was possible until I saw this:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/ed-friedland-classic-stingray-review-769139/

StingRays are SUPER versatile. Use foam mutes, use fingerstyle, roll off the high end, boost the lows and low mids, string it with flats... it's surprisingly warm and thumpy and you may not need to swap out electronics or do anything complicated at all.

Almost all basses are more versatile stock than they're given credit for. It's crazy how people want new electronics or a whole new instrument just to get one new sound.
Click to expand...

I've watched that video. I love Ed's reviews.

Versatility isn't a selling point for me. I'm a one tone kind of guy.
 
#32
danomite64 said:
Probably like a well-made OLP.
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This is wrong! The reason is that OLP passives wire the pickup halves in parallel. A stingray wires them in series. This is why an OLP neeeds to be rewired to sound decent.

Anyway, the whole idea of a Stingray is not only the "ray sound of the pickup placed where it is, but also the kick given by the preamp and EQ. You can do the passive 'Ray thing but then it REALLY is a "one trick pony"!
 
#36
Dude, this thread is six years old. Just saying.

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#38
So long as this thread has now been reanimated :thumbsup: : I had a great 2013 SR4H that I pulled the battery out of to find that it still had a great tone, albeit at a reduced level (around 12dB down from the active output. Obviously, the EQ could not be adjusted. but the bass had a wonderful, clear tone to it when the amp was turned up to compensate for the lower output.
 
#39
Nice, I was reading about the late Bernard Edwards his sound in Chic has always been revered, well at least by me. He was asked what strings he used, he replied. "What strings do stingrays come with?" He still had the factory strings on.

How does this relate to the passive/active thing? Nothing! But I'd love a stingray right now!
 
#40
fenderVI said:
Nice, I was reading about the late Bernard Edwards his sound in Chic has always been revered, well at least by me. He was asked what strings he used, he replied. "What strings do stingrays come with?" He still had the factory strings on.
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John Taylor (Duran Duran) has a Stingray that was given to him by 'Nard. John kept it as it was, strings too. Until someone did him a "favour" by putting new strings on it...
 

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