Please Help Me Decide! EBMM Stingray 5 Upgrades & Maintenance

[Bill Whitehurst]

If you need the action lower, shims will help.
If the pots turn OK and don't crackle when turned, leave 'em be!
Common tone wood lore suggests rosewood will be a bit darker and warmer sounding.
I think there is something to that, but the difference is not that much.
If you want brighter tone, then get some bright, round wounds, Rotos, maybe.
Then a good set up.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Happy Monday (or whatever day you may be reading this)!

In the past year, I purchased a 1994 Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 5 from the widow of a well-known musician around my city. She was very emotional about this as it was his favorite instrument and a big reminder to her of who he was. I was honored that after conversating pre-purchase, she told me that many people were turned down but I was chosen due to my kindness and understanding of the sentiment versus the need for a quick resale on her part.

I really want to keep this bass for as long as I am able to play music and continue to use it! It is by far the nicest instrument I have ever owned, but it definitely has been loved from almost 30 years of consistent use!

I have a few questions on what maintenance and upgrades can be deemed necessary after getting a incredible setup/fret level/polishing on the bass by a luthier.

1) The bass has a rosewood fretboard, but still seems to have a much darker tone than another friend's 2019 maple fretboard stingray. I feel like I may be missing some of the signature Stingray sound due to older electronics. Is is possible that I should replace the stock pickup with either a Nordstrand MM 5.2 or a Seymour Duncan SMB5A for an upgraded sound?

2) The action is nice but seems like it needs to be a bit lower than I can comfortably adjust it to. Is the Ernie Ball neck shim kit on their site (the thin plastic strips) a legitimate solution or more of a quick fix? I would very much like to avoid warping the neck joint pocket over time similar to home-made playing card shims.

3) Is it worth changing pots due to looseness? I am not necessarily bothered that the older pots have a bit less resistance when adjusting them, but does it mean that they are going bad and could potentially be altering the output? I have cleaned them with deoxit and have no crackling sound issues otherwise.


Any input is appreciated! I will post a poll as well for the sake of having an empirical answer!

Before doing anything to the electronics to achieve an upgraded sound, make sure you do your due diligence to rule out what you have is not acceptable. This means a lot of knob twisting of not only the bass, but your amp as well. Your goal here is not to make it sound like something else, but in an earnest search for what you like about this instrument that you can't get elsewhere. What you don't want to do is plug a bunch of money on upgrades that you may not like in an endless search for the holy grail sound.

As for maintenance issues, neck set up, bad pots, refer those to a qualified luthier.

 

[mindwell]

Don't hack it up. It's a classic on par with a 1955 Precision or a 1961 Jazz.

 

[TheAndinator]

He wants the action higher.

Sorry! I meant lower! I will fix that in the original post!

 

[TheAndinator]

Thank you all! I really appreciate the advice and help! I will plan to keep everything stock as long as it’s running!

 

[jbhaugh]

So I'm a little confused - did you ALREADY take the bass to a tech and the string action is too high after the setup, or are you GOING to take it to a tech? I would hope the tech would have consulted with you about your setup preferences and set up the bass accordingly, including shimming the neck if needed to achieve your preferred setup.

Are the bridge saddles bottomed out on the bridge plate? If not, lower them until the action is to your liking. If they bottom out before they reach your preferred height, then it's shim time.

 

[logdrum]

Of course it will be different from a 2019 StingRay.

I do not want ghosts to haunt me, so I would not change a thing

 

[The Expendable Clay]

Replace the neck, the pickup, the electronics and the whole bass.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

glad you will keep it original and get it checked out by a good tech!

where the pics tho?

 

[Geri O]

Replace the neck, the pickup, the electronics and the whole bass.

No.

Don’t do that.

 

[TheAndinator]

glad you will keep it original and get it checked out by a good tech!

where the pics tho?

Ooh, good point! Here you go!

In response to a few other questions, I took it in and asked for a fret level/polish and basic setup. I definitely do agree (unfortunately in retrospect) that the tech would have reached out about action preference as he was out the day I took it to the local shop. I will absolutely say that the work to clean up the rusted metal and worn finish was superb and really made this bass seem new! I will give it a few action adjustments at home and go from there for now.

 

[sawzalot]

A neck shim is not a solution to action that is too low. Take it to a tech to get set up. Otherwise keep that bass stock, a mid-‘90’s Stingray is a rare bird and perfect as is.

 

[BassNugget]

Wow. She's a beauty. Keep her stock. New strings will give you that brighter sound. All my Stingray basses (even the SBMM) wear (or wore) super slinky strings. Only ones I like for the 'rays.

 

[ModuMan]

As an owner of a '92 SR5, I'm glad to see everyone is saying the same thing lol

It will be fine, glad someone is taking care of it now.

 

[Yahboy]

DR Hi beam a try first.



He use hi beam on his SR5. Sound crisp.