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Questions about new Stingray pickup configurations

Bobby King

Bobby King

May 3, 2005
2,632
1,822
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Nashville, TN
www.phillysoultributeproject.com
#1
I have a few questions about the possible pickup configurations on the newer Music Man Stingrays if any one can explain. On the models with 2 pickups there's: humbucker + single coil, and humbucker + humbucker. My question is: what are the possible configurations using the pickup switch in both cases? I played an HS configured Stingray and really liked it. I'm wondering if the HH can still do all the same things and more. With the HH configuration, can you get single coil from both pickups at the same time? Can you get neck pickup humbucker and split the bridge pickup so it's like a PJ?

Thanks!
 
#2
As far as I can recall, there is a 5 way switch that goes: Neck Humbucker only, both outer coils of both pickups, both pickups, both inner coils of both pickups, bridge humbucker only. There is no pickup blending, nor can you isolate neck coils to get a HS type configuration. The HH is more "thumpin" than the HS.
 
#3
You might go look at the ernie ball bass forum, where there is a thread and perhaps a sticky about this, with a diagram. There are diagrams of the switching config on the web as they are included with every bass.

The HH cannot do exactly the same things that the HS can do, and the other way around. That single coil only position is an important difference in sound that these basses add, so for me the HS is preferrable to the HH.
 
#4
No you can't get P+J from the HH.
You get: front H, S/S, both H/H, S/S, rear H.

I looked at the switch and wiring on my SR4 HH, and see that all I have to do is add a jumper, and I can have a S on the front pickup along with running the rear H, so then I could have front H, S/S, H/H, S/H, rear H.
I haven't decided if I'm going to install the jumper since I never move the switch off of S/S #4 anyway.
So I'm sure you can probably do a jumper the other way, so it does front H with S on the rear pickup.
 
#5
Caca de Kick said:
I looked at the switch and wiring on my SR4 HH, and see that all I have to do is add a jumper, and I can have a S on the front pickup along with running the rear H, so then I could have front H, S/S, H/H, S/H, rear H.
I haven't decided if I'm going to install the jumper since I never move the switch off of S/S #4 anyway.
Click to expand...

That still wouldn't be the same, would it? The humbucker in the H/S model has a dummy coil which works with the S position to cancel hum. I don't believe you could do that with the HH model.
 
#8
True that the dummy coil is active on the H/S, however, it is under the pickguard, and not physically attached to the neck pickup. Unless you actually raise it up, it is not going to pick up the string enough to really make an audible difference. With the H/H, if you activate another coil to cancel hum, since no coil can be lowred under the pickguard (they are physically attached to each other), it is going to sound like a hum bucker. Therefore, they can not be made the same.
 
#9
But on my SR4 HH, in switch position# 2 it's already in S/S mode, and all I'd be doing with my jumper is activating both coils on the rear pickup to be on, while the front pickup is still in single coil mode. And since the StingRay pickups are wired in parallel, it should work.
 
#10
Caca de Kick said:
But on my SR4 HH, in switch position# 2 it's already in S/S mode, and all I'd be doing with my jumper is activating both coils on the rear pickup to be on, while the front pickup is still in single coil mode. And since the StingRay pickups are wired in parallel, it should work.
Click to expand...

Ok, I see. I misunderstood you and thought you wanted to do a single S front pickup position.
 
#13
Thanks for the info everyone!

I've been considering getting an HS Stingray. I've always liked Stingrays but they've always been a little too limiting for me. They never seemed smooth enough on a ballad and there was always too much mid for a Motown sound. I loved them for edgy rock or for that Bernard Edwards/Louis Johnson funk/disco tone.

I played an HS Stingray and loved that you could get a 2 single coil jazz bass tone and the standard Stingray humbucker sound. I need to try out the HH too. I'll bet that can get more of a P-bass sound. But it wont do the H + S or single coil bridge only.

What are your preferences and which one do you think will be more useful in the long run?

BTW, does anyone out there who lives in the Nashville area have one for sale used?

Thanks again for all the info!
 

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