SBMM pickup replacement

[Gustopher]

The weak spot is not the pickup

Not always true with these basses. Sometimes the pickup is certainly a problem, as our own @LowEndLobster has displayed. It was the case for me as well. My pickup was definitely the issue, after replacing it my ray4 sounds like a $1000 bass it was seriously that big of a change.

 

[Drummerboy2]

Not always true with these basses. Sometimes the pickup is certainly a problem, as our own @LowEndLobster has displayed. It was the case for me as well. My pickup was definitely the issue, after replacing it my ray4 sounds like a $1000 bass it was seriously that big of a change.

I agree, the pickup was the weak link for my Sterling Ray 4. I was also thinking to put in a Aguilar OBP-3 preamp but since I may get the Tone Hammer pedal which has a OBP-3 preamp in it, so I don't want to double up on this.

The stock Preamp sounds pretty good with the Aguilar pickup, so I just left it alone for now but could change it later.

Now my bass sounds like a more expensive bass. This, plus the way it plays is awesome.

 

[sporadic29414]

People experience the same pickup issue with the Ray5? I picked one up last year and am very pleased with it. Then again, I've never owned an EBMM. Maybe I'm happy because I don't have one to compare it to?

 

[Gustopher]

My experience is limited to only the Ray4, haven't tried the 5.

 

[Barmy]

I just put the same Aguilar pickup in the same Ray4 and the improvement in the sound is like night and day. But the output level of the pickup seems a little quieter than I thought it would be. Has anyone else had that experience?

 

[LUpton]

Probably the difference between series wiring on the original pickup and parallel wiring on the Aggie.

 

[P Cheen]

I know there are a few people here who feel replacing pickups on a SBMM is a necessity, but I'll tell you this. I don't know a whole lot about swapping what's already there out for an Aquilar, but I have a Short Scale MM Stingray, and Short Scale SBMM Stingray, and the basses sound identical. If you're a fan of the Stingray sound and money is tight for you, ya might just want to think a bit more on this (if you haven't already). I've swapped pickups on other basses in the past and felt like just tossed money out the window.

While I support the idea of not swapping out SBMM pickups, the Ray4 (SUB) will actually benefit from changing its super hot ceramic pickup to something alnico and more traditional.

I got my Nordstrand MM4.2 for $100. They’re cheaper than Aguilar.

 

[P Cheen]

I just put the same Aguilar pickup in the same Ray4 and the improvement in the sound is like night and day. But the output level of the pickup seems a little quieter than I thought it would be. Has anyone else had that experience?

The Ray 4 SUB pickup has been known to be hot in terms of output. Try putting the pickup closer of compensate with the preamp.

 

[Lesfunk]

I’m double posting this from the SBMM Ray4/5 Club thread because it seems appropriate here.

Just now got finished doing the EMG active pickup/BTS circuit mod to my Ray24ca
It sounds pretty massive.
It’s
Very similar to the

LowEndLobster treatment
This bass is ready to rock
I added real Schaller tuners and a Hipshot xtender to complete the transformation
It’s pretty much perfect now. It has all the bells and whistles
Now I need to decide if I’m going to keep it or sell it as I have a USA SLO on the way

 

[P Cheen]

While we’re on the topic of SBMM pickup swaps, anybody here know if I can install an aftermarket MM humbucker with “ears” in a slot where the stock humbucker is the one with the “one big ear”?

I’m planning to swap out the humbucker on my SB14 which has the newer “one big ear” with 2 screws.

 

[Lesfunk]

While we’re on the topic of SBMM pickup swaps, anybody here know if I can install an aftermarket MM humbucker with “ears” in a slot where the stock humbucker is the one with the “one big ear”?

I’m planning to swap out the humbucker on my SB14 which has the newer “one big ear” with 2 screws.

I think so. The pickup rout in the body is just a rectangle. It’s the pickguard that would probably need to be changed

 

[Drummerboy2]

I just put the same Aguilar pickup in the same Ray4 and the improvement in the sound is like night and day. But the output level of the pickup seems a little quieter than I thought it would be. Has anyone else had that experience?

Yes, my output was a tad less than with the original pickup but tone was way better and defined. The original pickup was way too hot and not as defined, I barely turn up the volume on my Ray4 using my Carvin BX1500 head and it was really loud. The Aguilar was a better match and volume was still good for me.

 

[kevmac]

I am really liking my Herrick Mutant (Invalid Link Removed) running passive/VVT in my Stingray. They have a great range of options and cool cover colors.
View attachment 4287386

Do you know how one can purchase the Mutant?

 

[P Cheen]

I am really liking my Herrick Mutant (Invalid Link Removed) running passive/VVT in my Stingray. They have a great range of options and cool cover colors.
View attachment 4287386

How long did your order take? And it’s from the UK, correct?

I wonder if they can make me this but in a Sterling 3-coil fashion… Interesting.

EDIT: they do! It’s called the MM Ghost Coil. What’s interesting is that the 3rd (“ghost”) coil is connected to the neck and not the bridge as is usual on a Sterling.
Hmm…even more interesting…

 

[Algea]

I know there are a few people here who feel replacing pickups on a SBMM is a necessity, but I'll tell you this. I don't know a whole lot about swapping what's already there out for an Aquilar, but I have a Short Scale MM Stingray, and Short Scale SBMM Stingray, and the basses sound identical. If you're a fan of the Stingray sound and money is tight for you, ya might just want to think a bit more on this (if you haven't already). I've swapped pickups on other basses in the past and felt like just tossed money out the window.

Thats because the SBMM short scale has the same neodymium pickup as the American rays. All the other SBMM rays have different pickups, the ray4 in particular has a pretty harsh ceramic that get pretty boomy at full volume.