Bought the SBMM Short Scale copper dropped bass,off of LesFunk,here on TB. Don't think he will mind me
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SBMM Stingray Short scale
- Thread starter dralionux
- Start date
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- short scale bass
Bought one of these s/h on ebay in April (daphne blue) as dropped copper not available back then. Arrived badly packaged and pretty beaten up - one of the tuners bent to 90 degrees, pickup only working single coil, ding in body. After being given the runaround by the shipping company, I decided to fix it up. I sent the pickup to Kent Armstrong to fix the broken wiring - fantastic job, back in 3 days. Rather than trying to replace 1 stock tuner (and hearing of issues with these) I got a set of Schallers shipped in from Germany. Quite reasonable, about £70.
Next, the body. I filled the little dent but failed miserably to match the daphne blue - I think the colour is a lot paler than Fender Daphne blue - so I rubbed it down and took it to local bodyshop for a coat of Ford Dark Copper which is a pretty good match to the Sterling colour.
Now we're good to go. Except...
The finish on the frets was just horrible, so a couple of hours with a fret file was needed. Next was the horrible nut. The nut was so high that when the open E was in tune, playing F at the first fret was 25 cents sharp. Invested in some very nice japanese fret files, (as none of my other basses was perfect in this respect) and after a nervous hour with files and feeler gauges got the action nice and low, and intonation spot on.
The bass now plays beautifully and with my Trump-like hands, I'm wondering why I didn't go short-scale years ago - probably because of ridiculous prejudice that they are not 'proper' basses.
On to sound - maybe because I'm used to the huge tonal range of my EB Stingray 4H I found the thumpy bottom heavy tone a bit limited - the tone pot having only a marginal effect. I also think the 'boost' knob is a gimmick - it is just a 'reverse cut' knob, and if you play with a fair amount of compression, the compressor clips most of the boost anyway. Anyhoo, after reading that neodymium pickups can be a bit bottomy, and combined with the naturally lower resonances of a shorty, I've put in a ceramic pickup from Kent Armstrong, and ditched the boost knob for a straightforward 500 volume pot.
Transformation. The ceramic pickup is plenty hot, but now has a zing that was completely absent with the neo. The bass is now the only one I use regularly!
Next, the body. I filled the little dent but failed miserably to match the daphne blue - I think the colour is a lot paler than Fender Daphne blue - so I rubbed it down and took it to local bodyshop for a coat of Ford Dark Copper which is a pretty good match to the Sterling colour.
Now we're good to go. Except...
The finish on the frets was just horrible, so a couple of hours with a fret file was needed. Next was the horrible nut. The nut was so high that when the open E was in tune, playing F at the first fret was 25 cents sharp. Invested in some very nice japanese fret files, (as none of my other basses was perfect in this respect) and after a nervous hour with files and feeler gauges got the action nice and low, and intonation spot on.
The bass now plays beautifully and with my Trump-like hands, I'm wondering why I didn't go short-scale years ago - probably because of ridiculous prejudice that they are not 'proper' basses.
On to sound - maybe because I'm used to the huge tonal range of my EB Stingray 4H I found the thumpy bottom heavy tone a bit limited - the tone pot having only a marginal effect. I also think the 'boost' knob is a gimmick - it is just a 'reverse cut' knob, and if you play with a fair amount of compression, the compressor clips most of the boost anyway. Anyhoo, after reading that neodymium pickups can be a bit bottomy, and combined with the naturally lower resonances of a shorty, I've put in a ceramic pickup from Kent Armstrong, and ditched the boost knob for a straightforward 500 volume pot.
Transformation. The ceramic pickup is plenty hot, but now has a zing that was completely absent with the neo. The bass is now the only one I use regularly!
I bought a white one. I really like the body shape, neck profile, and weight, but I cannot stand the sound or the feel of the pots.
I bought an EMG MMTW and a BQC control, which features a bass/treble equalizer on a concentric pot and a mid-control concentric pot. I also had to buy a push/pull volume pot. I’m expecting beautiful tones and smooth control from it. I’ll likely install it later this week.
I suspect the control cavity is too small for these components plus a 9v battery, so I plan to route a cavity into the back of the body for a new battery box. Should be fun.
I bought an EMG MMTW and a BQC control, which features a bass/treble equalizer on a concentric pot and a mid-control concentric pot. I also had to buy a push/pull volume pot. I’m expecting beautiful tones and smooth control from it. I’ll likely install it later this week.
I suspect the control cavity is too small for these components plus a 9v battery, so I plan to route a cavity into the back of the body for a new battery box. Should be fun.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!? Or rather, what's wrong with my ears?
I've borrowed a friends Sterling Stingray Ray4 - the matte black one that goes on sale now and again - and I LOVE the way it sounds compared to my SBMM short scale Stingray, which is supposed to be a nicer bass.
The difference is so vast I can't even play the two back to back without feeling disappointed with the sound of mine compared to his. On mine I hear a big midrange hump that drives me just a little nuts. It's not as bad when in single coil mode, but it parallel mode it's in my face. I don't use the bass in serial mode as I find it a bit too dark. I want that Stringray sound!
His Ray4 is strung with black coated DR. strings. My short scale is strung with D'Addario brights (EXL170S). My amp is a Fender Rumble 40 with an EMI Basslight S2010 Neo driver.
Any ideas?
I've borrowed a friends Sterling Stingray Ray4 - the matte black one that goes on sale now and again - and I LOVE the way it sounds compared to my SBMM short scale Stingray, which is supposed to be a nicer bass.
The difference is so vast I can't even play the two back to back without feeling disappointed with the sound of mine compared to his. On mine I hear a big midrange hump that drives me just a little nuts. It's not as bad when in single coil mode, but it parallel mode it's in my face. I don't use the bass in serial mode as I find it a bit too dark. I want that Stringray sound!
His Ray4 is strung with black coated DR. strings. My short scale is strung with D'Addario brights (EXL170S). My amp is a Fender Rumble 40 with an EMI Basslight S2010 Neo driver.
Any ideas?
I replaced the SBMM short scale Neodymium pickup with a Ceramic pickup taken from a SBMM Ray24CA, in parallel mode they sound similar, in series mode the Neodymium is darker.
So I bought a short scale and so far I love everything about it. I got it from reverb for $460 from a record store which had it as their display model. Everything seems perfect however the pick up was adjusted crazy. The G string side was raised almost touching the strings, on the Estring side both crews were almost all the way down. So I straightened it out. I was able to move two of the screws either direction and adjust the pick up up or down. The screw closest to the bridge on the Estring side comes out when I raise the pick up. Clearly I’m a rookie with this stuff. Can anyone explain why this is happening and tell me how to fix it?
Yes. They didn't help. I may end up buying my friend's Ray4 and selling my short scale. The difference in tone is that huge.
Sounds like the screw hole is stripped and you can’t adjust the pup height properly. You can probably fix it yourself by gluing some paper or a matchstick into the hole or take it to a tech and have it looked over.
If that’s how you feel and you don’t really need the short scale you should do it. No reason to play a bass you don’t like unless you have to
Last edited:
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Don't know whats up with the screw coming out, but people with Musicman basses often adjust the pickup as yours was. Reason for that is that MM basses are often quieter on the G string than the E. This helps balance that out.
I’m surprised to hear that only because my own experience was at the G was so much louder.
That’s been my experience with this bass. The D and G strings are much louder. I finally lowered that side of the pickup and that seems to have helped.
Just in case someone missed the post,on Short scale case for the SBMM.Finally received the case today,from Sweetwater. Was going to go with the tweed case,but couldn't determine if would fit or not at the time. This Gator GC-ELEC-XL fits perfect. Also offer still stands if anyone interested in my maple fret board neck,for their rose wood fret board neck. Can keep your tuners,my neck has the Schaller tuners,so would be keeping my Schaller tuners.
Decided to pickup a nice SBMM short scale,white with rosewood fretboard. Wish I could have traded with someone,that prefers the maple fretboard. No one seemed want to do any trading? Plan on switching necks,with my dropped copper short scale,when it gets here. Then probably give someone a good deal,looking for a white SBMM short scale,with maple fretboard. Will post some pictures,once I do the switch. Sometimes,have to cure itch yourself I guess.
