I love my Short Scale, but I'm getting some static, which goes away if I move around the volume—it seems to always be much worse with the volume knob pressed in. Bass is only 3 months old. I see Oig's comments above, and parts to replace the pots completely. It seems like a good idea. Does anyone disagree? I might throw in that Delano MC4 as well.
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SBMM Stingray Short scale
- Thread starter dralionux
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- short scale bass
Try cycling the volume pot from zero to 100% about 20 times. This may help clean the resistor material inside the pot. If this doesn't work then you may need to replace the pot. The volume pot is not a standard pot. You can replace it with a standard pot and add the resistor for lower volume like when the pot is pressed in. Otherwise without the resistor the base will be much louder as if the pot was in the upper position.
My thoughts too. Generally it’s a good idea to move all the pots on your axe and amp and pedals regularly. Even if you have your perfect settings. It keeps the dirt from accumulating. It shouldn’t be an issue but it is.
I tried moving the knob around a bunch and even took it apart and gave it the old NES cartridge blow. It's still happening, so I actually just ordered all the stuff from Oig's post above.
I think I'll upgrade the pickup while I'm in there... The two obvious choices are the Nordstrand MM4.2 or the Delano MC4 FE/M2, but what about the Seymour Duncan SMB-4A?
I think I'll upgrade the pickup while I'm in there... The two obvious choices are the Nordstrand MM4.2 or the Delano MC4 FE/M2, but what about the Seymour Duncan SMB-4A?
I love the stock neo magnet pickup. It's very similar to the neo pickup in The music Man version. I replaced the volume pot and the tone pot with mini upgraded pots. It did make a nice difference as I switched a 500 k tone pot to brighten it up a little bit. Works well with the La Bella flats I have on it. But if that's what you feel you need to do, go for it!
Thank you. Yeah, I'm concerned about an upgrade with which I might not notice a difference.
So, do you now have the same 500k pots used in both the tone and volume positions?
What did you put in for pots?
I think you’ll notice a difference with another pickup. The question is whether or not you prefer that difference?
So true. And that pup might sound terrible out of your current rig but might sound great with a different cab/amp etc.
I replaced the 500K push volume pot with a CTS 500K standard pot. I also replaced the 100K tone pot with a CTS 500K pot. They are mini, not full sized, or they won't fit in the cavity.
Perfect, I will try that out while I'm replacing the volume pot. I ordered two CTS MINI - A500K Pots, which are luckily just a few hours away and will arrive on Monday. I'm going to hold off changing the pickup for now, but I love to tinker, so I know I will at some point but this is also meant to be my main bass so I don't want to mess with it too much.
Likewise. I know I’m in the minority but I kinda prefer the StingRay 5 teardrop pickguard vs the separate plate-and-pickguard, or preferably a minimalist no-pickguard, rear-routed control cavity setup. It feels weird you have to pay $$$$ for a BFR instrument to get that.
I also wish they’d offer the chamfered horns on 4-strings, as on the SR5 and Silhouette guitars, as they really give it “Corvette Stingray” curves.
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FWIW, they use a neodymium pickup on their SS basses to overcome the inherent lower output that comes with shorter string excursion closer to the bridge, compared to a long-scale bass.
If the pickup was located in the middle like a traditional Mustang (or the Joe Dart III) you could probably use an Alnico magnet.
If you replace the pickup for a ceramic or alnico, the lower output difference might mean you want to bypass the “boost” push/pull switch and increase your preamp gain a tad.
If you find that the 500K tone pot is too bright, switch to a 250K. I use flats and it's perfect with the 500K.
where did that sheet for the manta-ray come from? it looks amazing
I photoshopped it (hence the rough edges!) Basically just crunched a SR5 horizontally.
Joining the club! I've kept a look out for a USA short scale but after playing a new Sterling at Guitar Center last weekend I kept thinking about it and went back and grabbed it. Truly blew me away grabbing it off the wall.
My #1 is a US Stingray Special 5, and I would have guessed this Sterling was a US build if you blindfolded me. They nailed it with these roasted maple neck builds.
NBD Post about it here
My #1 is a US Stingray Special 5, and I would have guessed this Sterling was a US build if you blindfolded me. They nailed it with these roasted maple neck builds.
NBD Post about it here
If you get a good hand picked Sterling short scale you're set, but it's hit and miss ordering on line as I've found out the hard way with had 2 duds. Even then I'd never mistake one for a US shorty.
I haven't had my hands on a US shorty but I've owned 5 US Stingrays. After a few days of messing around outside of some fretwork (crowns not perfectly centered visually), this one feels dang close.
I've been A/Bing against my Stingray Special.
The roasted maple neck really helps
the key is that you're thrilled with it. I've not played one with the roasted neck but it is true that the earlier generation were inconsistent.
Yours does look great
Yeah I've learned to trust myself when I come across something that feels and plays great. I wasn't there hunting a new short scale and definitely wouldn't have thought of grabbing a sterling shortie. I went home and was still thinking about how good it was a few days later so called my Guitar Center "gear advisor" (yes they're doing the Sweetwater thing), had them cut me a deal and went and picked it up.
Going every detail side by side sure I can tell the pots move a little more freely and don't feel as "premium" as my Special. The neck to feel exactly as smooth I could do a pass of steel wool and some gun barrel wax (I have plenty from working on stingrays).
I won't stir the pot any more with the "blindfolded I wouldn't have guessed" (it's still very true), but it's definitely a very nice instrument and glad I decided to bring it home. It can hold its own next to its new family.
