Thinking about attempting the hardware swap of these two myself and then get it a proper setup later after my US EBMM is done in the shop but idk...
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SBMM Stingray Short scale
- Thread starter dralionux
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- short scale bass
Check to see if the holes all line up. If they do, the swap is pretty easy if you have the right tools. Good quality screw drivers and socket for the tuners. I like to put some masking tape on the surface of the headstock where my socket may touch it, just to ensure I don't make concentric scratches on the finish.
A little electrical contact cleaner spray should take the scratchiness out. I had scratchy pots on both my Ibanez and Squier P and the contact cleaner solved the issue. Tuners seem to be luck of the draw.
Check to see if the holes all line up. If they do, the swap is pretty easy if you have the right tools. Good quality screw drivers and socket for the tuners. I like to put some masking tape on the surface of the headstock where my socket may touch it, just to ensure I don't make concentric scratches on the finish.
yea I have some solid sockets and a nice screwdriver. The only part that makes me nervous is the bridge as I’ve never installed or replaced a bridge myself. I definitely let a professional do the swap on my US model tho lol
I have an extra, new G&L Schaller tuner that I was able to compare to the Sterling tuners. First, the G&L is reversible so that should take care of the G tuner. A simple disassembly, reassembly ought to sort out that tuner. The rest looks like it should be a straight drop in with the only issue I can see being the space between the two screws on the top of the tuner. All I'd have to do is purchase 3 new tuners from G&L and I'd be set. I love these tuners on my CLF L1000. From what I can tell the only difference between the G&L's and the ones Music Man use are the aluminum shafts that make them lighter than those found on MM basses. I know they keep my L1000 in tune through all sorts of abuse so they should work well on the Sterling and I might even save an ounce of weight!
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Mine arrived today and I took it into my band's reherseal...I'm totally in love with how it sounds, the slap sound is amazing and the its so comfy to play....The only thing I noticed is that the action is a bit high, but nothing to worry about.
10/10 definitely worth the money
10/10 definitely worth the money
Don't worry overmuch about it. If the holes in the bridges match each other, it's pretty easy. Make sure to note where the little wire is under the bridge and try to get it in about the same place with the bare wire touching the underside of the metal.
Of course, if it gives you any stress, take it to a pro. Life is too short to add stress when you could just be enjoying a great instrument!
Bit of extra info on tuners - spoke to Hipshot, and the HB7s aren't a drop in replacement, and would need two holes 'moved' or drilled. Presumably these tuners would cover the existing holes, though, as they're a similar shape.
From others in this thread, it seems like 1/2" Ultralites are the right fit, but will need a new hole drilled. The original holes will obviously be visible with these.
Hopefully this info will help someone else out! Personally I'm leaning towards Ultralites now, if new holes need drilling anyway, the weight saving is a huge bonus. Unfortunately after tomorrow we're entering another lockdown for at least a month in the UK, so I'll probably be looking at after Christmas before I can take it to my tech.
From others in this thread, it seems like 1/2" Ultralites are the right fit, but will need a new hole drilled. The original holes will obviously be visible with these.
Hopefully this info will help someone else out! Personally I'm leaning towards Ultralites now, if new holes need drilling anyway, the weight saving is a huge bonus. Unfortunately after tomorrow we're entering another lockdown for at least a month in the UK, so I'll probably be looking at after Christmas before I can take it to my tech.
this is good to know as I still haven’t put y HB7’s on and now this definitely making me feel like I should sell my unused HB7’s and just go ultralights if new holes are gonna need to be drilled anyways. I’d definitely enjoy the weight savings. I wonder if hipshot makes a ferrule that would fit the EBMM lightweight tuner’s smaller post.
I am now officially asking for full membership in this club. This bass was offered for sale in the TB classifieds, and I was fortunate enough to have it coincide with a bit of extra play money.
Please take a gander at my thread:
NBD - SS Sterling by Music Man Stingray Daphne Blue
And are there any club member numbers here? If so, please put me down for one.
Thanks for talking me into adding to my collection folks!
Please take a gander at my thread:
NBD - SS Sterling by Music Man Stingray Daphne Blue
And are there any club member numbers here? If so, please put me down for one.
Thanks for talking me into adding to my collection folks!
So far as tuners, I'm also thinking of the new Ratio tuners from Graphtech.
RATIO MACHINE HEADS - Bass
They really speak to my inner nerd.
And my inner engineer likes the lowest weight tuners on the market, the Res-O-Lites by Gotoh. They have been fantastic on my Yamaha.
https://g-gotoh.com/productList/res-o-lite-series/?lang=en
And for really compact, the Sperzel tuners ended up replacing the Hipshot ultralights on my short scale Mouse bass.
Link Removed
Not casting shade at Hipshot, they make fine products. But I just see them everywhere and I'd like a bit more variety to be out in the world. I mean, to each their own, but these are where my interests currently lie.
Now back to playing!
So far as tuners, I'm also thinking of the new Ratio tuners from Graphtech.
RATIO MACHINE HEADS - Bass
They really speak to my inner nerd.
And my inner engineer likes the lowest weight tuners on the market, the Res-O-Lites by Gotoh. They have been fantastic on my Yamaha.
https://g-gotoh.com/productList/res-o-lite-series/?lang=en
And for really compact, the Sperzel tuners ended up replacing the Hipshot ultralights on my short scale Mouse bass.
Link Removed
Not casting shade at Hipshot, they make fine products. But I just see them everywhere and I'd like a bit more variety to be out in the world. I mean, to each their own, but these are where my interests currently lie.
Now back to playing!
Very cool! I like the engineering on these tuners. I’d just have a hard time justifying the cost. The matching set would cost more than a third of what I paid for the whole bass! I’m looking for cheap and effective.
That’s why I’m ordering 3 (@$18 ea.) G&L tuners. They’re made by Schaller, have a lightweight aluminum core and I’ve got noting but good things to say about them based on my experiences with them on my CLF L1000. The fact that I already have one of these in my L1000’s case made my decision all that much easier.
Those ratio heads tuners are intriguing. Wonder what the weight is on them and if they come in black haha.
Speaking of black the Stealth Ray34 HH I got to steal the hardware from to transplant to the shorty is apparently gonna have to go back to guitar center as something is wrong with the input jack. Finally went to try it o it plugged in to make sure it was solid before taking it apparent and my cables will only go half way into the Jack. Looking down the hole I can’t see anything blocking it. So it’s going back. If I’m gonna resell it after taking the hardware I want to make sure I’m selling a solid instrument.
So that’s 2 out of 3 SBMM’s that have ended up returns to Guitar Center tho I put more of the blame on Guitar Center than SBMM.
Oh well. I’m probably crazy going through this much work for black hardware but oh well lol.
Speaking of black the Stealth Ray34 HH I got to steal the hardware from to transplant to the shorty is apparently gonna have to go back to guitar center as something is wrong with the input jack. Finally went to try it o it plugged in to make sure it was solid before taking it apparent and my cables will only go half way into the Jack. Looking down the hole I can’t see anything blocking it. So it’s going back. If I’m gonna resell it after taking the hardware I want to make sure I’m selling a solid instrument.
So that’s 2 out of 3 SBMM’s that have ended up returns to Guitar Center tho I put more of the blame on Guitar Center than SBMM.
Oh well. I’m probably crazy going through this much work for black hardware but oh well lol.
So far as tuners, I'm also thinking of the new Ratio tuners from Graphtech.
RATIO MACHINE HEADS - Bass
They really speak to my inner nerd.
And my inner engineer likes the lowest weight tuners on the market, the Res-O-Lites by Gotoh. They have been fantastic on my Yamaha.
https://g-gotoh.com/productList/res-o-lite-series/?lang=en
And for really compact, the Sperzel tuners ended up replacing the Hipshot ultralights on my short scale Mouse bass.
Link Removed
Not casting shade at Hipshot, they make fine products. But I just see them everywhere and I'd like a bit more variety to be out in the world. I mean, to each their own, but these are where my interests currently lie.
Now back to playing!
I agree, it's always good to see other brands & styles out there! For me, I'm in the UK, and there's at least one very reliable stockist for Hipshot and not much market presence for even brands like Gotoh for bass tuners. Combined with the fact I've used Hipshot before and know what they're like, makes it an easy choice for me.
If other brands were more easily accessible here, I'd be more willing to take the plunge on trying some, for sure.
So heads up I put some heavier gauge StringJoy .55,.70,.90,.110 strings on one of my shorties and love the extra tension the .110 gives the E. On the flip the .55 is wayyyyy too heavy for standard tuning. After jumping back and forth between the shorty with stock strings and the one with the thicker I wound up missing the stock strings except for the .110 E.
So that said I think I’d ideally like to find a .45,.65,.85,.110 set as I think that would feel best to me.
Now when I take the SBMM down a whole step to DFCG the tension calculator is saying I’m gonna want to go to something like a .50,.70,.95,.120. Will have to wait to hear back from StringJoy customer service if they can do above a .110 gauge in a short scale as their custom short scale set tops out at .110
So that said I think I’d ideally like to find a .45,.65,.85,.110 set as I think that would feel best to me.
Now when I take the SBMM down a whole step to DFCG the tension calculator is saying I’m gonna want to go to something like a .50,.70,.95,.120. Will have to wait to hear back from StringJoy customer service if they can do above a .110 gauge in a short scale as their custom short scale set tops out at .110
Let us know what you hear from Stringjoy. I'm curious what the limits are on their short scale strings.
Can't remember if it's been mentioned in this thread but you can also order custom sets from Newtone in the UK. I really like what I've gotten from them.
