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SR4/SR5 sound

C

cash87

Jun 26, 2006
488
0
Louisville Ky
#1
I just wanted to make sure I wasnt crazy but on my last trip to GC I picked up and played a SR4 and loved it, sound, feel, built quality. After about 20mins I pick up a SR5 and other than the extra string it felt and sounded like a different bass. Just wanted to know if anyone noticed that the SR5 cant seem to hit that "stingray" sound close to the 4 string. I played different ones but I just kept going back to the SR4.

Any thoughts?
 
#2
I assume you're referring to the single pickup models. The SR4's humbucker is wired in parallel, while the SR5's has parallel, seires, and single coil settings. So depending on setting, it can sound fairly different. And if you were playing a two pickup SR5, its bridge humbucker was wired just in series, so it would definitely produce a tone different from an SR4.
 
#3
I feel the exact same way cash 87. I purchased one of the new double humbuckers SR5 about 3 weeks ago and was entertaining thoughts of taking it back and trading it in for a 5 string Fender Jazz, American Deluxe. I called this morning to find it was sold this past weekend.

The new Stingray 5 doublehumbuckers don't seem as 'fierce' as the Ray 4's. It's kind've tame, in a bongo-ish way, imho. I put the pickup selector to it's last position and still.

I was thinking that perhaps i need to see a better player than myself with it, as to see it's potential.

I saw the Ed Friedland clip on youtube (and although Ed is an accomplished player) i wasn't to fond of it's tones.

What i really want is a neck through 4 string Warwick in Mint Conditon but those bad boys are too over priced.
 
#4
Owning an SR5 and having owned an SR4 in the past, I can vouch that they're entirely different axes. The SR5 in my experience is more midrangey and doesn't sound nearly as aggressive as the SR4. I attribute this primarily to the ceramic pickup vs. the alnico, but also to the fact that closer string spacing will subconsciously calm down your picking technique.
 
#6
Pickups,pure and simple.The classic Stingray sound comes from alnico magnet pickups.The SR5,Sterling,and I think the Bongo have ceramics. All my previous Sterlings had the pickups replaced with an alnico version,so I had the Stingray tone,in the smaller Sterling body.Best of both worlds!
 
#8
fountain boy said:
It's kinda misleading, as with these two gigantic double humbucker pickups, you would think that this bass (SR5) would sound more aggresive than the SR4 but that's not the case.

I picked up the new Warwick Corvette double humbucker and that sounds deep and gritty, i just don't want a Corvette. The neck Thru Thumb yes, but not the Corvette.
Click to expand...

You don't like the appearance/shape of the corvette $$ or just don't like it's sound?
If you like the sound but not the appearance you can go for a nice streamer $$.
 
#9
cash87 said:
I just wanted to make sure I wasnt crazy but on my last trip to GC I picked up and played a SR4 and loved it, sound, feel, built quality. After about 20mins I pick up a SR5 and other than the extra string it felt and sounded like a different bass. Just wanted to know if anyone noticed that the SR5 cant seem to hit that "stingray" sound close to the 4 string. I played different ones but I just kept going back to the SR4.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Find a Musicman SUB 5. IMHO, they're the true Stingray 5 (i.e. 5 strings that sound like a Stingray 4).

I felt the same way after buying a SR5 a few years ago... I really thought I was going to get that growly Stingray tone, but was mildly disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the SR5 is a great bass, it just wasn't a "stingray" to me.

I sold that bass years ago, and I finally decided to start playing again. I picked up a SUB 5 off e-bay a few months ago, and I love it - I haven't even played it through anything other than my Kustom 10W amp. I'm waiting til after I send in my tax money to pick up a new cab, and I'm sure it's going to sound great through my GK-1001RBII

From what I understand the SUBs have the SR4 pre-amp (mine's active) and the 5s don't use the SR5 pickups, but instead use a modified SR4 Alnico pickup (different case with an extra pole and probably some other modifications?).

The SUBs have the painted neck, and slab body, and crappy pickguard, but other than that, it's a true Stingray in my eyes... I like the neck, and the body is reminscient of the old pre-Ernie Ball bodies. Also, they have a textured finish, which I really like, mine's sort of a sparkle blue color.
 
#12
SSCBA, to me the Warwick Corvette's scream entry level bass for some reason. (Maybe because it's comes right after the Warwick Rockbass) It sound was fantastic, i dunno if after a while the tone would sound too 1 demisional for me, as i've owned a few basses previously, where intially i loved the tone, but after awhile it got 1 trick pony ish (Pedulla Rapture, Warwick Bolt On)
 
#13
98dvl said:
You may also want to look into a G&L 2500
Click to expand...

uh huh... especially given the Lakland's 35" scale, which, depending how long you've been playing can take some adjustment time. The L2500 w/ both pickups on is a freaking beast! It's also very versatile with the various pickup selections, parralel/series options, and passive/active/active w/ treble boost selections. Similar feel to the Ray too.
 
#16
cash87 said:
Thanks for clearing things up, I really loved the aggresive tone i got from the 4 string, I was really dissapointed in the 5string but I have my sights on a 55-02 now because of the string spacing.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find the 55-02 mellower still than the Sr5. If you get the seymour duncan pickups, its closer to a stingray, but still there's no substitute.

in fact, I have 2 55-94's, one with duncans, but lately I've been leaning to my SR4 tuned BEAD for any gigs requiring a low b. The only time I got compliments from each member of the band in turn and separately was when I was playing the stingray. *Shrug* I dont know...

Now, I'm gassing for a black SR4 with 2eq.... or a 55-76 :)
 
#17
Man, the 55-76 is sweet... I'd never even heard of 'em before TB...

And I noticed the same thing when I tried out a SUB 5 a while ago. I tried an SR4, an SR5 and a SUB 5 and settled on the SUB. The salesgnome's eyes practically popped from the pressure in his head. He tried *really* hard to sell me a 'real' 5-string MM...

I ended up cancelling the order 9 months later because there was as yet no sign of my new bass. Bought a Godin A5 instead and love it, but I still think there's an MM somewhere in my future.
 
#19
SGT. Pepper said:
All 5 strings in general sound jazzier than 4 strings. Thinner, wider neck vs. narrower thicker neck= Different tone.
4 strings are more agressive sounding.
Click to expand...

I'll second this. All other things being equal, 4 string basses just sound different. In the case of the Stingray, there could be other factors as well, but yeah...4 string basses and 5 (or more) just sound different.
 

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