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Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray4 and Ray5

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This isn't ebmm. The Ray4, 5, 34, and 35 are licensed to another manufacturer who offer a more affordable version. SBMM gave an explanation a few pages back about reconfiguring the electronics at this point not being cost effective to keeping the price down.

Aww right..I get confused. Don't know why they dont make their own affordable line like everyone else..I mean they make guitars..just make some more..why split profits..lol
 
Why don't I have this output problem? What amps are you guys running your SUBs into?
So you're saying you can turn yours ALL the way up? And don't have to adjust your amp in relation to your other basses?

I use several basses during the course of a show. I set them each almost exactly so when I switch, I don't have to do any adjusting. Can't do it with my stock SUB. Volume has to come down on the bass, then have to adjust the gain and eq on my amp. It's annoying for me. I need to be able to switch within 10 or so seconds.
 
So you're saying you can turn yours ALL the way up? And don't have to adjust your amp in relation to your other basses?

I use several basses during the course of a show. I set them each almost exactly so when I switch, I don't have to do any adjusting. Can't do it with my stock SUB. Volume has to come down on the bass, then have to adjust the gain and eq on my amp. It's annoying for me. I need to be able to switch within 10 or so seconds.

My Lakland with Nordies and an OBP-3 is hotter. I understand what you are saying, but I didn't think volume related to other basses was the complaint. I thought the bass was so hot it would distort. I do not have this issues running into my RH750 or my Shuttle. And yes, I can turn mine all the way up. The volume knob isn't great; there isn't a big difference between one and ten

I will say that I find the electronics to be a little noisy - not intolerably so and not unexpected for a $300 bass. I also only run the bass flat. The treble is a little harsh and the bass sounds artificial. Fortunately, the flat eq sounds good on stage, and FOH is whatever the soundman makes it anyway.

Edit: regardless,I like your plan. The basses are an electronics revamp and an ugly bridge away from being a much more expensive bass. Which EMG are you using? How much will the pickguard have to be modified?
 
My Lakland with Nordies and an OBP-3 is hotter. I understand what you are saying, but I didn't think volume related to other basses was the complaint. I thought the bass was so hot it would distort. I do not have this issues running into my RH750 or my Shuttle. And yes, I can turn mine all the way up. The volume knob isn't great; there isn't a big difference between one and ten

I will say that I find the electronics to be a little noisy - not intolerably so and not unexpected for a $300 bass. I also only run the bass flat. The treble is a little harsh and the bass sounds artificial. Fortunately, the flat eq sounds good on stage, and FOH is whatever the soundman makes it anyway.

Edit: regardless,I like your plan. The basses are an electronics revamp and an ugly bridge away from being a much more expensive bass. Which EMG are you using? How much will the pickguard have to be modified?
Pickup is an EMG MMCS 4-String Dual Coil Ceramic/Steel Music Man Bass Pickup along with a BTS (Vol, Treb, Bass). In fact, tech just txt me telling me it's done. I'll post pics and maybe a video sometime during the week. I was going to go with a Bartolini system but found the EMG setup here for sale for $60! Can't beat that!
 
Defintely involved some pickguard cutting. I know it will sound great, and am curious about how it looks. I would love to see the pics. I like EMG pickups, but am just lukewarm about their preamps. No question they sound great together, though.
 
I'm really torn between the black maple or the walnut versions of this bass and although I may well just end up having both... well then I see pictures of the foam green version and think that looks drop-dead gorgeous as well!! Though not currently available in the UK, when it does finally make it over here I can see that being an instant hit! So which one to have first is the question...?
 
regardless,I like your plan. The basses are an electronics revamp and an ugly bridge away from being a much more expensive bass. Which EMG are you using? How much will the pickguard have to be modified?

That's what I'm thinking about mine. It's kind of turning into a "kit bass" where you buy the bass and switch out some of the hardware to upgrade the quality.

It plays real nice so improving the sound quality is a win for me. I'll have about $400 total into it but that's not much to me if I have a great sounding low-end bass that I can use for mentoring students until they're ready to take the plunge for their own quality instrument.
 
Not bad at all. For some reason, I was thinking you had a five not a four. That pickup probably dropped right in. And yes, the bridge is fine, but I used a piece of gaff tape on mine to cut down on the reflective acreage.
Pickguard needed to be trimmed a little but other than that, easy install. Bass is still loud as hell but not in an overdriven way. Maybe it's just a Stingray thing. Here's some better pics. Note* I thought I saw it mentioned here or somewhere but the stock pre says Spector on it!

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Got mine with discount $251+$60 electronics upgrade=$311....Not bad!

As for the hardware.....The tuners and bridge are fine. Now if I do find some Hipshots here for cheap, I may spring for them. But I doubt it.

When I said hardware I meant electronics.
I put a drop of sewing machine oil on each of the tuner gears to smooth them out a little but I don't have any plans to change them or the bridge.
I'm planning on keeping the p/u as long as it doesn't become a noticeable weak point.
 
My Ray4 fell and snap broke the D string tuning key....anyone can recommend a replacement. I don't wanna spend too much in it like the gotoh and schaller brands as I'm saving up for a pre-amp and pickup upgrades. So I'm hoping someone can recommend a good budget part.
Anyone tried those tuner key set sold in eBay without a brand and made in Chi?
Thanks!
 
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