That...is very illuminating. Nordie pickup way more old school, way less scooped. Awesome midrange personality and still has booty.
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Sting Ray?
- Thread starter jmjbassplayer
- Start date
Plus, the Nordstrand's cut through live without sounding brash. They are very musical. I have them in all my basses..except the Jack Casady.
One last thing: Nordstrand actually built me a stingray like bass on their Nordy body. It's very cool. Just something else to think about.
Yo,
I got a Ray. Sweet. It's new, but a blemished one. Sounds rad, looks rad. The "blemish" is a cool-looking knot in the wood on the back of the neck. Whatever. This thing is light, resonant, and plays really well. Too sizzly with treble on over, say, 70%, but it really has good booty and a definitely cooler and more vintage-y sounding tone (particularly in the mids) than the 3-band ones, including the '92 that I used to have. Thanks for all the tips, I really appreciate being steered this way (natural/maple 2 band).
By the way, where is "flat" on this EQ? There are no detents on the knobs.
Pic:
Invalid Link Removed
Best,
JMJ
I got a Ray. Sweet. It's new, but a blemished one. Sounds rad, looks rad. The "blemish" is a cool-looking knot in the wood on the back of the neck. Whatever. This thing is light, resonant, and plays really well. Too sizzly with treble on over, say, 70%, but it really has good booty and a definitely cooler and more vintage-y sounding tone (particularly in the mids) than the 3-band ones, including the '92 that I used to have. Thanks for all the tips, I really appreciate being steered this way (natural/maple 2 band).
By the way, where is "flat" on this EQ? There are no detents on the knobs.
Pic:
Invalid Link Removed
Best,
JMJ
Interesting...So you think that the 2 and 3 band eqs are voiced differently? Maybe that's why I thought I didn't like new stingrays. I just don't like the 3 band.
I think simpler is usually better anyways.
I think simpler is usually better anyways.
That was the phrasing I was looking for in a previous post; 'voiced differently'. Sorry, I speak english not so good...
Congratulations, JMJ, that's really nice! On the 2-bands, it's boost only. Flat is all the way down. Most of the time I play mine with only a little bass boost.
Congratulations, JMJ, that's really nice! On the 2-bands, it's boost only. Flat is all the way down. Most of the time I play mine with only a little bass boost.
Thanks guys. Yeah, the 2 is definitely less bright, and the EQ points are themselves different, maybe less broad and hi-fi. It's a total winner. Boba, thanks. I was wondering what was considered flat. There seems to be some controversy about the treble control; some say the middle is flat, but with no detent on that pot, it's hard to feel where the middle is.
JMJ
JMJ
JMJ,
Congrats on your new bass. My 3 EQ is the same finish and pickguard. Smart looking bass for sure. Glad you are digging it.
Do you have any projects in the pipeline for which you are planning to use this bass? If so, it would be great to hear you putting the smackdown on that thing.
RBM
PS- I hear 2 Band Rays are great for slapping and popping
Congrats on your new bass. My 3 EQ is the same finish and pickguard. Smart looking bass for sure. Glad you are digging it.
Do you have any projects in the pipeline for which you are planning to use this bass? If so, it would be great to hear you putting the smackdown on that thing.
RBM
PS- I hear 2 Band Rays are great for slapping and popping
PS- I hear 2 Band Rays are great for slapping and popping
Dammit! I can't get away from slapping and popping! Maybe it's my destiny to be the new slap guru for the 21st century.
Anyway, yeah, the bass is sick. THe perfect "pseudo-vintage-active" sound I'm looking for. No projects yet, but wrote with it today on a writing session. Cool sound!
JMJ
Hey Justin, congrats on scoring the 2eq StingRay. I new you'd like it. Yup, way smoother sound. Love the natural/maple...it's that classic look like Louis Johnson, Bernard Edwards and Paul Denman.
The 2 band has no center detents because it's boost only. Yeah the treble can be sizzly if run too high...I have all my 2eq Rays set with bass and treble set about the same 65-70%.
I loves' me some 2eq!
The 2 band has no center detents because it's boost only. Yeah the treble can be sizzly if run too high...I have all my 2eq Rays set with bass and treble set about the same 65-70%.
I loves' me some 2eq!
That is a sick collection. Wow!
Thanks for tips on 2EQ settings, cool. I'm running it with no boost at all, and it sounds great. This particular bass is a real tone machine, actually. Stoked on my purchase!
Visirale, thanks glad you like! It's a cool combo, eh? I'm always down for natural, plain wood basses...I like brown too (like some guilds I have, Ovation Magnum, Fender P, Epiphone Newport, etc)...but as soon as I see some serious "burl" or "flame" to a bass, I run away. Those finishes are the visual equivalent to slapping and popping to me...or the sound of no mids, and a super glassy tone. ;-)
JMJ
Thanks for tips on 2EQ settings, cool. I'm running it with no boost at all, and it sounds great. This particular bass is a real tone machine, actually. Stoked on my purchase!
Visirale, thanks glad you like! It's a cool combo, eh? I'm always down for natural, plain wood basses...I like brown too (like some guilds I have, Ovation Magnum, Fender P, Epiphone Newport, etc)...but as soon as I see some serious "burl" or "flame" to a bass, I run away. Those finishes are the visual equivalent to slapping and popping to me...or the sound of no mids, and a super glassy tone. ;-)
JMJ
Justin, I just wanted to let you know this thread you started is solely responsible for a large hole in my checking account. 
It kept stirring up that Stingray GAS and overtime I realized only a Stingray with 2 band EQ would cure it. If JMJ can have one, why can't I? 
I sincerely thank you.
It kept stirring up that Stingray GAS and overtime I realized only a Stingray with 2 band EQ would cure it. If JMJ can have one, why can't I? I sincerely thank you.
Are we sure the 2 band is boost only? I've played a pre-EB model that had a preamp bypass switch fitted and with the controls centred the active and passive tone were pretty much exactly the same. I own a '93 model that I swapped the 3-band out for a 2-band and agree 100% on the tone comments. I also had it converted to string thru body which has also added a bit more pre-EB flavour to it.
According to the aforementioned website authority: " Although the Treble and Bass controls have no centre detent position, the pre-amps appear to be CUT and BOOST with respect to the treble control . On the other hand, the pre-amp is boost only with respect to the bass control ".
I have owned several Stingrays, my current duo comprises a 3 bander from 1991 and a pre-EB '77. The latter has only been with me a week or so, but already I am so impressed with it, I think I've finally found my sound. None of the clack and sizzle of the newer ones. Darker and more organic, if I may use such terms. More Fender-ish in vibe. I've ordered a Nordstrand MM.2 for my '91 3 bander, to see if I can get closer to the older tone. If that doesn't work, I may have to conclude that it's a preamp issue rather than a pickup one (other variables aside), and that a 2 bander is the only way to go.
I have owned several Stingrays, my current duo comprises a 3 bander from 1991 and a pre-EB '77. The latter has only been with me a week or so, but already I am so impressed with it, I think I've finally found my sound. None of the clack and sizzle of the newer ones. Darker and more organic, if I may use such terms. More Fender-ish in vibe. I've ordered a Nordstrand MM.2 for my '91 3 bander, to see if I can get closer to the older tone. If that doesn't work, I may have to conclude that it's a preamp issue rather than a pickup one (other variables aside), and that a 2 bander is the only way to go.
Hey Justin, congrats on scoring the 2eq StingRay. I new you'd like it. Yup, way smoother sound. Love the natural/maple...it's that classic look like Louis Johnson, Bernard Edwards and Paul Denman.
The 2 band has no center detents because it's boost only. Yeah the treble can be sizzly if run too high...I have all my 2eq Rays set with bass and treble set about the same 65-70%.
I loves' me some 2eq!
Man those dargies are the whole reason I want a music man!
