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Stingray 5 Club!

#1,161
Not a Stingray5, but an OLP Tony Levin that I've converted to fretless with an ebony fingerboard.
3EQ preamp with ceramic magnets. This one came with 3k3 coils and I've wired with a dummy coil a 5 way superswitch to give parallel, single coil with dummy (neck or bridge coil), series, and a killswitch.
By way of comparison, I have a 2013 5HH with 4k4 coils and alnico magnets and just acquired a 2007 5H with 2k1 coils and ceramic magnets.

IMG_20251022_092712834_x.jpg
 
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#1,162
mikeswals said:
the Sterling model is smaller all around: slightly smaller body, smaller headstock. The neck is typically more slender

To me it would be a shame to strip down a Classic 5 for parts. The Ray circuit board with its direct mounted pots may not even line up with the holes in the Sterling body, then again it might!
The pickup switch pointed back puts it in parallel mode, you might really end up liking it as-is.
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Thank you - that is exactly what I wondered! I was just thinking of switching hardware and playing both of them. I may still get it, but good to know that the thought of parts mixing should not be part of that calculus!
 
#1,175
My preferred position of my new Stingray Special is the position with the switch all the way back toward the bridge.

It works best for me when on IEMs or my amp, as well as recording.

At church, when I brought it for the first time last Sunday, I went through the 3 positions during soundcheck with the audio guys. They were torn between the back position I like and the position all the way towards the neck. None of us cared for the middle position. They are fine with my preference.

(If I hadn’t had such a long day, I’d go pull out the guide and actually call the positions by their official name. You guys get the idea….😁)

(EDIT: Okay, forever known to me as the Parallel position!....😁)
 
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#1,176
Geri O said:
My preferred position of my new Stingray Special is the position with the switch all the way back toward the bridge.

It works best for me when on IEMs or my amp, as well as recording.

At church, when I brought it for the first time last Sunday, I went through the 3 positions during soundcheck with the audio guys. They were torn between the back position I like and the position all the way towards the neck. None of us cared for the middle position. They are fine with my preference.

(If I hadn’t had such a long day, I’d go pull out the guide and actually call the positions by their official name. You guys get the idea….😁)
Click to expand...
Agree with you on the middle portion, I don’t ever use it, but do switch to the bridge position on certain songs, when I need a little more clarity.
IMG_5979.jpeg
 
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#1,177
Barticus said:
Agree with you on the middle portion, I don’t ever use it, but do switch to the bridge position on certain songs, when I need a little more clarity.
View attachment 7373614
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Now known to me as Position 1 the Parallel position......😁

I see the middle position as "Series w/ Filter". Do you or anyone know what the filter is doing to the tone?

I suppose I could research it and see, but it's Saturday and I just don't wanna....🤣.
 
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#1,178
Geri O said:
Now known to me as Position 1 the Parallel position......😁

I see the middle position as "Series w/ Filter". Do you or anyone know what the filter is doing to the tone?

I suppose I could research it and see, but it's Saturday and I just don't wanna....🤣.
Click to expand...
It’s funny, I looked that up yesterday because I couldn’t figure out what the filter was actually doing. It appears it gives a single coil type approach.

Here’s how AI says it

1763819881891.png
 
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#1,179
Barticus said:
It appears it gives a single coil type approach.
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They used to call it single coil mode on the pre-Special Stingray 5s but now it's "series w/ filter" which based on your research appears to accomplish similar tonal goals. I've seen some use the middle position for solos or trying to cop a rear single coil pickup vibe. When I had a Stingray 5 a while back, I found the middle position worked well when using my octave pedal as adding this effect to parallel or series was like lighting a bulldozer on fire in a live mix.
 
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