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Stingray Ceramic Pickups

MycooLeeyun

MycooLeeyun

Sep 26, 2009
1,667
697
Sedona, AZ
#1
I just picked up a used 2006 SR5 HH here on the classifieds. The bass will arrive tomorrow and of course I've been doing a bunch of research on the ceramic vs. alnico comparison. I haven't received the bass yet but I'm already thinking I would prefer the sound of the alnico pickups and of course the 2006 models are equipped with the ceramic ones.

What I got from my research mostly is that the alnico pickups are going to produce a warmer more vintage type tone while the ceramic pickups are a bit more harsh and clear. I don't know if I'm going to replace the pickups but if I were to do that, is there a way to get original musicman alnico pickups that come equipped in the new SR5's or would I have to look elsewhere?

Thanks!
 
#3
Honestly if you can discern a difference between the two then you must have superior hearing than most. I have both and I really can't tell the difference, though some people can, the difference is subtle. Your obviously very excited and spending to much time over analyzing the subject, step back and take a deep breath...lol. A Stingray is a Stingray is a Stingray.....I would not change the pickups,(you would have to use a non Musicman pup). I believe you will really enjoy your new Ray be it alnico or ceramic! Cheers and congrats!!
 
#4
Hey guys, thanks a lot for the reassurance.. You are absolutely right when you say I've been over analyzing it. I was just worried that paired with my gk700rbii the ray was going to be too harsh but I'm sure it will sound great. And I wouldn't want non-musicman pickups installed, that just wouldn't feel right.
 
#5
musicman666 said:
Honestly if you can discern a difference between the two then you must have superior hearing than most. I have both and I really can't tell the difference, though some people can, the difference is subtle.
Click to expand...

I think the difference is night and day.

Grab a 4 string Stingray and a 4 string Sterling and A/B them. That is exactly what you'd be A/Bing in the SR5 alinco vs. ceramic pickups.
The SR5's with ceramic pickups were essentially a Sterling 5 rather than a Stingray 5. Then EBMM decided to actually put out a Sterling 5, so they gave the SR5 alinco pickups. IIRC, the original SR5's had alnico pickups...then they switched em' to ceramic.

Don't worry, it'll sound KILLER with a GK head. I loved mine with my GK 2001 RB. As for getting original MM pickups, that would be difficult. They might exchange them for you, but I doubt it. You'd have to send them your pickups and they'd send you the new ones. Otherwise you'd have to find them on the used market or trade with someone looking for ceramics. EB doesn't sell their parts, they just do replacements and you surrender your part.
 
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#9
bassgod0mw.....From what I understand the pups are wired differently between the sterling and ray...I am aware of the alnico-ceramic difference, but I swear I have read somewhere that the pups are wired differently between the two? I have an older ray with ceramics that sounds nothing like a sterling, but my ears are pretty much shot nowadays..lol. Anyways I am sure a little research from the MM website would reveal the deep dark secret to the MM tone. Dare we take this further into the rabbit hole?
 
#11
musicman666 said:
bassgod0mw.....From what I understand the pups are wired differently between the sterling and ray...I am aware of the alnico-ceramic difference, but I swear I have read somewhere that the pups are wired differently between the two? I have an older ray with ceramics that sounds nothing like a sterling, but my ears are pretty much shot nowadays..lol. Anyways I am sure a little research from the MM website would reveal the deep dark secret to the MM tone. Dare we take this further into the rabbit hole?
Click to expand...

I don't know off the top of my head, but both the SR5 and Sterlings have a 3 way switch and I thought they offered the same wiring options.

As for the SR4 vs. Sterling 4, the SR4 pickup is wired in parallel whereas the Sterling has a 3 coil ceramic pickup with series/parallel/single options via a 3 way switch. Exactly like an SR5 with a single H pickup whether it's got ceramic or alnico pickups.

From some super quick reading, SR5's came out in 1987 with alnico pickups. In 1992 they switched to ceramic. Then in 200(7? 8? 9?) they switched back to alnico when the Sterling 5 was released.
 
#12
The H and HH pickups sound more than a little bit different. I had an HH that I traded for an H, because while the tone is in the same ballpark, the single H has an edge to it while the HH was a bit more mellow.

I think the lack of staggered pole pieces contributed to that. For a while I had a Sterling (single H) and the Stingray, and despite the magnet difference those two sounded much closer together (with the Sterling in parallel mode, of course). The Sterling does have stagger pole pieces though.
 
#13
^^Hmmm...I have an 89 SR4 and a 07 SR 5.....I am just assuming that my 89 4 banger is ceramic and my 07 5er is alnico....maybe my 07 is ceramic lol. Is there a way to tell just by looking at them. That might explain why mine sound very similar. Not trying to start a flame war but y'all just making me very curious! I wonder.
 
#17
I have a SR 5 with ceramic. It is nails! The only difference I have heard is there is a tiny bit more "grit" on the attack, but that grit seems to live in the mids somewhere. The highs are clear and defined, but not as piercing as SR4's I have played and owned, even in parallel mode. Definitely try it first. And play it in a mix. That is where it really shines.
 
#18
musicman666 said:
^^Hmmm...I have an 89 SR4 and a 07 SR 5.....I am just assuming that my 89 4 banger is ceramic and my 07 5er is alnico....maybe my 07 is ceramic lol. Is there a way to tell just by looking at them. That might explain why mine sound very similar. Not trying to start a flame war but y'all just making me very curious! I wonder.
Click to expand...

SR4's have always been alnico.

mmbongo said:
Not really. One is wired series, one is wired parallel so they will sound totally different even if they had identical pickups.
Click to expand...

Couldn't you use the 3 way switch on the Sterling to set it to parallel?
 
#20
MycooLeeyun said:
Hey guys, thanks a lot for the reassurance.. You are absolutely right when you say I've been over analyzing it. I was just worried that paired with my gk700rbii the ray was going to be too harsh but I'm sure it will sound great. And I wouldn't want non-musicman pickups installed, that just wouldn't feel right.
Click to expand...

I think there is a noticeable difference, side by side. But both sound good and to be honest in a band context it will not be so noticeable.
I prefer alnico myself, but I'd wait to hear it. Chances are you will not find it lacking and won't feel you need a replacement.
 

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