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Stingray - Passive Tone Control

Mike in MI

Mike in MI

Jun 29, 2022
88
97
Michigan
#1
I love everything about Stingrays. Every version I've owned (4 string, 5 string, H, HH, various stingray specials) just feel like home to me. The only thing I ever miss when I play one is a passive tone control. No matter how hard I try, I just can't get there with the active EQ.

So has anyone here added a passive tone control to a stingray, and if so, how did they go about it?

If not, would I be able to achieve the same result with a low pass filter such as the Broughton low pass filter?

Or is there a third option I'm not thinking of?

I appreciate any comments/suggestions.
 
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#2
Unless you are really good with Pc boards and soldering, you probably can't add one to a contemporary Stingray.
However, you can always install a different preamp with passive tone.

My next parts build will be Stingray-inspired, and rather than going with the typical "Stingray-style" preamp, I will be putting together Jazz VVT controls with a 2-band stacked-pot Treble/Bass setup. Simple, yet effective.
 
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#3
There were limited edition stingray classics that are pretty rare that had a separate passive tone control and preamp bypass. Basically you could run the classic two band or a passive tone control (though not both together sadly). Had the chance to snag one in Nashville a couple years ago but ultimately did not :(
 
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#4
eastcoasteddie said:
Unless you are really good with Pc boards and soldering, you probably can't add one to a contemporary Stingray.
However, you can always install a different preamp with passive tone.

My next parts build will be Stingray-inspired, and rather than going with the typical "Stingray-style" preamp, I will be putting together Jazz VVT controls with a 2-band stacked-pot Treble/Bass setup. Simple, yet effective.
Click to expand...

I was afraid of that. My electronics knowledge is limited to soldering wires together, and not much else. I've looked at my stingray preamps before trying to decipher where I would install a passive control, and I just shook my head in confusion. I'll definitely have to consider installing a different for you to get what I want.

I love your idea for that parts build. The VVT set up would work great for me as well. If you ever get that built, please post some pics!
 
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#5
LowEndLobster said:
There were limited edition stingray classics that are pretty rare that had a separate passive tone control and preamp bypass. Basically you could run the classic two band or a passive tone control (though not both together sadly). Had the chance to snag one in Nashville a couple years ago but ultimately did not :(
Click to expand...

Wow! I never knew those existed. It's too bad you didn't snag it. I would have loved to see you do one of your great Lobster demos on that.
 
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#6
Mike in MI said:
Wow! I never knew those existed. It's too bad you didn't snag it. I would have loved to see you do one of your great Lobster demos on that.
Click to expand...

It was a run they did a couple of times. The GC ones, they look like a Classic series, but with 4 knob control plate: the 4th knob being a passive switch and tone. The other 3 knobs are a 2eq preamp.
EBMM also made that all-white Ltd Ed Guilded White, thats the same actv/passv preamp as above. If you really look you can find all of these, just have to really pay attention to the knob layout when one pops up.
 
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#7
There are Musicman USA SUB Basses (2003-2006) that are passive, most Musicman SUB Basses are active with the awesome two-band pre, but some were built passive.
The other option is to just remove your active EQ circuit completely and then put in a passive tone control (a potentiometer and a capacitor).
A guitar repair shop could do it easily and it would be not expensive work.
It's also something that could easily be put back to stock if you ever decided to go back to stock.
 
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#8
mikeswals said:
It was a run they did a couple of times. The GC ones, they look like a Classic series, but with 4 knob control plate: the 4th knob being a passive switch and tone. The other 3 knobs are a 2eq preamp.
EBMM also made that all-white Ltd Ed Guilded White, thats the same actv/passv preamp as above. If you really look you can find all of these, just have to really pay attention to the knob layout when one pops up.
Click to expand...

All white …. Limited edition active / passive?? WHAT?!?!?!:wideyed:

When was this? Any pics? :help:
 
#13
Smooth_bass88 said:
I wish they would make a fully passive StingRay. Literally a StingRay with a volume and a tone control- that's it.
Click to expand...

The StingRay pickup makes it a very low output bass if you put it to passive. I've seen quite a few modded Rays (I even bought one once that had a bypass toggle installed), and I'm willing to bet a $20, that the low output drove most nuts. The character sound is the sum of all its parts
 
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#15
Mike in MI said:
I love everything about Stingrays. Every version I've owned (4 string, 5 string, H, HH, various stingray specials) just feel like home to me. The only thing I ever miss when I play one is a passive tone control. No matter how hard I try, I just can't get there with the active EQ.

So has anyone here added a passive tone control to a stingray, and if so, how did they go about it?

If not, would I be able to achieve the same result with a low pass filter such as the Broughton low pass filter?

Or is there a third option I'm not thinking of?

I appreciate any comments/suggestions.
Click to expand...


There were recently limited edition runs on passive full scale StingRays (a BFR, and one of the Tim Commerford range), as well as the original U.S.A. SUB, all of which crop up occasionally.

The other option, if you are looking for something currently available, is the Short Scale StingRay, which is fully passive.

Alternatively, there is the Joe Dart bass, although that's actually based on the Sterling, rather than the StingRay.
 
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#16
MultiScaleMale said:
I tried one of the passive Stingrays at Guitar Center. Didn't really care for it, let Stingrays be Stingrays.
Click to expand...
My guitarist has a SUB. It's passive, with bass cut and treble cut knobs. It's cool. But, the bass cut knob is useless. I guess, if you were to boost bass and treble on your amp, then you could use it the same way. Start with both knobs down, and play with them throughout the set. Although, they aren't as linear, being passive tone pots.
 
#19
The pickup is passive. It feeds an active preamp, just like a passive bass feed an amp. You could wire a 500k tone pot between the pickup and the preamp.

If you want to simulate with a pedal, you might have some success with the (hard to get) Broughton RFE and playing with the low-pass and resonant level.
 
#20
darwin-bass said:
Kiloton?
Click to expand...
No, an actual Music Man StingRay bass, but passive. It would probably require a different, hotter pickup because I installed a push/pull on my old 90s StingRay so the preamp could be defeated. Without the preamp, the output was very low.
 
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