Swapping Musicman Pickups - Sterling to Stingray

[markbmbass]

Hi All,

Has anyone had experience swapping the ceramic pickup in the Musicman Sterling or Sterling SB14 to a regular Stingray pickup?

I have a Sterling on the way but I do prefer the normal Stingray tone. It's really the neck that I like most about the Sterlings. I'm thinking about replacing the pickup in it, and was curious to see if anyone has done the same, and what the results were.

Thanks in advance!

 

[markanini]

The stock pickups aren't that bad, you just have to do the series to paralell mod, becuase for some reason the coils aren't wired like the USA Stringrays.

 

[P Cheen]

I think the Nordstrand quad-coil version should be good, but I’m not sure. I’m also trying to look into “upgrades” though I don’t think I’ll actually buy an aftermarket pickup.

Do you want to retain the parallel-single-series switch?

 

[P Cheen]

The stock pickups aren't that bad, you just have to do the series to paralell mod, becuase for some reason the coils aren't wired like the USA Stringrays.

I think OP was referring to the Sterling bass, and not the Sterling by Music Man import line.

 

[Hundred proof]

I have an EBMM Sterling … a previous owner tried to make the conversation to a Ray pickup. The installation was totally botched and resulted in an un usable preamp. I ripped it all out, went with a Nordstrand quad coil and used two Audere Classic preamps one for each bank of coils. The result is two independent pickups that can be used independently or summed into one old school Ray-type humbucker

 

[P Cheen]

I have an EBMM Sterling … a previous owner tried to make the conversation to a Ray pickup. The installation was totally botched and resulted in an un usable preamp. I ripped it all out, went with a Nordstrand quad coil and used two Audere Classic preamps one for each bank of coils. The result is two independent pickups that can be used independently or summed into one old school Ray-type humbucker

That is very, very interesting indeed. Unfortunately I’m not gifted with the understanding of electric instrument electronics… I’m finding it difficult to find a possible replacement for my Sterling. Time will tell if I do end up liking the hot ceramic pickups or if I should opt to scavenge the net for a used Nordstrand MM4.3.