Would you modify a rare 'Ray?

[eastcoasteddie]

Why would adding a neck pickup require modification of the preamp? EBMM does single and dual humbucker StingRays with the same preamp.

Ok, to be more precise, you have to replace the blade switch with a one that is specific to using two pickups. If I remember correctly, the EBMM HH switch has like 16 pins on it, and they’re all used. Good luck finding that in the aftermarket.
That is if the OP wants to go with a 2nd MM pickup. How to get a matching MM neck pickup? Not from EB!
Might have to get a matching pair of aftermarket MM pickups.
What if he wants a P? Good luck with the blade switch, might as well replace the whole preamp…

 

[N4860]

Ok, to be more precise, you have to replace the blade switch with a one that is specific to using two pickups. If I remember correctly, the EBMM HH switch has like 16 pins on it, and they’re all used. Good luck finding that in the aftermarket.
That is if the OP wants to go with a 2nd MM pickup. How to get a matching MM neck pickup? Not from EB!
Might have to get a matching pair of aftermarket MM pickups.
What if he wants a P? Good luck with the blade switch, might as well replace the whole preamp…

Why does the OP have to buy the switch from an aftermarket source? Why not just get the switch from EBMM?

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Why does the OP have to buy the switch from an aftermarket source? Why not just get the switch from EBMM?

Because EBMM won’t sell it to him without the exchange of a malfunctioning exact replacement part. That’s they way EB does things. You can’t just buy parts from them Willy-Nilly. Send EB your malfunctioned part first, then they’ll sell you a new replacement.

Since the OP has a single H 3-way switch, EB will never sell him a new 5-way HH switch.

 

[murphy]

Don't forget that the HS actually requires two of the S pickups, and the corresponding routing.

The second S is hidden under the pick guard, wired as a dummy coil, so as to cancel any hum from the single coil.

Actually with the 20th Anni model...it was a stacked ie two single coils.....BUT I remembered the 4 string sunk second coil under the pickguard...so that is what I did with my Nordie 5.2
Tried Parallel Humbucking...Series Humbucking....But found the best was single coil mode in Series with second coil behind and under the pickguard.....The preamp stopped working so I added a Norddie MM preamp and EMG Vari mid...replacing bridge pickup with Nordie 5.2

Beautiful sound and put a three way Bridge/ Both and Neck switch
Bridge is classic music man
Both is good . but either on their own sounds better
Neck sounds great ..Barky P bass type sound Blues and RnB...smooth and big...Reggae too

 

[murphy]

Ok, to be more precise, you have to replace the blade switch with a one that is specific to using two pickups. If I remember correctly, the EBMM HH switch has like 16 pins on it, and they’re all used. Good luck finding that in the aftermarket.
That is if the OP wants to go with a 2nd MM pickup. How to get a matching MM neck pickup? Not from EB!
Might have to get a matching pair of aftermarket MM pickups.
What if he wants a P? Good luck with the blade switch, might as well replace the whole preamp…

EXACTLY what happened to me and what I did to remedy...hence the $$$$$$ KACHING expenses

 

[N4860]

Because EBMM won’t sell it to him without the exchange of a malfunctioning exact replacement part. That’s they way EB does things. You can’t just buy parts from them Willy-Nilly. Send EB your malfunctioned part first, then they’ll sell you a new replacement.

Since the OP has a single H 3-way switch, EB will never sell him a new 5-way HH switch.

You can buy parts from their website. Shop Ernie Ball Music Man - Parts Shop for Music Man Guitars and Basses

You can very easily just click that link and buy the 5-way switch for dual humbucking stingrays. Not sure why you say they'll never do it.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

You can buy parts from their website. Shop Ernie Ball Music Man - Parts Shop for Music Man Guitars and Basses

You can very easily just click that link and buy the 5-way switch for dual humbucking stingrays. Not sure why you say they'll never do it.

Huh…I guess you got me on the switch. I didn’t know they had a parts store for small stuff.
But what about the matching pickup?

 

[N4860]

Huh…I guess you got me on the switch. I didn’t know they had a parts store for small stuff.
But what about the matching pickup?

I thought you were talking about the preamp and switch, not pickups. To my knowledge, they do not sell their pickups. So your best bet is probably to get an aftermarket humbucker.

 

[bigtone23]

i would modify any important ax in any 'important' way.

"resale value" = not a term that i'd associate with my 'important' players.

If it’s a reversible mod your good!

If it's an instrument that I love and have every intention to keep forever, I don't think twice about mods to make it work for me. This SR5 is certainly prime for modding, IMO.
Yes, it's relatively rare, but it's also relatively new. Like the future collectability of Fenders made recently, it's not really about that, unless the guitar is a very limited run with a very unique color. Same goes for modern MM basses, they most likely won't command the collector value a mid to late 70s SR4 or late 80s early SR5 (if left handed) will. This is typical left handed SR5, in typical, left handed black. Mod away!

Plus, if the routing is done cleanly, it will at least get respect at resale. Also, an uncut pickguard will cover up all the routing and the 3 way and 5 way switches are interchangable if it needs to return to stock. I have seen several cases where somebody routed out an older Strat for a bridge humbucker in the 80s. In the grand scheme of things, it allows an easy pivot to drop in an appropriate harness for the player: H, HS, HSS, or SSS. Pretty cool, really. I'd rout it for a humbucker, but flirt with the idea of using a single coil there, too.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I thought you were talking about the preamp and switch, not pickups. To my knowledge, they do not sell their pickups. So your best bet is probably to get an aftermarket humbucker.

Read all of post #101. I pretty much listed all the potential problems off the top of my head.

 

[MattZilla]

Read all of post #101. I pretty much listed all the potential problems off the top of my head.

This is pretty much the issue most of the Dont Do It crowd are saying- the effort to turn your Camaro into something that you can also haul seven kids and a boat is greater than just buying a Suburban and keeping the Camaro stock.

 

[bigtone23]

This is pretty much the issue most of the Dont Do It crowd are saying- the effort to turn your Camaro into something that you can also haul seven kids and a boat is greater than just buying a Suburban and keeping the Camaro stock.

I'd say it's more like cutting an air intake into the hood of the Camaro. Not a big mod, easily reverted back.

 

[MattZilla]

I'd say it's more like cutting an air intake into the hood of the Camaro. Not a big mod, easily reverted back.

Easily reverted back cosmetically, yes.

have you ever
- routed and drilled a body for a neck pickup?
- sourced an EBMM pickup
- sourced an EBMM preamp & harness

It’s all a pain in the butt compared to just buying a bass which already performs the required task better out of the box.

Contact any well reputed builder for a quote to have them do the work.