You guessed it... another "keep or sell" (50's Sting Sig.)

[jtrom]

You only own 3 basses!?!

4 plus an upright

 

[jtrom]

any chance you got his contact info? I'm always looking for good PUs.

His name is Dave Reimer, lives in Vancouver

 

[jtrom]

For the record of those asking, I have 2 p basses in my arsenal. A late 70’s Harmony bass and a Fender California Special P/J. Both have Bill Lawrence pups. I also have a Gibson Grabber and the Sting Bass. All get equal time I would say except the Sting

 

[jtrom]

@2saddleslab thanks for sharing! amazing looking basses. And a really nice mix for those tunes.

I think I'm leaning towards the keep. When I get some more expendable income I'll pup shop a bit and check a couple things out. Love the idea of the TV Jones and people have been talking a lot about the Fralin Split so I'll have to check that out too!

 

[macmanlou]

If you like the sound of the pickup in the Shortbass here, you might want to try to try a Lace Gold Sensor strat pickup. I understand that is what Scott uses on his basses.

 

[jtrom]

If you like the sound of the pickup in the Shortbass here, you might want to try to try a Lace Gold Sensor strat pickup. I understand that is what Scott uses on his basses.

that sounds really cool too!

 

[macmanlou]

that sounds really cool too!

I own the fretless he used in the demo. I like it so much that I had him make me a fretted one, and it has left my MIJ Mustang "on the shelf".

 

[bassdude51]

A bunch of pages here and I'm not going to read through. So, if I repeat, excuse me.

Try the Seymour Duncan Dusty Hill stacked humbucker for your Sting Bass. It's supposed to sound like a standard Fender P Bass. Duncan also makes a Stinger pickup. Built for Sting. Once again, a stacked humbucker. Big sound in a little package.

You'll have to call Duncan to get the Dusty Hill.

There's a Stinger on eBay right now. A bit pricey but cheaper than buying a different bass.

Keep your Sting Bass. There are MANY pickup options by various pickup builders and you SHOULD be able to get a sound that you'll like.

Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Stinger STK-SCPB '51 Fender P Bass Stack | eBay

 

[MD]

Have any of you been in a similar situation? What was your ultimate revelation? Regret? Glad you sold? Still have a bass in your 20 year old closet? Sentiment has me by the ****!

I have a 61 year old bass in a closet of questionable vintage. Not my main player, but my first, bought in early 1970's. It gets a little play time when I'm going out to sit in with friends for a half hour and don't want to drag the big ABG. Sentiment is certainly a factor on keeping it, but it also sounds good. I also have some sentimental feelings for a bass I helped build in 1981. It's a lovely instrument, sounds good, but it has frets and never gets played. The sentiment is wearing thin on this one, and letting it go is not too far in the future.

I think if you don't like the sound, and you don't play it, it's time to let someone else enjoy it.

 

[2saddleslab]

Perfect! @2saddleslab , I knew calling in The Expert would help here! Plus, it gives us a chance to see and hear those gorgeous basses of yours. drool

Far from being an expert, more like I just help myself from tinkering. Thanks for the kind words.

@2saddleslab thanks for sharing! amazing looking basses. And a really nice mix for those tunes.

I think I'm leaning towards the keep. When I get some more expendable income I'll pup shop a bit and check a couple things out. Love the idea of the TV Jones and people have been talking a lot about the Fralin Split so I'll have to check that out too!

Thanks! Yep, best to give it some time and figure out the best solution. Less chance of regret later on.

 

[SirMjac28]

Sell it I had one and liked it but didn't survive my last bass purge.

 

[Pilgrim]

If you don't like the way the bass sounds, don't start hacking it up and swapping pickups. Sell it and move on.

If this were a $100 used Bronco, I'd encourage you to experiment. It's not, and I don't.

 

[J Dykman]

Sell it to me sounds like a great plan!

 

[JimB52]

.... and you don't play it, it's time to let someone else enjoy it.

I been doing that a lot lately and it feels really good.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I put one (Fralin stacked PU) in my Squier VM. Still sounds like a P bass but with a bit more growl

Not familiar with a stacked Fralin ‘51. The one I have is a single coil footprint but actually 2 separate side by side coils wound reverse polarity to cancel hum. Basically 2 smaller coils displacing same area as a traditional single coil. A little different approach than stacking 2 coils like other winders but maintains the classic look of a single coil. Sounds great. Mine is standard wind but you can request under or over wound.

 

[Tom Baker]

If you like the sound of the pickup in the Shortbass here, you might want to try to try a Lace Gold Sensor strat pickup. I understand that is what Scott uses on his basses.

Geez...want.

 

[macmanlou]

Geez...want.

They are worth the wait. Scott may have finally cured my GAS for basses.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[aikibass]

You like the feel, but not the sound, and it's not really a collector's bass (they made and sold more than a few of them) - so...get your router out and add some pickups and a pre-amp!

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Thinking today of your situation and here are my thoughts. My 1st bass was a jazz but after I have owned a variety . If I had one bass it would be a ‘57 style p bass. (Good example MIM Classic 50s). My most recent (#15) is the Warmoth ‘56 style with the Fralin Split ‘51.

My collection is pretty evenly divided between p , j, pj styles and the ‘51. (Plus EBO and Rivoli short scales) I like having an assortment of flavors at my disposal. I wish I hadn’t traded away some of my earlier instruments. The Sting may not be your dream tone but it was your 1st. My ‘56 is my newest and I am probably still honeymooning a bit but I’ve always wanted to add that flavor to the mix. I love the sound and playability of this bass with GHS pressurewounds.

In closing, an early style p would prob not be my 1st choice in having only one bass but it has it’s place. If you plan on having even a modest assortment of basses, (and as your 1st) I would keep this one. I highly recommend the Fralin Split ‘51 , (other direct drop in choices exist as well) and personally wouldn’t modify this bass by routing, in case you had to sell at some point, these are desirable basses. (Stock or reversible mods)

 

[bassmanrocke]

So I have a "keep or sell" question. I realize that everything is subjective and personal but I'm wanting to hear your experiences/thoughts

It's regarding my Fender MIJ Sting Signature Bass. It was the FIRST real bass I bought and I played it for many many years.

As I progressed in skill I realized that the bass wasn't giving me the sound that I wanted so I bought a Lolar pickup for it... STILL not the sound I wanted. So the single coil isn't my thing. At all. Ever. It has sat in my closet for about 10 years and the other day I dug it out. LOVE the look. LOVE the feel. Can't stand the sound

If I could find a pickup that made it sound like a big phat thumping pbass (I have Bill Lawrence p's in my 2 other basses) I would play it every day until I die. I can't really afford to go pup shopping and experiment with different pickups. sooooo ...... ?

Have any of you been in a similar situation? What was your ultimate revelation? Regret? Glad you sold? Still have a bass in your 20 year old closet? Sentiment has me by the ****!

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I'm pretty sure Nordstrand makes a side by side humbucker 51 pickup. That should get closer. However, the placement of the pickup has a lot to do with the sound of a 50's style p bass. I have a refinned 53 p that for the most part sits in it's case. I usually only break it out when I want to do some rockabilly. Even then, my jazz sounds better, but it still has that 50's mojo.