Help! Stingray preamp & G-string problem

[liverbird]

I have an early 90's Stingray (4-string, 2-band EQ) that used to be my main bass. After having put it to sleep for several years, I have recently 'rediscovered' it and would very much like to use it on my theatre gig.

It's a lovely bass but I'm encountering a couple of problems.

1) The preamp appears to be very noisy. There is substantial buzzing even with the treble control at 'zero', and as soon as I boost it, it becomes pretty severe. Had some shielding done but that only slightly improved things. So I'm considering getting a replacement preamp circuit.

Would the current MM 2-band preamp have the same treble/bass frequency centres as my early 90's model? (I compared it with a new Stingray in a shop, and the treble when boosting it on my bass seems 'harsher'.)

2) The G-string output on my bass is quite weak compared to the other strings. I tried tilting the pickup but the problem is still there. (My Stingray 5 doesn't have this at all.)

Is there any way the G-string could be brought out more other than going for a heavier string? In conjunction with getting a replacement preamp, might it make sense to go for a 3-band to help with this? (I realize that I would have to have the jack moved.) Or should I look for something with sweepable mids instead?

Your input and advice would be much appreciated!

 

[agplate]

Oh, no- I'm shuttering my windows, turning off the lights and hiding under the bed!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Oh, no- I'm shuttering my windows, turning off the lights and hiding under the bed!

me too, in fact I wish I had a £1 for every time I see a reapeat of these threads, I'd get rich pretty quick

 

[oli@bass]

First of all, let the bass check out by a good luthier. Probably some of the problems are set up related or can be helped with a bit of cleaning the electronics.

1) The preamp appears to be very noisy.

Stupid question but.... you use a new battery after all those years, right?

If the preamp turns out to be broken (which, IMO is very unlikely, because electronics do not just break), EBMM will replace it in exchange for the old one (and some cash, AFAIR).

Would the current MM 2-band preamp have the same treble/bass frequency centres as my early 90's model?

The consesnsus on the board is, that the 2EQ premap never changed substantially since the second generation used in the pre-EB MMs.

However, even if the used circuitry is the same, the used ICs are most probably a bit different. And more substantially, the capacitors on your old pre might be worn out or just different. This could yield a different sound. Then again, there's wood and strings involved, so every bass sounds a bit different anyway.

2) The G-string output on my bass is quite weak compared to the other strings.

Please use the search function for that. Beating a dead horse.

In conjunction with getting a replacement preamp, might it make sense to go for a 3-band to help with this?

No. The mid control will not change the response of the G string (how should that be connected?!)

If any note on the G-String is weak compared to the same notes played on the other strings - over the whole lenght of the string or on a certain spot -- there's nothing how an EQ could help without affecting the same notes on other strings (making them louder as well).

Or should I look for something with sweepable mids instead?

No. As said, the preamp can't help. However elaborate an EQ is, it cannot balance unbalanced strings. You'd need a separate parametric EQ per string, and thus a pickup with separate outputs for each string, meaning that the construction of the pickup itself would be completely different and thus sounding different as well.


G-String issues can generally be cured by a combination of setup and string gauge, and a bit of playing technique. The G string produces less output, and sounds less loud acoustically. IMO, the EBMM electronics reproduce that quite faithfully, but the distance of each string to the pole piece has a major impact.
It goes against the feeling, but try this: lower the pickup -- moving it away from the strings should give you a lower but more balanced output. (somebody with a physics degree can probably explain that exactly)

 

[Rano Bass]

2) The G-string output on my bass is quite weak compared to the other strings. I tried tilting the pickup but the problem is still there. (My Stingray 5 doesn't have this at all.)

Is there any way the G-string could be brought out more other than going for a heavier string? In conjunction with getting a replacement preamp, might it make sense to go for a 3-band to help with this?

I have always believed that problem is more evident with alnico pickups (SR4) vs ceramic pickups (SR5, Sterling).
I don't think the preamp has anything to do with weak G strings issues, it's more of a setup/pickup problem IMO.

 

[ggunn]

No. The mid control will not change the response of the G string (how should that be connected?!)

If any note on the G-String is weak compared to the same notes played on the other strings - over the whole lenght of the string or on a certain spot -- there's nothing how an EQ could help without affecting the same notes on other strings (making them louder as well).

[...]
No. As said, the preamp can't help. However elaborate an EQ is, it cannot balance unbalanced strings. You'd need a separate parametric EQ per string, and thus a pickup with separate outputs for each string, meaning that the construction of the pickup itself would be completely different and thus sounding different as well.

+1 Just look at your strings. The loudness of a string is proportional to how much metal you are waving around over the pickup and how far the metal is moving. You need to move the G string around more to compensate for its lack of mass, i.e., pluck the G string harder. Tilting the pickup so that it is closer to the skinny strings will help but it won't totally solve it. So will using heavier gauge strings.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

hijack!!

hey ggun, long time no read, how did u get on with yr bongo neck pickup?

 

[fidooda]

wow thread hijacking, internet diagnostics....this thread's got it all.

liverbird: contact EBMM customer service. They will tell you what's the best way to get you all fixed up.

 

[Jimmyb]

Hi,

I'd guess that you're in the UK, so you might want to think about giving the guys at Strings & Things a shout as well.

Obviously it's out of warranty, so it would be chargeable, but they may be in a good position to point you in the direction of a good guy to give it the once over.

 

[5Stringer]

If you are here in the U.S., give me a call at 866-823-2255, ext 126. We can discuss it there. Thanks!

Dan

 

[Musiksketcher]

i've played many basses thru the past 30 yrs, most f****r or some equivelant..i've noticed all G strings have lower output (they are small!)..i just learned to play a little harder on the smaller strings..
personally i set my sr4 with G string close to spec if not a tad higher, lower the pickup a tiny bit under the G and play it a little harder.. thats my normal playing style. i notice NO difference in volume across the strings.
my theory?..technique can solve many issues.

 

[agplate]

"i've played many basses thru the past 30 yrs, most f****r or some equivelant..i've noticed all G strings have lower output (they are small!).."

(from under the bed...)--

Not on the BONGO!

 

[Musiksketcher]

lol agplate...i stand corrected!

 

[bovinehost]

Dan's on the case.