Preamps... let me get this straight

[Northray]

My SR5 was purchased in 2003 - the newer SR5's have different electronics?

Sorry, I've been out of the Music Man loop until I got a SR4 this past year.

 

[Calaveras]

from what I undertand they have changed the pickups from ceramic to alnico and back or something. I am confused about it as well. But I am pretty sure that the preamps are still the same on the 5's at least.

 

[Duarte]

They changed from Alnico - Ceramic - back.

So you will have a Ceramic one, with a slightly differently voiced preamp (I assume)

 

[Murphy]

They changed from Alnico - Ceramic - back.

Does this mean the new SR5 has a ceramic pickup again?

 

[Calaveras]

I am pretty sure the pre stays the same, only the pickup changes. All I know is that I like the pre-pickup in mine.

 

[tkarter]

They both take a battery and sound good. All one really needs to know to enjoy.

tk

 

[Duarte]

No this means the new ones have Alnico pickups.

But I agree with tk - don't worry about all this, they all sound great.

 

[Northray]

Thanks for the replies - the main reason I'm asking this is because I really like the sound of the 2003 StingRay 5. When I go bass shopping in March, I'd like to try out other EBMM 5 strings - would the current Sterling 5 or StingRay 5 have electronics/pickups most similar to my older StingRay 5?

 

[bovinehost]

When I go bass shopping in March, I'd like to try out other EBMM 5 strings - would the current Sterling 5 or StingRay 5 have electronics/pickups most similar to my older StingRay 5?

Your bass has ceramic magnets while the newer SR5s have alnico. The Sterling 5 has ceramic, so that might be a good starting point....but do yourself a favor and check out the others. I had a number of "ceramic" SR5s and loved them all quite a bit but couldn't be happier with my "alnico" SR5.

And guess what? I have a "ceramic" Sterling 5 and it kills, too.

Oh, and - the Bongos have neodymium magnets. Be careful around those things, they can be addictive.

Jack