New here and I got my first EBMM!

[fretmeister]

Hi there!

I just bought my first EBMM - a stingray 5 - so I thought I'd join the forum.

I do have a question about a slight modification - I find that when playing fingerstyle I sometimes catch a pole-piece with a finger tip. I'm considering getting a replacement pickup with a smooth top, but I've also heard about people modding old p-bass pickups by covering them with epoxy and then smoothing it over.

Has anyone done that on a 'Ray 'bucker? I've been playing for 20 years so there is no hope of my changing technique now!

thanks!

 

[cellkirk74]

You may start with covering the polepieces with a little tape. I think the easiest way would be to play not right over the PU and not dig in so deep.

I am nut sure, but the new Pickups do not have sharp polepieces anymore.

 

[fretmeister]

On my other basses I have ramps or smooth top pickups and have them quite high. Not having that there feels very strange to me! I suppose I could get a ramp made from the (hopefully) a similar scratch plate material.

Good call on the tape - I could actually use small pieces and build it up to a level.

There's always loads of duck tape in the house!

 

[Chuck B]

Welcome aboard, fretmeister!
I've read that some folks have the same problem but I never had it. I use to play my Ray for more than 30 years now. I had a SR5 too a while ago. Hope you'll find a solution.

 

[drTStingray]

The SR5 pick up doesn't have the unrounded edges SR4 pick ups used to have, but the pole pieces do protrude above the casing slightly.

I've sometimes found issues of hitting the pole pieces on my SR5 when playing, and this makes a click - especially if recording. A way to deal with this is to adjust the pick up height (see FAQs - it'll show you the correct height for an SR5 pick up - if set too close to the strings this becomes a problem), and combined with hitting the strings a little more carefully, or as has been suggested, not directly over the pick up, should solve the problem.

There are aftermarket pick ups but everyone on here is going to advise you not to go down that road as it will de-Musicman the sound of your Musicman for sure.

 

[bassmonkeee]

If I were having this problem, and couldn't correct the issue with technique, I'd probably use black electrical tape over the pole pieces. Two layers of that should both solve your problem and also not look terribly out of place on the pickup.

I would certainly try and avoid changing out the pickup.

 

[fogman]

welcome to the forum!
congrats on the bass!

 

[fretmeister]

I have another suggestion from a friend - he advises that the pickup cover is easy to remove. He took his off and put small foam spacers on the bobbins and then put the cover back on, so the pole pieces were flush with the plastic casing.

That sounds like an excellent and easily un-done idea.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Does your friend have a five string or a four string? The 4 string covers are easy to remove. It is my understanding that the five string covers are not easily removed.

 

[drTStingray]

It is my understanding that the five string covers are not easily removed.

I think they're glued on - whereas the single H 4 string just lift off.

 

[danny-79]

I would personally try the black tape method first, easy to undo. Moving the pole pieces could/would surly cause some sort of sound degradation.

By the way welcome an good choice on your new EB.

 

[five7]

Welcome!!! I had that problem on an older ray and learned to stay away from the pole pieces. You will get use to it.

 

[jlepre]

OK somebody has to say it...

NO pics = NO bass

Oh and Welcome to the forum, and READ BELOW...

 

[fretmeister]

OK somebody has to say it...

NO pics = NO bass

Oh and Welcome to the forum, and READ BELOW...

ha!

Fair enough.

Here she is:

I'm just waiting on the delivery of my favourite half-wound strings. Hopefully tomorrow so when Mrs f is out tomorrow night I can watch a rubbish movie and just play along!

 

[five7]

ha!

Fair enough.

Here she is:

I'm just waiting on the delivery of my favourite half-wound strings. Hopefully tomorrow so when Mrs f is out tomorrow night I can watch a rubbish movie and just play along!

Very nice, great looking color with that pickguard!

 

[Chuck B]

Congrats on that beauty!

 

[fretmeister]

I'm gonna try the tape.

The bass sounds so good that I don't want to change the pup. Just need my strings to arrive now.

 

[strummer]

Tape, as previously suggested, is an easy and reversible mod, so do try that.

BUT

Beware the pickup height! From what I read you want the kind of ramp feeling associated with gary Willis, and that is all fine and dandy if it is a ramp (easily glued to the pickguard) but if you raise the pickup to act as a ramp you'll have the suckiest sound ever produced by a Stingray.