135's on Stingray 5, adjustments needed?

[ontheverge]

Hi there,

Firts of all: I don't own a Music Man, but I'm on the verge of ordering a Stingray 5. There's one thing I'd like to know before I place my order at the shop. And I can't find the answer to my wuestion on the forum.

Can I just throw on a set of Power Slinkys (gauge 50-135) or does the set up or even the nut have to be adjusted? If so I can tell the people at the shop to do that as soon as the bass arrives.

Cheers,

Walter

 

[1kinal]

You'll have to adjust the truss rod and do the intonation but the nut itself will be ok.

 

[danny-79]

Intonation an truss rod tweak an your good to go .

 

[adouglas]

+1... but I suggest you at least give the stock strings a try before deciding that you need to change them. They do sound great.

I came to the realization quite a while ago that the folks at EBMM really do know what they're doing, and keeping things the way they were when the bass came from the factory is generally a pretty good idea.

Nothing wrong with Power Slinkies to be sure... but if you're going to change what the bass comes with, it makes sense to do so for a real reason. And without actual experience, you don't have a real reason... you have an assumption.

 

[ontheverge]

Thanks for the replys! I'll ask them to set it up properly with the super slinkys.

@adouglas: No worries! I know what I'm doing. I play in A and 130's just don't cut it, be it EB or other brands. I've tried a friend's Stingray 5 with Slinkys fitted and dropping down to A makes them go a bit wobbly I'm afraid. And yeah, slinkys do sound pretty neat! Cheers.

 

[Moose308]

I have Power Slinkies on my Bongo 5. I don't recall doing anything major to the setup. The nut was fine. The truss rod needed a little tweak, but that comes with the territory. And yes, I had to touch the bridge saddles height just a little. Adjusting the bridge is really not a big deal, despite rumors to the contrary.

In the end, I did not experience any night-and-day difference between regular slinkies and power slinkies. The heavy strings had a bit more tension, but that was about it. Detuning, as you mention, may reveal more however.

 

[strummer]

I tune to Bb, and yeah if i was to drop it a semitone further I'd move up to Power Slinkys too

 

[ontheverge]

I have Power Slinkies on my Bongo 5. I don't recall doing anything major to the setup. The nut was fine. The truss rod needed a little tweak, but that comes with the territory. And yes, I had to touch the bridge saddles height just a little. Adjusting the bridge is really not a big deal, despite rumors to the contrary.

In the end, I did not experience any night-and-day difference between regular slinkies and power slinkies. The heavy strings had a bit more tension, but that was about it. Detuning, as you mention, may reveal more however.

Cool, good to hear. I hope detuning doesn't make too much of a difference. I've got a cheapo Westone 4 string fitted with 135's and switching between B and A isn't a problem on that one.

 

[ontheverge]

I tune to Bb, and yeah if i was to drop it a semitone further I'd move up to Power Slinkys too

Yeah, it really gives a more stable A. Ask my neighbours, ha ha!

 

[five7]

Manly strings!

 

[ontheverge]

Manly strings!

Ha ha, yeah, well they do the job. They can make the earth move...

 

[ontheverge]

Just got back from the store and one Black Stingray 5 HH is on it's way!