2 Band EQ - do I miss something?

[Chrishi]

Hey,

I got a wonderful special edition Stingray 4 with a 2 Band EQ and a String Through Bridge.
But somehow I am only ~85 % Happy.
The sound is a little bit thin and powerless.
My SR5 has more power and "balls".
I know the 2 Band EQ is a different beast as the 3 Band, but if I had a 3 Band (I will borrow one)
how do I set up the Eq to match the 2 Band (I usually play the setting 10-8-10).

And again, sorry for the bad bad english

 

[drTStingray]

Firstly, it may be worth you changing the battery on the 2 band, just in case that is a problem.

The 2 band may need some upper mid dialled into your amp to sound like the 3 band 5 string.

As you reduce the treble and bass controls on the 2 band, the mid range sounds more powerful - if you run everything on the bass on full you will tend to get a mid scooped sound.

 

[Calaveras]

I believe that one is ceramic, the other alnico pickup. I forget which and when though.

 

[tbonesullivan]

If the stingray 5 was made between I think 1992 and 2007, it has ceramic magnets. If it was made 1987-1991, or 2008 onward, it has alnico pole piece magnets. The pickups are a different design. however it should still have the stingray tone. you may not be able to get as much fatness out of it though as the pickup is wired in parallel, and not series.

Also remember that while there are no center detents on the bass and treble, they still are boost/cut controls. Keep them centered, and then work from there.

 

[Chrishi]

The batteries are just a few hours old.
I roll the bass up to 10 and the highs about 7,5 - 8. More and its too crispy. Less and it´s no "Ray" Sound anymore.
I think I will trade it for a white 3 Band EQ Ray. But they are rare here.

 

[groove]

verify that the strings are recommended gauge, because SR will not work and will not sound good with non-recommended string gauge...Personally, I do not like it, but it looks like it should...also you should have EB strings for original SR tone.

 

[Gravesend Black]

verify that the strings are recommended gauge, because SR will not work and will not sound good with non-recommended string gauge...Personally, I do not like it, but it looks like it should...also you should have EB strings for original SR tone.

What gauge is recommended for SR5?

 

[Chrishi]

Never heard of that, and I think it´s a myth.
Different Strings - never thought about that. Thanks. One of the most important things and I forgot about it.
The price for a EB Set is ok. 30$. But I don´t like the feeling and sound of nickels. Any tip?

 

[groove]

What gauge is recommended for SR5?

StingRay 5

Ok, you dont have to use EB strings but gauge must be exact as recommended by EBMM..( sorry for bad english).

 

[Gravesend Black]

StingRay 5

Ok, you dont have to use EB strings but gauge must be exact as recommended by EBMM..( sorry for bad english).

Can anybody approve this statement?

 

[Chrishi]

Thats totally BS.

Why would EB sell Strings in different gauges if they sound "bad" on the instruments.
The gauge is a only a personal preference. The magnetic field coming out the Pickup can handle a huge range of gauges.

The site which he refers to is the product page which shows the standard strings the bass is shipped with

 

[JayDawg]

What year is your 2 band SR? I don't know if t is because it is a 2 band or something different but every SR Classic that I have played, including my own, has a lower volume output than other Music Man basses. I don't know why that is but even compared to my traditional 3 band SR that I have, the output levels are not as high and I have to boost my master volume on my amp or at the soundboard by at least a good 20%. The tone however, is killer and like no other so me having to turn up the volume a little louder when I use that bass specifically is not a big deal or on my amp what I have found to do is simply plug it into the passive input and it makes the levels the same as my other basses on the active input.

 

[Chrishi]

It´s a 2001.
The Output is fine, there are just "balls" missing.
Tomorrow I get a 3 Band from a buddy to compare.

But I think it´s the strings. DR Snakeskin or how they are called are on.

 

[Golem]

Can anybody approve this statement?
["dont have to use EB strings but gauge must be exact as recommended"]

Well I cannot. A dozen EBMMs strung with everything imaginable [up to .110"
on 4-string] ... plastic wound, flats, 1/2 rounds, TIJFs, etc, etc, and acoarst I
love them all ... or I'd not leave them strung up like that. Forgive me, Padre,
for I have sinned ... and it's soooooo fun !

OTOH & FWIW, I've never really liked the 2-band. Only had one ... a SUB. It
sounded cool with round wounds on it but I'm not sure of the guage ... just
whatever the previous owner was using [DR Black Beauties].


`

 

[MattOfSweden]

My Rays sure sound and play like Rays (ie great!) no matter what strings I throw at them.

 

[groove]

I have tried 40-120 warwick strings, and that is no ray soound at all + weak G string, D'addario EXP coated strings sounding even worse,...GHS bass boomers 50-110 on my 1990 4H SR produce somekind of sound, but it is not a wellknown SR sound...at the and of the day i came back to EB strings 45-130( for my SR5 and SR5 classic), and 45-100 for my SR 4H and everything was just fine, real SR sound came out for good...sorry for my bad english again, and i have to say that I am newbie only on this forum, and please do not take my statements as newbie player, because i am semipro player since 1993..lots of basses and strings walked trough my hands cheers

 

[Calaveras]

Yeah, I play light strings on my basses. I like to be able to use vibrato and do bends.
The only difference I notice in changing gauges (aside from intonation) is that yes much thicker strings do have a bit more output. But I see just as much difference in output using SS or nickel strings of teh same gauge.
I wonder if there might not be an electrical problem?