Adjusting to the stingray

[devo-lutionstuf]

Hi

Recently I bought myself a Stingray, but in retrospect it seems kind of an odd bass.

I always have the feeling the strings are on fire and everything is sooo damn sensitive. When I just raise my finger after fretting a note, you can clearly hear this throught the amp. The sound of my fingers touching the strings can also clearly be heard through the amp and finally. Those pickups...

Up till now I've only used soapbar pick-ups, which now leaves me occasionaly crashing into the exposed thingies (don't know English word for it, English not my mother tongue ).

So, to conclude:
my new bass has an absolutely lovely sound, but it also brings a whole wave of clicks and other annoying sounds with it, which I want to get rid off. Any hints? Thx in advance

My bass:
A MM stingray, 2 EQ

 

[Spanky(Andy)]

Hi, what genre/type of music are you playing?

You could try flatwound strings, which will eliminate a lot of the string/fretting noises, but give you a less bright tone. I have TI flats on two of my basses and still slap and pop on both... it's just a different tone...

Andy

 

[devo-lutionstuf]

Well

I play in a post-punk kinda band right now, but at home I'm actually into funk and reggea and stuff. I just want it to sound smooth and funky, not violent and funky
I like my basses to sound a little bit "jazzy-funky-crossover"

Is it normal in other words that the bass makes a lot of these noises? A luthier that is seen as very good has just had his way with the bass and it's still a lot of noise. Can also be the fact that the stingray is the entire opposite of what I'm used to play when it comes to pick ups, length of scales, ...

 

[strummer]

Check pick up height and adjust. From there on it's a technique question, the Stingray might not be the most forgiving bass on the planet, which will make you a better player

 

[mynan]

Start with the eq flat (highs and lows in the center position)...same thing on your amp. Make sure your pickup is set to the proper height (6/32 inch from the strings) If you are still getting a lot of extra noise then it's probably your technique, especially if the strings are still hitting the pole pieces. The MM electronics are pretty powerful...it gives you a lot of versatility, but it can also magnify your mistakes.

 

[bovinehost]

Check pick up height and adjust. From there on it's a technique question, the Stingray might not be the most forgiving bass on the planet, which will make you a better player

Wholly agree. Also, if you're using roundwound strings and have the treble knob cranked up hard (and the dreaded smiley face EQ on your amp), you ARE going to emphasize the frequencies where string noise occurs.

Start with everything flat on the bass and amp and try SUBTRACTING frequencies to get the sound you want.

Or....yes, consider flatwound strings. It certainly solved a lot of my problems!

Jack

 

[the unrepentant]

A lot of it is technique, active basses (particularly when you have the treble cranked) can bring out your mistakes a lot, you just need to learn to control your fingers properly.

And as strummer said, try adjusting your pickup to the factory height or perhaps lower to stop the strings hitting the pole pieces, or perhaps tighter strings/less aggressive playing?

 

[Bobbo 77]

Órale,
Welcome to the world of a responsive, well put together Bass! Yes, I'd start with the control's flat, but, the other owner's suggestion's should be checked into.

 

[AtomicPunk]

If you are playing punk style stuff, you probably play pretty hard. Getting that pickup out of the way so the strings don't hit it, and getting used to the active electronics and EQ settings will probably make you a lot happier.

 

[ausf]

Bigger sound has a price.

I got back into playing after a long hiatus and picked up a MIA P. I thought I was a lot better than I was because the P was covering up a lot of sloppiness.

When I traded up to a Ray, I finally had the sound I've been after for a long time. I also realized I need a lot more work to get where I want to be. I need to concentrate more on string and finger control, palm and thumb muting, etc.

I could just back off the treble and mid, turn the bass up and play sloppy if I had to, but I'd much rather become a better player.

 

[Big Poppa]

THe bass is a high performance bass...just like the controls on a sports car are more sensitive same with an active bass.....STicdk with roundwounds FLats are for old men in diapers....

The biggest key is back the treble down....

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Stick with roundwounds, Flats are for old men in diapers....

The biggest key is back the treble down....

YES!! I agree with BP yay!!

 

[T-bone]

STicdk with roundwounds FLats are for old men in diapers.....

What???

I love my flats! But then again, I just put new rounds on the 30th and man does she sing.

YES!! I agree with BP yay!!

kissarse

tbone

 

[Grand Wazoo]

What???

I love my flats! But then again, I just put new rounds on the 30th and man does she sing.



kissarse

tbone

No Tbone I resent that comment actually, I have never kissed ass in my life, I just personally loathe fartwound strings, sorry. I have had more disagreement with BP than you've had steak dinners, the few times I agree something with BP, I'll shout it out.

 

[the unrepentant]

FLats are for old men in diapers....

You heard it from the man himself

 

[devo-lutionstuf]

okey, but there is one misunderstanding

It aren't my strings that are hitting the pole pieces, but my fingers
I kinda figured out that my technique would be at least part of the problem. But it's soo frustrating when I play my old 400 dollar bass without any unwanted noises and yeh,... then I plug the ray in and ...

I have now put the equalizer on my amp entirely flat and stopped using that dreaded smiley, but how do the controls on the bass itself work? Are they flat when they are exactly in the middle or if they are entirely open ... ? Afterwards, I can start adjusting frequencies where needed.

Also, I don't play hard at all
I'm not into punk myself, but just play for some punk guys that needed a bass guitarist.

 

[Deaj]

STicdk with roundwounds FLats are for old men in diapers....

I gotta have both rounds and flats (not in diapers full-time yet ).

I'd try the other suggestions posted before changing string type (adjusting pickup height, keeping treble in check, flat EQ and subtract frequencies, refining techique, etc.). Roundwound strings can provide a much wider variety of sounds and textures simply through variation in technique. Flatwounds have their own sound (THUMP!). They might help reduce some string noise but this will come at the price of reduced sustain and frequency response. Not a bad thing, just different.

 

[Deaj]

Are they flat when they are exactly in the middle or if they are entirely open ... ?

Yes, your Stingray EQ controls should be flat when set exactly in the middle (there should be a center detent you can feel when you reach center).

 

[devo-lutionstuf]

Yes, your Stingray EQ controls should be flat when set exactly in the middle (there should be a center detent you can feel when you reach center).

Can't find something like that
the button just turns loosely around on the bass without something that you can feel...

I thought this was quite normal for a 2 EQ?

If that's the point I might know what my problem was
I had my bass and treble knobs almost entirely open AND a smiley on my amp
daaarn, if I put it all flat the noise is almost completely gone

 

[phatduckk]

i had a similar experience when I first started playing Music Man basses... i kept hearing string noise. Its like Big Poppa said... its a higher performance bass than what I was used to and it exposed a lot of my sloppiness.

if your amp has a horn turn it off. that'll make a huge difference. other you can lower the pickup and/or raise your action.

truth is you'll just get used to it and change your playing to compensate. its actually pretty great when you get the control down. youll learn how to make the bass go from mellow to aggressive just by changing where your hands are placed or how hard you it it.

you'll get used to it. but in the mean time try cutting your treble or lowering the pickup as a crutch