• Ernie Ball
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  • Sterling by MusicMan

kakobass

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
117
Hi all. I have recently put a Bartolini pickup in my StingRay 4 and noticed that the Bart is too tall (or the cavity in the bass not deep enough) that the strings almost touch the pickup, specially the G string. I use low action, but this wasn´t an issue with the original pickup (decided to swith because sharp pole piece edges). I´m guessing that the Barts were designed for older StingRays and the newer ones (mine is a 2000/2001) have a shorter pickup cavity. The worst side effect is that the G string is much louder than my E string, so I´m using a compressor and it works fine.

Anybody with the same experience?. The right solution is either leveling the pickup walls (cutting and leveling the plastic) or taking wood off the cavity; both solutions are pretty destructive.

I think newer StringRays come with rounded pole pieces, like StingRay 5s and Sterlings...
 

bassmaniac

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2002
Messages
114
Location
Southern Cailfornia
Bartolini makes several different MM style pickups. Are you sure you got one that is supposed to be direct replacement for the StingRay4 bass? Is the pickup actually resting against the body inside the p/u ? Are your screws the right length? Maybe you'll have the route the cavity down about 1/4". Have someone with routing skills do it for you if you've never used one before.
I never liked the edges of those raised pole pieces on the StingRay4 either. That's not a problem on the StingRay5 where the pole pieces are fingerstyle friendly.
 

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