Classic SR's output question...

[pbass2go]

Was in the local GC this past week. Tried out several SR4’s, all sounded great. I then picked up a couple of the Classic SR’s and noticed that their output was much higher than the non-classic versions.
Asked the salesman about it and he seemed surprised. We tried out all the basses on the wall again and found that the 2 Classic SR’s were indeed much louder than all the others.
Has anyone else noticed this or is it the nature of the Classic 2 band electronics?

Either way, I think I am going to have to get my hands on a classic SR5 in that sweet butter-cream finish.

 

[LightGroove]

What settings were you using as a comparison? I could see them being different as they are different but wouldnt think things would be that drastic. Also I wonder if one less pot has something to do with it.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I could also be that the Classics had newer batteries and therefore more output.

 

[pbass2go]

I started with all the bass's left flat. Newer ones on center detents, Classics all the way down. Swapped batteries around, (to the annoyance of the salesman) same thing

We then tried it with all the controls maxed out, same results.

 

[drTStingray]

I thought my Classic had a higher output than my other Rays initially.

I have done one gig using my 3 band fretless Ray as main instrument and my Classic as 2nd bass on some selected songs - this disproved my theory as the 3 band sounded louder at gig volume

I haven't measured outputs, but the VU meter on my Ashdown rig behaves similarly for each of my basses so I think the outputs are fairly evenly matched.

My experience has been that increased mid range levels can be perceived as increased volume - the 2 band EQ seems to give a relative boost in mid range as the two tone controls are rolled off so it's possible this may have affected how the Classic and regular Stingrays sounded A/Bd in the way you described.

 

[oli@bass]

When recording my http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/42214-stingray-sound-examples.html, I had to use compression on all 3 band EQ StingRays to compensate for the perceived difference in loudness to the 2 band EQ. IMO, the 2 band preamp has some "natural" compression going on which makes it a) sound louder and b) sound more beefy than the 3 band EQ.