Ernie Ball MM Sterling 2001 selector switch doesn’t seem to change the tone much

[cimchazz1]

Just picked up an (American) EBMM Sterling, absolutely beautiful bass, and played it out and I couldn’t get the string “clang” to go away. I play without pick and It seems to amplify the sound of the strings hitting against the frets (18-22). I am usual king playing Fender P basses and don’t have much experience with “active”, but it is very distracting to hear that sound while playing. Also, I can’t really tell much, if any, difference in sound when switching the selector switch thru the 3 positions. I used it with an Ampeg PF500 and 210 cab. When I turn on the -db pad cut button for active, I couldn’t get enough volume out of the bass, so I played with the button off. Couldn’t really fool around experimenting while we were performing, so I never really got it sorted out. I’m playing mostly classic rock. Have no idea what strings are on the bass, but they have a nice feel for rounds and have no “silks”, but seem like they might be stainless?
Just wanted to see if anyone playing one of these has any suggestions I could try to get rid of the clang and let me know if these are normal characteristics for this bass. I’m not getting the big deep bass sound I’ve read about. Thanks

 

[Golem]

You wont find much difference between series and parallel for both coils but you should have a tremendous difference when you switch to single coil.

Fret klank is signature sound of SRs and Sterlings. Try Cobalt flats. My personal solution to fret klank is to eliminate frets.

I used to wonder why these klanky MMs were popular. Im a sloppy player and didnt need something such as klank to make me sound worse ... so I never bought a MM until one day I stumbled upon an SR4FL. Now Ive got about a dozen MM FLs.

The same PUs and circuits that emphasize klank just happen to be super terrific for FL voicing. Likewise the piezo bridge. Lately, EBMM no longer offers FL nor piezos. But then I have a lifetime supply on hand the lack of new production doesnt deprive me.

If you wanna try FL, the key to good intonation is to realize that "Perfection is the enemy of the good".

 

[cimchazz1]

You wont find much difference between series and parallel for both coils but you should have a tremendous difference when you switch to single coil.

Fret klank is signature sound of SRs and Sterlings. Try Cobalt flats. My personal solution to fret klank is to eliminate frets.

I used to wonder why these klanky MMs were popular. Im a sloppy player and didnt need something such as klank to make me sound worse ... so I never bought a MM until one day I stumbled upon an SR4FL. Now Ive got about a dozen MM FLs.

The same PUs and circuits that emphasize klank just happen to be super terrific for FL voicing. Likewise the piezo bridge. Lately, EBMM no longer offers FL nor piezos. But then I have a lifetime supply on hand the lack of new production doesnt deprive me.

If you wanna try FL, the key to good intonation is to realize that "Perfection is the enemy of the good

Thanks, well, I’ve been reading more about what the switch and controls do and it sounds like I need to try some different settings. And maybe some different strings that aren’t as bright. But I do have to say the neck is probably the nicest I’ve played and the balance and weight of the bass is great!

 

[Michael Murphy]

I used to get that klank on every fretted bass i played (and even some fretless), regardless of volume/tone/amp settings or which strings i used. It just seemed to have to do with my playing style, the way i was hitting the strings (fingers, no pick). It started with my first bass, a fretted Fender Tele bass, and also my 2nd (Fender P-bass, fretted but not for long). Then my 3rd was a new fretless Stingray 5, and i hardly ever picked up the other 2 anymore. I was still playing mostly rock and punk and stuff that wasn't very "fretless-y", but now with more midrange and a little less klank.

Now i have lots of fretted and fretless basses, mostly Music Man, and don't seem to have much klank on either, but can dial that sound in or out if i think about it.

 

[cimchazz1]

You wont find much difference between series and parallel for both coils but you should have a tremendous difference when you switch to single coil.

Fret klank is signature sound of SRs and Sterlings. Try Cobalt flats. My personal solution to fret klank is to eliminate frets.

I used to wonder why these klanky MMs were popular. Im a sloppy player and didnt need something such as klank to make me sound worse ... so I never bought a MM until one day I stumbled upon an SR4FL. Now Ive got about a dozen MM FLs.

The same PUs and circuits that emphasize klank just happen to be super terrific for FL voicing. Likewise the piezo bridge. Lately, EBMM no longer offers FL nor piezos. But then I have a lifetime supply on hand the lack of new production doesnt deprive me.

If you wanna try FL, the key to good intonation is to realize that "Perfection is the enemy of the good".

Thanks, well, there’s no tremendous difference on this bass between switch settings. The bridge position and center position sound nearly alike and the neck position is a little louder, but it’s a slight difference. Is there something wrong with the active circuit I’m wondering?

 

[Golem]

Some positions are very similar to each other. On a single PU bass the neck and middle positions are similar, the bridge position notably bright but lower volume.

With a dual PU bass its more complex, more switch positions and two different configurations (one is out of production).

But dual PU basses do offer more variety of voicing ... especially neck PU alone, which cannot be imitated on a single PU bass. The 5-way switch seems to have basically 3 voices and the 3-way switch seems to have only 2 voices.

I dont think your bass is defective.

 

[Golem]

Some positions are very similar to each other. On a single PU bass the neck and middle positions are similar, the bridge position notably bright but lower volume.

With a dual PU bass its more complex, more switch positions and two different configurations (one is out of production).

But dual PU basses do offer more variety of voicing ... especially neck PU alone, which cannot be imitated on a single PU bass. The 5-way switch seems to have basically 3 voices and the 3-way switch seems to have only 2 voices.

I dont think your bass is defective.