Graphite Neck/ Sterling or Stingray

[spencer]

Im looking to get a bass specifically for that agressive graphite neck sound. Would you put it on a stingray or sterling?

Im aware of the tanal differences stock

~Stingray - Slight Mid scoop
~Sterling - Heavy Mid very agressive

Which do you think a graphite neck would compliment the most?

 

[Lynottfan]

Stingray, but I am biased as my main working bass is a SR4 with a Status graphite neck, I personally would only go for Status Graphite to, as imho, they are by far the best.

Also for tuning stability you can't beat graphite, I pound my bass and it stays well in tune, and that is after a 2hour gig.
Graphite is great for a nice slap tone to but don't over do the treble though as it goes from a nice slap tone to a very brittle anoying glass like "arggh that's horrid!" sound.

Enjoy, graphite makes for a great neck option, hey EBMM themselves used Status so that should tell a thing or two.

 

[Bongodude]

Status+Stingray is a GREAT combination.

 

[Basspro]

I would love too have a status neck on a SR,think Cutless, but has anyone put one on a Sterling?

 

[oli@bass]

AFAIK, there is no replacement neck available by Status for the Sterling. It's not the same neck as for the StingRay!

That said, there's a 100th NAMM Anniversary StingRay in the for sale thread... which already comes with the Status graphite neck... for about the same price as a used SR4 and a new Status neck (they're not cheap!) will set you back.

However, you could put the Status neck on a SR4 HH body... which would be the ultimate Cutlass II killer!

 

[Duarte]

AFAIK, there is no replacement neck available by Status for the Sterling. It's not the same neck as for the StingRay!

I (think) that the neck produced by status is designed to fit Stingrays and Sterlings...isn't it?

 

[bovinehost]

Nope. Different neck heels, number of frets, etc.

 

[Duarte]

I see. Ah yes I remember....it is designed to fit 4 bolt and 6 bolt necks. My bad.

 

[spencer]

shoot I thought it would fit either.. I mean you have to drill your own holes in it correct? But now that I think about it your right the pocket would be different.. Shoot..

 

[Basspro]

It might be a good move for EBMM/Status to make necks for the Sterling as well,
i bet their would be some demand for them.

 

[spencer]

It might be a good move for EBMM/Status to make necks for the Sterling as well,
i bet their would be some demand for them.

With the sterlings agressive tone it would probably sound similar to a Modulus Flea Bass...


Actually I can't say that since it was the only bass I ever played with graphite neck.. And it seemed to be kinda mid scooped so it would probably be much more agressive..

 

[Northray]

I've thought about exchanging my StingRay neck for a graphite neck - assuming you acquired a Status or other graphite neck specifically designed for the the StingRay, what is involved in making the change?

I've never taken the neck off or replaced tuners before... is it something you could do yourself or is a luthier necessary?

 

[bovinehost]

With the sterlings agressive tone it would probably sound similar to a Modulus Flea Bass...


Actually I can't say that since it was the only bass I ever played with graphite neck.. And it seemed to be kinda mid scooped so it would probably be much more agressive..

I had a Flea. (Don't know what I was thinking, really.) It sounded nothing like a Sterling or a Stingray.

I really don't know what Flea was thinking, either.

Nicely built bass, but - keeerist, no mids at all.

I kept it about an hour.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've thought about exchanging my StingRay neck for a graphite neck - assuming you acquired a Status or other graphite neck specifically designed for the the StingRay, what is involved in making the change?

I've never taken the neck off or replaced tuners before... is it something you could do yourself or is a luthier necessary?

Taking neck off - screwdriver.

Tuners - ditto (just make sure you take notice of how the tuner bits and pieces fit together, to make reinstallation easy)

Status neck - I believe you may need to drill the neck mounting holes yourself, depending on the era of Stingray body you are wishing to mate it with (ie. 3, 4 or 6 hole)

 

[Basswave]

BTW Confirmed the Status 5MM neck do fit SBMM Ray35 bodies.

 

[Golem]

`


I have a Moses FL neck on my Sterling HS, and it used to be on
my Sterling H. Aggression-wise, if you are considering a fretted
neck, I can't describe that from experience. But I can tell you
that the "power" of these basses, compared to back when they
had wooden FRETTED necks on them, is greatly increased by
the move to the Moses FL neck. I wound up lower the PUs as
far as they will go, waaaaaay down, with no loss compared to
the fretted wooden, maple FB EBMM necks. A greatly lowered
PU has a different tone, a different "focus", especially since I
used to keep those PUs much higher than EBMM specifies.

When I completed the first neck swap, before I lowered the
PU, I was verrrrry blowed away by the new output and new
energy, it was way huge. It was so obvio8s that this was an
invitation to get that low-rider PU effect without the usual
lower output of PUs way far from the strings.

I love the Sterling HS with the Moses neck. I'm going to do
a Ray 1H next, but don't hold your breath waiting for results
to be posted as I'm kinda broke lately [25% pay cut plus a
few months unemployed .... ]. I have the neck already, but
the holes are in the wrong places right now. It's the brass
insert machine thread system, and requires a drill press that
I don't have [nor know anyone with one].

Anywho, tone effects of materials [graphite, wood, etc] are
passive and therefore are subractive [active boost would be
an example of additive]. Whatever frequencies the wooden
necks were subtracting [filtering out] in order to produce a
"wooden neck voice", those frequencies are apparent NOT
removed by the graphite. IOW, less subtraction equal more
vibes eqaul notablely increased output. So .... thses IS such
a thing as passive boost, but it's not via the tone chain, it's
via a structural materials change [wood-to-graphite]. You
can get a slight boost switching from a rosewood to a maple
FB, but the switch to graphite is a whole nuther quantum
increase, an in-you-face degree of increased output.


`

 

[kylierider]

Interesting input Golem.

I'm about to find out myself about this very subject. I just purchased a used Status lined graphite neck last week. I'm due to receive it Friday. It's to go on a 30th anniversary Stingray. This bass is already a beast....An unlined fretless as it sits now. Even though I have been playing fretless a long time I find I'm a little more comfortable and somewhat more consistent, especially in the higher register, on a lined fretless vs unlined. Should have bit the bullet and bought the lined when I ordered it new back in 2006, but i didn't. I have always thought about a graphite neck on this bass. Hog body, string thru bridge and a graphite neck. Finding a used on was my lucky ticket.

I'll post my results when it all comes together.

 

[Golem]

`

I didn't know Status had snubbed us Sterling bois. OK it's
justazwell so now I don't hafta field a lotta criticism about
my "choice" of necks.

The Moses neck on my Sterling HS made the bass louder,
and somehow hotter/bolder in tone. I realize it's hard to
A-B a neck swap, unless you happen to have an identical
ax on hand thaz still got its wooden neck [heh heh heh].

Acoarst I have such a pair, so I am quite sure about the
changes wrought. Since I really didn't need a louder or a
hotter ax than the stock Sterling HS, I chose an alternate
way of finding advantage in this difference: I lowered the
PUs way down, which in itself will change the character of
almost any bass. In this case, since it has loudness out
the yin-yang, there is no suffering in the signal-to-noise
department.

I happen to be very happy with Moses products. I have
a Moses all-graphite bass, and also their StingRay/G&L
neck which is awaiting mounting to a body. My other 3
graphite goodies are Modulus and Bergers. I really have
no clue what I may be missing, Status-wise, but I'm not
known for exquizeet nor disscriminating taste, anywho.
I keep strings til they break, play thru mostly 12" single
cabs, use flats on my FLs. I'm just a happy Slobbovian.