How do I get the best sound out of my Stingray? Punch/Tone etc.

[JackAshford]

Hello!
I have a brand spanking new Stingray ordered that I will have in about a week.
It's a 3EQ that's Pearl Blue with a Maple neck and a white pickguard, so I will hopefully look the biz playing it.

Anyway, I've played on plenty of 3EQs in the run up to getting this bass and I adore the tone and power of them. However this is my first purchase of a Stingray, or even a Musicman for that matter. I'm going from a Fender Mex J Bass to this so it's a bit of a jump.
I'm wondering how I can get really get the best tone and punch out of this bass?
I have an Ashdown 180 amp which I've tried with stingrays before and gets a nice sound, but I'd really like to know some expert tips on settings to get the best overall sound I can get.
Can you other Stingray 4 users tell me what the best levels in your opinions to have the mid and such set on the actual bass are please.
Obviously I'll have to fiddle round to get the sound I most prefer but it'd be great to have a start. I really want a tone that cuts through with real power behind what I play.

Thanks Guys, I know I'm new round here so any advice is greatly apreciated.

 

[mynan]

Start with the EQ flat on your bass and amp...make minor adjustments from there. Keep in mind that the tone that cuts through the mix isn't necessarily going to be the tone that sounds the best by itself. My SR5 cuts through the mix like butter and sounds great in the house and on recordings that I've done but when it's just me with no band, my mids sound a little "honky".

 

[JackAshford]

Okay cheers, that sounds like a good plan mate.
I'm going to be recording soon so I'll remember that advice!

 

[adouglas]

Specific settings mean nothing unless the poster has the same amp you do. Even then, it's all down to personal preference.

For what it's worth, here are some general tips that I've found useful. Your mileage may vary. These have been posted before by me and others, and nobody's launched a missile at me yet, so I assume that they're a reasonable starting point.

1) Start flat and apply EQ sparingly. Don't have any (any) preconceived notions about how to set your amp or bass. Use your ears, not what you "know."

2) Listen to the whole mix, not just your bass. What sounds good when you're playing by yourself in the bedroom will not sound good when you're playing with a band. And listen with an objective, critical ear. What makes the whole song sound good?

3) Mids, especially low mids, are your friend in a band setting for most kinds of music. Avoid "smiley face" EQ (boosting bass and treble, cutting mids). This sounds good soloed, but causes the bass to magically disappear from the mix when the rest of the band starts playing. See #2 above.

4) IMHO the lowest frequencies should not be boosted (say, 125 Hz and below). This adds mud, not punch.

5) IMHO the low mids can be boosted some to add punch. (say, 125-400 Hz or so)

6) Attenuate the highs to taste to remove excessive zinginess.

 

[JackAshford]

Thanks, more great advise.
I really need to get a better amp, mine supposedly has control over low, mid, high, 1.6khz and 220 hz, however adjesting them with my J Bass seems to get very little effect aside from extreme highs and lows.

 

[timmy5strings]

Just turn the knobs until your cheeks hurt from smiling

 

[oli@bass]

I generally run the EQ on my basses flat, and use it to acommodate changes of how the bass should sound in the song, boost the treble for a punk rocker, cut the treble for a slow song, boost some bass for a fat reggae. Little adjustments work great since.

Also, the EQ on the amps is generally flat, and then used to compensate for the room / stage sound.

 

[mrpackerguy]

Everyone has different ideas, but on a 3-band I'd say bass at the indent, mid at 80% and treble at 60%. If you don't punch through the mix, there's something seriously wrong.

 

[hankSRay]

Everyone has different ideas, but on a 3-band I'd say bass at the indent, mid at 80% and treble at 60%. If you don't punch through the mix, there's something seriously wrong.

Funny thats just about how mine is set.

 

[JackAshford]

Cheers for all the help guys.
My bass came a couple days ago and I've only just today found the perfect sound for me.
With my amp being pretty useless I've got it on like 75% mid and 60% trebble with the tiniest bit less on the bass, so pretty similar to the last guys advise.

The bass came to the retailer with a black pickguard as opposed to the white one I'd asked for, so I'm sending the pickguard back and getting the white one probably tomorrow. But I had to keep the plastic on the panel, hence why it looks warped and like it's falling appart.
Sounds gorgeous though. Gotta love that Stingray sound.

 

[rhythmCity944]

I love blue stingrays

 

[carpedebass]

Looks great.
I usually get a sound that I like from my rig and then trust the house to get their stuff right. After all, I cannot play from the audience and run the sound board. I have to trust the house.
I run straight to my Ampeg SVT-4Pro straight into the house. The bass is about 1/2, the mids run about 40% AND ABOUT 50-60% highs. The sound man cuts a little bass from what I send him and runs the mids pretty much 50 to 60% with the 12k band cut to about 40% and it sounds AMAZING! Crisp and clear with just the right amount of the "P-Killer knock-your face off" punch...of course I just have a lowly SUB5, but I'd put it up against any thing I've ever played...and I've played a lot.

 

[mobis.fr]

hmmm i got some fender flats on my 30th and use -100% treble ^^ sometimes i add some bass, but only a little bit.

i guess not many use that eq setup.